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Archive for January, 2008

I’m Right About This

January 26th, 2008 Preston True 2 comments

I viewed a really interesting video yesterday. It was of Seth Godin. You may know of him; he’s written a bunch of books on marketing and branding.

It’s a five minute video on his interpretation of “fundamentalism” and “curiosity”. You can view it at http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid980097284/bctid1385253108.

Here’s what I heard, learned, and will be applying to my life:

  • Fundamentalism is NOT a religious thing. It’s a way of thinking, behaving and BEING. It’s based on looking first at your belief and interpretation, then measuring an external experience to see if it fits with your belief or interpretation.
  • Curiosity is the opposite. It’s a way of observing what’s happening externally, then simply asking questions about how that fits into your world, your beliefs, your interpretations, and your mission.

So, what does that mean? This is what I learned:

I have a filter called my belief system. There are things that fit inside of it and things that don’t. One of my belief systems is that liver and onions is totally gross. Another is that racism is totally gross. Both of these beliefs serve me and I keep my life predictable and safe by staying away from both. If someone asks me about either, I will share without any doubt, that I do NOT believe in liver and onions and I do NOT believe in racism. My belief is that they are both wrong. I consider myself a fundamentalist on both issues.

Now, I realize there are plenty of people who enjoy liver and onions. And, I realize there are plenty of people for whom racism serves. So what if I were to take Seth Godin’s advice and consider curiosity instead? Here’s what I see and how I can apply it to my life:

What if I were to just be curious about liver and onions? I might actually step out of my “You’ve got to be crazy to like that stuff!” and just simply be okay that there are people who truly enjoy liver and onions. My wife can’t stand cilantro and I love it. Could it be the same for liver and onions?

And, what if I were to just be curious about racism? I might stop being critical and judgmental of people who I call racist (and when I do that, isn’t it just more of the same?). Maybe if I brought curiosity to those situations when I’m present to someone being racist, I’d ask questions such as “What is this person afraid of?”, “What event occurred in his past that upset him to the point of becoming racist?”, “How can I support this person’s compassion rather than his racism?”

If I were to simply be curious about these situations, would I end up being a bigger contribution than if I were to just simply declare my fundamentalist beliefs?

So here are a few invitations for you:

  • Notice when you begin sharing your opinion right away. Check in with yourself and ask, “Am I practicing my fundamentalism or my curiosity?”
  • Make a list of the top 10 things you’re a “fundamentalist” about. Then ask, “What’s available for me if I were to be curious about these rather than be right about these?”
  • Ask, “What part of my business am I a fundamentalist about? How is that supporting or not supporting me?”
  • Be willing to make messes along the way of moving from fundamentalism to curiosity. You are completely capable of cleaning them up and it’s HIGHLY likely no one will die in the process.

Finally, it’s really just a choice. You’re welcome to be a fundamentalist and you’re welcome to be curious. Life is a wide open opportunity and you get to choose what works best for you.

Happy Questioning,

- Coach Preston

PS – If you haven’t read any of Seth’s stuff, I highly recommend looking him up and reading what he has to offer. Here’s his blog: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

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You Are Where You’re Meant To Be

January 9th, 2008 Preston True Comments off
I was watching TV about two years ago and a colleague of mine (we’ll call him “Steve”) was being interviewed by a reporter on how he had managed to build such a successful business from scratch.
Steve’s comments to the reporter: “Well, Bob, it really wasn’t as hard as it may seem. I just knew what I was doing was going to work. That what I was offering was something people wanted and finally I just trusted that it would work. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but very likely the next day.”
WHAT? It really wasn’t “that hard”? Two years ago I was struggling to get a new business started and it was a pain in the a$$. Long hours, frustrating experiences and an emotional rollercoaster. And this guy was saying it “wasn’t that hard”? I oughta….(you fill in the blank)!
So let’s fast-forward one year. I’ve closed a failed business and I’m starting a new one. There are so many lessons learned and so much to think about in terms of making this one work. Where do I start? Develop my product? Establish a marketing plan? Hire employees? Invest in training? Help me…I don’t want to have another failure!!!
Then I shut up my mind and mouth for about a week on the recommendation from a friend. Here’s what showed up that week:

1) A new client

2) A call from a former colleague inquiring into what I was up to now

3) An email from a friend with a prayer that had one line I’ll never forget: “May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be”

That last piece was what completely changed my future.

I realized that my earlier upset about my colleague’s publicity, the struggle to get my former business going and, ultimately the failure of that business was caused by my overwhelming lust to be someplace where I WAS NOT. I was so focused on where I wasn’t that I paid little to no attention to all the resources, support and acknowledgement that was around me.

Those most important items that would help me create a successful and thriving business.

So now I practice a lot of TRUST.

Trusting that today, I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

Trusting that today I have all the resources, support and acknowledgement I need to create a successful and thriving business.

Trusting that the people I touch, the words I speak and the futures I listen for will deliver everything I want so as to have an incredibly fulfilling business and life.

Trusting that something bigger, stronger, wiser and faster is providing everything I need and can handle right now.

For my colleague on TV – he needed that interview and he was prepared for that interview. The Universe delivered that for him when he was ready.

So I invite you to consider some or all of the following:

1) Where is TRUST present and not present for you?

2) Where are you jealous, envious, or covetous in your business and life?

3) What’s the fear that drives you to frustration about where you aren’t rather than be present to where you are?

4) What one action are you committed to take today that will move your business or life forward?

5) What have you not been acknowledged for?

Creating success is really very simple. It’s about acknowledging our fears, identifying the future we want and committing to take action to move into that future.

And, trust that you’re are exactly where you’re meant to be right now.

Happy Presence,
-Coach Preston

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