As much as we all enjoy watching the underdog win we also enjoy watching perfection. The New England Patriots played the Philadelphia Eagles last night and were losing in the 4th quarter. Extremely rare for the Patriots this season who in my opinion are going to go 16-0.
They did wind up winning and I’m sure many people were upset about that.
The same reason why I’d like to see the Patriots go 16-0 is the same reason why I love Michael Jordan and also enjoy watching Tiger Woods and a perfect game being thrown. These guys/teams are winners. They find a way. They make it happen. They don’t make excuses. They are the best in the world.
However, as a person, seeking perfection is extremely dangerous. In fact, if you seek perfection you will never be happy or satisfied and you will also never do anything. You’ll suffer from analysis paralysis which is an awful habit of over thinking something until you don’t do anything.
Microsoft has released many bugged versions of their product knowing that they’d improve upon it. If they had sought perfection from day 1, they would have done nothing.
Although I want to do whatever I do to the absolute best of my ability, I know it’s impossible to achieve perfection.
As much as I talk about marketing and design and all sorts of business lingo my website for my business (MyBodyTutor.com) isn’t the greatest in the world. I have about ten million ideas in my head of how I intend to make my company the company I dream of.
However, I can’t do or have everything I want right now.
But my website served its purpose. It proved to me that my idea works in a big way and that’s all that matters. If I let my perfectionist ways get the best of me, I would have never launched my company.
I would have never launched Bingcoupons.com. And that means I would have never started the Ultimate Discount Card.
I wouldn’t have ever done anything. In fact, this blog wouldn’t exist!
There is no such thing as perfection! It’s all about progress…
And as long as you are making continual progress personally and professionally that is all that counts in my eyes.
George is my dog. Like, for real, he is my dog. But anyone who knows George knows that he isn’t any old 230 pound dog.
Not only is he the biggest teddy bear in the world but he takes in the paper for my mom every morning.
I must confess that although my hairy brother is brilliant my mom did train him. Every day she would walk with him to the top of the driveway with cheese (that’s his kryptonite).
First, she trained him to pick up the paper. My mom would applaud, hug, rub and feed George every time he did it.
Like Pavlov’s experiment, George quickly realized that if he wanted the cheddar he’d have to perform.
Then, my mom would run ahead of him and reward him again if he didn’t drop the paper. Finally, she trained him to drop the paper once he got into the house.
George now does this every morning like clockwork. When my mom told me this over the phone I really didn’t believe her until I saw it with my own eyes.
George knows that if he wants the cheese, he’s got to get the paper. His genius dog brain probably works like this:
Paper…cheese…paper…cheese…paper…cheese…water from toilet bowl.
Now there are a million directions I could have taken this story. But I’m going to finish it like this…
George knows that if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.
It’s Monday morning and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, as always. I just had an amazing two weeks in the most holy land on this planet. That’s pretty crazy. Whether you believe in God or not…that’s pretty powerful.
In Israel, we had a chance to sit down with a guy from the suburbs of Michigan who moved to Israel 13 years ago. This guy was so perplexed by the question of where we came from and why we are here that he has dedicated his life to learning about it.
I forget the exact word he used, but basically, he said that human beings are supposed to experience joy at all times. Obviously, this is not realistic…or is it?
On the way home from Israel, I had the good fortune of sitting next to a Rabbi from Brooklyn. After learning he was a Rabbi, I asked him two questions. What is the purpose of life and how did we get here.
The answers to these questions led to an incredible 2 hour conversation. He was saying how so many people in this world who seem to have everything are so unfulfilled. He believes the solution to feeling fulfilled is to believe in God. He also believes that the purpose of life is to be happy…whatever that means, and to get married and raise a family. God has a plan for you and me and all of us, according to the Rabbi.
If you want something and you feel it then so does God.
I also asked him if he felt that God wanted me to be sitting next to him and if we were supposed to be having a conversation. He said, “Yes, of course! Everything happens for a reason.” He later confessed to me that when he first got on the plane he tried moving his seat because he didn’t want to be near a bunch of kids.
My take away from my past 2 weeks of my life is this:
Life is absolutely amazing. Why do people fight? Why do people hate what they do? Why do people hold back? Why do people not give it their all? Why do people complain as opposed to doing? Why do people not go after their true dreams? Why do people not believe in themselves?
Why can’t you be whoever the hell it is you dream of? Why can’t you have the body you desire?
I know the answer and it’s the reason why MyBodyTutor is taking off.
Life happens. There are too many distractions. There are too many hours to be worked. We are forgetting about what it is we really want to do and we keep making excuses. We keep lying to ourselves.
It’s the same reason why every mega successful person I’ve ever studied has personal coaches, trainers and a personal army of support behind them.
When you lie to yourself you feel like crap. There’s no doubt that when you wake up in the morning with a plan do X, Y and Z and actually get it done you feel better than if you were not do it.
And life is too short to not feel great as often as possible!
Why can’t MyBodyTutor.com be a company with tens of thousands of clients and hundreds of tutors one day?
Why can’t you do what it is you really want to do?
There’s not one good reason in the world. In the end, we’re all just going to be buried 6 feet under the ground.
I’ve never felt this inspired and pumped up in my entire life to make my dreams come true…
Several weeks ago I had the awesome fortune of meeting Seth Godin, one of the most brilliant business thinkers in the world. He was speaking about his new book, the Dip.
The Dip is any rough patch you have to get through before achieving your big goal…if in fact you’re chasing the right goal.
Every new project (or job, or hobby, or company) starts out exciting and fun. Then it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point that’s really hard and not much fun at all.
And then you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle. Most people, don’t think the goal is worth it, causing there to be a major superstar shortage.
Unless you have a chance to become the best in the world at your particular craft you need to regroup and focus your efforts elsewhere.
Anyone who is going to hire you, buy from you, recommend you, vote for you, or do what you want them to do is going to wonder if you’re the best choice.
Best as in: best for them, right now, based on what they believe and know. And in the world: as in their world, the world they have access to.
For example, if you live in Syosset and want the best pizza in the world you might choose La Piazza. Or you might choose Mario’s. But, Mario’s or La Piazza doesn’t get to decide if they are the best in the world…we, the consumer do.
If you can get through the Dip to become the best in the ‘world’ and can keep going when the system is expecting you to stop, you will achieve extraordinary results and become a superstar.
But most people won’t push through the dip.
Every time Men’s Health or Cosmopolitan puts a picture of a guy or girl with an insane body, newsstand sales go up. Why?
Well, if everyone had an insane body, it’s unlikely that guys or girls would buy a magazine that teaches them how to get that physique.
The very scarcity of this attribute makes it attractive. Scarcity is what creates value.
95% of the people in this world quit when the going gets tough. But superstars shine when the going gets tough. They lean into the dip.
They realize that if there is no pain…there is no gain.
Maybe you’re in a Dip – a temporary setback that you will overcome if you keep pushing. But maybe it’s really a dead end, which will never get better, no matter how hard you try.
Microsoft’s Zune is a dead end. They have spent over $200 million dollars promoting that thing.
Does anyone have one?
You need to choose the right Dip to get through. What can you become the best in the world at?
Unless they reinvent the game like making a complete new MP3 player that does crazy things that the iPod is not remotely capable of doing they have no chance of gaining ANY market share.
Microsoft word and excel will be around forever. Who does Google think they are trying to compete with Microsoft?
Losers, on the other hand, fall into two basic traps. Either they fail to stick out the Dip – they get to the moment of truth and then give up – or they never even find the right Dip to conquer.
Google is Google because they aren’t competing with Microsoft.
They are reinventing the game. MS word and excel are PC based. Google’s version of word and excel are web based.
They changed the platform. They know they could never compete with Microsoft if they sold software.
MyBodyTutor has no shot of competing with Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers or any of the other big online or offline companies. My belief is that we all need that extra push…on a daily basis.
FYI: Nine percent of all USA Today bestsellers are diet books. Yet today the New England Journal of Medicine reports that one year after going on a diet, on average, people weigh more than when they started because they don’t have a trusted support system.
Anyone can give you a diet.
It’s what you do with it that counts. It’s the ability to get through the Dips that make you a successful dieter. MBT makes it almost impossible for you to do the things you don’t want to do and very easy (and fun) to do the things you really want to do.
MBT is reinventing the game. No company on Earth offers as much daily and personal accountability as we do. MBT helps people get through their Dips on a daily basis by providing the accountability, knowledge, inspiration and the personal, trusted support system we all need without embarrassing and annoying weekly meetings.
I truly believe my company has a chance to become the #1 health and fitness company in the entire world. In fact, I won’t stop until it is because I know I have the best program in the entire world (But, that’s not for me to decide…that’s for the consumer to decide.).
So, I’m going to leave you with this:
What can you become the best in the world at?
Are you stuck in a dead end job that you hate?
Are you running a company that’s just another me-too company?
Are you bored as hell at work?
Don’t you think it’s time to quit and go after something that you truly love doing. Something you have a chance to excel in?
Some of you may have had a discussion that went something like that before. Though well-intentioned, what they’re REALLY saying is, “I can’t do that!”
Maybe they can’t, but maybe you can.
I had the opportunity of interviewing someone whose whole future was predicated on that; one of my mom’s former students, Terence Winter.
If you need motivation, he is the living essence of it.
Meet Terence Winter. The executive producer and writer of the Sopranos. [Update: He’s also the series creator of Boardwalk Empire on HBO, and the writer for the upcoming movie, The Wolf of Wall Street. In question #21, Terence talks about The Wolf of Wall Street.]
Me and Tony Soprano. (Headphones are so we could listen to what they’re saying during filming.)
1. Why am I lucky enough to be in a position to interview you and do fun things like visit the set of the Sopranos? [Update: he also invited us to the set of Board Walk Empire. Post coming soon!]
Your mom made a major impact on me. She may not know it or fully believe it – in some ways she may feel she was just doing her job as a high school English teacher, but the fact that I had the good fortune to be her student was a major factor in my future success. I have a theory that there are maybe 4 or 5 people in each of our lives, who depending upon their opinions and whether or not they encourage you in your formative years, can have a tremendous impact in shaping the direction you take in life.
Usually that group of 4-5 are comprised of some combination of parents, siblings, friends and/or teachers. If you get the wrong combination of people – relentlessly negative, fearful, constantly pissing on your dreams, etc. — it can crush your spirit and lead to your not believing in yourself or not taking chances in life. If you get the right combo – people who encourage you, believe in you, etc. – it can make all the difference in the world.
My mom, just a bit starstruck, with James Gandolfini.
The fact that your mom let me know that she thought I had merit and talent made all the difference when I reached a point in my life a few years later when I wasn’t so sure. I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to even go to college or whether or not I actually belonged there. But in my moment of doubt, I remembered that your mom thought I could do it and her belief in me got me to believe in myself.
Terence Winter and my mom
2. What was your biggest dream as a kid?
Because I liked to build things, I started out wanting to be one of Santa’s elves; when that dream was dashed, I moved on to professional boxer, then becoming a rock star.
My bro-in-law looking very much the part
3. What did you do right after high school until you decided to take the leap of faith and move out to California?
Right after high school I was co-owner of a delicatessen in Brooklyn. That didn’t work out for me and at 19 years old I enrolled at NYU full time while simultaneously working full time at night to support myself. I drove a cab, was a hospital security guard, I delivered 400 New York Times’ every morning 7 days a week for over a year straight (at 4 a.m.), I managed a paint store, and finally, during the last two years of college was the midnight to 8 a.m. doorman at an apartment building on the upper east side of Manhattan.
After college I went to St. John’s School of Law, also working my way through by working in the Merrill Lynch legal department during the day. After graduating and passing the New York bar, I practiced law for 2 years and was so miserable that I did some soul-searching. I decided that what I really wanted to do was write, so I packed up and moved to Los Angeles.
Silvio, and Bobby ‘Bacala’
4. When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?
I think I always knew it in my heart but didn’t have the balls to admit it to myself or pursue it seriously until I was 29.
5. My mom talks about how you said all you wanted to do was to make a lot of money and then when you were a lawyer (making a lot of money) you realized you hated it and that’s not what you were after. Can you please explain?
I grew up in a working class family in Brooklyn with 5 kids being raised by a widowed mom. We weren’t poor exactly, but I didn’t really have nice things and wanted them and that meant I had to make a lot of money. It seemed to me that everyone hated their job, so I decided that I’d rather hate my job as a rich lawyer than hate my job as a poor auto mechanic. Money was my sole motivation – the idea of “loving what I do” wasn’t even a concept I could grasp. Love work? Huh?
Artie Bucco
6. So you move out to California and what did you do from there?
First thing I did was take a day job as a paralegal, which was a big step down from being a lawyer, but the hours were steady (9-5) and it paid enough for me to survive while still leaving my nights free for writing. At this point I had never written a script and started from scratch teaching myself screen writing. I became a student of TV and film, reading scripts, watching movies, taking notes constantly. I also read every script and book on screen writing I could get my hands on. And I wrote. Then wrote some more. And some more. Every day.
7. How did you promote yourself? How did people find out about Terence Winter?
I got on the phone, cold-called agents, sent my scripts out to anyone who would agree to read them.
8. Can you elaborate on some of your lowest days, times where you were saying what did I do? Or times when you know that if you could push through you’d be on the right path?
I came very close to getting hired as a TV writer many times before my first break and it was tremendously painful each time it wouldn’t work out. I was so sick of hearing how talented I was, but we just hired someone on our writing staff, blah, blah, blah, etc. I used to fear that I’d go down in history as being the one really talented writer who somehow never got that break.
Eventually I came to realize that allowing myself to dwell on these near misses was a waste of time – I decided to allow myself exactly one day of self pity when things went wrong, then get back on the horse. I kept telling myself that if I hadn’t made it yet, it must be because I wasn’t working hard enough, so I worked harder. Each new rejection only strengthened my resolve – I refused to consider failure as an option.
A.J. Soprano’s bed
9. What was your first big break?
I was accepted into the Warner Bros. Sitcom Writer’s Workshop (they now have one for drama writers also), a high-profile, yearly 10-week program that allows writers access to show runners who can potentially hire them. Two veteran TV writer/producers (George Schenck & Frank Cardea) had created a new show with a writer named Frank Renzulli called “The Great Defender” about a blue collar lawyer who goes to work for a stuffy law firm. I was hired on staff and that became my first TV writing job.
10. When did you realize that you your decision to become a writer was the best choice you have ever made?
When I realized I would make more money than I ever dreamed about making as a lawyer and yet it felt like I didn’t even have a job.
11. Do you ever get star struck?
One time only. Muhammad Ali.
12. How did you get on the Sopranos?
I had been working on an animated sitcom called “The PJs” and just wrote the first draft of “Brooklyn Rules” when I saw “The Sopranos” pilot. I called my friend Frank Renzulli (from The Great Defender) who had already met with and been hired by David Chase. Frank gave David the script for “Brooklyn Rules” and David hired me on the show as well, at the beginning of Season 2.
Sitting at the desk in “Bada Bing”
13. As one of the main writers, executive producer, master minds etc., of the Sopranos did you ever think that the show was going to become one of the most popular shows in T.V. history?
By the time I joined the show in Season 2, it was already a huge hit — but when I first saw the pilot a year earlier, I knew right away that this was something special. That said, I’m not sure I could have predicted it would become the monster hit that it became.
14. Will there ever be a Sopranos movie?
I don’t think so, but I’d never say never.
Walking down the stairs Tony Soprano has walked down hundreds of times in his robe. (BTW, those stairs don’t lead anywhere. The set is all one floor.)
15. 3 things that most people don’t know about the Sopranos. The cooler the better.
1) None of our characters has ever said “Fuggedaboutit”.
2) Steven Van Zandt (Silvio) came very close to being cast as Tony Soprano.
3) HBO wanted the show to be called “Family Man”, but finally relented and let David Chase call it The Sopranos when “Family Guy” came on the air.
16. How did it feel when you won your first Emmy? Do you remember it? How about the other two?
I was absolutely stunned – I had been nominated twice before for writing (Pine Barrens; Eloise) and sort of got used to losing. When I heard my name everything went into slow motion. I was so stunned I even forgot to kiss Sharon Stone, who handed me the statue. The second win came later that night when the show won Best Drama (and I got another Emmy as one of the shows producers) and that was hugely satisfying because the entire cast and crew were recognized for their terrific work. The second writing Emmy last year absolutely blew me away – I told my family not to come to the ceremony because I couldn’t imagine ever winning twice. When I heard my name I was terrified, because I really hadn’t prepared a speech.
17. I love when my mom tells me about your new projects. She told me that you’ll be writing 50 Cent’s movie. I know he recruited you to write his movie. How did that go? What did you learn from the experience?
The writing of the script was terrific – 50 couldn’t have been nicer or a better collaborator. He gave me full access to his life, told me everything I wanted to know and I even went on tour with him. The project soured for me when Jim Sheridan was brought on board to direct and essentially gutted my script, rewriting something I was at one time very proud of. The results of Jim’s efforts are what you now see on screen – which is a shame, because this could have been a really great movie.
Tony and Carmela’s bed
18. Your new movie Brooklyn Rules is set to come out May 18th and is already getting rave reviews! What is this movie about?
The movie is a semi-autobiographical story about me and my two best friends growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s. When one of the three friends flirts with joining the mob, it tests the loyalty of all three to each other.
19. Who is in it? How was it working with them?
The film stars Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr., Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara and Mena Suvari, all of whom were great to work with. Freddie was especially interesting because I had only known him as a teen idol type heart-throb – he’s actually very deep and a terrific actor.
20. I can’t imagine this movie not doing well. You are a brilliant writer. Any hopes or predictions?
From your mouth to God’s ears. It’ll be tough, however, given the very limited exposure the film will get initially. We’re only opening on 7 screens total at first. I’m just thankful that people will have the chance to see it. Michael Corrente did a terrific job directing and we’re both really proud of the film.
My family in the kitchen
21. I was so excited for you when I heard about the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese. When is that set to come out, and how does it feel to be working with two of the biggest stars in Hollywood?
It’s a dream come true. Watching Martin Scorcese’s “Taxi Driver” was the first time I ever realized movies could be art and I’ve been a MAJOR fan ever since. I’m in the process of writing the script for the project we’re working on, called “The Wolf of Wall Street”. With any luck, it will be out in about two years.
[Update: One of the reasons why it took so long for this movie to happen (even though Terence wrote the script over 6 years ago) is because of the Bernie Madoff fraud. Jordan Belfort’s 200 million dollar scheme paled in comparison.]
22. Where can we see your new movie?
Check Moviefone.com for listings. It opens in limited release on May 18th.
23. Is there anything I didn’t ask you that you were hoping I would?
Not really.
24. I’m a sucker for wisdom, especially from people who are at the top of their game. What is the number one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to make it big in their respective field?
Work harder than everyone else.
Tony and Silvio (see far right of pic) shooting a scene in Artie’s restaurant
25. What is one thing you wish you knew way back that you now know?
I wish I had the courage to completely believe in myself at an earlier age.
26. As you are completely self made (nothing better in my opinion) do you ever look in the mirror and say “holy shit” or pinch yourself or just thank your lucky stars? You have won 3 Emmy’s already and obviously are now one of the best, if not the best, in the world at what you do.
I try to not waste too much time congratulating myself or resting on my laurels – there’s too much else I want to accomplish. That said, it is important to stop and smell the roses occasionally.
27. What is the coolest thing about being Terence Winter? What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I get to make 10 million people laugh, cry or gasp at the same time.
James Gandolfini is a really nice guy
28. What is the purpose of life?
Call me when I’m on my death bed. I’ll let you know.
29. I’ll never forget in 5th grade when you first reached out to my mom and you were writing for the Bill Cosby murder series. You told her to make sure to watch a certain episode and I remember telling all of my friends to watch as well and Lainey Gilbert was a character’s name in the show.
What are the chances of an Adam Gilbert becoming a character in one of your future projects or better yet making an appearance as an extra? Or getting Mr. Tony Soprano himself to go on the MyBodyTutor.com program?
Adam Gilbert as an extra or character I can definitely make happen. Tony Soprano on MyBodyTutor? Probably not. Terry, your story is incredibly inspiring and incredibly motivating. Learning about one of the main guys behind the Sopranos and “Brooklyn Rules” is absolutely amazing and a real treat for everyone!
My pleasure. Thanks for spreading the word about “Brooklyn Rules“.
I truly want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for making my mom’s life complete. She is so grateful for you speaking to her classes. And then you speaking at her retirement party was absolutely amazing. That was the best retirement gift anyone could have ever gotten!
I’d do anything for your mom.
***
Make sure to look out for Terence Winter’s name as the writer this Sunday night for the Sopranos and be sure to go see his new movie “Brooklyn Rules” out today!
Some reviews of “Brooklyn Rules”:
“This was the best film of the season!”
“This film will take its place among ‘SCARFACE’, ‘GODFATHER’, ‘GOODFELLAS’, ‘HOUSEHOLD SAINTS’, ‘MEAN STREETS’, ‘THE DEPARTED’, etc. but only time will tell…Best thing in the movie was the fu – – dog thing. Dogs work in a lot of films, ‘PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK’, ‘AS GOOD AS IT GETS’, ‘MEET THE FOCKERS’, but I think this is the first time a significant dog has appeared in a significant mob gangsta movie…”
“A well made, well written, well acted, well crafted film! It was worth it just for the bridge shots and the cinematography. This movie is why movies in movie theaters must live on!”
“Best thing from Brooklyn since ‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER’.”
I was in Florida last week and I learned a lot while hanging out with my Grandma’s friends.
My grandma is 84 by the way!
I always enjoy speaking with people who are way older because they have lived much longer and have so much more wisdom to share. And besides everyone loves sharing their stories and ideas (at least I do!).
I’ve been going down to Florida every April since I am literally 7 weeks old. So some of my grandma’s friends are almost like a second family.
I asked all of them individually, the same question: What’s one thing you would have done differently if you were my age all over again?
Think about that. That’s a really powerful question!
Here you are. Hanging out by the pool, enjoying life, well rested after your afternoon nap and you are getting ready for dinner at 5 P.M. You aren’t worrying as much as you used to, your kids are set, your grandkids are proving themselves in the real world and you can’t believe how big Roz Gilbert’s grandson got and how well he is doing. (Or, maybe you can believe it, but still.)
Then you have to answer the question: What would you have done differently if you were a young buck all over again?!?!
Just put yourself in that situation.
What if a 1st grader asked you that question?
And what would you do if differently if you were in 1st grade all over again?
When you get older and look back on your life, what are you going to remember, regret, or wish you had done differently?
The number one response I got was not to make excuses. Just go after it. Whatever the hell it is. “Go after your dreams Adam! If anyone can do it, it’s you! Just go after it!”
Some of my second family almost seemed bitter as they were saying that. As I forced them to look back on their life they realized they didn’t even come close to realizing their full potential!
Not realizing my full potential is literally my number one fear.
“Hell would be seeing what you could have accomplished if only you believed in yourself!”
Listen, we all want to be successful and happy.
But most of us just hope and wish…
That’s so sad!
Right now maybe it’s not sad, or maybe in 5 months it won’t be sad, or maybe in 2 years it won’t be sad or maybe even in 7 years it won’t be sad.
It’s not sad right now because we are living in the now and magically we always figure out ways to distract ourselves.
But when you look back in 10 or 20 years how are you going to answer the question of what would you have done differently?
In 50 years from now how are you going to answer that question?
Although, we are all going to be extremely cute grandparents, I don’t want any of us to be bitter grandparents who realized they made excuses their entire lives!
So it’s the end of my 2nd week of being fully unemployed and completely on my own being able to do whatever it is I want, whenever it is I want.
It’s funny, the number one thing people say to me is, “Wow, you have a lot of balls!”
We are all going through an extremely tough stage of our lives right now. No one knows what they want to do for the rest of their life.
I think I do…
Granted, some of us think we do. All of my friends in law school and medical school think they know what they want to do but do they really know if they’ll actually like being a lawyer or doctor?
Of course not. There is no way to know except by trying. Unfortunately, they’re also giving up 3-12 years of their life for that trial.
I question a lot of things, as you know. It’s just the way I’m wired. I find it amazing how so many people just spend their lives being miserable with their jobs and some even miserable with their life.
I’m certainly not here to tell you what to do or what not to do. I’m here to make you think and give you a quick break from your job and maybe even make you laugh once in a while.
I haven’t just been watching TV all day eating ice cream and Doritos. Although, that’s always fun, once in a while. And, while I sometimes think we should just have a socialist society where everyone could do what they loved doing because everyone would be getting paid exactly the same (so it would only make sense to do what you love), I certainly know that wouldn’t work.
Capitalism works because it’s the survival of the fittest products and services which has and does improve the quality of our lives astronomically.
I understand that I have to make money. You need money to survive. I need money to pay my rent and buy my food and do the things I want to do. So, I have to find a job OR create ways to make money.
I’m desperately trying to make the latter happen. I’m trying to create ways of making money doing things that I absolutely love doing! Is that so crazy?
What do I love doing you might wonder?
How about this. I’ll give you my ideal Monday though Friday. (You don’t really have a say in the matter, do you?)
I’d like to wake up around 8:00 A.M. Not so crazy.
Go to the gym for 2 hours. I started going to the gym in the morning and it’s amazing. It was a big adjustment but I found the energy I get from working out stays with me all day. I also now run on the treadmill everyday since I don’t really move during the day.
(I maybe take 25 steps to the kitchen. Then, 8 steps to sit down then 6 steps back to wash the dishes. Then, 12 steps to the bathroom and 8 steps back to my room. I repeat that process about 5-6 times a day occasionally going to the post office or going for a walk. And I go to the bathroom after I eat because I drink a lot of water, not because I’m bulimic.)
Get back around 10:00 AM. Okay this is going to be way too long so I’m going to just leave most details out.
All I want to do is go to the gym for 2 hours a day and then help people.
Help people?
I want to help small business owners market their businesses more effectively and I want to help people (maybe even you) get into better shape.
I love marketing and I love fitness. I don’t know why I do, I just do. I guess it’s the way I’m wired.
Just like you love your dog (well, I love mine too) or cat or job or shoes or Sushi, I love helping people market their business and getting people into better shape.
Maybe, I do have balls for trying to do what I love for a living and for my life.
But, maybe, you’re crazy for hating what you do and standing for it.
Is fear of change holding you back? It certainly has a great possibility of holding me back.
Here’s why:
As I sit here working in my office (apartment/bedroom/desk) diligently planning, strategizing and working on my business only one thing is in my way of making this work.
Your fear of change. (Yes. You.)
The business I’m working on has a ton of potential for everyone involved. I 1000% believe in it. That’s all I need to keep me going. Without that belief, I’d still be an employee at Ernst & Young, fearing change.
Many people want me to help them realize their body’s full potential. They appreciate my input and having me on their side.
But, many won’t. No matter what I say or what I offer them, they’ll decline. Reason?
Fear of Change.
You are stuck in your ways. You are used to doing whatever it is you do, whether it works or not. “What does this hotshot 23 year old know,” you say.
Well, I am so confident because I know what I’m doing will work and help you realize your body’s full potential!
I certainly would want my partner to be 1000% confident in what he’s doing.
Are you a clown? Here. Figure it out for yourself.
Clowns ignore science. Whether it’s the magic of fitting sixteen full-sized clowns into a Volkswagen Beetle or the constant struggle between clowns and gravity, the fruitless conflict between what’s real and what a clown desires is a fixture in a clown’s act.
Businesses (and people) tend to believe that science is optional. It’s not. If you run ads and they don’t work, it doesn’t matter how you spin it; they didn’t work. If your industry is changing because of a technological breakthrough; it’s still there. We may have all sorts of business and personal reasons to challenge a piece of science, but denying reality never leads to a positive outcome.
Clowns refuse to measure their results, because measurement means they accept the reality of the outside world. Wishful thinking is not a replacement for the real world. Only clowns get away with that.
Whewww, I didn’t think you were a clown.
The clowns running Kodak were a huge bunch of, well, clowns. Kodak spent years denying, ignoring, or evading the reality of digital photography and its inevitable impact on the film business. And when it recently announced plans to lay off one-fifth of its already decimated workforce, you couldn’t help but yell, “You clowns! Did it just now dawn on you that digital cameras were going to catch on?”
You have to feel terrible for those innocent folks who lost their jobs because senior management was busy trying on the big red nose.
So, don’t let fear of change hold you back. No matter what you want to do.
“Change is always something to celebrate. It’s a sign that you’re still alive.” I love that quote by Ben Mezrich from his book Ugly Americans.
Embrace change. Embrace new ideas and views. Embrace new people. Don’t be so close minded.
If clownhood is our natural state (and I think it must be), then the alternative must be anticlown. Success lies in rejecting your inner clown and adopting a long-range view of the world (even if it’s just five minutes longer than your peer’s view).
What would Krusty do? Or Chuckles? Bozo? Figure out the behavior of a real clown – and do the opposite.
This post was inspired by my main man, Seth. I thought it was important enough to share with you because letting fear of change hold you back is certainly no way to live. And, I certainly don’t want my precious readers to be clowns!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
