Monday, May 25, 2009

Some Good Lessons And Some Bad Singing!

Hi,
I hope all is well with you.
This issue may be shorter than originally intended, as I have just lost he previous full length version, so am having to write it all again! D'OH!!!

So, on Friday I went to a networking lunch in London hosted by Martin Avis.
I was reminded of some good lessons about goal achievement.

One is about taking action. I had gone after emailing Martin about an idea of mine, and he suggested we chat at the event, which we did.

The second lesson is about surrounding yourself with people of the same mindset - it really helps to make your goals seem real and not far fetched, which is what some people close to you may think, which leads me to the next point...

Talk about your goals! If you get negative reaction, don't try and defend yourself, just don't talk to that person about it again. However, the more you talk to people, you'll be amazed how much good advice and opportunity comes your way.

The 3rd lesson is about focusing on your skills. The idea I am putting together with Martin is around my ability to write. I take it for granted, but there were people at the lunch who freely admitted they hated writing. Others there were programme writers, which I have no clue about, so instead of my trying to go into their field, I need to stick to my own skills.

The last lesson concerns the train jourmey home.
I was sitting there with my ipod on, and on came my own song!
You can hear versions of it here: http://www.myspace.com/rocknrolltown
The chorus needs harmony backing vocals and normally when the song comes on in the car I launch into the vocals.

Unfortunately it's been a long time since I was on a train, and it was only when I noticed people looking at me that I realised I had been singing out loud.
I sheepishly turned the ipod off and asked if I had been singing out loud which was confirmed.
I thought I'd try my luck and asked if it was good enough for 'Britian's Got Talent' - let's just say I got a lot of shaking heads!
Ooh, people can be cruel.

So all in all a good day apart from the train incident, and some good lesson reminders about goal achievement, the kind of thing I talk about in my book 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which you can see more about here:
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Ok, that's it for this time, I'm off to practise my harmonies...

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
http://www.transformyourlifenow.com
p.s. Remember to click the picture of me at the bottom of the page!

Friday, May 15, 2009

New Star Trek Movie - Did You Spot Randy Pausch?

May 2009 sees the new Star Trek movie getting rave reviews - I happen to think the most notable performance is a little cameo by Randy Pausch, read on to find out why...

I first came across the name of Randy Pausch via someone who knew I liked the area of goal achievement. Pausch was a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University in the US, who knew he was going to die pretty soon from pancreatic cancer. He gave a lecture called The Last Lecture in 2007, which became and still is a huge success on YouTube.

When you watch it, (and I suggest you go to YouTube and search it out) you'll see why it's so popular.
Pausch gives a humorous account of his dreams and how he went about achieving them. He covers some mental attitude techniques, about how you can defeat yourself, or help yourself via your attitudes, and finishes by saying the lecture is for his children.

He died in 2008, but after the success of his lecture, in which he had joked about wanting to be Captain Kirk as a kid, director JJ Abrams had asked him to film a short cameo to be included in the next film.

Pausch did so, and that cameo is featured in the film - at the beginning Pausch appears as a crewman and says the line 'Captain we have a visual'.
Normally the kind of appearance not worthy of note, but in the context of his lecture and theories of what can happen when you take certain actions, it's dynamite to watch!

If you watch the film, try and spot it, and as I said before go to YouTube or Google and search fro Randy Pausch, and you'll see why I think his is the most notable performance!

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which has been described as 'motivational magic.' Read about it and grab his free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan at: http://www.transformyourlifenow.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Why The Britain's Got Talent Deniers Annoy Me!

May 2009, and the Britain's Got Talent machine rolls onwards, with it being one of the most watched shows on British TV, and online around the world. So why do so many people deny they watch it, and why does it annoy me..?

I call them the Britain's Got Talent Deniers, and you hear them all the time. If you ask them whether they saw Susan Boyle, or any of the other acts, their first comment is 'oh I don't usually watch it, but I did see her.'

Hmm...

This kind of thing drives me round the bend for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, as someone who has used only medium quality entertainment skills to earn a living from it, I know full well what it takes to put a genuinely entertaining act together.

Most of the acts that grab the headlines are unassuming people with seemingly 'normal' lives, that get on stage and unveil a performance with real entertainment skills.
It may be singing or dancing, but it makes an immediate impact on the live audience.

That's why I love live performance, the emotional awakening of an audience is something that can be felt, but is hard to describe, and if you can do it it's a natural high that drug dealers wish they could bottle up!

The Britain's Got Talent set up slightly skews the reality, because the good acts are thrown in with the bad ones, and that makes them seem better than they are sometimes.
Also, despite the fact that their act wows an audience live, they then have to either repeat it or come up with something new, not always easy with the variety acts!
The other reason the Britain's Got Talent Deniers annoy me is that it's a succumbing to peer pressure - the thought is 'I'd better not admit to watching it unless people think I'm too common'

Come on folks! Be prepared to stand up for what you enjoy, if you like watching it, say so!
There is no need to defend what you watch on TV, and certainly not when it's to do with achievement of goals combined with passion, hard work, and something that's vital to all societies, the value of entertainment.

So, next time you watch it, tell me about it, tell me what you thought about the work ethics involved, but don't say you don't watch it if you do, don't be a Britain's Got Talent Denier!

Friday, May 01, 2009

Why Has The World Gone Susan Boyle Crazy?

April 2009, and the world has gone crazy over Susan Boyle. 'Who is Susan Boyle?' you might ask, so read on and see what 100 million YouTube hits in 2 weeks is all about...

Susan Boyle appeared on Britain's Got Talent on TV in the UK. A 47 year old from Scotland, she walked on stage with a look that has since been described by consensus as 'dowdy'.

She did a wiggle for the judges and announced in her broad Scottish accent that she wanted to be famous singer like Elaine Paige. The judges rolled their eyes and told her to start. The opening strains of 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables rang out, and then Susan opened her mouth to sing...

The judges dropped their jaws to the floor, and the audience rose to their feet as a musical theatre voice came out that just did not sit with the image and expectation. Judge Amanda Holden summed it up when she said that everyone had been cynical about what they had expected.

I love that kind of moment, (I also love the show having had women hold my hand and cry next to me in their seat).

The clip has now had 100 million hits on YouTube, and Susan has seen her fame spread over the water to the US, where she's found herself on TV with Patti Lupone who made the song famous originally. Elaine Paige has suggested a duet.

So why is it such a feelgood factor? Popular media opinion seems to be that it combined a heap of emotions in a small time span - from dismissal, to joy, to guilt, to pleasure. Some say, similar to judge Holden that it shows a different way to go than cynicism.

While they may be true, I like to think of it as simple goal achievement, seemingly unlikely. 'Seemingly' is the key word, because although the audience on the night and on tv were expecting Susan to fail, Susan wasn't - in fact a key moment is where the judges told her that everyone was against her. You can just see Susan's quizzical look, because she could see no reason for people to have been laughing at her.

She had a voice coach, and lots of training, putting in the hours of work needed to go for a goal. She was using the encouragement of her late mother as inspiration to enter, so although she may have been overwhelmed by the strength of reaction, she knew she could sing.

So yes, there is the principle of not judging a book by its' cover, and of not being so quick with the cynical sneers, but I think the reason the world has gone crazy for Susan Boyle is that it shows what we know deep down to be true - that hard work and taking action can lead to amazing results.

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Transform Your Life in 21 Days!' which has been described as 'motivational magic.' Read about it and grab his free 8 Step Goal Achievement Plan at:http://www.transformyourlifenow.com