Happy Birthday, dear FACTUALITY!

I have been in a deeply reflective space leading up to FACTUALITY's fifth year in existence.

It would take a novel to capture why FACTUALITY is my most transformational life experience...  ​(btw, I do believe that I have a book in me)... so for now, I hope you enjoy these mantras that I came up with & the lessons that inspired them. They have guided me and allowed me to THRIVE over the last five years. 

1. I'd rather try and fail, instead of fail for simply not trying at all.
   Can you imagine how saying "I am creating a diversity board game and I plan to quit my job as an Assistant Vice President to work on FACTUALITY full time went over with my loved ones?" The responses were inclusive of you need to keep your job, what about your benefits, and laughter to name a few. 
   
   If you are of sound mind, you invest in your mental health, and are a rational person, with an idea that others perceive as crazy, FOLLOW IT! 
   
   What if you just put yourself out there and see what happens… because if you don’t, you will automatically fail. 
   
   You will soon realize that what is traditionally considered a failure, isn't failure at all. Something doesn't go as intended and you are left with the lesson, which is invaluable.
   
   ​Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa


2. Rid yourself of the people, places, things, and beliefs that fuel your discomfort.
   I like to engage in what I call holistic minimalism. Fun Fact: I did a TedX talk entitled Holistic Minimalism, which revolved around my exploration of removing from my life the people, places, things, and beliefs that failed to enrich it. Holding onto what adds zero value to your life instead adds tremendous grief and takes time away from far more significant things... like building FACTUALITY, which as I mentioned is the catalyst for my evolution--why would we intentionally take time away from opportunities that can take us to our next level?
   
   
3. We are both the cure and the cause of the grief in which we encounter. 
   If you want to know who your "real" friends are, start a business. Some of your friends will shower you with support and show up in ways that will reduce you to tears. Some friends will project their insecurities and let you down in the most unfathomable ways, when you find success... (and some of it may be all in your head).
   
   Either way, don't spend too much time there. Agreement #2 in The Four Agreements tells us not to take things personally. Whether you are being praised or prodded, don't spend too much time there. Getting caught up analyzing either is a free invitation to a rumination rendezvous, which takes time away from the work needed to ascend to your next level. 
   
   
4. If you take care of (your) business, your business will take care of you.
   Work on yourself so that you don’t get in your own way. When you take care of yourself... when you take care of business... your business will later take care of you.
   
   
5. I have no free time, but I've never felt more free.
   FACTUALITY takes up A LOT of my time. I've always worked a lot and really hard. The difference now is that work is coupled with a joy that's hard to capture in words.
   
   Not only did I find purposeful work, I created purposeful work. Working on some aspect of FACTUALITY is one of my most favorite ways to spend my time. I thrive off of repetition and I get to do something that I love... something that I created... something that is making an impact, something that I would do for fun... every single day of my life. 

From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful for each and every person, place, thing, and belief that led me here. Cheers to five years and many, many more.

xx Nat