WOW - A very exciting and big day here! Today our book, The Bigger Game goes live. What an honor, as a co-player with Laura Whitworth, to have The Bigger Game message be available for the world to check out. I must say that it is truly vulnerable to have one’s work in print form, and yet I am so proud of our courage and commitment over these past few years to wake people up to find and play their own Bigger Game. And, as I have titled this blog entry, it is “the perfect time” to play a Bigger Game, for “business as usual” is certainly shifting. It is so the right time for individuals and organizations to become wildly innovative as they re-invent the way they do their lives and their businesses - this is the outcome of playing a Bigger Game. As our worlds around us change, there are amazing opportunities to do our lives differently and to do business in a more responsible and sustaining manner. How exciting this is!

And please let me say how much gratitude we have for all those that have been involved with Bigger Game - either as co-players in bringing this work to our world or as participants in the many Bigger Game experiences that have happened around the globe - in workshop and keynote formats - thank you for showing up to hear the Bigger Game philosophy. There are too many to personally name here. And let me boldly say a big “THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for your belief, your commitment and to your love of this type of work.” I know that Laura is seeing this moment with pride, excitement and joy! I can hear her right now say her compelling purpose outloud, “Just remember, they don’t know ‘how,’ and we can do something about that.” Well, today, we are doing something about that. We proudly release this book, The Bigger Game into our world, knowing that it touches the lives of those that desire to hear its message!

Game on! With much gratitude and excitement! Rick T.

Wow, it’s hard to believe that another year has come to a close, and what a year it was!  Change is everywhere: a change in the economy, a change in the value of our retirement accounts and home values… and change is coming to Washington in just a few weeks! Regardless of your political affiliation, I think it’s a fair assessment that we all agree that change is needed!  And what I am most excited about is that this change is more about a reflection of our own internal change.  We are evolving to the next level of what we are here to become.  I have heard many folks talking about our recovering back to the way it was - and what I know is that there is no going back.  We are moving toward the next phase - I have begun calling it “the collective world.”  We now know the world is truly one - what we all do impacts everywhere.  And now that we know this we are coming together to heal our planet, to heal our hearts, to truly step into a global awareness.  As a person who is blessed to travel the globe a bit, this is so exciting to see.  Many of the countries I visited this past year are so excited about the world’s future.  And what I know is that as we all raise our level of awareness together, miracles WILL happen!

On a personal note, it certainly has been a year of change for me.  In July, my Uncle passed.  And then in October, Chuck and I had to put down to rest our dear sweet dog, Abby.  She was with us for 13 years and taught us some tremendous lessons along the way.  We wildly miss her everyday!  And then just 2 weeks after Abby passed, my dear Mom passed.  I miss talking to her and sharing my travel adventures with her!

This holiday season I find myself reflecting on all of the changes in my life, and I continue to know that all change is good.  There are many emotions to feel deeply along the way, and yet I know that it’s always for the highest good.  There is also much gratitude for all that my Uncle, Abby and my Mom brought to me and to our world - therefore, there is much to celebrate as I bring closure to 2008!  This is true on a global scale as well - what is there to celebrate as a world this year?   What we focus on grows, so I am asking myself at this time of year what there is to celebrate, for then this will expand!

Which has me wondering… do you agree?  What is your relationship with change?  What are your thoughts about the changes in your world and the world? What is there to celebrate from your 2008 year? Wishing you a very merry holiday and a gorgeous 2009!

In Gratitude-Love, Rick

I know it has been a bit of time since my last posting–life does seem to go rather quickly, eh? And I am taking a moment today to reflect, something I am becoming more committed to each day–more to go with that!!! Recently I was asked by a participant of a Bigger Game workshop how I got to where I am in my career–a question I get asked somewhat frequently. It has me reflect on the idea that I even have a career–I have never thought of myself as a career building person. My own awareness of my career is very low–however, what I do notice is that I have a day to day existence of doing “what is in front of me now.” What I realize is that I am at this point in my life–and deeply grateful for it–as a result of simply “doing what is in front of me now.”

In my day to day life, this translates into coach the person in front of me now, lead the workshop that is front of me now, do a keynote that is in front of me now, be with the team that is in front of me now, be with my family who is in front of me now, and so on and so on. My life is one very long string of “what is in front of me nows”–and when I look back on that string I only then realize that I may indeed have a career–focusing on creating a career did not generate a career for me. AND, what I have finally come to be wildly grateful for is that it will NEVER be done.

There is no end in sight for this string. For me personally, there will be no “stopping, i.e., retirement–how could I even consider stopping what I love to do the most–be with what and who “is in front of me now.” So my offering to you today is simply to be with and do “what is in front of you now” and tomorrow, “repeat”–just like is says on some shampoo bottles–”shampoo, rinse and repeat.” (Don’t you just love how they tell us how to shampoo!)

I so now know that fulfillment, joy and fun comes from moving from one “what is in front of me now” to another without worry in between. I would love to hear some of your “what is in front of me nows” in your own lives, as I know you have wisdom on this topic as well. Thanks for reading. Much joy and fun to you all! Best–Rick T.

We have just completed our Bigger Game Train the Trainer in Silver Bay, NY with 12 terrific new Bigger Game workshop trainers, and I am reminded once again about one of the most important key concepts of playing one’s Bigger Game. It is about letting the Game find you, rather then working hard and trying to figure out the “Right Game” to play.

As soon as we step into any perspective about needing to find a Game or working really hard to make a Game happen, we have left the magic and the joy place of playing on the Bigger Game Board. What I do keep noticing for folks who are successful with their Bigger Games are the key qualities of joy, fun and play. It is a simple, yet important reminder to myself over and over again that the phrase is “playing your Bigger Game,” not “working really hard at your Bigger Game.”

Now, there may be days where there is hard work and yet let me offer up a distinction here. When we are compelled with a great Game the work is not hard, but rather there is a flow and there is much joy - the hours may be long and yet we are so into it we forget about the time completely! Have you ever experienced this magical place? This is the sweet spot of playing one’s Bigger Game.

Do an assessment today and check in on how much joy and fun is happening with the Game you are playing right now - and then dare to take some Bold Action to take it up a notch! It is your birthright to have much joy, love and fun in your daily life!

Thanks for checking in on the Blog. As some of you know, I say many times… “more to come!”

Namaste!

Rick

The traditional thought for the New Year is to think about what one wants to create in the coming year—and it even rhymes this year—what do you want to create in 2008? How cool is that? And yet, I notice that I enter this year with a different question. The new bigger question for me this year is, “Who do I want to create with in 2008?” It is a “who” question, rather then a “what” question. And it generates a completely different set of answers, obviously, and ones in which I notice I become excited about.

Who are the new clients I want to attract?
Who are the co-players I want to co-create work with?
Who do I want to have way more fun with?
Who is interested in a similar message?
Who is someone to go ask some support from?
Who is willing to be direct and honest with me this year?

And the list could go on and on. So, I invite you to begin 2008 with the “who” questions, rather then the “what” questions and simply notice the impact it has on your own level of passion, excitement, and joy. When we are working and playing with folks we want to be around, magic and miracles happen!
Here is to the “who’s” of 2008!
Blessings,
Rick