Friday, March 30, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Failing Your Way to Success Part 2
When it comes to our ROAR! E-Zine, we are definitely living the fail your way to success philosophy more than we probably ever imagined. This evening I am faced with yet another technical difficulty (the e-zine was sent basically "unreadable") and I realize that I have a choice.
Having recently began an in depth study of the book Play to Win! Choosing Growth Over Comfort in Work and Life by Larry & Hersch Wilson (a brilliant book) I know that the key strategy in these moments is to: 1) Stop 2) Challenge and 3) Choose. The challenge part being to challenge our assumptions and paradigms about how bad the situation really is. The reality is many of us take failures to an extreme with "end of the world" thinking.
When we started our business, almost ten years ago now, Rich and I had a printed newsletter that we mailed out to subscribers. We would agonize for hours editing and making sure everything was perfect. Upon getting our second issue back from the printer we discovered that the footer of the front page still said 'Premier Issue'. We then agonized and debated on what to do about this. Finally we decided to print out fluorescent stickers (labels actually) with a little message to our readership. It fit perfectly over the words premier issue and looked decent enough. I remember being quite upset about this "fiasco" at the time plus all the extra work it caused but I think this story illustrates two key points.
The first is, we are brilliant problem solvers and the second is... we now look back on that and laugh. We aren't nearly as crazed. We know now that turning "failures" into catastrophes does not serve us. Failing is art of the joy of what we do, it means we are living, learning, and growing.
So I choose to relax, understanding that this is at most inconvenient and that some day soon even this minor annoyance will weave itself into the tapestry that are the failures and successes of my life experience.
Having recently began an in depth study of the book Play to Win! Choosing Growth Over Comfort in Work and Life by Larry & Hersch Wilson (a brilliant book) I know that the key strategy in these moments is to: 1) Stop 2) Challenge and 3) Choose. The challenge part being to challenge our assumptions and paradigms about how bad the situation really is. The reality is many of us take failures to an extreme with "end of the world" thinking.
When we started our business, almost ten years ago now, Rich and I had a printed newsletter that we mailed out to subscribers. We would agonize for hours editing and making sure everything was perfect. Upon getting our second issue back from the printer we discovered that the footer of the front page still said 'Premier Issue'. We then agonized and debated on what to do about this. Finally we decided to print out fluorescent stickers (labels actually) with a little message to our readership. It fit perfectly over the words premier issue and looked decent enough. I remember being quite upset about this "fiasco" at the time plus all the extra work it caused but I think this story illustrates two key points.
The first is, we are brilliant problem solvers and the second is... we now look back on that and laugh. We aren't nearly as crazed. We know now that turning "failures" into catastrophes does not serve us. Failing is art of the joy of what we do, it means we are living, learning, and growing.
So I choose to relax, understanding that this is at most inconvenient and that some day soon even this minor annoyance will weave itself into the tapestry that are the failures and successes of my life experience.
Friday, March 2, 2007
The Only Thing Standing Between You and Success...
... Is you.
At Courage Crafters one of the main elements of what we talk about has to do with fear. Yesterday on the mian page of Comcast.net there was a segment on "Scared Celebs" - celebrities with fears; such as: mirrors, shaking hands, pigs, revolving doors, and chewing gum (this is supposedly Oprah's). As ones who make it their business to study fear, we find this very interesting. Most of us have some phobias, many of which are completely unfounded but some do keep us from harm. We have a huge phobia about jumping out of an airplane without a parachute for example.
But these unique phobias, (for example: gymnophobia which is the fear of nudity) tend not to influence our success. However, it is the common fears; fear of failure, rejection, the word "No" that truly impede us from achieving everything life has to offer. And it is these fears under which we actually have the most power and control. That is the good news because we have somewhere to start - we start with ourselves, our thoughts and our actions. It is these fears that inspired us to create our 2 CD set The Fear Factory. A unique story, done in what we call an "audio play" format, the Fear Factory might be just what you need to get beyond these common fears to achieve everything you desire.
At Courage Crafters one of the main elements of what we talk about has to do with fear. Yesterday on the mian page of Comcast.net there was a segment on "Scared Celebs" - celebrities with fears; such as: mirrors, shaking hands, pigs, revolving doors, and chewing gum (this is supposedly Oprah's). As ones who make it their business to study fear, we find this very interesting. Most of us have some phobias, many of which are completely unfounded but some do keep us from harm. We have a huge phobia about jumping out of an airplane without a parachute for example.
But these unique phobias, (for example: gymnophobia which is the fear of nudity) tend not to influence our success. However, it is the common fears; fear of failure, rejection, the word "No" that truly impede us from achieving everything life has to offer. And it is these fears under which we actually have the most power and control. That is the good news because we have somewhere to start - we start with ourselves, our thoughts and our actions. It is these fears that inspired us to create our 2 CD set The Fear Factory. A unique story, done in what we call an "audio play" format, the Fear Factory might be just what you need to get beyond these common fears to achieve everything you desire.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Failing on the Streets of LA
When were in Los Angeles last week for Andrea's appearance on the TV Guide Channel Show "Idol Chat" we got a chance to drive around our old neighborhood. Andrea has an amazing knowledge of the streets of Los Angeles, having us turn here and there as if she drove them everyday still.
And her amazing ability is from...? As she explains, "I got lost so many times I really learned how to navigate my way around." Another good example of a positive "failure" which has now led to a highly successful navigator of Santa Monica and surrounding environs. As Andrea explains...
"I realized even at the time I was driving around and taking extra time to get places that I was discovering the right ways by doing it all wrong. It actually helped reduce my frustration level too because I was able to see the positive side."
This is an important lesson, one we remind ourselves of consistently; when we are failing at something, we are still learning and that ultimately will help us be more successful.
And her amazing ability is from...? As she explains, "I got lost so many times I really learned how to navigate my way around." Another good example of a positive "failure" which has now led to a highly successful navigator of Santa Monica and surrounding environs. As Andrea explains...
"I realized even at the time I was driving around and taking extra time to get places that I was discovering the right ways by doing it all wrong. It actually helped reduce my frustration level too because I was able to see the positive side."
This is an important lesson, one we remind ourselves of consistently; when we are failing at something, we are still learning and that ultimately will help us be more successful.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Courage Crafter Engages in 'Idol Chat'
This past Friday we had an exciting opportunity. Andrea was invited as a guest (Failure Expert)on the TV Guide Channel's "Idol Chat" hosted by former Idol Contestant Kimberly Caldwell and Reality TV Pop Star Rosanna Tavarez.
The topic was from our recent press release entitled "Failure Experts Claim that Rejected American Idol Contestants are More Successful than Most Americans." Obviously, we are not referring to the success around the "singing"but rather the courage to be in the competition; to try and be willing to fail. Ultimately, the willingness to face rejection will propel these contestants (maybe not in singing and dancing!) to higher levels of success than most. It's a trait that is unfortunately not exercised by most of us that prefer to sit on the sidelines and judge.
We have no idea how Andrea did on the show as we haven't even seen it yet but as people who believe in always taking the risk and having the willingness to fail; she did exactly what we wanted - she did the interview.
After the interview we went Palm Springs for some much needed R & R. Because we are intimately aware of the behaviors-results connection, we both recognize that Rich's behaviors were not in alignment with the results we were after on his Fail Your Way to Success Diet Challenge. Some good behaviors: tennis over 2 days and some light swimming. Not so good behaviors: Two amazing dinners at LG's Steakhouse in Palm Desert and BOA in Santa Monica, and lunch at In-N-Out Burger (at Andrea's insistence). However, never ones to cower in defeat or failure, we press on and promise an update next week.
The topic was from our recent press release entitled "Failure Experts Claim that Rejected American Idol Contestants are More Successful than Most Americans." Obviously, we are not referring to the success around the "singing"but rather the courage to be in the competition; to try and be willing to fail. Ultimately, the willingness to face rejection will propel these contestants (maybe not in singing and dancing!) to higher levels of success than most. It's a trait that is unfortunately not exercised by most of us that prefer to sit on the sidelines and judge.
We have no idea how Andrea did on the show as we haven't even seen it yet but as people who believe in always taking the risk and having the willingness to fail; she did exactly what we wanted - she did the interview.
After the interview we went Palm Springs for some much needed R & R. Because we are intimately aware of the behaviors-results connection, we both recognize that Rich's behaviors were not in alignment with the results we were after on his Fail Your Way to Success Diet Challenge. Some good behaviors: tennis over 2 days and some light swimming. Not so good behaviors: Two amazing dinners at LG's Steakhouse in Palm Desert and BOA in Santa Monica, and lunch at In-N-Out Burger (at Andrea's insistence). However, never ones to cower in defeat or failure, we press on and promise an update next week.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Working to Failure Has Its Costs, Benefits
One week ago I (Rich) started what I call my 40 Day “Fail Your Way to Fitness” Challenge (see last week’s blog for details). Well, working to failure has its benefits… and its cost. First, the benefits.
Apparently, I have lost weight. I say “apparently” because (per the rules) I did a blind weigh in and was not allowed to see the results. But Andrea says they were stellar (see scale photo that Andrea has inserted in the blog). As with most diets, I can feel the difference but can not yet see it in the mirror yet. And when trying on my suit I can see I still have a long way to go. But progress is being made!
To stay within the rules of not being “results” oriented (focusing only on behaviors and working to “failure”) here’s how I changed my workouts. Typically I would count the number of “reps” as I lifted weights. Instead, I simply started lifting and repeating the mantra, “Work to failure! Work to failure!” As such, I have NO IDEA how many reps I did on each machine. I only know the following…
1) I did more reps than I would have done otherwise, and with heavier weight.
2) I hurt like hell.
To be specific, I can barely lift my left arm (having irritated an old rotator-cuff injury) and every thing else, hurts, too! But I can honestly say that the five times I went to the gym last week were the five best workouts I’ve had in a year, including previous workouts with a personal trainer.
So… the approach is clearly working. I am working to failure. I am destroying muscle (perhaps too much!) And I am going to stick with it. March 4th (the date I need to be in my suit) is rapidly approaching, and I know I can’t think myself thin – and, as it is with every other worthwhile achievement in life – I will have to work.
More next week!
Apparently, I have lost weight. I say “apparently” because (per the rules) I did a blind weigh in and was not allowed to see the results. But Andrea says they were stellar (see scale photo that Andrea has inserted in the blog). As with most diets, I can feel the difference but can not yet see it in the mirror yet. And when trying on my suit I can see I still have a long way to go. But progress is being made!
To stay within the rules of not being “results” oriented (focusing only on behaviors and working to “failure”) here’s how I changed my workouts. Typically I would count the number of “reps” as I lifted weights. Instead, I simply started lifting and repeating the mantra, “Work to failure! Work to failure!” As such, I have NO IDEA how many reps I did on each machine. I only know the following…
1) I did more reps than I would have done otherwise, and with heavier weight.
2) I hurt like hell.
To be specific, I can barely lift my left arm (having irritated an old rotator-cuff injury) and every thing else, hurts, too! But I can honestly say that the five times I went to the gym last week were the five best workouts I’ve had in a year, including previous workouts with a personal trainer.
So… the approach is clearly working. I am working to failure. I am destroying muscle (perhaps too much!) And I am going to stick with it. March 4th (the date I need to be in my suit) is rapidly approaching, and I know I can’t think myself thin – and, as it is with every other worthwhile achievement in life – I will have to work.
More next week!
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