Session 67 — December 2021

Frederic reports that following their earlier discussion about trying different work he put out a website, but found himself so busy with it day to day that his heart was not in it - he enjoyed six months at home with his family more, stressful though it was.

The Wonders say to explore something else when he is genuinely willing, but that without passion or real desire there is another route if his concern is money: set himself up as an expert - since anyone can be an expert these days - in how to do nothing, and monetize it through a book, blog, podcast or YouTube videos, teaching people how to do nothing and make money doing nothing.

Frederic admits he is still not satisfied with his so-called job.

The Wonders call it a frustration and observe that he does enjoy work, but only when it challenges or excites him and when he can do it when he feels like it - so he should find a work environment that provides that, which is why they suggested teaching others how to do nothing.

Frederic describes already moving in that direction: still nominally present, but only attending meetings that interest him, listening, saying a few sentences and leaving it there.

The Wonders clarify that teaching others means teaching an attitude, not recounting what he did - an attitude of not being attached to an outcome, of not caring, because when you do not care you do not stress; he has been stressed lately precisely because he looked at his life, decided he had to work, and started caring about working.

Frederic recognizes a psychology that he should somehow be doing much more, which does not work for him, and says it feels like time for a new cycle though he has no idea what, adding that in the spiritual area, going deeper is for him actually going simpler.

On work practicalities, they advise finding work paid on results rather than time, as consultants are; told that big companies want to know the price in advance rather than a percentage, they say to take whatever fee he is contemplating and multiply it by ten, since his estimate will always be low, then do the work quickly but never reveal how quickly - people paying on results need to believe an enormous effort was involved to justify the fee.

They illustrate with the tale of the rabbit thrown into the briar bush, who yells and screams to make it sound terrible while happily eating a carrot, then saunters out complaining of how awful it was.

Frederic recalls his first week at work 26 years ago, finishing in a few hours a task budgeted at five days and finding his boss unhappy because it earned less.

They encourage him to become a consultant, telling old clients such as the banks he has worked with that he is now available, doing three to five jobs a year for a few hours' actual work.

Frederic says he enjoys guiding his daughter and would probably enjoy guiding other people; the Wonders suggest he do exactly that and also write about what it is to guide as a parent - another book - since he likes to talk and to write, and even if it turns into nothing they assure him it will turn into something.

Frederic asks what the next step is beyond 'simpler'.

The Wonders first correct the phrasing: not merely simpler, but simpler and direct - direct meaning not taking the long way around, having a direct conversation, not using four hundred words where three will do.

Frederic relates this to work, where he can do in seconds what takes others an hour by being direct.

Asked what lies beyond simpler, they answer that there is none: in the reality he lives in, achieving simpler is the goal, and the maxim 'slow is easy, easy is fast' carries both the simplicity and the directness that answer everything.

Most people, they say, cannot survive without complication and drama, and cannot grasp that with a simple, direct perspective one can enjoy everything without owning anything - things come into your life and leave - while leading a great, stress-free life.

Frederic says he is not there all the time, but sometimes finds things so simple and direct that he wonders whether he is missing something; the Wonders answer, not yet.

After the session René recounts what he watched: Frederic telling his employers he will hire himself out as a consultant, and when they object that they need him on site for a set number of hours, replying that he will put in the hours from his house, work on their problem and be paid a given sum - conveniently justified by the virus.

He then charges an enormous fee, tells them it is a very long job, and spends the time at home relaxing, playing with his daughter and going off to Disneyland, answering 'soon, soon' whenever they ask about the project.

Months later, when they insist it must be finished, he works for half an hour, calls the next day to say it is done, and they are happy and pay him - leaving him to ask where the next job is coming from.

Frederic replies that it sounds like a plan.