Monday, December 12, 2011

What is the drumbeat of your life?

This week is my last week at Nikon.  It has been a great ride for me.  I've been a contractor, field service engineer, program manager, interpreter, project manager, people manager, been on committees and helped roll out initiatives.  Now that it's drawing to a close, I'm looking at the transition and realizing things about myself.

Today, just about 5 minutes ago, actually, I was talking with a colleague about the future.  He knows I'm leaving, of course.  It occurred to me everyone I know has a drumbeat - it's that thing that is always in your mind.  No matter what.  Without pause.

For one person I know, it's always, "How badly can this go wrong?  And what do I do if it goes terribly wrong?"  I know people who always seem to be simmering/angry.  The first thing they always say is to point out a problem.  I know people who always have a vacation on their mind, or a hobby.

My drumbeat is "What's next?  What can I do now?"  No matter how far along I am in something, there is always something else to do, something else to learn.  With work effectively wound down already, my next thing is a bit of a balancing act:

1) discovering the next turn on my career path
2) doing and learning the things I haven't had time to learn or do
3) filling the idle time with productive work

I want to learn how to draw.  Painting would be cool, but just to learn how to sketch is a valid objective for me.  I want to learn kanji better, and improve fluency in business Japanese, particularly finance.  I want to spend time composing and arranging music.  I want to spend some time with my piano and guitar.  I want to finish my grandfather's biography and build on the research into his wife's side for a book on her family.  I want to finish a multitude of projects around the house.  And I want to repair my 3 RC airplanes so they fly well again.

When I get a spare moment, during my commute to work, or between turning out the light and falling asleep, or at moments during the day, my mind instantly fills with these things.  Which should I do?  And in what way?  And how do I balance that with all the other things?  Which is the most important?  How will they impact my family's life?

I think it is this drumbeat that defines my outlook the best.  I am an incurable optimist.  I always see the opportunity beyond the challenge in front of me.  And I truly, truly (for good or ill) believe I can accomplish just about whatever I want to.  And I have always had a list 3 miles long of things that I want to learn and accomplish (do you hear that Spanish and Estonian?  You're on my list!).

What is your drumbeat?  What fills your mind in those idle moments?  This is important to know on a conscious level.  It's important enough to your subconscious mind that it (whatever it is) is always there.

Now, excuse me while I spend some time on a bicycle, update my resume, do some laundry, and then go caroling.  What's next?  I can't wait!