How do you decide what to do with the time that’s been given to you? This is a question most people ponder their entire lives. In Chris Brady’s classic talk, Life as a Layer Cake, he attempts to answer this question by providing a thoughtful illustration you won’t soon forget.
To somewhat review…
There’s a dichotomy of advice on how to approach your life:
Viewpoint A – “Be successful but hate what you do.”
Viewpoint B – “Love what you do but never succeed.”
Because these are two very separate paths, how do you decide which one is right?
It may help to create your own layer cake and personalize it to your life.
- What preparatory and preliminary experiences do you have that have shaped who you are? (education, up-bringing, learning experiences)
- What is your pragmatic occupation? (pays the bills and provides for your needs)
- Do you have a passionate pursuit? (something that fulfills you)
- Are you chasing a purposeful calling? (significance, contribution)
There are multiple dimensions of what it takes to be complete in your life.
“We need ALL of these layers to maximize our potential and feel the most fulfilled and happy. The larger and more developed each layer is, the more complete, fulfilled and happy you will feel.” – Chris Brady
(Posted by Kristen Seidl, on behalf of Chris Brady)
LIFE and Leadership by Chris Brady 