Thanks For Thinking

Episode 19: The Undisciplined Pursuit of More

August 04, 2022 Carl Bahner Season 1 Episode 19
Episode 19: The Undisciplined Pursuit of More
Thanks For Thinking
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Thanks For Thinking
Episode 19: The Undisciplined Pursuit of More
Aug 04, 2022 Season 1 Episode 19
Carl Bahner

After the first time I did a year-in-review to count how many songs I worked on, I was determined to beat that number the next year. Why? Honestly I’m not sure. I just felt compelled to beat that number. I wanted more. More clients. More songs. More money.  More students. 

Then I heard the phrase “undisciplined pursuit of more” and it hit me like a wrecking ball that shattered a blind spot in my self-awareness. When I heard it mentioned on a podcast (not knowing what the original context was) my mind started racing.

It made me realize that I had been spending so much time, thought, and energy on making SMART goals and achieving them, without stopping to ask myself two frustratingly simple questions:

  1. “What would it mean to my life, my family, and my career if I achieve this goal?” 

And, maybe more importantly: 

  1. “What would it mean to my life, my family, and my career if I DON’T achieve this goal?” 

For years I’ve been setting goals and achieving them, without thinking explicitly about WHY I chose those particular goals in the first place - other than those numbers were bigger than the year before.

***

Join the Thanks For Thinking Podcast Community on Discord

Intro music: “Gingerly” (instrumental) by Surname. Mixed by yours truly. 

Focus music by Pink Coyote

Outro music: “Futurism” (instrumental) by mrnoname. Produced and mixed by yours truly.

@CarlBahner on Instagram

@ThanksForThinkingPodcast on Instagram

www.CarlBahner.com

Show Notes

After the first time I did a year-in-review to count how many songs I worked on, I was determined to beat that number the next year. Why? Honestly I’m not sure. I just felt compelled to beat that number. I wanted more. More clients. More songs. More money.  More students. 

Then I heard the phrase “undisciplined pursuit of more” and it hit me like a wrecking ball that shattered a blind spot in my self-awareness. When I heard it mentioned on a podcast (not knowing what the original context was) my mind started racing.

It made me realize that I had been spending so much time, thought, and energy on making SMART goals and achieving them, without stopping to ask myself two frustratingly simple questions:

  1. “What would it mean to my life, my family, and my career if I achieve this goal?” 

And, maybe more importantly: 

  1. “What would it mean to my life, my family, and my career if I DON’T achieve this goal?” 

For years I’ve been setting goals and achieving them, without thinking explicitly about WHY I chose those particular goals in the first place - other than those numbers were bigger than the year before.

***

Join the Thanks For Thinking Podcast Community on Discord

Intro music: “Gingerly” (instrumental) by Surname. Mixed by yours truly. 

Focus music by Pink Coyote

Outro music: “Futurism” (instrumental) by mrnoname. Produced and mixed by yours truly.

@CarlBahner on Instagram

@ThanksForThinkingPodcast on Instagram

www.CarlBahner.com