Guest Posts
Four Life Lessons I Learned From Funnyman John Crist
by Jennifer Kaufman Yesterday I talked with a friend who is a drummer. I complimented him on his ability to master the dynamics – controlling the oh-so-important loud and soft, lows and highs of a powerful song. He said, “That means a lot. Most people’s go-to compliment for drummers is, ‘Dude, that was sick! Really loud!’ And I think, ‘Well, that is sort of the nature of the instrument…‘ It’s nice to be recognized for something that requires a bit more work.” That made me wonder: do comedians and comic actors enjoy being recognized for who they are beyond the jokes? I suppose I should ask my new friend John Crist. John is an incredibly talented comedian who is quickly gaining traction around the world – but at Jon Acuff’s Start Conference 2013, amidst the hilarity and side-splitting laughter, his words hit home in a powerful way to that building full of diverse dreamers. Here are four of my takeaways: 1. The phrase “dream job” has two words. We tend to favor the “dream” part, but often ignore the second half. People don’t suddenly wake up as the president of a company or the pioneer of a field. Most of us were not born so famous that we can expect to sell an album or a book on name alone. Achieving your dreams – whatever they may be – requires hard work. For Crist, this includes a timesheet he uses to chart the hours he has put in to master his craft. He clocks in and out as he works at his goals, in order to both hold himself accountable and track the effects of his work. 2. Stop making career choices every day. If John banked everything on one performance in front of a small, disengaged audience, or hears feedback from someone who says they wouldn’t have stayed to listen no matter how much the ticket cost, he could call it quits. If he looks at a packed house and focuses on the praise of a sold-out crowd, hearing their laughter in his head louder than any other voices, he might make a rash decision and take on more than he can handle. The same is true of your journey and mine. Don’t quit your day job after one blog post goes viral or your mom says you should be an actor. But don’t you dare quit hustling on your dream because one person criticizes you. For balance, always look at the big picture. 3. If you fail – and you will – allow the shortest possible time to pass before trying again. Jon Acuff discusses this a bit in his book, Start. If Crist has a show that bombs at 7pm, he almost immediately has a chance to put it behind him with the 9pm show. Delivering a win after what feels like a loss is one of the best ways to ensure that “failure” doesn’t define you. If you get a bad review and sit on it for days, weeks, months? Not only will it be harder to try again after ruminating on it, but you may begin to find your identity in that one misstep. (Hint: It’s not there. I promise.) And the one that inspired me the most… the one that convicted me and challenged me on a level akin to the best motivational speakers and pastors I’ve heard… 4. “If you have a gift and you’re not using it, shame on you. You’re robbing everyone of what you were put on this earth to do. I believe you’ll have to answer for that.” Boom. Let that soak in. Many of you know how you’re gifted, how you’re wired. Maybe you don’t know exactly what your life’s road map will look like, including every twist, turn and pit stop along the way. You know what? Stop using that as an excuse. (And to be clear, I’m talking first to myself). You probably know what you’re good at, what you have always loved. It’s not by accident that...
Read MoreThree Ways To Bump Your Start to the Next Level
by Sean Nisil When I began this journey, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lured in by the mystery, anticipation of adventure, and the promise of a good fight, I laid out a road map, took a deep breath, and left the Shire (Yes…I went there. You’re welcome.). In my travels, I learned a few things. Perhaps they will help on your own journey beyond your door. 1. Claim Your Dream As the modern philosopher Gotye put it, “You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness.” Up to this point, you’ve sat on the fence while Fear claimed victory over your dreams. But once you hear the trumpet sound, comfortable discontent is no longer acceptable. It’s time to rise to your feet. Of course you want to do more, feel better, be different, but here’s the thing: in order to live with passion, inspire others, and impact the world, you have to believe in yourself first. At the end of the day, the buck stops with you. Send that dream out of your head and into the world. Tell your friends and family. Tell your co-workers. Put it on your social media profiles. Tattoo it on your face (#allthecommitment). If you want an awesome, dangerous, and adventurous life, stop hiding and be honest about your dream. Now. 2. Plug Into Community The genesis of the START Experiment was the idea that Fear hates community. The START Experiment is a group of dreamers and misfits who have learned to embrace who they are as individuals and as a group. If you haven’t found a tribe (big or small) who encourage and equip you to take risks and achieve greatness, it’s time to start looking for that group of people. Large groups of encouragers are like an auditorium, while your trusted inner circle is like a classroom. The large group will support you with stories of success, helpful information, and hilarious pranks to alleviate your stress. Within your inner circle, you can dig into the details and daily steps of your goals. You cannot achieve your dream alone. A group of like-minded friends will help you find that critical tipping point that makes all the difference. And one more thing–there’s nothing quite like seeing their dreams come true, too. 3. Get STARTed As W. Clement Stone puts it, “Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.” Don’t worry about perfection at this point. Just start. Maybe you can’t punch Fear in the face on day one. That’s okay. Start by stepping on its toe. Then poke it in the eye. Before you know it, you’ll be throat-punching Fear in the morning and giving it flying round-house kicks all afternoon. This is your chance. This is your life. Get STARTed. Sean Nisil is a writer, speaker, and financial coach. Read his blog at www.SeanNisil.com and follow him on Twitter...
Read MoreHello, Monsters
Hello, Monsters by Nicole Romero There was a time when my daughter was very scared of monsters. These were nights of 3 am room visits and long conversations in the dark; nights when the blinking light on the smoke detector threatened to eat her in her sleep. “Face your monsters,” I’d say. “Monsters chase us when we run. But, when you turn to face them, they either run away or they play with you.” I wrote this poem as a way to finally take my own advice and face down my fears. No more lost years. No more hiding. I needed to turn and face my own monsters. “Fear is a lion, that only backs down when we stop acting like prey and stand our ground.” Nicole Romero is a poet, speaker and joy ninja… a girl learning to punch fear in the face one word at a time. Writing at www.1000strands.com....
Read MoreStart by Saying “No.”
Start by Saying “NO.” by Mike Loomis I grew up in a house jammed with music. Or drums, anyway. My dad was a drummer, so these instruments were part of the living room furniture and a part of me. As I was reading the book, Start, by Jon Acuff, this scene from childhood came into playback: In fourth grade, when it was time to join band, my classmates and I lined up to select our weapons of choice. “But you have good, long arms – perfect for playing the trombone!” This was the best sales pitch the music teacher could muster after informing me that too many kids had already signed up to play the drums. Understandable. The system couldn’t please every one of my classmates. Somebody had to play the trombone, right? Wrong. I’m a pretty laid-back person, so resisting all the sweet-talk was not normal for me. (And for the record, “trombone arms” definitely wasn’t on my wish-list of manly attributes). The standoff was intense. After some repetitive pencil-tapping exercises, my insistence paid off. I grabbed those giant wooden drumsticks and ran out the door! It was the only outcome I could live with peacefully. This kind of “no alternative” resolve has not always guided me. I’ve sometimes fiddled for years on “important” projects, juggling assorted aspects of my career so others wouldn’t be disappointed. Sure, there are needs to fill, but honestly, it’s scary to start doing the one thing you love. Dueling Banjos We face pressure from voices inside, and outside, our heads. Think about all the times your teacher, boss, friends, or even text messages try to pull you toward a path where you’re “needed.” You might be qualified, but deep inside, you want to resist and insist. My resolve to play those drums greatly impacted my life, relationships, and passport stamps. Years later, I toured all over the US, USSR, and Eastern Europe playing drums. The Snare You don’t need to have it all figured out (although I hope you caught the clever drum reference above). We just have to stop for a beat and realize how we’re making choices every day. We are surrounded by high-pressure needs. We are dealing with our own voices of doubt. Take stock of these things, and when necessary, resist. Insist. Start. Someone else will play the clarinet. You don’t have to do it. Yes, you’re a grownup, but every once in a while, it’s okay to listen to the wise voice of that stubborn inner-9-year-old. Say NO to something right now. Consider it practice. Jon Acuff’s book, Start, has helped me do that in heaps, and the results are showing up! So, Flute Fingers… What do you really want to play? Mike Loomis helps people launch and grow their dream projects. He’s strategic partner to business owners, authors, and non-profits. He and his wife live in the mountains of Colorado with their pet moose. www.MikeLoomis.CO <http://www.MikeLoomis.CO> Creative Commons attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitch98000/3320611000/ ...
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