A Personal Question; What Does Transformation Look Like To You?
Jan

When I started my year long journey on January 2, I knew one thing. And that was this was going to be a year of change and progress.
The goal from the start has been to begin taking action towards improving my life. My life has become a miserable grind over the years and I decided not long ago to transform my life by spending 2012 thinking differently and doing things differently. It personal growth, learning, challenging myself, and questioning society’s norms all in one.
Things have been going well and I have been making progress thus far, and am already seeing results in my life, albeit minor ones.
And this journey is not just about me, but about my group of “Grinders” and all of you! As I’ve mentioned before, the reason I’m doing this is not solely to improve my life, but to offer hope and inspiration to others who are in a similar situation in their lives.
It’s A Movement
I’m not here to change the world, but I do want to start something very meaningful-a movement if you will..and this movement needs to be branded. It needs an image, a look.
You may remember the bored cubicle worker image I used to have in my header. That was me for a long, long time. But that is something I am leaving behind and doesn’t represent where I am going or who I want to become.
Life is an open road with all sorts of twists and turns, hills and valleys. Instead of it being filled with disappointment, indifference, and apathy, it can be filled with excitement, passion, and meaning. For many of us who have become grinders, the answer is transforming ourselves.
How can we become great, do great things, or be truly happy when we allow ourselves to be at the mercy of our jobs, the bad economy, our bad relationships, etc.
We can’t. That leaves us with nothing more than life’s table scraps..
I need an image that encompasses all of these feelings. And this leaves me with a small problem…
What The Hell Does Transformation Look Like?
Going through a deep personal transformation will look like different things to different people. For me, it’s rediscovering my passions, finding what makes me happy, and understanding my motivations and “why’s”.
It’s about going from a grumpy and disgruntled employee to a person content with what life has to offer and where I am in it. It’s about personal freedom and having something wonderful to look forward to.
I’ll be the first to admit that I am not creatively gifted. I actually think I was born with two left sides of the brain..
And this is why I need your help figuring this out. My goal is to create a powerful brand here and therefore need a powerful image to go along with it.
If this is a project that you want to support, I need you to let me know your thoughts on this. I’m not asking you to spend all day thinking about the perfect image, but I would love to hear your thoughtful ideas.
Many of you are much more creative and “out of the box” thinkers than I am and I’m looking to you for unique ideas for branding this blog and this project.
Picture yourself embarking on a personal quest to become a better person, crushing the shit out of your comfort zone and challenging your self imposed barriers along the way.
Now what would that look like?
I have some general ideas of what it looks like to me. Things like:
- A man climbing the side of a steep mountain or crossing an almost impassable valley or trench
- Someone or something standing at the foot of a mountain looking up
- A man throwing a wrench into gears gears in triumph (thanks Hugh)
- A man breaking free from chains, prison or a desk (although I don’t plan to leave my desk job for at least a year)
These are all pretty traditional ideas and have been played out many times before. Although I do like Hugh’s idea better than my own, I am still looking for something unique and that really stands out.
So please take a moment and offer up your thoughts on this and tell me:
What does transformation look like to you?

Laura Dillivan (@LauraBell65)
Transformation to me looks like going from being constrained and limited in scope i.e. a baby bird in an egg, a caterpillar in a cocoon, to being liberated and limitless in body and spirit. Able to accomplish and achieve things that once seemed far beyond what our appearance and behavior indicated we could ever hope to.
Steve
Hi Laura,
I haven’t seen you here in a while! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it 🙂
Ian
Transformation to me has meant doing things completely differently than the status quo. I feel like I’ve broken out of the monotonous cycle that 99.99% of people in my industry follow and accept as “just the way it is” day after day. The first image to come to mind for me was this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsWzJo2sN4
Steve
This is good stuff, Ian. And I know for a fact that you are doing things differently and having much success with it.
Thanks for the link dude..
Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog
For me, transformation is more so about finding equanimity and peace of mind. Being calm and composed in the face of ANY emotion – that’s what I’m going for. Having the self discipline to observe my feelings without too much investment one way or the other. When I can achieve that state, reliably and consistently, I will be transformed. But I have no idea how to capture that in an image. It’s a notion grounded in Buddhist principles, so I think of Ganesha – but I doubt that would resonate with your readers.
Steve
Ruth,
This is very interesting..
I’ve never thought of transformation in that way, but each person has their own definition.
Thanks for your thoughts..
Harriet
What does transformation look like? Well, I think transformation looks like an improvement but as long as people are happy with their transformations, then its all good!
Steve
It does come down to if we are happy with ourselves. Any suggestions on an image Harriet?
Lynn Hess
I like the image you mentioned of a man at the bottom of a mountain looking up — but I also think that might be kind of daunting so I think he would have to look happy and interested, not apprehensive.
Another similar idea that might be less scary could be of a person (or even a couple) stepping onto a bridge of some sort, getting ready to cross it — but you can’t see what’s at the end of the bridge (maybe because of fog or mist or something).
More general images of transformation that come to mind are: sunshine, a laughing person, a light bulb, a street sign with an inspirational word on it, or a rainbow.
Good idea to ask your readers for help! I bet someone will come up with the perfect image.
Steve
Lynn,
You’re quickly becoming one of my favorite commenters 🙂
I like the misty bridge idea..that’s pretty unique.
And how about a man laughing at a street sign on a sunny day with an out of place rainbow in the sky? 🙂
Lynn Hess
Aww, thanks 🙂 Your blog is fun and interesting to comment on!
And as far as some kind of laughing/sign/sun/rainbow hybrid — go for it! Might as well use them all, what the hell! It would be interesting to see what kind of readers you ended up with 🙂
Seriously, though, you got some great suggestion here! The “light” thing seems to be a theme.
You could also fool around with images on a site like LogoGarden.com to see if something interesting emerges.
I guess it really comes down to figuring out who “your people” are and trying to determine what would appeal to them….
Steve
That would be funny to see who would be attracted to that image! I’ll check out LogoGarden as well as I’ve never heard of it..
As far as appealing to people, I’m not trying to please anyone. I’m trying to find the “right” image for me and this whole idea. I’m sure I will have just as many people who think whatever I choose is stupid as there will be people who love it!
henry@urine test kits
i love the image you gave of a man at the bottom of a mountain looking up, i believe we are all aiming for the top of the mountain, its just that some of us choose to take different paths but the end goal is the same
Chris Wynter
I’ve sketched out some ideas since you first mentioned it (Jan 17th), Steve. The latest scribble is of several people holding a chain, looking tired and miserable, as they make their way up a winding staircase. The man at the front (and possibly the woman behind him) are turning towards a light coming from an open door. Maybe an arrow on the door showing the way out.
Yeah, not exactly mind-blowingly original. I’ll try harder. 🙂
Steve
This is good stuff, Chris. I’m starting to get an idea of what I’m looking for now..
Thanks for this.
Evan
My guess is that you need to think about what it is for you and then abstracting the picture.
You will never find a unique image. Everything has been done before – just put your own twist on some archetype:
walking through a door
hands welcoming
a wizard
a recipe
a face showing joy
someone lying in a hammock
You can use two pictures – from this to this
tearing hair out to smiling
wasteland to pastoral scene
desk buried in paper to an orderly one
Hope this helps
Steve
Evan,
I guess I’m not looking for an exact image so much as ideas that will spark something in me. There are so many possibilities with this and I love the brainstorming here..
Amber-Lee (@girlygrizzly)
Steve.
I tell my children at the end of a rough day, I remind myself in my prayers at night… tomorrow is brand new! No mistakes, no harsh feelings or words, full of promise and light.
What about that first crack of sunrise? That beam of light, shining through. I have a picture, I have used it on my blog (lots of pics with my posts, usually), but I have never spoken directly OF it. I would like you to see it. I took the picture, the next day I found HubSPot, which in its path, led me to all of you.
I think a sunrise.
Steve
What’s up Amber-Lee?
The idea of starting fresh each day is great. I tend to carry all the baggage from the previous day into the new one. But this is about new things, making changes, and opening up possibilities. I love watching the sun rise, especially on the beach…great idea 🙂
Tif
What came to my mind, reading everyone’s ideas, was a bunch of grubs crawling about in the muck of a pond…only a few have the temerity to climb up and out, taking the (quite terrifying) and (possibly painful) route towards sunshine and freedom – a dragonfly
Steve
Thanks for sharing, Tif. Not sure I want to include any insects although I like the idea of something emerging from struggle..
Joe
Just to give another spin, I think a main theme we’re talking about here has to do with improving our overall lives. While that often means overcoming something or achieving a goal (i.e. reaching a mountain top or breaking the chain), it can also mean gaining perspective or clarity. Our lives are so hectic and stressful, we often lose sight of things or lose focus. The picture I see in my head is an image that is out of focus that finally comes into focus after you are able to have that “clarity” in your mind.
I am also not a creative type and cannot think of an single image to represent that fully. Just my two cents! : )
Greg
Joe, this came to mind after reading your comment… Last Fall I was on my way home after a tough day of work, stressed out. As I was driving, all sorts of negative thoughts were occupying my mind, essentially clouding my vision… all I could see was the grey road infront of me. Halfway home, I decided I needed to try clearing my mind, be in the moment and just be happy I have a job. You know what happened? Those thoughts clouding my vision disappeared and I realized there were incredible Fall colors all around me which I was totally blind to before. I slowed down, stayed in that moment and reminded myself that life is good.
Steve
That’s a great story, Greg. It reminds me of the movie “Limitless”, where everything becomes clear and sharp.
Steve
Joe,
You’ve got a great point. A lot of what I have been missing is clarity. As you heard in my Penelope interview, I didn’t have much of an idea of what I wanted to do. Thanks for the idea, dude..
Steven | The Emotion Machine
Transformation can be hard to identify. I imagine it’s a noticeable difference in a number of things: our thoughts, emotions, habits, and the results we get out of life.
In order to know we are transforming, I think we need to see it from both inside ourselves and outside ourselves. Otherwise, there’s a disconnect – and the butterfly hasn’t fully left the cocoon.
Thanks for the thought-provoking article.
Steve
Steven,
To me, transformation signifies a complete change in all areas of our lives. What do you mean by seeing it from outside ourselves?
Tom Ewer
Transformation to me is a life-long pursuit. I think if you stay the exact same person for any length of time, you are not making the most out of life.
I challenge you to find anyone who has got to a point where they’ve said, “Yep, I’m 100% happy. Couldn’t do anything more in life”.
So for me, living a fulfilling life requires 70-80 year transformation.
Those are my thoughts!
Jayne Kopp
Well Steve, transformation can mean different things to different people. I think it’s when you get the ‘ah ha’ moment and things just start to feel right. almost like putting that last piece of a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle in place.. or when the sun comes out after a really heavy rain.
It can be quick like that or just start to feel lighter each day. It’s knowing you’re on track and some of us flip flop for a while but when it hits you, you know you’ve got it right.
You will… you’ll see.
Jayne
Tracey - Life Changing Year
I like the idea of one thing turning into another – from this to that. Maybe coal transformed into a diamond? Or an unhappy man actually splitting open (like a costume or something) and stepping out a happy man with a spring in his step? Stepping into sunlight?
Steve
Interest ideas Tracey. I appreciate the thoughts..
Paige | Simple Mindfulness
Transformation begins with making a new choice one day and moving forward from there. It’s a change of mind about how you want to look at the world and respond to it.
How about a butterfly emerging from a cocoon?
Emma
transformation? mean the change it must be in your-personal life or in ur professional life
which is good for ur future
Upneet
Absolutely great blog and responses…
Coming from a sports background, I personally identify transformation to the following image in my mind:
An athlete on a sprint track in the start position, focusing and breathing the fresh air, waiting for the gun shot, the athlete commencing the race with excitement and determination, being taken over by fellow sprinters yet not losing heart and keeping one’s eye on the finish line, adrenaline pumping, the sun shining, the crowd roaring whilst the sprinter runs towards glory breaking free of fear and limitations and following his/her passion and happiness for and in sport/life, and finally passing the finish line being the best the athlete can be in life and forever progressing towards fulfilling their dream.
Matthew Neer
Awesome post Steve!
It’s so important to let the caterpillar struggle when trying to break out of the cocoon because if you help it right when it’s about to break out, the new butterfly will never develop the strength to fully spread its wings and fly.
There’s power in the struggle. Often times, you cannot see it when you are in the thick of it. Keep grindin’ 🙂