You’ve probably gathered from reading
my blog posts and emails that I read alot.
It’s one the best ways (if not the best)
to gain insight and “see” the most inner
thoughts of the most brilliant minds who
ever lived.
Admittedly, I’m a little slow to find, pick
and read the latest books to hit the shelves.
For example, I just finished reading “Tribes”
by Seth Godin and “Linchpin”, also by Seth Godin.
Good reads, both of them.
In Tribes, Godin talks about how there
are literally millions of people out there
looking for a leader. Someone to start
or lead the tribe they belong to.
There is a HUGE shortage of leaders and
leadership in the world.
By stepping out and becoming a leader,
you put yourself in a position to truly
make a difference in the lives of other
people by sharing your experiences,
ideas and thoughts.
He also says the reason leadership is so
scarce is “because few people are willing
to go through the discomfort required to
lead. This scarcity makes leadership valuable.”
He goes on to say that “it’s discomfort that
creates the leverage that makes leadership
worthwhile.”
A couple of examples of this would be that
it’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of
strangers and it’s uncomfortable to propose
an idea that might fail.
Godin also shares this: “When you identify
the discomfort, you’ve found the place where
a leader is needed. If you’re not uncomfortable
in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain
you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.”
I always related the saying “no pain, no gain”
to just working out and getting into physical
condition. But, it’s true in most areas of your
life.
If your not stretching and forcing yourself to
be in some discomfort, you aren’t really gaining
any ground. You’re probably just maintaining
the status quo.
In his book “Linchpin” Godin talks more in-depth
as to how and why we are all programmed to
always maintain this status quo and to keep
ourselves comfortable.
It’s our “lizard brain” he calls it. It’s the part
of our brain that has kept humankind alive
for thousands or possibly millions of years.
By keeping quiet and staying comfortable
and not taking risks, we are keeping ourselves
safe and the odds of us not being hurt are
greatly increased.
Our old “lizard” brain is keeping us safe. Or,
so it thinks.
Godin talks about how we have to learn to develop
and tap into our “Daimon” brain or “new, genius brain”.
This part of our brain is the creator, the risk taker,
the artist.
So, there’s this constant conflict going on between
the 2 brains. The “old” brain still thinks we live in
a world where predators like saber-toothed tigers
roam around and if we cause any sort of attention
to ourselves, we’ll be eaten.
The “new” brain is well aware of the fact that we
are no longer living in those type of circumstances
and is alot more willing to step out of that “comfort”
or safety zone and do creative things and things
that matter.
And, being that the “lizard” brain (the old brain) has
been with us since the beginning, it’s the brain that
constantly wins the battles.
If we’re not aware of the battle going on between
our ears between these 2 brains, we hinder ourselves
and slow our own progress in today’s society.
If we don’t take more action and start to listen to
our “new” brain and step out of our comfort
zone, the old brain will win 95% of the time and
keep us “safe” wich keeps us from taking the
uncomfortable action that may be the most valuable
and/or productive for our own advancement.
Reading these 2 books lead me to read another book
called “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield.
Pressfield talks about how most of us have 2 lives.
The one we live and the unlived life within us.
He further explains how the lizard brain controls
our actions most of the time and how it can slow
our personal development, growth and progress.
He calls it “The Resistence.”
Here’s how he expains it:
“Resistence seems to come from outside ourselves.
We locate it in spouses, jobs, bosses, kids. ‘Peripheral
opponents,’ as Pat Rily used to say when he coached
the Los Angeles Lakers.
Resistence is not a peripheral opponent. Resistence
arises from within. It is self-generated and self-
perpetuated. Resistence is the enemy within.”
Pressfield goes on to say,
“Resistence will tell you anything to keep you from
doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify;
seduce, bully, cajole. Resistence is protean. It will
assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive
you. It will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a
nine-millimeter in your face like a stickup man.
Resisence has no conscience. It will pledge anything
to get a deal, then double-cross you as soon as your
back is turned. If you take Resistence at its word,
you deserve everthing you get. Resistence is always
lying and always full of shit.”
Pretty heavy and serious stuff, right?
And it is.
If you’re not fully aware of what’s going on in your
own head that may be sabotaging your own success,
then how do you stand a chance to defend yourself
from yourself to overcome that thinking?
Let alone succeed at something?
Pressfield talks about how creating and doing what
you are passionate about is your art and how by
engaging yourself fully in your passion makes you
an artist.
He talks about doing the work or performing your
art at your fullest potential and not worrying about
how your art or work is perceived by others.
Here’s something else that Pressfield said:
“…the most important thing about art is to work.
Nothing else matters except sitting down every day
and trying.
Why is this so important?
Because when we sit down day after day and keep
grinding, something mysterious starts to happen.
A process is set into motion by which, inevitably
and infallibly, heaven comes to our aid. Unseen
forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces
our purpose…..
When we sit down each day to do our work, power
concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of
our dedication. She approves. We have earned
favor in her sight. When we sit down and work,
we become like a magnetized rod that attracts
iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.
Just as Resistence has its seat in hell, so Creation
has its home in heaven. And it’s not just a witness,
but an eager and active ally.”
Isn’t that powerful?! I could go on a quote paragraph
after paragraph from all of the books above.
The point is, is that we all have to be aware that
there is an unseen force (in our brain) that is ironically
working against our success.
If your not aware of this unseen force, you don’t
stand a chance of combating it.
So, if you’re not achieving the level of success
that you are aiming for in whatever you’re working
towards, there may be a good chance that these
are the reasons why.
I encourage you to get and read these 3 books.
It really brings these issues to light.
Here’s somthing else that may help with the
stuggles you may be having.
You may or may not have seen this video. It’s
Frank Kern and John Reese talking about how
72.3% of the people who buy their courses never
even read or consume them and never take any
action at all on what is taught in their courses.
They wanted to get Tony’s advice as to why that
was and what to do about it.
Here’s the awesome answers he gave them.
I’ve watched this thing 2 or 3 times and it makes
more and more sense every time I watch it.
Enjoy:
Tony Robbins, Frank Kern & John Reese Video
Hope this helps you!
Jerry
