Gig Economy

1. Sip coffee.
2. Pet dog.
3. Turn on favorite music.
4. Have another sip of coffee.
5. Check email.
6. Adjust draft on wood stove.
7. Pet dog again.
8. Sip more coffee.

And we wonder why we aren't getting anywhere.  
In the studio, I surround myself with symbols of my comfortable life:  The smell of coffee.  My favorite music.  The lazy dog.  The crackling wood stove.  All of these things, I really love.  Why?  These things are embedded deep from my early times growing up in a little Oregon logging community.  This was the lifestyle that was practiced and I was conditioned to believe in the power of these things to give me a feeling of certainty and happiness.  Although deeply embedded from childhood, I now know that these things, to a great extent, can be unlearned and even re-linked to fear and pain.   We can re-program ourselves.  We can convert our comfort zone into a danger zone (and vice-versa).  We can learn and unlearn what makes us feel comfortable.

Don't throw the dog out. 
So how do we make the Gig Economy work?   Maybe there is a bit of re-programming to do, but we won't need to throw the dog out.  Let's just say we may need to educate the dog a tiny bit.  So here's the thing:  When it comes to gigs or projects, we have to know what is most important.  I like the word, momentum.  Momentum happens when ideas begin to shake loose and we are no longer 'stuck'.   We are on a roll.  Suddenly, our gig is alive.  We need to keep that rhythm and flow going.  The dog (and everyone else) simply must understand how momentum is so incredibly valuable.

Momentum is most precious. 
When the work begins to flow, we have to kick it into high gear.  The dog (and everyone else) has to anticipate and understand that momentum is a really good thing for everyone.  Momentum carries our life forward, and everything changes when we follow through on our projects and commitments.  There is so much satisfaction and joy in finishing our work.  Not to mention, it's how the bills get paid.  

Embed the idea of momentum.
How do we embed this idea of momentum deep into our psyche?   We want to build a network of associations.  What is momentum like?  We might try the feeling of coasting downhill on a bicycle.  Or maybe a sailing analogy - We are under full sail, taking advantage of the wind.  In a practical sense, when we've got momentum, we need to take action to protect it.  Let's put our email on auto-response and let somebody else adjust the stove.  And the dog... take her for a walk along the short route.  She will understand.           

The healthy, sustainable way.
So what about doing gigs long term?  What about burn-out?  I'm sixty and still gigging it.  Maybe there is a better question:  How can we be more curiosity-driven?  How can we learn to quickly recognize the beginnings of a little momentum?  Consideration of these questions may lead us in a more healthy and sustainable direction.  It's so much better than the stress and anxiety of the procrastination cycle and deadline pressure.  

Ship, Deliver, Follow-Through.
So when it comes to gigging it, we need to think deeply about what contributes most to delivering a product.  Then we need to re-condition ourselves around our new concept as if it was a comfortable pair of jeans.  And now that I have followed through and finished this article more comfortably than ever before, I'm thinking,  Yes! This blog is my Lasagna!   :-)    

Chris Hammond and The Healing Journey Workshop... Let's deepen the conversation on how to cultivate fertile soil for growing mindful, creative touch in a connection economy.  Connect with Chris here.