Are You A Porsche With Problems?
When I was in my 20’s, one of my good friends was already making a ton of money in sales and so of course he went out and bought a Porsche. On the outside this car was pristine. Whoever had it before him had washed and waxed this beautiful car to make sure it stayed in mint condition. My friend decided to move across the country to the west coast. We loaded up the Porsche with two duffle bags and hit the road. We only made it about 100 miles before we started to have trouble. The Porsche couldn’t go more than 30 Miles Per Hour as we struggled to get up a steep incline. Whoever had owned this Porsche did a great job taking care of the exterior, but under the hood it was a mess. The Porsche did eventually make it to California and then completely broke down one month after our arrival.
I tell this story because I went on to become exactly like this Porsche. At age 40, I had achieved my dream of becoming the executive producer of a talk show being produced out of the famed 30 Rock. The show was right across the hall from “The Tonight Show.” I just bought a beautiful new house and we had an Audi and Infiniti parked in the driveway. My bank account was growing each week and I was looking really good on paper.
Like the Porsche, I looked incredible on the surface. On the inside, I was a mess. I was working 100 hours per week to make this show successful. I was sleeping across the street in a hotel so I didn’t have to commute back and forth to New Jersey. My kids weren’t seeing me much and my home life was beginning to unravel. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this lifestyle was breaking me down.
When the show ended, I was diagnosed with a serious lung condition. I couldn’t sleep because my lungs were crackling. I was exhausted, depressed and not a lot of fun to be around. That is when I began working on what was on the inside. I had to get under the hood and work on my engine.
Whether you are a Porsche with problems or just want to love yourself with more regularity, here are three things I did to get back on track.
1) One Hour Playdate Each Week
I got this from the fantastic book “The Artists Way.” Each week I would spend one hour doing something by myself and for myself. I played pool with an old pool shark, I took a yoga class, I went to a comic book store, I listened to vinyl records. Anything that woke the child inside of me and reconnected me to that spirit was what I was after. This is easier said than done. I was so resistant to coming up with things to do and then finding the time to them. Yet, every time I completed these playdates, I felt alive.
2) Create A Morning Routine
For so many years, I would wake up at the crack of dawn and hit the ground running. I was starting at 100 MPH. Then I worked with the chairman of Comcast who told me he started each day working out at 5 AM. He needed to clear his head before going to the office. He also loved getting to work so early because there were no distractions and he got more done before people arrived. Now I begin each day by meditating for 15 minutes followed by a 20-minute workout routine. This routine guarantees that I am spending time every day on both my physical and mental health.
3) Big Plans
Once a week playtime is a great start, but what are you doing for yourself each quarter? What is the big thing you’re doing for yourself this year? Having things to look forward to is a great motivator. When we are just running in place and caught in the same old loop, it is hard to focus and work toward our goals. Plan one big thing per quarter. Go on a camping trip with your friends. Take a weekend spa trip. See what bands are coming to your area and book a night out with your friends. Then plan a really big self-care event once a year. These events will regenerate your spirit and always have you looking forward to something coming up.
