Dave Ford Does Earth

Posted by Dave Ford

I manage my life. There is not an exact formula or organized method that I use. I did not learn how to do it from a self help book. But there is definitely some serious life management going on. More than anything, I consistently set goals for myself. I also sporadically journal about anything and everything that comes into my mind involving major events in my life: Business events, relationships, travel, family.

Starting B.E has been one of the most rewarding challenges that I have embarked on thus far. I am 31–living in one of the biggest, fastest moving cities in the world, developing a business, and enjoying every second of this ride. My goal with regards to BE is ironically, to “be”. I need to make a million different decisions every day that could effect my future and the future of my partners. But instead of stressing about what “could happen” or “what might happen”, I am choosing to be present with what “is” happening. Not to say that we are not doing our best to forecast the future, or learn from our past mistakes–but you can still do this while “being” present.

Today was a beautiful day in New York. I woke up a fair bit hungover after seeing  “Hysterical Psycho” (It was a hilarious horror film that will make millions of stoners around the world smile) at the Tribeca Film Festival last night. After shaking out the initial cobwebs this morning I walked out to 1st Avenue, got a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee, and then walked to “the Oval”–the park in the middle of Stuyvesent Town–where I live. It was beautiful out and I sat there on a park bench for at least an hour. I watched the squirrels and wondered why they they do not eat out of the garbage cans more often. I watched hundreds of people pass by.  I sat next to a guy that had a very long and detailed conversation with his dog (the dog actually looked interested).  I also took in the fact that it is “FINALLY” spring.

I was truly present for that entire hour.

And guess what, it was and incredible experience even with a slight hangover. I take this same approach with my business. What use is worrying or stressing? It is simply not productive. It effects your sleep. Your friends and family can feel your stress. Its just all around “no bueno” for the mind, body, and the spirit.

I have made a conscious choice to be present through good times and hard times. The major life lesson that I learned from my “first” world trip (South America, North America, Africa in 2007 and 2008) was simply to live life in the moment.  I lived in this manner for 2 straight years: I climbed mountains, and rode on terrible buses, and learned a new language, and scuba dived, and drank beers with people from every walk of life. I was in the moment for two years straight. I cannot go back to what it was like before that. Its not a possibility for me. My life has changed.

I personally do not feel that there is a need for stress. Putting pressure on yourself to accomplish your goals is healthy. But, worrying about a million scenarios that “might” happen is just the opposite. The human imagination can be a beautiful thing–but for many of us can be extremely destructive.

I think it all revolves around a choice. I can choose to enjoy the fact that I am typing on my Mac at 12:02am on a Saturday night listening to Radiohead. I can be present with my surroundings–and enjoy my giant glass of New York City tap water. Or, I can choose to think about how I haven’t wrote a blog post in almost a month, or that I am a total nerd for writing a blog posts on a Saturday night, or I can worry about a press release that we are sending out this week.

My “choice” is to enjoy every second of this crazy ride of a life as it is the only one I am going to get.

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My good friend David Romenelli and I have a very similar approach to life and he just happened to write a hilariously awesome book about it. I loved it and think you should check it out as well.  Click here:  Yeah Dave’s Guide to Living in the Moment.

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