When they find out I am living at my place in Vail skiing every day, some people ask me: “Are you working?”
Of course I am working.
I haven’t taken a day off work this century, although I do benefit from having a squishy definition of work: My work is my life and my life is my work, which means I am always focused on these topics.
I only work with a small number of clients on retainer, so it is easy for me to keep up with my regular calls. And with the majority of my clients outside of New York, it matters little where I am.
Facing the snow-covered Rockies, I am writing two shifts a day, but most of the work I am doing is getting better.
See, here’s the thing.
When I tell people what I do, some skeptics ask: “Why can’t I just do that myself?” And I say, “You can, but I wouldn’t be any good at my job if I only brought you the same tools and skills that you already have.”
You see it is essential that I bring my clients the most advanced tools and that requires I must keep getting better and better at mastering my craft.
That means I am reading a few books a week and training video and audio programs, including while I ski. Then, on lifts, I’m putting to work many of the tools I am learning, and practicing training the skills.
For instance, last week I was studying an audio program on rapid reframing techniques, which are ways of quickly turning around someone’s language to get them thinking differently.
On the lifts I have been practicing this tool, playing with the people I meet, applying just one idea: Reframing anyone who is longing for more snow.
So when someone says to me, “I’m hoping we get more snow,” I say to them, “yeah, that would be great, what would that do for you?”
They might say, “I just love getting out there when there’s a bunch of fresh snow,“ and I might “echo” them by saying, “yeah, so you love getting out there when there’s a bunch of fresh snow,” and they say, “yeah,” and I say: “Imagine how much you would be loving today if there was a bunch of fresh snow?”
Then, to let that idea sink in, I distract their attention and talk about something random for a minute or so. Finally, right before we de-lift I ask them how it feels today imagining you are skiing fresh snow? They laugh. My work is done.
You see, what I have done with a few questions is get their brain to see that what they have right now feels different when they are thinking about it different.
Rather than making a great day seem sub-par, you can make it feel like the greatest day on earth by choosing different thoughts.
This to me is working. It is community service. It is my public service to help skiers much more enjoy their day.
It’s not a hard job, but somebody has to do it!
That I am obsessed with my work, I love to be engaged in these ideas 24/7, and I can do it on my terms, when I want, where I want, including on Gondola One, only makes my job all the better!