I love this. It’s joy in it’s purest form.
This is great for the soul. True love and happiness.
Ambitiously Pursuing Your Own Self-Direction by Jim Rohn
What is the origin of true ambition? There exists really only one place to find true ambition and that is within you—in every thought, in every movement, in every motivation. Your ambition is an expression of who you truly are, your own self-expression.
Self-expression. Isn’t self-expression really self-direction? How you think, how you move, how you motivate yourself. Ambition is a result of self-direction and self-direction is one of the six key principles necessary for building ambition. Positive self-direction says, “I know who I am and I know where I want to go. I’m accumulating knowledge and experiences and feelings and philosophies that will help prepare me for opportunities that I know will show up without notice or any help on my part.” Because you know where you want to go, you have already been working on the parts of your personality that will make you better. Working on your attitude, working on your health, working on your time-management skills. Putting it all down on paper. And you constantly see yourself in the place you want to be, going in the direction you want to go
Direction determines destination. So here is a question you must ask yourself, “Are all the disciplines that I’m currently engaged in taking me where I want to go?” What an important question to ask yourself at the beginning of the month, the beginning of the week, the beginning of the day. Because here is what you don’t ever want to do—kid yourself. Kid your neighbor, kid me and kid the marketplace, but don’t kid yourself—fingers crossed—hoping you will arrive at a good destination when you’re not even headed that way. You have to ask yourself often, AM I? Am I doing the disciplines that are taking me in the direction I want to go? Don’t neglect to ask these important questions, questions that help determine your direction, the set of your sail, your destination.
Is this the direction I want for my life?
Is this someone else’s direction?
Is this a goal I have been ingrained with since my childhood?
Is this goal my parents’, my spouse’s, my boss’s, my children’s or is it MINE?
Ask yourself these questions and then debate them. After you have answered these questions within yourself, then take it one step further and ask, “What am I doing that is working or not working?” Debate it all. Work with your mind to figure out the best possible direction for you—your self-direction. And then ambitiously pursue your own self-direction. Let the power of your own ambition take you where you want to go, to do what you want to do, to create the life you want to live!
“Every time you praise something, every time you appreciate something, every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe, “More of this, please. More of this, please.” You need never again make another verbal statement of this intent, and if you were allowing your cork to float — all good things would flow to you.”
“What I think and feel and what I get are always a match. And so, if I want something different than what I’ve been getting, I have to, somehow, generate different feelings.”
This made a huge difference to me.
The Voice is no talent quest.
There have been a few comments flying across the social media platforms recently about why experienced artists like me would want to be in a talent quest such as The Voice. The notion of being in a talent quest never really appealed to me so why is it I got involved ? Well, up front, in early November 2011 I didn’t look at The Voice as a talent quest. Having now seen and felt how it works as a participant I feel this even more so.
When I think of a talent quest I think of singers good and terrible all vying to be judged by people who are either way past it, people who aren’t performers at all or people that get a kick out of giving a kick. Where the performers get told what they are doing wrong like they are being assessed in a school exam. This isn’t The Voice on any level. The environment within this process is a very supportive and positive one. It’s very challenging but extremely encouraging.
The Voice has so much more to offer. It’s a search for artists that have a special gift, more than just a good voice, something that reaches out and affects people. The production gives these artists the chance to connect with a huge audience and share what they have to offer.
Building a profile platform to move forward as an artist is the key advantage of this show. It’s not about being told if you can sing. It’s not about learning licks and tricks from the coaches. It’s about a shared journey for all involved to showcase the best they have to offer.
As an artist on the show you get everything you’d every dream of having at your finger tips. A great band, sound system, light show, make up artists, wardrobe department, a brilliant set. Then you get a mic and the spotlight. It’s up to you to bring it!! It really is the stuff of dreams.
The show is for talented singers that are passionate about their craft and brave enough to put themselves in front of the country and say - I WANT THIS. I CAN DO THIS. And the artists ARE really talented. There’s no room for the coaches to dismiss or ridicule. It’s about a celebration not disintegration.
The format of the show allows all types to feel they start on an equal footing; Big people and little people, old people and young people, gorgeous people and the ‘character’ actors of the world. All the coach hears is the voice. If you look amazing but it doesn’t translate through to them with your voice then chances are it’s not going to happen this time. If you are in your 40’s and sing like a bird chances are you’ll get the chance and the choice to work with some incredibly successful artists. What a great opportunity!!! I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve never seen an opportunity like it.
I’ve loved the experience and I have learnt much more about myself than I would ever have dreamed. I had completely underestimated just how inspiring it is to spend time with talented and courageous people that know what they want and are prepared to reach for the stars.
Whoa Oh Oh, Listen To The Music
Yesterday I worked with my Dad doing a jazz gig on drums. It didn’t feel like work. It’s always great to perform with him. He plays clarinet and sings. I am regularly amazed at how fabulous he is. The clarinet has always been a favourite instrument of mine. I think I am very lucky to have been exposed to such a beautiful instrument and played by someone with such a passion for music and a love of what he does. My dad Dave plays in the very early Jazz style like Johnny Dodds in the 1920’s. It’s a rare thing and not too many people these days know much of it. Especially in the Melbourne CBD on Easter Sunday. The way you can feel the emotion is never more evident than with a clarinet played in this style. It has a beautiful cry and wail that reaches in and touches your soul. I sat on my drums watching the way the music was affecting the people in the room. It’s quite amazing how varied the impact is. Some people love it and know they love it, they take it in and it fills them with joy. Others seem surprised at how it makes them feel and spend the day looking on in amazement. One little baby right in front of us was completely mesmerised and sat there fixated by the sound for 2 hours. His family seems staggered that he was so calm and peaceful. Oh the power of music. There are other too that seem challenged by the music. It’s like the emotion in the music is a bit too real and present. I am fascinated by these people as it seems like they are suppressing joy and love. It seems like they have become so controlled in their lives that anything that stirs emotion is confronting to them. Even at a low volume and at a generous distance they are still irritated by the sound. It’s sad. I don’t know for sure but I would bet they are lacking in joy and love in their lives. I know plenty of people like this. They have learnt to resist openness and settle for the compromise. I know music has made me who I am and my existence is so much better for always being around and in it. Thanks to my Dad for sharing his passion and giving me this great gift in my life. 
Making the most of your opportunities.
One thing I have learnt over the past 9 months is how important it is to make the most of your opportunities. In all facets of your life. Love, career, money, family, friends, everything. We are constantly facing “fork in the road” moments. Sliding doors. Which way will it go? Each way leading to a completely different outcome. For too long I was swept in the ebb and flow of whatever happened. I would tell people I was in control but I wasn’t making clear choices. I was certainly in control but I wasn’t taking the responsibility very seriously.
If you live an empowered existence then you can find these choices many times a day. From the so called little things like, “Was I loving enough on the phone with my family just now?” Or the big obvious…”Maybe I should’ve taken that job offer or called that Girl I met on the train.”
My point is that we need to be self aware enough to make the little opportunities count every day. I think the trick is to ALWAYS err on the side of being positive and doing what makes you feel good. This takes very little effort to do but is equally easy to NOT do. It’s just about getting into the habit of being calm and smart enough to take that second to make a considered choice.
These little choices will ultimately lead to great happiness and fulfilment. After all climbing Everest is just a sequence of single steps.
Focus on what you WANT.
On a daily basis it is confirmed to me that we all create our life environment and what we experience. The great news is that we have the control. Either to make changes if we need to or to continue on a joyful path. Put your mind to what you want. Think about what you WANT not what you DON’T want. Just know that by believing it will happen is all you need to do. This doesn’t mean we don’t work for what we want and sit and wait passively. Quite the opposite. By knowing what we want we continually do a huge number of little things that drive us towards that goal.
