I need to (fill in the blank)

This is a small taste of the constant ticker running through my frontal lobe...

I need to call that guy back.
I need to work on that project.
I need to develop some new marketing campaigns.
I need to go work out.
I need to pay the electric bill. 
I need to schedule a dermatologist appointment.
I need to prepare for a client meeting next week.
I need to design my business and life on purpose.
And on, and on, and on.

We're all very aware of the majority of the things that we need to do. Some of these things get done - and some don't. Some are important - and some really aren't.


So what stops me and you from doing the other things we "need" to do?

Resistance. This the answer and phrase coined by Stephen Pressfield in his book the WAR of ART. It is the force that holds us back from accomplishing the thing we strive to achieve. Or the thing we would've strived to achieve if we hadn't decided to instead watch TV or waste our time doing something else.

Resistance is excellent at its job. It skillfully maneuvers us from away from designing our lives and our businesses to instead reacting hastily to the series of mini-crises that pop up on a daily basis. Resistance is very good at letting us win just enough battles so we lose sight of the war that is defeating us.   

The funny thing about Resistance is that it permits us to do occasional good things. I think it figures that if we're looking down at something good we're probably missing the really great thing that just slipped out of view. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (mostly for my own personal benefit) - we get one shot at life. It thus becomes imperative that we fight Resistance and move forward one inch, one phone call, one blog post at a time.

It's the economy...it must be

Funny how we all turn into economists when the economy goes south, "Well business is down because the economy is down."

And yet when the economy is good we attribute the fact that we're doing good based on how awesome we are at running our businesses....

Economy is bad - we're macro-economists, "It's happening to me!"
Economy is good - we're micro-economists, "Look how good I am!"

And the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

But here's my question for this new batch of macro-economists blaming the economy - "Is there enough business for you?"

If there is, stop whining and get better. Be excellent. Be the one your clients will turn to. Build trust. Quit thinking about 2005 and get on with life. Marty McFly isn't going to show up with a Delorean to transport you back to the glory days of your bank account.

If there isn't enough for you (which I suspect there is) go find something else to do where there is enough for you.

Last I checked you're not responsible for managing the economy of the US. Be responsible for your own economy.

Blame them and you'll be hopeless and powerless.
Take responsibility and you'll become hopeful and powerful.

The price of authenticity

Authenticity in our society is becoming rarer than (long pause while I try and think of something appropriately witty...)

I can't think of anything. And I'm extremely disappointed in myself for not coming up with something funny. But this post is about being authentic, sooo....

Moving on. Let's take a look at Facebook as a prime example. Most people post their Farmville scores, the fact that they're happy it's the weekend, pictures of their kids dressed like dinosaurs, and YouTube videos featuring an big, ugly dog cuddling with a baby hamster.

But where's the authenticity?

Now of course you could argue that Facebook isn't the proper outlet for posting authentic, personal information. And I'm totally down with that. But would it hurt? Could it hurt?

There are specific people that I've found from a book they've written, videos they've posted on YouTube, or TED talks where they've been featured. I follow these people and maintain tabs on what they're doing because I like what they say. I like their authenticity. I don't know how they are as people, since I don't know them personally, but they seem to exude an above-average ability to communicate in a way that reaches emotion. And because of that I follow them. Or to say it another way, they lead me.

I hope you're understanding the power of this concept.  

The message that is shared, the philosophy that is expounded on, and the projects they embark on all seem to be born out of their insistent fervor to be authentic -  which shows up in their emotional output.

This is raw. Being authentic always is. It's the opposite of polished and shiny. Rather it is marred with the signature of life which is not always so perfect but is ultimately relate-able.

Speaking of raw and authentic, watch this video. Be forewarned, this guy is pretty raw but his message is pretty compelling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhqZ0RU95d4