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What The Heck Is A Viveratus, anyway?

If there’s anything that gives you a great excuse to re-open the door of past relationships, it’s making a change in your work. You moved? Dyed your hair pink? Changed your name to Snuffy? Big whoop — no one blinks. Change jobs, though, and the whole world gets curious.

Since making the shift from Monk at Work to Viverati, I’ve had the chance to explain my change-in-direction to a number of friends, old and new. And then it occurred to me that I should do the same thing here (duh!). Why? Because I’m narcisstic? Not at all - I’d much rather talk about you than me, any day.

I’ve talked with so many people in so many different industries that have been going through clarity spikes in their identities, I figured this post might come in handy, perhaps pointing the way for others in the throes of transition. And, if nothing else, it gives me a place to point people when they say, "Vive-what?"

[Synchronistically, Chris Garrett (of chrisg.com and AuthorityBlogger), a long-time blogoquaintance, along with the inimitable Liz Strauss (the founder of the SOBEvents), and BlogCatalog, are offering a sweet contest in regards to SOBCon08, and so this is a leatherman post. I had such an amazing time at SOBCon07, I'd love a chance to go again, not to mention win a bunch of great opportunities. That said...]

Vive-what?

One morning this past winter, after finishing a particularly grueling lovely CrossFit workout while in the midst of a full-blown identity crisis, it hit me: If you talked with 99% of the population and asked them if they knew about CrossFit, they’d say no. The "conventional wisdom" version of getting in shape looks like a skinny-fat walking on a treadmill for 45 minutes, watching the morning gamut of talk-blather on the idiot box at a Globogym.

But it’s not just that CrossFit is one uncommon blip in my otherwise normal life; the way I eat, the spirituality I’ve practiced, the work I’ve done (and the sports and the music and the martial arts and on it goes)… there are few places in my life where you could point and say, "oh yeah, that’s normal."

Room to grow

And, to be completely honest, I was tired of Monk at Work. I felt like I had established a certain voice there, and created certain expectations that weren’t really serving the full breadth of who I am and what I can offer. I realized that in order to grow, I’d have to drop the Monk and begin something new.

I knew that whatever I created had to give me room to grow into just about anything, because I tend to get interested in a lot of things in life. If I focused too narrowly, I’d inevitably bounce out again at some point in the future.

So, I’m standing there in my basement, sucking wind from my morning workout, and I thought about the most important question of all: Why? Why do I do all this off-the-beaten-path stuff? Why haven’t I fallen in with the sheeple? Why does any of it matter?

The answer: Everything matters.

Think about it: Haven’t you, at some point in your life, realized that the way you were doing something wasn’t working for you? Doesn’t matter what it was. My bet is that you were doing it the way you were taught, or the way you saw other people doing it, or just the "common sense" way. But then you realized that doing it that way sucked, and wasn’t getting you anywhere near the results you wanted.

So, you learned. You searched. You changed. You grew. And with that growth came improvement. And with improvement, a new perspective on your world.

Life at the "lowest common denominator" level bites, basically.

What you want—what everybody wants—and what will get you the kind of results you want out of life is "highest common denominator" living. A life that’s amazing, full, and rich with excitement, experience, and fulfillment. A life in which you can apply yourself to the fullest. A life in which you can do what you set out to do, no matter what it is.

And How, Pray Tell?

You’ve gotta grow. Go beyond who and what you’ve been before. And if you stop and think about it—really think about it—do you think that’s going to happen if you only look outside yourself for inspiration and guidance?

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart…. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. — Carl Jung

To be honest, this is as much a journey for you as it is for me. It’s about learning to be the authority in our own lives. To hone our abilities to discern what works for us, and have a semi-permeable membrane when it comes to taking in information and using it. You are the best judge of what can make your life absolutely rock, if you take that responsibility into your own hands and be the person you are here to be.

And that, my friends, is what a "viveratus" is: someone who lives their life to the fullest, on the outside and on the inside, because the two must go together. When you become truly literate in that which is vital to reaching your potential in life, you will be living the life you’ve always wanted, and, known deep inside was possible.

How Viverati Can Help

My intention with Viverati is not to create a soapbox for me and my opinions; if it was all about me, I’d have called it Viveratus, because I’m only one person. Viverati—plural—is about creating a community of people around this idea of "exceptional life literacy," a community of people who support each other, share, and grow together. A place where you can get what you need to go out there and kick ass in your own life.

To that end, the future of Viverati is an open book. Right now, there are posts, and the first podcast is coming next week. If/when the time is right, you’ll see a forum here, or some way for us to network more socially. We may start a book club. We may have in-person gatherings across the world. The world is our oyster.

You want something? Got an idea about what would rock? Ask me. Bring it up in the comment box, or write me. I’m open.

Or, give me a hug.

I have every intention of making it to SOBCon this year, and if you’re there, come give me a squeeze (you can’t miss me - 6′4" and bald as a cannon ball). SOBCon is a great chance to meet so many great members of the blogging community, learn top-notch tools about business from some fantastic minds, and, if this year is anything like last year, eat some of the best Indian food on the planet.

Last year’s event was stellar; I learned so much and met so many cool people… and at the time, my blog was only a month old. I even rocked the boat at one point; this year, I hope to keep speaking my mind and finding out who my tribe is (and isn’t). There’s no better way to learn than to jump in with both feet.

So if you’re a newbie, don’t sweat it. And if you’re an oldie, don’t miss it, either. There’s going to be plenty to rock your world.

Even if I don’t win the AuthorityBlogger contest, it’ll be amazing. But if I do, getting the chance to sit down with Chris Garrett and pick his brain about how he (a self-admitted shy guy) has gotten so popular in the blogging world would be the icing on the cake (and never fear, I’ll be sure to tell all here, if I do).

So, What Are You Waiting For?

You’ve heard my story — now, let’s hear yours. I’m inviting you to:

• write a post on your own site about your journey, your message, your purpose (call it what you will), and/or
• tell us in the comments about the kinds of revelations you’ve been having lately that are fueling the changes in your life, and/or
• share how this idea of "becoming the authority of your own life" lands for you.

Have at it, and have fun!

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2008 Viverati.