Curious about Television - What Is Its Impact, Its Pros and Cons?

Last week included a “TV tirade” on several fronts. It started with my “Monday Morning Memo” from the Wizard of Ads. Roy H. Williams, the author, ends his memo with these words:

“…television's magnetic hold on us seems to be on the mind of a lot of people right now. And I, for one, am going to ponder this awhile and come to some sort of conclusion. And then I'll probably take some sort of action. What it will be, I have no idea.”

Then when I visited my Yahoo group mail, the writers in the copywriter group of which I am a member were discussing Williams’ memo; Stephen King’s description in his book, On Writing, of TV as a “killer of creativity"; and then Norman Mailer’s article in Sunday’s Parade Magazine in which he also berates TV.

He discusses the insidious effects of television on our entire educational system. He cites that increased TV watching, interrupted every few minutes by a series of unrelated commercials affects our children's abilities tomaintain concentration for any length of time, reduces their desire to read at all, and therefore their ability to read well. He cites obesity as another effect of our youngsters sitting in a stupefied state in front of the boob tube, eating and drinking all the while, but even more serious, he foresees the very prosperity of our nation being affected, as the rest of the world is getting into position to surpass our economic conditions.

By this time I was feeling good about the fact that I don’t have a TV and haven’t had one since 1994. I usually tell myself that the only time I miss it is for the Academy Awards and the Olympics. The real truth is that if I had a TV (and I know this is the case, because I did have one from 1985 until 1994) I would turn it on for noise and end up watching some time-wasting made-for-TV movie that was definitely drivel.

My children and I were without a TV from 1978 until 1985. We had moved from a house with two TVs to a new location and I felt that not having a TV would encourage creativity, activity outside the home and socializing - it did. As far as I know, my five children all own TVs today, but I have no idea of how much time they spend watching it.

The beginning comments in the Yahoo group discussion about the negative effects of watching TV unleashed the tirade. Some hated it and never watched, others only watched once in awhile, others planned to cut back or stop watching, and then there were those who love it, watch it all of the time and sing its praises - some posters to the group even became a bit belligerent.

As a storyteller, I feel that TV with its visual images and sound bites has given storytellers the challenge to get and keep listeners enthralled and making their own images from the words spoken. I notice that it often takes a minute or two to engage my audience, no matter how young or how old. But it has also enforced my belief that a good story, told well, will always win out against a TV sitcom.

I would love to have the hours back that I used up (“wasted”) in front of a TV before I banished it from my home, and yet I still remember some of the greats that I am glad I didn’t miss: Sid Caesar, I Love Lucy, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Ed Sullivan, Dick Van Dyke - I’ll let you guess the rest.

So, how do you feel about TV? What category do you fit in? Hate it, love it, want to get rid of it, or learn from it? Send me your comments.

Curious about Conformity? Do You or Don't You - Conform, That Is?

“I would sum up my fear about the future in one word: boring. And that's my one fear: that everything has happened; nothing exciting or new or interesting is ever going to happen again... the future is just going to be a vast, conforming suburb of the soul.” J. G. Ballard

Today I was listening to a tape where the author was describing a study made with several groups of eight people. In each group there were seven who were told ahead of time that this was a study and were also prepped on what to say - the eighth person was the “guinea pig.”

The group was shown a picture of a line and then other pictures of lines. All agreed that the first and second were equal in length, but when shown the picture with an obviously much shorter or longer line than the first, the seven agreed that they were also equal. In most cases, the test subject (number eight) would in 95% of the times agree with the seven. When questioned afterward, he and/or she would admit they thought the lines were not equal, but decided to go along with the group.

It made me start to wonder how often we tend to conform, even though we don’t agree, just to be part of the group. And, isn’t conformity caused mostly by peer pressure and wanting to “fit in” and be liked? Then, I decided to check out the experts to find out what they had to say about conformity.

Loving good quotes, I decided to do a search and found yet another great tool through Google, called www.BrainyQuote.com.

• “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” John F. Kennedy
• “In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from.” Peter Ustinov
• “If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.” Thomas J. Watson
• “In any free society, the conflict between social conformity and individual liberty is permanent.” Kathleen Norris
• “The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.” Robert Anthony
• “Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.” Chauncey Depew
• “To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity.” Irving Wallace

The above quotations made me think a great deal about conformity - how easy it is and yet how damaging it can be. I realize that conformity on some fronts is necessary and sensible, but on the other side we need to stick up for what we believe in and not always just go along with the group.

What do you think? Do you tend to conform or not?

A Curious Alternative to Time Management

Yes, I have read and heard (on motivational audio tapes) that for effective time management, we “should” prioritize and tackle the high priority and more unpleasant tasks first. Brian Tracy - one of my all time favorite gurus - even has a book extolling this approach called, Eat a Frog for Breakfast.

Let’s examine an alternative and/or opposite approach.

Dan Rosensweig, Chief Operating Officer of Yahoo, in a Fast Company magazine interview stated the following, “Time is the only luxury left in the world, and I do my best not to waste much.” and, “Do the things that matter most to you. If you don’t love it, it’s not worth it.”

Marnie L. Pehrson, wife, mother of 6, author and consultant who helps talented professionals discover, define and deliver their message to the online world, wrote the following in an article on time management:

“Work with your moods. You know how most people look at everything they have to do and start with the worst first. They say, `I hate to do it, but I really have to get my bills paid today. Ugh! I’d rather be writing or designing my web site or calling new customers, but I’ve set aside Mondays to pay my bills, so that’s what I’ve got to do today.’ Bills do need to be paid, but if you’re in a creative mood with ideas and energy that want to go elsewhere, follow your creative energy where it leads. Then when that energy has passed, do things like paying your bills and other tasks that don’t need that creative flow.”

I agree with both of the above statements so strongly that I wanted to share them with you. For example, right now I am taking advantage of a huge snow storm that cancelled a meeting I was to attend today by writing in my blog before tackling some other high priority tasks. I know that I will accomplish them, too, but with a fresh perspective.

If you are as interested in alternative approaches to time management and organization click on the following links to articles I have written for my Freelance Living website: http://www.creativekeys.net/FreelanceLiving/article1004.html and http://www.creativekeys.net/FreelanceLiving/article1033.html

And, do let me know how you handle the “luxury of time.”

Curious about CANI! - Meet One of My Favorite Mentors

Back in 1987 I was hired by a motivational company to sell a pricey goal setting program. It was during this time that I started listening to tapes and setting serious goals.

One of the benefits for those who purchased the program - and I sold many - was a weekly meeting where we discussed goals and motivational/inspirational topics. Our leader asked me to review Anthony Robbins’ book Unlimited Power and also listen to one of his tapes, so I could introduce his approach to the group.

Well, I was hooked! So hooked that in the summer of 1988, when Tony brought his fire walk to Cleveland, I signed up and encouraged many of our goal setting group to sign up too. But that is another story.

So, what does this have to do with CANI and what is it anyway? This past couple of weeks, I have been re-listening to Tony’s older tapes and some of his newer CDs, and realized that ever since I started to practice CANI (the commitment to Constant And Never-ending Improvement) every part of my life has grown exponentially.

I am not sure that this is Tony’s own acronym, but I am sure that it works. In several of his programs, Tony describes CANI as the most important discipline we can embrace.

Just think of the areas in which we can commit to CANI:

• Lifelong Learning - there are always classes to take, books to read, and skills to accomplish. I cringe when I hear others say, “Oh, I don’t want to go near a computer.”
• Fitness - there is a great emphasis right now (and especially this time of year) on exercise and sensible nutrition. It isn’t a once in awhile activity. Make it a daily improvement.
• Family and Relationships - as much as we love our family and friends, we can always think of ways to improve our relationships. When was the last time you told someone how much you care about them by doing the extra and unexpected?
• Spiritual - have you reviewed your values and beliefs regularly? And, if when you do values clarification, do you also check to see if your actions correlate with your values. For example, if you value health, but smoke, drink excessively, overeat and rarely exercise, you actions are not supporting that value.
• Career - I hope that you love what you do for work, because then committing to CANI is fun and rewarding. What steps can you take here that could eventually turn your whole work life around?
• Financial - do you budget, or even know where your money is going? With all of the credit card and loan offers daily, it is tempting to get off-track and into almost insurmountable debt.

The above are only a few of the areas we can commit CANI to. But the beauty of this commitment is that by taking the small steps every day, your habits will change, and you will find that your whole attitude and life will change.

In Anthony Robbins’ words, “Live with passion!” And do practice CANI!

Curious about Happiness? So Are the Experts!

I urge you to pick up the January 17, 2005 issue of Time Magazine. Even though the cover sports the ubiquitous smiley face, this issue includes a well-researched and informative report on the Science of Happiness.

There are so many interesting facts, ideas, and theories that I can’t begin to touch on all or even some of them, but in hopes of whetting your appetite, here are a few that I found especially fascinating:

• Once our basic needs are met, additional income does little to raise our sense of satisfaction with life.
• Older people are more consistently satisfied with their lives than the young.
• Researcher David Lykken, after comparing data on 4,000 sets of twins - identical vs. fraternal - concluded that 50% of one’s satisfaction with life comes with genetic programming. (Genes influence such traits as having a sunny, easy-going personality; dealing well with stress; and feeling low levels of anxiety and depression.)
• University of California psychologist Sonia Lyubomirsky and other researchers suggest the following eight steps toward a more satisfying life:
  1. Count your blessings.
  2. Practice acts of kindness.
  3. Savor life’s joys.
  4. Thank a mentor.
  5. Learn to forgive.
  6. Invest time and energy in friends and family.
  7. Take care of your body.
  8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships.
• Did you know that Dr. Madan Kataria started his first laughter club in 1995 after reading about the medical benefits of a good giggle? Today there are 1,800 such clubs in India and an additional 700 around the world. Kataria says, “We don’t need doctors to tell us it’s good for us. We know it.” (I took part in a similar session - club - what a hoot!)
• In studies at the University of Utah, Lisa Aspinwall had found that when presented with an unsolvable problem, optimists spend less time on strategies that don’t produce results. Pessimists, on the other hand, tend to ensnare themselves in one approach, sticking with it despite its futility.

I have briefly touched on a few of the nuggets of wisdom about happiness and the study of happiness that you will read about in Time.

My story
Many years ago, I placed a personal ad in Cleveland Magazine: “Wanted: a smart, sexy, slim man with a joie de vivre.” One delightful man who answered my ad, commented, “Chris, don’t you know that every man thinks he is smart, sexy and slim, but few even know what a `joie de vivre’ is, let alone have one.” Unfortunately, he was right.

Do you have what I call true happiness - a joie de vivre? I hope so!

A Curious and Creative Alternative to Resolutions: Pick a Yearly Theme

I just read Maria Marsala’s motivating e-newsletter and found her suggestion to create a yearly theme fascinating. Being a goal oriented person, I do agree that goals (and resolutions) can disappear as we become more and more involved with busy-ness.

Maria’s summary states, “Themes can make your year fun and focused. They're much easier to create or use and they last much longer than list of resolutions.” In her fine newsletter she describes just enough possible themes to encourage clicking on her more complete article. You will find it HERE.

“Choose 1-4 words that will keep you motivated, for example: Simply Wealthy, Big Leaps of Faith, Be Present, Present Be, Be a Successful Me. Place those words on index cards, or even better create a banner with your theme on it!”

What fun! I could hardly wait to get started. Maybe it is because I have found themes to be powerful tools when planning a program, a workshop, a seminar and/or a storytelling performance. They give direction and coherence and also help keep us on track (like goals and resolutions are supposed to).

The most difficult task was picking only one theme for the year, so then I got the great idea of picking a focused yearly theme with related mini-themes for each month. Another alternative would be to pick a new theme for each month - how about every week. Or, is that watering it down too much?

I wonder if this idea of picking a yearly theme (I especially love “Simply Wealthy”) appeals to you, as much as it does to me. Let me know.

And, I do hope you will check out Maria and her website. She is filled with fun, intelligent and creative ideas. Try her newsletter - you’ll be glad you did!

Curious about the Power of Threes?

Have you ever noticed how often the number three is used? There are three characters, three steps, three qualities, three points in a presentation, three parts to a story - I could go on and on, but I want you to start noticing threes.

Let’s start with stories and storytelling. You can find the complete article, Storytelling with the Magic of Threes, at http://www.creativekeys.net/StorytellingPower/article1017.html. Many stories have three characters - The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, stories with three brothers. Others have three wishes, three times something happens or must be done to achieve an outcome. Most stories have a beginning (the status quo), a middle (the crisis), and the ending (a climax or resolution).

What about business? In Jim Collins’ popular book, Good to Great, he examines why some companies make the leap from good to great. He finds that they have three things in common:

1. They are engaged in activities they believe they can be the best in the world at.
2. They understand the economic engine that drives their business success.
3. They are totally passionate about what they do.

How to successfully sell a product? I took part in a teleseminar today, where the three steps to being successful pursuing this were stated as:

1. Find the hot target market.
2. Research and discover what it is that they already want.
3. Sell them exactly what they are already ready to buy.

The above threes were followed by two e-zines that stressed threes. Alexandria Brown, the E-Zine Queen (you will find her at www.EzineQueen.com) sent three lessons she learned from having her first sale:

1. Don’t be afraid to have a sale (but not too often).
2. Don’t be afraid to send out a few reminders (but not too many).
3. If you set a deadline, be prepared to get the most orders close to the deadline (and stick to it, even if some want to slide in afterward).

Sean D’Souza of Psychotactics (you will find him at www.psychotactics.com) sent his solution to resolution management in today’s e-newsletter. Rather than adding more and more resolutions and goals, Sean suggested picking three projects at most and focusing on them. Of course, each project will have many subsets, but having only three major areas will keep us from spinning our wheels and losing it!

What threes have had an influence on you? I know that I could go on citing more and more examples, but I would prefer to read some of you feedback. Happy threedom!

Curious about Fitness Resolutions - Have You Made Them and Will You Keep Them?

Today was the first day of 2005 in which I taught fitness classes. Every year, it is the same old story.

As I drove into the parking lot, I had to look for a space - the lot was overflowing with cars. As I set up my microphone, mat, music and step, I saw more students than the norm filling the room. I also saw faces that I hadn’t seen since last January or February.

I yelled, “Happy New Year” and we were up and working our buns off!

The sad part and truth of this repeating scenario is that as the weeks go by, fewer of the old familiar faces will show up with regularity, and then, not at all.

Yes, exercising, even for those of us who love it and have been doing it for years, takes discipline. It is not easy. And it is even harder when there are those working out around us that look like it is easy for them. It is true that with time, we become more comfortable with the moves and that we stop feeling so worn out - even feeling we might pass out.

But, as often as I teach, I want you to know that there are days that are harder for me than others. And, when I first started taking aerobics classes in 1983, I felt so uncoordinated that I stayed for weeks in the back row (and I am one of those people who like to be up front).

I want to assure all of you who have made the same old resolution to get fit through exercise, that you can do it! The longer you stay with it, the better you will feel and look. The more energy you will have and be less worried by your problems. The benefits are huge. It is worth every bit of effort you put into it.

Did you know that the new suggested amount of physical activity a week is up to seven hours? I heard it today on the radio and thought, “hooray.” If we get at least half of that, we will be on our way.

So, I am challenging you. Start exercising and stick with it - for at least three months. I guarantee that you will feel and see the difference - and you will be glad you did!

If you are interested in a Special Report on all of the ins and outs of fitness and getting fit, visit my Special Reports page at www.creativekeys.net/specialreports.htm. I have two listed there.