"Dan, this is the call you have been waiting for," said my friend, Spence. "We are leaving on March 6, traveling to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Djibouti. We will be entertaining U.S. soldiers- bringing them a taste of home. Are you in?"

When I received that call, I was standing on stage in the Fort Lauderdale Marriott ballroom. My presentation for the Southeast Florida Apartment Association was two hours away, and I was alone, tuning up my skills and focusing my energy in preparation for the event. The question caught me off guard. True, I had been "waiting" for the call for some time. To perform overseas for the brave men and women of our military has long been an important goal.

But to leave right now for nearly a month- what a disruption that would be to my family responsibilities, my business, my commitments to clients, the completion of my book! I am, after all, a person who is always striving for a balanced approach to accomplishment. This opportunity, while exciting and worthwhile, would take me out of touch from the other "spheres" of my life and take me into a realm of uncertainty.

What would you say to such an offer? Well, as many of you already know, my answer was a resounding "YES!" You'd better believe I'm going. While the situation presents certain unexpected challenges for me and my family, the disruption is nothing compared to the sacrifice made by thousands of soldiers every single day. Instead of committing to a year or more of service, I have the luxury of going for only a month. And, I remind myself, there is no such thing as living a balanced life. The secret to success is to be off balance, on purpose.

Off Balance On Purpose

If you live your life striving to reach and sustain a balanced state of being, you will be forever frustrated. Perfect balance is an illusion. Picture in your mind an expert tightrope walker suspended high above the ground. The audience watches in breathless anticipation as the equilibrist carefully paces his stride, maintaining perfect balance. Or does he? Take a closer look and you'll see that in order to stay balanced on the wire, he is constantly making tiny, critical adjustments. He lifts his "free" leg as a counterweight, shifts his head and shoulders, raises and lowers his arms, adjusts the balance pole. He is perpetually out of balance, making adjustments that bring him through a moment of balance, only to readjust time and time again.

So if you ask yourself "how can I live a balanced life?" You are asking a flawed question. A better question, perhaps, is "am I living off balance, on purpose?"

Every moment we are off balance in one direction or another. You must be off balance to accomplish your goals. You must be off balance to live your values. You must be off balance in order to grow. But when you are off balance on purpose, you are leaning in the direction of your choosing. "On purpose" means it is a deliberate choice. You take responsibility for your choice to establish priorities in your life, and you move confidently in the direction of the things you value as most important. The second meaning of the phrase "on purpose" implies that you are following your passion, using your unique gifts and abilities, and fulfilling the role you were meant to have. This is a lifelong quest. It leads to the greatest rewards you'll ever know. Trust your inner voice and ask yourself "What is it you were meant to do? What is your purpose?"

When you reach the end of your journey and look back at life, you will probably not ask yourself “did I live a life of masterful balance?” More likely, you will ponder, “did my life make a difference?”

Time For Action

1. In what way are you off balance today? Is this a conscious decision or a reactive response to your circumstances?
   
2. In what way do you feel you should be off balance right now? Take ownership of your choice to be off balance in the direction you deem most important. Make the small critical adjustments to navigate this choice with confidence.
   
3. What does it look and feel like when you are "on purpose?" What actions can you take right now to make a difference and positively influence those around you?
   
4. Lean forward. Feel the excitement that comes from being off balance, on purpose. Then, follow through with one step at a time. I know you can do it!

Your partner in action,

Dan

P.S. I will keep you updated on the trip to the Middle East right here in your Action Mail newsletter. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, if you have a message you would like me to pass along to our soldiers, please send it as a reply to this e-mail.