Don’t we have anything better to do with our time?

July 12, 2015 ~ Written by: W.B. “Bud” Kirchner

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” ~ Albert Einstein

It is (beyond) interesting to me that I have been asked the same question by three constituencies.

The constituencies:

• Myself.
• People close to me.
• Readers of this resource.

The question (for me):

Do you not have anything better to do with your time? You spend untold amounts of time trying to transfer lessons learned in neuroscience and psychology (and related areas) into the world of business. And you spent even more time creating Kirchner Group’s concept called Business Brain Model.

The question (for you):

Do you not have anything better to do with your time? I hope your answers is no. I ask that same question about you every time I write a post. I know there are countless demands on your time. And I know there is no greater commodity than time.

The answer:

I assume for #1 and #2 (at least) what is behind the question are considerations such as:

1. Like you, I sit in the ‘buck stops here’ seat! I do this on two significant commercial ventures. Plus, Kirchner Group is advisors, agents, principals and managers of a significant amount of assets. In short, my day job, like yours, is pretty full.
2. I am actively involved in numerous philanthropic and impact activities. While they use some of the same principles, it is not a seamless crossover to transfer ideas. In short, my ‘night job’ is also replete.
3. I am not ‘selling’ anything – Kirchner Group does not offer services/products (e.g. consulting services) directly related to this. Needless to say, I trust the services and product we do offer reflect a culture (including innovation) that capitalizes on our Business Brain Model.

So why do it?

• I relate strongly to you. The business managers and builders who are constantly pushing the envelope and desperate for every competitive alternative are my people. We are entrepreneurs in the truest sense.
• I am fully committed to our Earn It and Return It Model. Based on the principal that one’s life should be a balance of “earning” and “returning,” this is an open forum to share what others have “discovered” and I have “validated” in five decades of practice.
• If these ideas, in any way, help make business saner let alone more productive, then this is a victory for all business.
• Those that know me – know I don’t get involved in anything (earning or returning) that I am not passionate about. And when I am passionate I feel compelled to share.

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” ~ Nelson Mandela

This reminds me of a phrase I hear from Millennials: “Go big or go home.” Which reminds me that no matter how young, hip or clever you are – a catch phrase cannot catch the meaning of passion. You can only capture that by truly living life passionately. It is our passion – yours and mine – that takes us to greater heights. It is our passion that drives us to live a life greater than we, and most of the people around us, ever envisioned for ourselves. Let your passion be your guide.

“We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:

Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.”

~ Arthur O’Shaugnessy

About the Author: W.B. “Bud” Kirchner is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist with more than 50 years of business success. He is not a scientist or an academic but he does have a diversified exposure to neuroscience, psychology and related cognitive sciences. Generally speaking, the ideas he expresses here are business-angled expansions of other people’s ideas, so when possible, he will link to the original reference.