Charlie Tremendous Jones, a high energy motivational speaker who died a few years back quoted that
'You will be the same person in five as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read'.
How true is that? How many of you have read a book that has changed your life? I remember the first one that ever did. My wonderful Aunty Laurel lent me Richard Bach's 'Illusions' when I was about 17. I still use one of the quotes from that book almost weekly;
"Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours'.
Of course now, Charlie would have to amend it slightly to
"You will be the same person in five as you are today except for the people you meet, the podcasts you listen to, the Ted Talks you watch, the periscopes/blabs you watch, the webinars you attend (etc etc) and the books you read'.
We have access to more information than ever before in history
In fact information is now a commodity, like air or water; there is so much of it, and it's generally free!
So if you wanted to find out anything these days, you pretty much can, and it is so easy. For example, I wanted to understand more about rugby, having watched the extraordinary All Blacks vs France game on Sunday morning. I have never bothered to find out the actual rules, and honestly I usually feign interest in it (how can I call myself a kiwi gal?!). But I made a commitment to get more present to the game (I mean there must be some reason our nation goes nuts over it) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do get this was a pretty watchable game, and many aren't quite so absorbing. Here is a Youtube clip I watched, which has given me a mass of value in just three minutes. I can now actually explain the difference between a ruck, maul and a scrum. I know that the game on Sunday against South Africa is going to be a whole new experience for me now!
How can you create the time to learn? Well one of the concepts that Matt Church refers to is TedMilling, that's when you listen to Ted Talks whilst excercising. I am about to go on my morning walk, and will pop on my wireless headphones and listen to a couple of Ted Talks at the same time. Energetically I feel very powerful when I get back and have learned all kinds of interesting stuff from how the way we handle addiction is all wrong, to an extraordinary talk by Jimmy Carter on mistreatment of women being the number one human rights issue.
It's not so much about the fact that I now have some interesting insight into those specific subjects, but that is encourages me to think differently. And then I can in turn share those insights and encourage or support others to think differently. Refer to the following model;
I am not talking about becoming an intellectual bore, just about becoming more interesting, and choosing to enter into discussions that you may have previously avoided. Or even writing a book! Just doing stuff that causes you to think differently, over and above the reading in the first place. As humans we actually crave understanding more, but are often so disconnectedand opt instead for force feeding ourselves reality tv and trashy mags (and believe me there's a place for these, but just like junk food, not every day).
Going back to Charlie's quote, the people you meet is a whole separate topic, and will be another blog. But have a think about when you are carving time in your life to learn. Can you get audio books out of the library and listen to them in the car? (and of course fiction books can be some of the most life changing books of all. I remember being remarkably affected by Janet Frame novels in my teenage years).
And have a think about what you have wanted to find out more about, and just go find out! I have just been inspired after writing this blog, to watch Youtube clips on how to do a flip turn in the pool, something that has always eluded me (here's a good one!).
Here's to becoming more interesting, sharing what you know, and adding some true richness to your life, without being too serious about it!
Would you like to come spend a day with me on Waiheke Island where we will create your very own lead generation machine?
Friday October 30 in partnership with W3
I am very excited about hosting a one day Illuminate event with the wonderful girls at W3. 9am to 5pm at Waiheke Library, Oneroa, cost $250 including GST; you will create your own lead generation machine and refine your personal brand. Includes a copy of my book Lead Generation. Limited to 20 participants and honorary islanders are invited too. Click here for more details, and let me know if you would like to know when the next Illuminate program is coming up mainland side.
