Defining Enough

Special kudos to Jon Acuff for answering a question that had been trotting around my head for a little while now. Jon is one of my favourite bloggers whom I first discovered in 2008 through the legendary SCL community blog. He just recently wrote a book called Quitter (See link to book trailer at end of this post), dealing mainly with how to "close the gap between your day job and your dream job." (quote by him)

There are days when I get up, go into the bathroom, wash my face and then look up into the mirror and get this fuzzy feeling inside, "Another day doing a job I love!". Whenever I take a second to think about the job God has given me and how amazing it is and how I find so much fulfilment in it and how much I love the people I get to work with, and know that it will only get better with time, I get pretty excited. It's kind of a dream job, and I am indeed very thankful for it.

Having said that, and having read Counterfeit Gods lately (ps: brilliant book!), I am wary of that fact that this job I like so much could possibly one day turn into an ugly idol. So I've been thinking and wondering about how to try and prepare for this not to happen...

So, when I saw on twitter that Jon was doing this live online chat to talk about his book and tackle that 'dream job' topic, I grabbed my chance and posted a comment. Turns out it got answered! And it was deliciously helpful. You know, the kind of advice that someone gives you at that very special moment and you just KNOW you will never forget it for the rest of your life? Or perhaps ok you will... but then God will remind you of it at just the right time and you'll think "Oh yeahhh!! Brilliant, I remember that! just what I needed!!". One of those precious little gems.

Happened on live chat tonight (times are CST not UK)

[Comment From sando84: ] Jon: I'd like to hear your advice for ppl who are in their dream job, but who don't wish for it to become an idol. Is it something you've thought about yourself? How to prep yourself to let go of it at some point if asked to? (an international reader! Sandra, UK)

Monday April 4, 2011 4:57 sando84

4:58

Jon Acuff: Oh, man, that is an awesome question. One of the things I talk about is getting successful at success. We often prepare for worst cast scenarios but don't prepare for best case scenarios. So many dreams have been ruined when the person got successful at living the dream. One of the chapters talks about defining enough. If you chase enough, it'll always get away. One more dream opportunity, one more amount of money, one more anything. If you define enough, it helps not turn your dream into an idol. Monday April 4, 2011 4:58

What a great and sound advice. I'll be pondering it for a while! Thanks J.

PS. If you're interested in reading the book, here's the trailer. You can also download the first chapter for free.

(photo evidence for all your groupies)