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Bus One Seven
The End of Innocence
by Roderick Armageddon

What does all of it mean? Is the economy finally flexing its’ muscle in celebration of sustainable revenue models? I don’t believe that’s the case. I call it a reality check. In fact, head down to your local Starbucks and grab a cup of deep roast - that person behind the counter probably has more in their Bean Stock than you’ll ever have in any options. Hell, if you pulled shots at Starbucks for the last ten years, you could’ve cashed in your Bean Stock for a new BMW Z3 - just like the one your not-com neighbor had to sell after nomarketforthis.com tanked. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it appears that baristas are having the last laugh. Is Howard Shultz’ well-roasted picture of the American landscape the only true beacon of hope in the 21st century? It may be. Throw chairs through their windows if it makes you feel better - vent your rage against ambition, risk and bravery - when you head home to your bed of anger, they’ll fix the glass and shares will rise 4 percent. Sleep tight little camper.

Welcome to the real world - wake up and smell what really matters. Cash and prizes are for game shows, not for real life… what the hell happened to values? How about trust? How about integrity? Up until this past Saturday afternoon, I had lost mine. The innocence of my life had passed through my veins and I was truly a victim of myself. Then came Robert Swan, the single most inspiring man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I won’t go into the grisly details as to why he’s so important, but I will tell you about the power of rethinking your existence.

With the "new economy" taking a dive every day, we’re led to believe that a wealth of poor ideas came to the table well before the restaurant opened… that may be the case, but I’m inclined to think that it wasn’t the ideas that were poor - definitely not the ambition that created them or the work that made them a reality (no matter their fate). Often the real problem can be found in their intentions. I ask you this: are you doing what you’re doing right now because that is truly what you want to be doing? Did you dream of being an administrative assistant? Or an accountant? Or better yet, the Director of Business Development? If you did… cheers to you. If not, why are you there? Student loans? Mortgage? Responsibilities? Bullshit.

Don’t misplace your innocence. Like Madonna to virginity, you can get it back if you want it bad enough. Reconstruct the passion that drove you through college and into wildly exotic romances… rebuild the power of a truly moving film (the one that filled you with rage, or the one that made you weep like an old woman), or an enticing novel, or better yet a truly invigorating conversation. Find your passion and make it your driving force. Before hearing Robert Swan, I had started to corrode… morals, integrity, conviction, trust, passion, vigor… these are all words that should not and could not have been used to describe me. The love and conviction that once made me something special in the world was dull and discolored - eroded to nothing more than a shadow of my talents and drive. Robert Swan slapped me in the face with the story of truth and convicted intention. Up until Saturday afternoon, I was gray inside… now the colors of my humanity are brighter than a gay pride parade heading through the Castro. Welcome back, passion… welcome back integrity, conviction, trust, and vigor.

Consider following that little voice in your head because it’s telling you what you’re supposed to be doing, not how to build a sustainable revenue model. The world’s economies have been built by working men and millionaires alike, but the color of the world has been built on the backs of dreamers, visionaries, creators and artists... both groups have found success because they found what truly drove them, whether commerce or creation. I’m suggesting that the key to happiness might be found in isolating the conviction to be who you truly are and stand behind it with all of the conviction and honor that you can muster, because when it’s all said and done, that’s really all you have. The BMW, the stock options, the big house, the designer shoes… they’re nothing without soul.

So, get your hands off of the mouse and head down to Starbucks. Order an overly-complex, frothy espresso-based beverage… take the time to sit back and reflect on who you are in this big mess… what have you become and is it what you had hoped, or better yet, what it is you know you should be? Are you the person your heart wants you to be?

Innocence isn’t a light bulb that grows dim and then burns out… innocence is a silver goblet: tarnished or shiny, half empty or half full. So get off your ass and start polishing, you’ve got a trip to the well to make.