Briefly

Scott Mautz spent most of his working life in the corporate world. He made more and more money and his lifestyle got more and more expensive. By the time he realized he wanted more out of life, his ego was too invested in the idea of climbing financial and social ladders for him to walk away. He wanted to pursue speaking, writing, teaching and coaching, but he feared he would have to take a pay cut. His wife was completely willing to cut their lifestyle for him to pursue another direction, but he had trouble allowing himself to take the chance. Writing for Inc. magazine, Mautz tells about his decision to take the chance — and how that change has given him the joy he wanted from work and unexpectedly allowed him to make more money than ever.

I discovered tonight that I’ve published 193,900 words here this year. For context, the typical popular business book is about 50,000 to 75,000 words. So I’ve written enough to have published several books instead. So the thought occurs to me that maybe I would do well to take a break from here and write a book instead. I don’t know what I think, but it’s an intriguing thought. Let me know if you have any thoughts about that. If I wrote a book right now, what do you think it ought to be about — based on the things you see me write about. Any thoughts?

Does everyone have a “true love,” even if we all love other people at different times during our lives? My rational side says it’s a silly concept from ridiculous movies, but my heart absolutely believes it’s true. I couldn’t rationally justify it, of course, and I wouldn’t try. I just know that something in me believes. To my heart, it feels as though I’m one half of something which was broken apart before we were ever born — and something out there whispers from far away, “You still need me.” And tonight, more than ever, I feel the empty place next to me which only my true love can fill. It’s flattering to be wanted by others from time to time, but they can be only pale substitutes — at best — for one who ought to be there. My brain knows my heart is irrational about this, but truth isn’t always rational