Generally speaking, the word 'expectation' can carry both positive and negative connotations. Expectations can be slim or great, but in my opinion they are always bad. Let me start by explaining what I think what an expectation is. Keep in mind that I am no linguist, English is my second language and my SAT scores presented me with the opportunity to pursue my education at the University of Montana. Expectation, to me, means expecting something to happen (good or bad) based on what happened in the past. Expectation has little to do with what is happening right now, and unfortunately, has no impact on what will happen in the future. All it does is put a lens (good or bad, light or dark, specific or blurry) on what you think should happen in the future.

If your expectations of something are negative, well, then that obviously sucks and won't make you happy. But even if your expectations are great, well, then that isn't a positive thing either. Because if great things happen, then you expected them and likely won't enjoy them as much as you should. On the other hand,  if things don't turn out like you expected them to, then you will be disappointed. I'll give you some examples.

You meet a stripper, you fall in love with her. You met her as a stripper, really didn't have any expectations and just see her for who she is. That's a good thing, and really the ideal way to fall in love with a stripper.

You meet a girl. You fall in love. She becomes your girlfriend. You marry her. Then you learn she used to be a stripper. Your expectation of your wife wasn't that she used to be a stripper. The fact that she used to strip now hurts you. What hurts you isn't that she used to be a stripper but rather the expectation you had built up in your mind. The same thing oftentimes happens in the workplace.

At WONGDOODY, we have summer hours. That means every Friday in the summer (assuming you got your work done), you can take the afternoon off. Totally awesome and something you don't necessarily expect from your employer. As a matter of fact, my last employer didn't have summer Fridays and it's not like it was something I expected. Now, if WONGDOODY were to take away our summer hours (even if it's for the right reasons), that would disappoint people.

Why? Because of expectation. One last example. It's weather related.

I live in Southern California. It's always sunny. Actually, I expect it to be sunny. When I wake up in the morning and it's sunny outside, that doesn't bring a smile to my face. Compare that to when I used to live in Portland. It always rains. When I woke up in the morning on a beautiful sunny day, it would bring all sorts of smiles and energy to my life. Why can't I have that feeling here in Southern California...because of my expectation. Maybe there are good examples of expectation. I would love to hear about them.

But from what I can tell, expectations are always bad. Myself, I am going to try and turn them off.

I am 29 years old and graduated college about nine years ago. Since then, I have worked pretty much non-stop in ad agencies in Montana, Seattle, LA, Portland now LA again. Next to work, I have launched websites, published a book, figured out various eBay schemes, traveled across China and Europe, bought a couple of condos, spent lots of time backpacking up and down the West Coast, ran a marathon, finished  an Ironman and buried my father. I spent the last nine years trying to achieve things, often times things I really didn't feel that passionate about. But things that would make me more money, get me a bigger title or a prettier girlfriend.

Most of what I have been doing these past nine years were activities that boosted my ego. And whenever my ego got a bit out of whack, I'd turn away from whatever was bothering me and just shoot for a bigger goal. I took on bigger jobs, ran more miles and ran away from relationships that mattered to me. All things that kept me from having to confront my own ego. All things that ultimately led to a much bigger ego. Having recently completed my first Ironman has left me with a gaping hole, chubbier abs and lots of time on Saturday mornings. And my initial reaction was to, of course, fill that hole by coming up with another huge challenge to tackle. I mean, who wants chubby abs?

But unfortunately, I am really quite happy with the life I have and it wouldn't be physically responsible for me to try and top the Ironman. So, the only thing that stands between myself and myself being really fulfilled is me. And by me, I am referring to my ego,  which I have been carefully cultivating over the past decade. Now, having an ego doesn't necessarily mean that I am cocky, selfish or self-absorbed, even though it might. When I am referring to my ego, I am more thinking about my "unconscious mind," which makes irrational, rational and sometimes fictional judgments on my behalf. It keeps me from me being me. So, how do I get out of the way of my own ego? I am going to starve it.

How? Well, first of all, I am going to take some time to think about what is important to me. And then I am going to stop feeding my ego some of the things that it really enjoys. Sort of like when I weaned Otto off Tuna.

Starting next week, I am going to go into a more part-time role at work. Less time in the office, for less pay. Not something that I could have ever imagined myself doing, but I am fortunate that my bosses are accommodating me, and well, that I need time more than I need money. I am going to take that time, and work on myself, grow the IdeaMensch community, write my first book and most importantly, invest into my relationships with people near and dear to my heart.

And I'll still kick butt at work, by being myself. But rather than define success by the impact on my salary, job title or athletic endeavors, I am going to define it by the impact I have on others. Everything else will fall into place.