W05 Reflection - Here are my key takeaways from “A Hero’s Journey.”

Here are my key takeaways from “A Hero’s Journey.”

The talk reframed success from trophies to transformation. The three end-of-life questions—Did I contribute something meaningful? Was I a good person? Who did I love, and who loved me?—cut through the noise of titles and net worth. If those are the real scoreboards, then my calendar and budget need to mirror them now, not “after I make it.”

Second, a calling sits at the intersection of God-given gifts, deep joy, and a real need in the world. I loved the practical experiments: ask five people what you do better than anyone else; notice where you lose track of time; then aim those strengths at a concrete problem that bothers you enough to act. That is more actionable than waiting for a lightning bolt.

Third, ethical guardrails matter more than raw ambition. Writing out “I will never…” lines and a “message in a bottle” for moments of temptation is a powerful way to prevent small compromises that become big failures. I also took to heart the counsel to choose fellow travelers—extraordinary, high-character people multiply impact and shape who I become.

From the week’s other materials, two ideas clicked. Randy Komisar’s “portfolio of passions” removes the pressure to find the passion and instead points me toward a direction (north, not a single dot on the horizon). And David Friedberg’s reminder that most entrepreneurs aren’t rock stars pushes me to optimize for learning, impact, and alignment—not headlines.

How I’ll apply this now

• I’ll orient my work around a north star of service + integrity + craft. That points me toward three current projects that fit my gifts and bring joy: a family-focused eco-retreat in Angola, a preventive-health tool, and Portuguese micro-learning content. Treating them as “right answers,” I’ll pick one door and walk through it, trusting more doors will open.

• This week I’m drafting five “I will never” guardrails (e.g., no dishonest gain; family time protected) and writing a short “message in a bottle” to future me.

• I’ll run the five-person strengths survey and keep a short “flow log” for 14 days to see when I feel most alive.

• I’ll schedule one hour to thank a mentor in person—gratitude as a discipline, not a mood.

• Finally, I’ll do a fellow-traveler audit: list the five people I spend the most time with and ask whether their character and ambition pull me toward or away from my calling.

If I live this way—direction over destination, character over clout—I won’t just make a living; I’ll build a life I’m proud to measure.