New Book Smell?

Went to Barnes & Noble the other day to pick up a copy of Bobby Fischer teaches chess, a partial inspiration for a speech I gave Saturday night. Found it, went to the register, and suddenly remembered I wanted another book - the One Minute Millionaire. I told the cashier if she could have someone get that for me quickly.

Her response? I can't leave here, I can't talk to anyone, but I could go back to the Customer Service desk (in the middle of the store) and they would gladly help. I told her if she helped me, it'd be an automatic extra sale. There was NO ONE behind me.

Her response? "Do you have a rewards card". I replied in the negative, and she asked if I wanted one.

My response? Why would I want one if she can't get me a darn book?

Sheesh - where is the world going?

America Overrules Idol Judges

So much for throwing the competition. If that was David Cooks goal, America strongly voiced their opinion by making him an overwhelming (12 million votes) winner of season 7's American Idol.

It will be interesting to hear his first album, and track his success vs. David Archuletta, and the previous Idol winners. Will David be able to put his own imprint on the tracks, or will it be another over-produced, milquetoast debut for the Idol winner?

David Cook Throws Idol?

The first part of the American Idol Finale last night was shocking. After wowing the judges and the rest of America the last 3 months, David Cook was - Mediocre.

He wasn't bad, but he wasn't himself. Meanwhile, David Archuletta was on top of his game, performing 'molten hot', as Randy Jackson would say.

I believe David Cook was throwing the competition. He was clearly not living up to his prior performances, was deferent to David A. in body language throughout the show, and made horrible song choices for the two he had some control over.

And why not? Some of the biggest winners of Idol have lost. Aiken & Daughtry most significantly. With David Cook often compared to rocker Chris Daughtry, many thought he would win because Daughtry did not. But Cook knows with victory comes responsibility. He's beholden to Idol, and their often poorly produced first albums. Haven't heard much from Jordin Sparks or Mr. Soul Patrol, have we? And if Ruben Studdard didn't perform on Idol, where else would he sing?

Cook's best chance is to go it alone, and keep greater creative control. At 26, he's far readier to go be an instant success than David A., who will greatly benefit from the guidance of the Idol Machine.

David Cook knows he's the American Idol. But he's willing to sacrifice the title for a tremendous career. By throwing the title, his New Foot Smell will be an amazing first album, and a sold out concert tour.

Could you do the same?

Logic v. Intuition

I have been, for 39 years and 11 months, a cynic. I have pooh-poohed positive affirmations. I have said 'yeah right' to any idea that seemed Pollyanna, Get Rich Quick, or remotely Positive Mental Attitude related.

Mind you, I haven't doen this INTENTIONALLY. I have, in fact, a huge library of books by Napoleon Hills, Norman Vincent Peale, Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Stephen Covey, Jack Canfield, and dozens of other authors.

And YES, I've read them. But in the back of my mind, I've always said "yeah - right - whatever", even as I tell others that these are effective strategies. I know intuitively that these are right, but my MIND battles the heart. I've been taught this is the right way. Logic over Intuition. Spock over Kirk. Even though I KNOW and have empirical evidence that if I just BELIEVE, these strategies will work. This is why I can teach them with such conviction.

My internal critic, as Julia Cameron tells me, is a naysayer. The one who tells me its not possible for ME. It is for everyone else, but not ME.

And there are always plenty of Naysayers in my life, from family to friends to ex-employers to those folks that give books one-star reviews on Amazon (see the earlier post).

I am committed to Killing my Naysayer (just the internal one - not those people around me, whom I will simply learn to manage better).

What part of you do you need to 'kill' to get it out of your way? Can you release your internal Capt. Kirk (who always beats Spock at Three Dimensional Chess with intuition over logic)? Finding your New Foot Smell depends on it!

New Card Smell

I just printed new business cards designed to create a conversation - asking 'What's Your New Foot Smell?'.

I'm ready with a quick answer - 'It's like the new car smell - something that reinforces a great tough decision you've just made - and puts you on top of the world.'

This then leads into more discussion regarding their needs for either a speaker or coach.

When people pick up your business card - what does it create?

Lists, Goals, or Purpose?

Time management - the buzzword of the 90's. We all have the same 24 hours. Spening time vs. spending QUALITY time. If only we were more organized, we'd have more time. Its time to STOP!

We already spend our time doing what we want - whatever is easiest, whatever keeps us out of trouble - whatever gives us the highest reward with the lowest output of energy. Of course, one person's 'lowest output' maybe practicing for a marathon while another's is getting a faster time on flipping through the channels on the remote.

We've spent time trying to get ourselves in Time Management shape - writing down our goals, building to-do lists, even dedicating blocks of time to certain activities.

But what about PURPOSE? Why do we do all these things? Why must we accomplish the list? To feel good? To provide security to our family? To ensure we live longer? To have fun? When we understand our purpose, or create a purpose that means something, time management becomes easier. We know everything we're doing is leading towards not just a greater goal, but fulfilling WHO we want to be.

Sometimes that means cutting out some items on that list, or reassessing how important certain goals are. By defining our purpose, we will be able to better determine not just how to manage our time, but to enjoy it as well.

What is your Purpose?

Total Commitment

The New Foot Smell means total commitment.

How often, when faced with a decision, do we waffle from one choice to the next? Cover our bases, and try to create a fallback position?

We justify this thinking by saying "if we're wrong, we need to minimize the damage". A lack of commitment, however, can often cause more damage.

To have one foot in and one foot out of a relationship rarely leads to a better relationship. Instead it builds mistrust, creates an easy out, and allows one to focus on other things.

If change is necessary, but we always carry a reset button, can we truly commit our financial and emotional resources to the change, or are we always looking for the problem to arise so we can go back to a more comfortable position?

To truly create lasting change, commitment is key. True sacrifice will create transformation. If it doesn't go as planned, eliminating the fallback position doesn't eliminate your safety net - it forces you to create new solutions, propelling you to lasting change and greater creativity, and preventing you from languishing in the status quo.