Churn - Oscillation is the key to happiness and success

If it's not butter yet:

This is the sixth and final post in my series The Four C's that launched churnOn.com and this blog; as well as an ecosystem of social networking tools in just four weeks.

• Read part one: The Four C's that launched churnOn.com
• Read part two: Create, Connect, Complete, and Churn
• Read part three: In corner number one - Create!
• Read part four: Connect - It is still a who you know world
• Read part five: Complete - Keep your attention on the essential task

If you have followed this series, you know I am a big Stephen Covey fan and also have drawn inspiration through the years from Jim Loehr and his work at the Human Performance Institute. One of the basic tenets they both teach is that when we are living life from a place of purpose, when we are hitting on all cylinders, we move in and out (in a daily rhythm) of the four capacities that make us human. Here are some of the ways these four capacities can be defined, all listed in this order: mind, heart, body, and soul.

• mind, heart, body, soul;
• mental, social, physical spiritual;
• talents, passions, needs, conscience;
• to learn, to love, to live, to leave a legacy;
• vision, passion, discipline, conscience;
• create, connect, complete, churn;

We have looked at how I 'created' the website by first using a vision board in order to set the project in motion. Then we studied how the site gained momentum by 'connecting' with those who could cheer me onward, such as my buddies at the Apple store. Next we studied the third cornerstone in the model, ‘complete’ by discussing ways you can keep your attention on the essential task. This week we will look at the fourth component: churn.

The timing is perfect, because this is the week I will answer the question family, friends, and professional contacts have asked throughout this process. What is churnOn? What are my goals for the website? What are my goals for the blog? Some have suggested that I need a ‘call to action’ and I know they are right. I have appreciated this feedback and I plan to answer the bell.

In short, ‘churn’ is our conscience, our soul, our spirit. It is our desire to do what is right and what the world needs, and in some cases what the world might even pay us to do. We find our churn (what Covey calls, “our sweet spot, our soul’s code, our voice”) by oscillating in and out of each of the four capacities on a regular and rhythmic basis. We create, we connect, we complete, and we churn; and round and round it goes. Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we mess it all up, but in the end it is about the process, about the journey, about putting yourself out there in a way that says, ‘Hello world, here I am, G. Page Singletary, now a half century smart, twenty years married to wonderful Georgia Peach, three amazing kids, pretty good juggler of the mind, the heart, the body, and the soul – though certainly not catching all the balls all the time.’

Stay tuned as we continue to explore:

• churnOn talents
• churnOn passions
• churnOn disciplines
• churnOn spirituality

And also learn why my father taught me, “If it is not butter yet, keep on churning.”

This blog series (The Four C's) dedicated to Coach Dean Smith and the four corners offense. churnOn Heels - Sweet 16 for NCAA tournament-record 24th time!