Tag: Doing

Talking vs. Doing

Published on by Kieran Johnson - The Generosity GuyLeave a comment

I was never a strong trash talker. When playing any sort of sport, I was not able to get in to the head of my opponent by using words. Not if I wanted to play well anyway. I discovered early on that I could either play the game well, or try to put the opposition off, but not both.

I realised that I enjoyed playing the game to best of my ability, so that meant I was pretty quiet on the court/field.

There were a few people who seemed to be able to do it, to play well and get into the head of the other team, but they were the minority.

Then I came across this quote from Ryan Holiday:

“Talking and doing fight for the same resources”

And it made me feel better, although it’s probably not about sport but more important parts of life.

Anyone can talk about a thing. It takes some skill to notice a problem or issue and bring it up, but that isn’t solving anything if that’s where it stops.

It is easy to talk and tough to do.

So that leaves me with the question, am I mostly talking or am I doing? Am I talking a generous game or am I living the generous life?

What do you want to be?

Published on by Kieran Johnson - The Generosity GuyLeave a comment

What do you want to be when you grow up? Remember that question? I feel like it was a constant companion when I was little. This question of future possibilities. It was usually answered with ‘a policeman’, or ‘an astronaut’ or ‘a fire engine’. You know, the standard things kids want to be.

I don’t ever remember being asked, what do you want to do when you grow up? It was always what do you want to be? It’s a little thing, but it speaks volumes about how our thinking changes as we grow.

‘Be’ elicits thoughts of a calling, of becoming something and creating something.

‘Do’ is just about doing things and actions.

I believe that we all have a desire to be something, to fulfil our calling, the reason why we are here on this planet. More often than not, I have discovered that peoples calling is about other people. Caring for them, helping them, finding fulfilment in watching others grow and develop and reach their full potential.

There is no doubt that we ‘do’ things in the process, but the doing serves the calling, not the other way around.

So what do you want to be when you grow up? There is something within each and every one of us which cries out to help other people – but whether we listen to that is up to us.