Thoughts and Response
July 16th, 2010Pay attention to this. Read it closely, then repeat if needed.
Maybe we don’t notice it. Maybe we don’t notice the subtle vices that have us by the balls. We don’t notice that we are about to start doing something creative and can’t because we have to casually check out our Facebook pages. Maybe that 10-second decision stopped us from letting go and creating something great. What is in us that is so scared?
Why are we so unbelievably scared to face our potential as people? What is the threat?
So many people choose to sit. They choose to stall.
Think about the following sentences:
“I should be a comedian.” “I should lose weight.” “I should stop drinking.“
What is the difference between saying those, and saying this series of sentences:
“I will be a successful comedian.” “I will be fit.” “I will truly enjoy sobriety.”
What is the difference?
The first set: full of sentences that we say more commonly say. These sentences are in charge of us.
The first set is easier. It is so simple to say. It doesn’t require any actual work. It is stalling, cowardly, and an excuse. When saying these sentences, results are rare, if not nonexistent.
The second set: full of sentences that we rarely say. When we say these sentences, we are in charge.
The second set is scarier. It is more real. It is facing the music. It is stepping up to the plate. It is results. It is action. When you say these sentences, results will happen.
What do you think follows the results that come from the first set of sentences? Excuses. Procrastination. Inaction. Depression. Guilt.
And what follows that? A need for vices, because you don’t feel like you are loved. A constant desire to check Facebook, watch TV, go to Starbucks, drink, do drugs, be abusive, be cruel. A desire to destroy and a desire to connect with others who feel the same way. You acquire a false belief that it is not possible. An inner anger. Anger towards others. Excuses that inhibit success. Knocking down other people, even if you have to lie. Numbness. Bigger, more intense fear.
What do you think follows the results that come from the second set of sentences, even if you don’t get every single thing you want? Self pride. Growth. Change. Power. Confidence. Self-esteem.
And what follows that? A desire to help others. More self-growth. Appreciation for what you have. Euphoria. Results leading to legitimate happiness. A need to connect with others who feel the way that you do. A desire to create. A desire to find the good in people. You obtain proof that it is possible.
How do I know this? Because I have lived through both sets. I have been through both highs and lows.
I believe that most of the country lives in the first set. People have created an inaccurate reality for themselves. When people say, “I’m just being realistic,” they really mean, “I am taking action at what is a ‘normal’ pace in this world.”
When you say to someone, “Don’t bother going after that. I’m just being realistic,” the worst thing that could happen is they listen to you. You are stopping someone from discovering on their own what they are capable of doing, which is truly infinite. You are making them live in your inaccurate reality. If they believe you, you strip them of their dreams and possibilities. You get them to connect with you, and then you can feel better about hating others. Who are you to say that to them?
When you say to someone, “Go after it! Put everything you have into it! Do what you want to do!” they will do what they want and they will see results.
People, if you want to do something, you have a total right to do it. You also have the right to immerse yourself in it in any way you want. If you really want something, I recommend you become it. Swim in it. Allow it to happen completely.
When people tell me they want to be a stand-up comic, I often ask them, “How many hours a day do you put into your career? How many times a week do you go up? How authentic is your art? How much do you fill the club? What out-of-the-box strategies do you use? Do you write headliners, who are where you want to be, constantly?”
When people analyze why they are not where they want to be, they might notice that it is because they could have been doing way more to become that, but haven’t.
If you are investing 30 minutes a day into your career, and 9 hours a day into the Internet, alcohol, endless procrastination and trying to get laid, of course it is going to take you a while. You are not becoming a comic. You are a person who is wading in the water when you could dive in.
You will notice that the people who are truly successful are diving in. Some people have issues with successful people, and some of the issues they have are understandable. But if you want to, you can find the good or the bad in everyone.
Say what you want about Dane Cook. But he showed us that you can go from zero to Madison Square Garden with nothing but open-minded ideas. He created the MySpace marketing campaign, an original marketing strategy that all comics now use. Comics should be thanking him for this, and also for showing us the possibilities; that it’s possible to fill stadiums using nothing but your mind. If you think you are better, that is awesome; step up and do it. Otherwise, complain, and watch the lack of results, and all of the dreams that you will destroy around you.
The good news is this: At any second, this is changeable. In this one life, if you want something, step up to the plate and get it. But I recommend that you actually do it. Go full force. Immerse yourself in the world you want. Become the comic or the singer or the artist, or whatever you want to be. There is no wrong way to learn how to do what you want. You have the right to use as many routes as you can find, take as many classes as you are able, write as many jokes as you can, get as much coaching as you need, go up as much as possible. There is enough room for everyone. Do not be controlled by others, and do not try to control others and tell them how it has to be, because you might be wrong.
Stopping something that could have happened is a disaster.
“The truly great tragedy is the destruction of our human resources by our failure to fully utilize our abilities, which means that most men and women go to their graves with their music still in them.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
Make it all or nothing. It is possible. Life is either a red light or a green light, the problem is, many people just sit at yellow. Do it or don’t, unless you are okay with average results. Don’t let subtle little vices and doubters stop you. They are wrong. Actually take action.
I am going to be working on myself, my revised stand-up career, and offering help to others, uninterrupted. Louie Anderson, many other headliners, producers, agents, club owners, and myself have a goal. The goal is to re-boom the comedy scene and get people passionate about going to comedy clubs again. If comics work together, become more authentic, fill rooms, market better, have good etiquette, just basically step up their game, this could easily be the reality.
You are welcome to join us. Whether you want help on your career, or you want to help others, my offer is open to EVERYONE. Once again, you are welcome to join us.
Top headliners who are interested in joining us and working on this, please write me. I am available at Kylecease@yahoo.com and at www.standupbootcamp.com
