[[I wrote this earlier this year on a blog I'm no longer maintaining. I brought it over here because it's important that we bring it up.]]
The enduring memories that we have that we live for. The time we were able to push ourselves to run a marathon, to do our jobs better…peak experiences 
are why we’re alive. Some of ‘em are found at work. Some of the things that we live for are in our jobs, but some things have nothing to do with the loan business. Peak experiences leave us with a permanent mark, changing us for the better. And let’s be honest. Making money is fantastic, it’s fun, but it’s not an end-all be-all. Having an extra $600 bucks from a closing in your checking account isn’t the point.
…the freedom money allows is the point.
The reason we’re in this business is to fuel those peak experiences. That’s it. The reason we do what we do The picture you see is e on May 1 2008. I’m holding my brand new baby daughter, Ruby. A peak experience to be sure, she was born healthy and happy. Raising my son, shown on the right is the most joyful and important thing that I’ve done.
Not Every Peak Experience is found at work! The work that we do–even in the mortgage business–can make it so we can be around for more and more peak experiences. If we are ALWAYS having things that change us for the better, exposing ourselves, pressing ourselves, and doing whatever we can to have new and better experiences…life becomes a fulfilling playground of wonder and joy. And that’s what L.O.S.T is all about. I created a program that was going to give you more Peak Experiences.
Know Your Peak Experiences
Often, the worry about money, the worry about ego driven “junk” can hide from us what the peak experiences we’re after really are. We elevate other things that don’t matter, and we strive for stuff that doesn’t really make us tick because we think we oughta have it. Some people who don’t care about cars buy a Mercedes. Some people that don’t care about houses buy a big house. These decisions are made because they do what others do, they don’t take JUST a moment to figure out and connect with what really turns them on.
The business planning that we do at Loan Officer Survival Training STARTS with YOUR peak experiences. We anchor how you spend your day in such a way that you always are weeks away from what could be a peak experience.
Sometimes peak experiences cost (i.e. Christmas shopping in Manhattan), and you need to arrange your budget to include them. Sometimes, Peak Experiences don’t cost much at all (taking my kid to the park, playing baseball with him). The point is, we need to have a peak experience to look forward to.
What If I Don’t Know What My Peak Experiences Are?
Be adventurous. Try new things. What might your peak experiences be? What do you think you’ve always wanted to try to learn? Don’t think about what other people are doing–what turns YOU on?
What are the best memories that you have?
What things do you want MORE of in your life?
What things do you want to have in your life?
What is going great right now?
Spend some time thinking about this–how can other people be served by your peak experiences?
You’ll come across goals that really charge you and really turn you on when you’re always asking the question: what next?
A List of Peak Experiences
To help you get started, here is a List Of Peak Experiences.
- Shopping in New York City
- Paying off A credit card
- Running a 5k
- Running a Marathon
- Being completely debt free.
- Being recognized as #1 in your office.
- Starting a scholarship fund in your community.
- Competing in an Iron Man Triathalon
- Giving Money To Church.
- Completing A Course on Being a Public Speaker
- Running in a Road Race.
- Making amends with family members
- Buying a Sports Car
- Performing our Art in front of a good audience.
- Getting the recognition of our peers.
- Getting in world class shape.
- Reading 500 books.
- Learning a new language.
- Renewing wedding vows.
- Taking a month long vacation
- Meeting a famous mentor
- Helping a famous mentor.
- Creating a new church program
- Quitting Smoking.
- Going to Mardi Gras.
- Going to a World Series Game
- Teaching your child baseball.
- Re-finishing family heirloom furniture.
- Becoming an expert in a sport or game
- Getting an article published in a magazine.
This List of peak experiences is just few things–but they come in a wide variety of things. What are your peak experiences? Let me know in the comments!
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