Joy Money Flow

Let me highlight 3 components:

1 - Joy - Something that makes us happy

2 - Money - Something that is financially viable

3 - Flow - Something that harnesses our potential

Put them together what do you get? Not JoyMoneyFlow but an opportunity in which you'll thrive.

What happens if we take some other combinations of the 3 components:

Joy + Money - Flow - Results in “Unfilled potential”

Joy - Money + Flow - Say hello to the “Starving artist”

Joy + Money + Flow - Results in success without a purpose

Joy + Money + Flow - The golden ticket - where you look forward to going to the office every day​.

Knowing your talents and passions is critical to this - but that only represents half of the supply-and-demand equation. It is also important to understand what the world needs from you, and how you can productively apply your strengths and interests.

The majority of the time there is a lot of focus on “follow your passion” but this takes the view that you are the centre of the world, everything revolves around you, and that pursuing your dreams is the objective of life.

Those who make a profound difference, are the polar opposite, and begin by asking what they can give. By beginning with this question you can direct your skill set towards what matters most for those around you.

So let's take our Strengths (flow) + Interests (joy) and let them meet the needs of the world (money).

• What gives you joy personally? What do you love to do so much you'd do it for free?

• What can you make money doing? How can you meet specific needs and still get those $$$

• When do you experience flow? What strengths do you have and when do you engage them?

Start making a list, a list of options and ideas you have in your life right now. Perhaps it is returning to study, maybe it is starting business A or doing some consultancy work for business Z. List them all down, either on a piece of paper or in your mind.

Ok now let's do some elimination. Step number one eliminate those ideas that don’t bring you joy when you think about them. This process should be used to help your initial decision-making.. why? because life is short so we shouldn’t be doing something we don't like.

Next, let's eliminate all those ideas you have that don’t have real potential to produce an income. Before you do that remember that doesn’t mean you have to give up your hobbies, this is focused on career-based ideas, the aim is to instigate career changes that not only bring happiness but income.

Final elimination round - feels a bit like X Factor now right? The final thing to eliminate are all the ideas you aren’t particularly good at or an area where your skills aren't unique to those around you.

Even with this list after elimination, it is still not smooth sailing. Remember if you take on a potentially risky endeavour, make sure you take the time to sit down and plan out a contingency. There can always be a backup plan. - If plan A fails, don’t worry about it, you still have 25 letters left.

In the words of world-famous boxer Mike Tyson - “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth..”

Don’t just keep trying and trying again - try then try something different - if something isn’t happening for you be brave, be courageous and prepared to make a change.