It was the first time I pitched Gamerosity in about 9 months. I mean, I really had to sell the “heart” behind us, not our process, not our product, but our purpose. Getting to the heart of GMR was the only way I knew we can get through those doors, and I freaking NAILED IT. I was so reinvigorated by the response yesterday on our Anniversary and that pitch, I’m feeling so good about Gamerosity right now.

I don’t know if they’ll be willing to work with us because we may be way too far apart on $$$, but they’ve captured the vision and the purpose and that’s really important because sometimes winning the small goal isn’t as important as having allies in the industry down the road.  By the time I walked out of that office, there were two new believers in the work we’re doing for Childhood Cancer.

Purpose matters more than profit, more than catchy one-liners, and more than one individual person.  WHY Gamerosity exists is the message that matters the most.  We exist because too many children feel isolated and disconnected from friends and loved ones.  Too many children feel like nobody knows what they’re going through.  We’re here to heal that.  The Hero Packages we give children are just one part of that purpose, this next step can make a huge difference and I’m willing to walk the long, lonely, potentially discouraging road of using the resources given to us by the Sheckler Foundation in the most appropriate, and most meaningful way.

The Board has empowered me to lead Gamerosity, and you have empowered me to fight for Gamerosity and that’s what I’ll do.  In a couple weeks, I’ll receive a proposal from this development team and then I’ll have my heading for the next step in this long road.  Whatever happens, I know 100% that my “sell” for Gamerosity will always be on the foundation that we’re trying to do something that larger non-profits simply don’t do and we want partners and Sidekicks who believe in something bigger than logic and the Bottom Line.  And it starts with me.

I don’t think I’ll ever be “that leader” that everyone looks up to, that writes books on leadership, or goes on speaking tours, but I will do everything I can to be the leader that maybe inspires people to think, “Well, I can do that…” because really, that’s our foundation, the power of “us” caring about every little detail of the people we serve.  And to me, that’s what matters most… how we speak to the things that awaken our souls.

I’ve spent the last 3 years working as hard as I can to make Gamerosity a real, tangible, meaningful thing.  I hustled through late nights, long road trips, and lots of euphemisms involving blood, sweat, and tears… I believe in Gamerosity more than anything I’ve ever done in my life.  It’s my life’s purpose, my heart’s joy, the purpose in the pain.

But, for the first time in 3 years, I got burnt out.

Running my own business, rehabbing my knee, raising a family, figuring out our finances, and growing/maintaining the non-profit finally wore me out and I found myself struggling to continue the momentum for a couple weeks there.

My Board knew it too… they saw it when they looked into my eyes.  Nothing was ever mentioned, but they knew I finally hit that wall everyone’s been talking about.  The reality is, the “grind” of Gamerosity isn’t something I can pass off because nothing is really automated and I can’t just have anybody update pages because they’d receive the keys to a website that hosts hundreds of sales and facilitates over 200 campaigns, there’s too much at stake.

See, I believe in “Love Recklessly” as a philosophy.  I don’t agree with the idea of being analytical in how you serve or love others.  That’s not necessarily healthy, but it’s how I operate; it’s who I am.  Consequences, however, can be pretty tough.

But I learned a couple things through this.

1.  We don’t always need help, but we always need support

Not everyone can do your job, especially if you have a specialized position as I have with Gamerosity.  But you do need a support system.  You need people that understand how you operate, people who will talk about something other than what’s burning you out, and people who will encourage you through the process.

2. Fatigue doesn’t mean Failure

This may be tough for people who fancy themselves “strong” in the business or personal world.  Don’t deny that you’re burnt out, it’ll only compound the issues, admit it.  Be open about your humanity and embrace the process.  You’re exhausted because you’re pursuing something that matters deeply to you, it’s supposed to cost you.  Don’t get discouraged.  Press on.

3. Get some rest

Seriously.  Your body needs a break, we all have to save the world, I get it.  I live in some of that “what if” world (Kids aren’t getting funded because I’m too lazy to post and ask people to help!”), but you have to take a short break from whatever it is that’s burning you out.  Turn off your phone, don’t answer emails, redirect your conversations, and unplug for a day or two.  You’ll notice that whatever it is will be waiting for you when you get back, and refocussing provides perspective.

4. Refocus

If you’re burnt out, it means you’re not doing things efficiently.  Take some time to see if there’s an opportunity to approach it a different way.  Perhaps there is room for extra support.  Not everyone can help you, and you can’t help everyone.  But you can see ways to improve and adjust.  You’ll also be able to remind yourself WHY you chose to do this in the first place.  I love our Gamerosity kids, they’re everything to me.  Their smiles light up my life.

Last Saturday, my wife and decided to just stay in bed and unplug.  The weight can sometimes be so heavy that it paralyzes you, you have to unplug.  We didn’t get out of bed until 10am.  And, for a family with a 6 and 4 year old, you know how impossible that can be.  We shut down all operations for the day, we relaxed around the house, stayed in our PJ’s till noon, and even went for a little hike in the afternoon.  It was exactly what I needed.

Find your nature hike.  A good book, a drink with a  friend, some headphones and a coffee shop, a weekend away… Whatever it is, get away, get refocussed, you’re too important to your purpose to burn yourself out.

I’ve encountered along my journey so many people seeking desperately to matter.  And I agree with them.  Everyone should matter.  Everyone matters.   I want you to find your deep purpose in this life.  If you don’t feel you’re living it right now, trust me, you are.  You may not feel as though it’s playing out the way you plan, but man, oh man, you’re smack dab in the middle of a beautiful story.  And it’s different than everyone else!

More than anything, I want to encourage you to LIVE YOUR STORY, not anothers, just BE YOU.

Somewhere along our journeys, we try to take shortcuts to prominence. But don’t be mistaken, shortcuts hurt people.  Taking the easy way out of our journey is effectively lopping off the heads of those in your way so you can fast-forward to a position that, in your opinion, matters more than where you’re at now.  I know this, because I’ve lived this.  I’ve learned that you have to honor the process in your journey.  You can’t hurt people and apologize later.

People do what they want

This was something someone told me a few years back that I’ve carried with me to this day.  I hurt someone.  I told them I didn’t mean to hurt them in my effort to matter.  The response I received was “People do what they want.”  that statement sat heavy in my heart and will never leave.

Think about that statement.  People do what they want.  You may be thinking, “I’m not doing what I want with my life right now.”  Well, are you?  If you say you want to wake up at 5 in the morning to go on a morning run, but you can’t get yourself up out of bed, then, well, you actually want to sleep in, not wake up early.  If you’re telling me you want to learn how to play guitar, or write a blog, or be a better parent, leader, or read more… The proof is in the pudding.

You do what you want. If you want to start a non-profit, then start a non-profit.  We talk about closed doors and open doors all the time, have you ever stopped and talked about the doors you kicked open and ran through?  That door is open if you want to go through it.  That’s what #LoveRecklessly is all about.

There are no more victims. There is only empowerment. What do you want to do? Do it.

Circumstances can easily change the trajectory of your journey, but you should always be moving towards your purpose. Always.  If fear is enabling you to continue with making excuses, I encourage you, with everything in me, move past the excuses.  I KNOW you want to be significant.  I know this because I want the same thing.

Some days I’m dog-tired.  I work a lot, Gamerosity asks a lot of me, I’m a dad to 2 beautiful children, and I have a fantastic wife who loves spending time with me.  Excuses are easy, but I have to ask myself, “what do I WANT out of this life?” after that, everything is easy.  I want to show kids with cancer that I love them, I care for them, and that we remember them.  That can’t happen without putting in work. I do what I want.  My actions will always show that.  And until I see the face of Jesus, I’ll kick through every door I encounter.  I hope you do the same.

How about you?  You ever feel like the world is keeping you from being significant?  Like circumstances are getting in the way?  How’d you overcome them?  How do you find empowerment?