Play Huge

Mental health pill? Take some courage

2009-04-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine who is in the dating world had an insight for me (she is 30 and looking for someone to share her life with):

* A majority of people she meets are taking medication for depression or anxiety

These are young people who range from 24 to 35, are working, are educated but...

but are not doing very well.

It's all about courage. You are old enough to have some experience in the world and some insight into what is ahead and that does not inspire you. Yikes.

You see people miserable in their jobs; miserable in their relationships; acting immorally at work; treating themselves and others with a lack of dignity and respect; and stuck in circumstances that they do not like. And you wonder, is that what I have to look forward to?

Like my younger clients you have been waiting for some event to happen to catapult yourself into "it"; into life; into what you really want to be doing; into something different. The bad news is that that "it" is not going to happen and if it does it may well fall into the category of "be careful what you ask for".

Maybe "you should go see somebody", get some medication, and dull those feelings. Do you really think that will help?

Here is an alternative solution.

Be courageous. Do not fall into the category of people who viagra their way to a solution. There is no pill that will make that feeling go away. But good old fashioned courage will help.

The Real You is in there and wants to come and play. You are not crazy (every single one of my clients comes and says "I think I am crazy. I have this voice that is really negative."). You are trapped and the way to get un-trapped is to be courageous and start listening to the Real You. The crappy feelings are there because you are not taking good care of it.

Here are some steps to take:

1. Choose to have a positive attitude today

2. Write down one exciting thing you want to make happen in your life

3. Ask someone one exciting thing they want to make happen in their life

4. Remember your choice to have a positive attitude today

5. Do one courageous thing

6. Repeat. Now. And then tomorrow.

You are in control of your life. Do not rely on pills or external circumstances. Take life by the balls and make a powerful choice right now.

The Real You is in there and desperately wants to come play.

Judging myself based on money - yuck!

2009-04-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Meaning rEvolution will reverse the trend for us to judge what we do based on how much money we make. It will establish an honor and acknowledgement for people who treat others with dignity and respect and make a difference.

I have been caught up in this web. It is a tough one. My work with clients is amazing; I just finished a book – which is the truest expression of my belief about the world and how to make it a better place; I have time with my kids and family; I am healthy. And yet, I have been in a funk because my income is not where I want it to be.

All these great things are happening in my life and yet I am trapped under a blanket of feeling crappy about myself, my work, and my contribution.

Good news

2009-04-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

What if the media reported more good news than bad? How would it shift the way people think and act? Many of the decisions people make are largely based on emotion, so if someone hears that the stock market is doing poorly (for example), they will react to the news based on how that affects them personally. If we shift things to be presented in a more positive way, would people’s emotional responses reflect that positivity?

I was listening to the radio the other day and, naturally, they were talking about the poor economy and how difficult it is to find/keep a job right now. I began to feel really hopeless and negative. I started to question my path and the dreams that I have. Are they too unrealistic? Instead of getting totally sucked in, though, I made a bold decision – I turned the radio off! I am tired of hearing bad news. I want to hear good news about good people doing good things. There are sources out there that report good news. Look at Ode Magazine – their entire premise is that they report good news. I encourage everyone to spend more time reading good news than bad, and see how your attitude shifts.

Family

2009-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

What does family mean to you? The actual word, family – what is it? Who is your family?

We don’t get to choose our biological families (and sometimes we are faced with the non-choice of blended families, as well). Hopefully everyone was blessed with a really amazing biological family – though my guess is that not everyone was. For the sake of the rest of this blog, I will not use the term “family” to represent our biological families exclusively (though they certainly can be included, if you wish).

When you graduated from high school and moved out/moved away/went to college/got a job/or/or/or, what did you notice about the dynamics of the “family” you began to create? What did family begin to look like for you?

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the family I have created in each place I’ve lived has shared meals together. It is clearly something that is important to me – a time to unwind from a busy/stressful/fun/awful/amazing day, talk about the goods and bads, make fun plans for our time off from work/school, throw food at each other (haha . . . only kidding . . . sort of). My greatest roommate (family) experience was in my last year of college. We ate breakfast together almost every morning (we typically ate dinner together, too). Granted, our schedules were nearly identical (same major + similar part time jobs), so we didn’t have to try too hard to make it to the breakfast/dinner table. Still, we were able to share great mornings together – check in, share our hopes for the day, make coffee, rush out the door, run back inside because we forgot our coffee, and off to work/school. These were wonderful mornings because we were able to build a relationship based on honesty and accountability – two essentials in any family of mine. We knew each other and went beyond the surface-level b.s. that shallow friendships are often consumed by. We created a family.

I know that, although my sister has chosen to stay at home and attend a (great) school near our parents’ house, she has also begun to create her little family. They do all sorts of things together, and I believe they have delved deeper than the b.s. as well. My point in mentioning that is to note how important this new family is, regardless of where you are geographically.

No matter what it looks like for you, creating this family is an essential part of being in this stage of life. I have learned a lot about what I appreciated from my childhood, as well as what will be important to me when I have children of my own. In the in-between, I’ll focus my time on friendly chats and food fights.

Launch Your Life is coming soon!

2009-03-25T14:54:00.001-07:00

Meet some of the characters from LYL

A great example of taking a stand

2009-03-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

This is amazing! Everyone should read this blog, visit this website, and take the challenge. It’s always so interesting to see what people will do (and CAN do – what an amazing feat to challenge yourself to run a marathon every day for a year!) when they really believe in something. Taking a stand is an extremely powerful thing to do, and it is filled with opportunities.

What do you stand for? What can you do about it? How will you get started?

Feed your dreams

2009-03-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have two friends who are doing something they love. It doesn’t really matter what it is – the details are insignificant. They both have jobs during the day, but at night and on the weekends they collaborate on this project that is going to be amazing. Maybe the actual project will be amazing, maybe not (I think it will). But what is already amazing is that they had an idea for something and then . . . they DID it!

I can safely say that I know more people who talk about doing things and then never do them, and less people who follow through on their big ideas. It is so fun to dream – so fun to have conversations when you’re really inspired and motivated to do something really big. But stuff always gets in the way. For me it is usually, “I don’t have the money to do that.” Or, “I can’t leave the security of my job.” Or even, “My parents/friends/people around me will not think this is the right thing to do.” I don’t want to be a person anymore who doesn’t do what she (I) really, in her (my) heart, wants to do. So, how do I fight the urge to hold on to money, jobs, and the opinions of the people around me, and get out there to do what I really, REALLY want to do?

My return to school

2009-03-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of applying to graduate school/teaching credential programs. I graduated almost two years ago with my BA so I feel like I’m out of the “school application” phase of my life. I wasn’t sure if I had graduated from this realm until, while filling out the online application, I kept uttering the words, “What?” “Seriously?” “What kind of question is this?” A friend of mine, who is still completing his undergraduate studies, just said to me, “What did you expect?” Clearly I have forgotten what it’s like to be a student.

There is so much confusion around going back to school. Is this the right choice for me? Is this really what I want to do? Is this the right school? The right program? Can I afford this? Does it matter? Will I be able to get a job teaching once I’m done? Believe me, the list goes on. But, in all of this I need to remember to go back to what I stand for. What kind of difference do I want to make in the world, and what do I need to do to make it happen? Thinking about this is the first step, and it’s an important – nay, indispensable – step, but the other (and more important) step is the DO part. I can sit here and drink my delicious coffee all morning (all my life, really) and THINK about what I want to do and what I stand for. The truth is, though, that I will never feel fulfilled until I start doing those things. What is standing in my way of getting in action? What stands in your way when you try to do the same?

awesome students

2009-03-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

I got to spend time with engaged, inspired, involved student leaders last weekend.

When I first entered the room I was really nervous and uncertain. In the hall there was the laughter and playfulness of a group of friends. It was such a familiar feeling. Wanting to be a part of the group. Being intimidated by the energy.

I always wonder if I belong. I always wonder if my message and ideas will be accepted. You all seem so cool. And I feel so uncool – welcome back to that feeling from my younger years…yuck.

It feels like I am standing on the edge of a raging river of nervousness and uncertainty.

But it never fails that as soon as I put one foot in the water you are there to help get across. That is who you are. In this case you were student leaders of college orientation programs. You are trained to be welcoming and engaging. But more importantly you are a young person who is energetic and engaged. It is awesome.

I admire you. Envy you. You are the ones who are courageous and who are looking to make a difference. The reasons you do what you do are many. Some of you had a person reach out you when you first arrived on campus so you want to give back that experience to someone else. Some are interested in leadership. Some love interacting with people. Some realize that it is a great way to meet people like yourself.

Here is one of my favorite stories from my experience:

On Friday night Dean Taylor gave a talk. He was a member of his middle school optimists club (years ago). He became the president. In his talk he acknowledged all the people working in orientation as essential in the work of optimism and possibility for students. These people, he said, take on a vital role in making a difference.

He wanted to pass along the presidency of the Optimists club and the way he did it was by giving someone overalls (the kind you wear). Not sure exactly why that symbolized the optimists club. But he gave them to Qasim from University of Alberta. And asked that he take on the leadership by wearing the overalls.

Now, most young people would flinch, hesitate, be embarrassed, and never put them on. But Saturday morning there was Qasim, overalls on taking on his symbolic role.

And this is the kind of young person that gives me hope. You care a great deal. You are learning. You want to make a difference and are willing to courageously put yourself out there in the world to figure out how to make it happen.

Thanks y’all. You (again) gave me hope and inspired me to keep forging ahead trying to find paths for you to thrive on.

2009 Grads...Yikes!

2009-03-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

College seniors are scared. Worried. Uncertain. Even depressed.

The bad economy and lack of jobs comes on top of worries they have about the health of the environment and the lack of morality in our world today.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1882979,00.html?cnn=yes

They are thinking.
• Will I be able to get and find a job?
• Will I make enough money to survive?
• How am I going to pay off my student loans?
Along with
• Will my kids have a healthy world to live in?
• What about my dreams? Do I have to give them up?

If they are watching the mainstream media, they are getting barraged with all the stories of difficulty and ugliness. But there is another side of the challenges.

There is hope. There are possibilities. There are people doing amazing work in the world – more and more every day. Ironically, in this day and age when communication and access to information is exploding, it is hard to find them.

But people with ideas and a positive perspective are out there. Dan Pink is an example of the kind of thinker who can really help. Listen to this:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BiznikLive/2009/02/25/Interview-with-Dan-Pink-A-Whole-New-Mind-Why-Right-Brainers-Will-Rule-the-Future

When you begin to fill your brain with information that talks about what is possible instead of what is wrong or how bleak things are, amazing possibilities open up.

For more access to good stuff going on check out:
www.odemagazine.com
www.yesmagazine.org

The kind of people who will be successful in the future are the ones who are able to be in hard times and keep themselves moving forward. If you get swept up in the difficulty and give up it makes you even less appealing to a potential employer. In order to get hired (and then to stay employed) you will have to be ready to learn. You will have to be accountable, responsible, and creative. And probably most of all you will need to be an excellent listener. When you treat people with dignity and respect you will differentiate yourself from others.

Feeling Funky

2009-02-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling funky this week. Worried about making money. Doubting whether what I am offering is useful. Feeling the weight of the systemic economic and environmental challenges we face.

I was “on it”.

And while I kept moving forward by doing the little things – exercise, biking, being with the kids, hanging with friends, and sharing my ideas, I could not see how to get past it.

I even remembered a teacher of mine who said “it is not that I don’t get on it, but I am able to get off it way faster than you and others”. His perspective is that the way people find meaning and fulfillment is that they are able to get off it faster than others.

The idea was there, but I remained stuck.

And then I got an email from a friend – who was on vacation - about a radio interview he was doing with Dan Pink...on vacation? Dan Pink happens to be one of those people whose ideas get me inspired and engaged. So I listened to the show.

And the ice melted. The funky feeling began to fade. And my positive, powerful, inspired self emerged again.

I coach my clients that when they are feeling funky to get their Play Huge Notebook (where inspiring and powerful items are captured) and get themselves going again, but I had forgotten.

As soon as I began to fill up my brain with possibilities, ideas, and challenges the powerful part of me emerged again. Now, a day later the possibilities are flowing and I feel reconnected to my aliveness and drive to make a difference.

Now its time to capture how to help you and others awaken your spirit.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Past the point to your edge

2009-02-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

There is an exercise that I do in the morning. You hold your breath out and pump your stomach (it is great for digestion, energizing you, and maintaining the health of your internal organs…in case you care). Part of the idea is that you go past the point of panic.

Okay, so there you are holding your breath out and pumping your stomach. And soon arises a point of panic. You calm yourself and pump one more time. Where are you now?

At another point of panic, so now what? Go past the point of panic. Well, this is a point of panic. You calm again and pump yet again. And where does that get you?

At another point of panic. Calm. Pump. Panic. Calm. Pump. Panic.

And on it goes.

I was riding my bike up a hill the other day with my big kid on a ride along trailer and my little one (she is 5 and at least 40 lbs) in a pull along Burley trailer. Last week was the first time that we had gone up that hill and I was not feeling strong (and I was intimidated by the hill), but this week was different.

As we made our way I kept having the thought that I am tired and should slow down – a moment of surrender. But then I remember to keep asking myself “Am I willing to do one more? Yes.” And I kept going and moved past the first layer of resistance.

Then there was another moment of surrender. And the question, “one more? Yes” And I kept pushing. All the while these quotes from Lance Armstrong played in my head:

“You get into the race and it's fast and guys are strong it's a suffer-fest. You suffer when you get to those moments."
"I like to suffer, although it sounds weird.”
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”

So I kept pushing. Pain is temporary. It’s a suffer fest and I like to suffer. I kept going. And got past another level of resistance.

And I had a realization while I was huffing and puffing; while my legs were burning; while I was sweating and sweating. My realization was that I will be successful in my life. I will have the impact on people’s lives that I dream about. And the reason is that I am willing to be in that challenging place and keep going. I think that I am really good at being uncomfortable and continuing to push forward. I get to the place where I am ready to give up and I go one more. Then another. And another.

And then I get inspired, excited, and stronger. And the questions that I ask myself shift from can I make it to How far can I push it? What will happen if I keep going? Is there a limit?

In this moment, I connect with what makes Lance Armstrong a world-class bike racer (and it makes me believe/hope that he is really not using performance enhancing drugs). I can see the look in his eye. I can feel the drive to push further than others. To be willing to do one more than the person next to you. To push yourself to that extreme limit.

It’s a fascinating place I look forward to exploring more.

Losing

2009-02-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

My little boy is 7 years old. He loves sports. He does not like losing.

I am not the first to trumpet the virtues of learning to lose, but I will add myself to the voices of parents who think that it is important.

I lost the first hockey game I ever played in 30 – 0. Everyone that I still know from that team remembers. And we all also remember that we did not win a game that whole year. We lost 26 – 2, 10 – 0 (many times), 13 – 3, and so on and so on.

But we won some games the next year and while we were never good, we got better.

I coach little league baseball. We do not keep score. I can guess at the reason, but do not know for sure. I think that we are doing a disservice to the kids (and probably the parents).

I am a pacifist. I care deeply about people. I am closer to a socialist than I am to anything else.

But we have got to teach our young people to deal with adversity. Things are not always going to work out in the way that we want them to work out. Life is full of surprises and challenges and disappointments and people who do things better than us.

The hope here is that at those challenging, uncomfortable moments, we do not cower from the opportunity to improve; we do not give up in frustration; we do not go running to our parents/partners/friends in tears; we do not avoid playing or participating because there is a possibility we might face an unfavorable outcome.

Instead we get inspired and energized to be better.

I do not want my kids to like losing. But I do want, and expect, them to win and lose with dignity and respect. I want them to be angry and disappointed. And I want them to feel challenged and driven to do better next time.

I want them to learn from difficult situations, not run from them.

Facing the future they face, these lessons will come. I prefer to learn the skill before it is necessary.

Hard to Imagine.

2009-01-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

Watching the inauguration of Barack Obama the other day I was touched by the faces of the black young people. What an amazing day for them…but do they even know what an amazing day it was?

Seeing a black man becoming the president of the United States opens up possibilities in their imagination of what is possible that has never before existed. The implication of it is profound.

Years ago in the late 1990’s, when the US Women’s soccer team rose to prominence, won Olympic gold and a World Cup, I was watching with my wife. She looked at me and said something that I will remember forever.

“This is the first time ever that I can imagine being a professional athlete.”

It was so jarring to me (a athletic kid who survived the torture of school by holding the dream of playing professional sports), that she had to further explain.

When we were growing up there were no female athletes who were prominent. I suppose there were some tennis players and Olympic athletes, but that did not do it for my wife. She never considered playing sports a possibility in her imagining of what was possible for her life.

Again, I need to re-iterate that this was a complete shock for me. It had always been a possibility for me – albeit a long shot. But, it was clearly a part of what I imagined as possible and it drove me to engage in my life in a really different way.

I did not feel powerful or important in the academic world, but this dream of being a athlete filled me with hope, with possibility, and kept my imagination working. Without this I would have been a lost, lost little boy.

I suspect that Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (along with November 4, 2008) will go down as a turning point in the lives of countless young black people. I do not know that the impact will be massively visible, mine was not, but it will open those doors to hope, possibility, and imagination.

What a struggle. What a search.

2009-01-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

What a struggle. What a search.

I was marveling the other day as I rode my kids to school how some days I feel so strong on my bike and other days so tired and weak. What happens to create that?

Today was a similar day, but not on my bike. All day I had things that I wanted to do for work, but, wow, was it hard to get focused, stay focused, and do the kind of thinking that I wanted to be doing. What happens to create that?

It was stuff that I wanted to do. It was stuff that I was excited about doing. I was scared and uncertain about what and how to do it (I was creating a workbook for my book), but still I have done stuff like this before.

Through out the day I had to keep on fighting to stay focused and persevere even though I wanted to stop and find something to waste my time doing. Ugh. There were many days like this while working on the book, so I have gotten used to powering through and trusting that tomorrow would be easier and better.

But today I was really searching for something. I felt like I wanted something to be different. I wanted something more than what I was doing.

I kept checking my email for an exciting message.
I kept looking at the sports news for something exciting.
I reverted to my backup websites – news and political blogs.
I thought about eating something.
I finally did eat something.
I listened to music.

But nothing satisfied me.

No matter how many times I went through this cycle searching for It, It never arrived. So I began to wonder what It would be if It did arrive.

A new client? A trade by the Cubs? Someone making a trade in my fantasy baseball league? A delicious something to eat?

What would have happened had one of those things happened? It would have been interesting. It would have diverted my attention. It would have given me an excuse to pay attention to something other than the workbook?

I still cannot figure it out. But the feeling is too familiar. The search for something…groping for some feeling, some event, some something.

Ugh. What is it?

Keep Speaking, Barack

2009-01-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

I hope that Barack keeps on speaking publicly.

He has the chance to lead us with his words and vision. I hope that these talents of his do not get lost in all the “work,” appointments, behind the scenes stuff, etc.

We need his voice, his challenges, his call to action.

Today, his inauguration day, we again heard the voice from the campaign that got so many of us excited, hopeful, and inspired to change.

I heard thoughts about what made this country a great country. I was reminded of the hard work, the sacrifice, the tough decisions our ancestors and the founders of the USA faced, and the amazing courage they had in stepping up to the plate to take on these challenges. I heard a need for us to get back to that attitude – and away from the place of sitting back and enjoying the fruits of the suffering and sacrifice of those came before us.

Did you hear it?

QUESTION #1 – Are you willing to do the hard work?

If not, what did you hear?

I wonder how hard we are willing to work to be certain that we pass along a healthy world to our children.

But, I think we need to be careful. A colleague recently asked me a question. “Do you think that your work as a coach is helping people who are doing harm do it better and more effectively?” He continued, “Or do you think that you are coaching people to re-evaluate whether what they are doing is actually creating meaning and advancing a way of being that is beneficial to communities and people?”

What is it that we want to work harder and make sacrifices for? And then, how do we get it? I wonder if we know what it is. I wonder if we know what it is not.

Where is the message going to come from?

As I write and think about it, perhaps it came (and will continue to come) from Barack and some of the other people who spoke today – some of the voices calling out for change. Maybe it will come from you. A word that I heard a lot this morning was Love.

I heard it in taking time for people less fortunate. I heard it in the importance of being an engaged and loving parent. I heard it in being willing to sacrifice a portion of your well being in order to support your co-worker, neighbor, friend. I heard it in being open to difference – of opinion, of skin color, of nationality. I heard it in being willing to dig in, work until our hands are raw (and beyond), and deal with the crisis that is our current western lifestyle.

QUESTION #2 – How willing are you to have part of the hard work be an honest assessment of your values, what you take for granted, and whether you are part of the problem or part of the solution?

My next thought is that for those of you/us who have known that change is necessary for a long while.

A friend of mine has for years been living a life I admire and aspire to. She is massively respectful of people. She works tirelessly to get people engaged in their community. She works really hard to be a loving and awesome mom.

And she encounters lots and lots of resistance. Sometimes the resistance comes in the absence of a response to her invitations. Sometimes it comes in the dismissing of her point of view. Sometimes it comes as criticism of her values and beliefs. Sometimes it comes behind her back when people dismiss her as crazy or idealistic or…

But she persists.

I want to persist. I want my voice to get louder. I imagine my family and friends who are now coming to realize that our way of being has got to shift, saying to me, “Why weren’t you more vocal? Why were you so timid about that thing that you believed in so much? Why didn’t you speak up?

It is time. It is time to answer these questions, and one more.

QUESTION #3 – What will it take for us to be the change AND speak up even though our voice shakes?

START: The Year of Change is Upon Us!

2009-01-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

Last year there were millions of voices calling for change. There were people everywhere full of hope and excited about the future. And here it comes.

But, already there is disappointment.

Of course there is disappointment. How could there not be?

The change that we are seeking will not come because we elect someone, get married, decide to go to school, or anything else. It will not happen because of some external circumstance.

There is disappointment because in the year of change, we have not changed.

We still think this is how life happens:
• We want something different
• Some event happens
• It changes the quality of our life

We still live with the tired old paradigm that change happens to us. We act like we are audience members watching a show – and we sit and hope that the show will turn out in a way that we like.

It is time for change. It is time that we got up on stage. The only way for you to find meaning and fulfillment in your life is to be an actor in your own play.

If there is something that you care about or think is important, get involved. Break it down so it is small and you can do something about it.

We care, so let’s stop playing the “out there” game. Let’s stop pretending that some person we elect is going to somehow make our lives meaningful.

Only one person can make your life meaningful – you.

It is time for change. Ready? Go.

Letter to Peter Senge

2008-12-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

December 18, 2008

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your inspiring words, your insights, and the challenge you offered for us to be in action at the International Coach Federation conference last month in Montreal.

I have long studied and implemented your work, specifically Schools that Learn. I also had the privilege to hear you speak at an educator conference in Illinois many years ago. One thing you spoke about was Masaru Emoto’s study on water. As I think about it, it is interesting that at this conference you again spoke about water, but this time the embedded kind.

After hearing you in Illinois, I made a sticker to put on my Nalgene water bottle. It said: “Thank you. I appreciate the beauty, power, and life giving energy you provide.” I put it on the bottle that I carry with me at all times; because of the challenges that we face and my effort to make a difference, I have not used a “single use” disposable water bottle in 5 years. I have even learned that at airport security they do not care about the bottle, they care about the liquid inside it.

At the ICF conference you commented that you returned back stage to get your single use water bottle that still had water in it. I almost ran up on stage to offer you an even better solution, but I did not want to alarm you or interrupt your presentation (if I had it to do over again, I would have run up there…next time). The better solution is bringing your own bottle!

There are some serious questions these days about the healthfulness of plastic bottles (even sturdy ones intended for multiple uses), so I offer the new paradigm, a metal bottle. I hope that you use it. That is my powerful request of you.

My hope is at your next presentation, instead of talking about the disposable bottle, you can tell the story about the coach from Oregon who sent you a bottle to use and you continually challenging your self to be the change we so desperately need.

With deep respect and gratitude for your work and you. By the way, I feel called to action and am on board. My work is with young people, and I am collecting the leaders of the future who will help us get out of this mess.

Playing Huge.
Morgan Rich

www.playhugecoaching.com
Author of the forthcoming book Launch Your Life: 5 secretes to knowing what you want in your teens, college years, and early career

The Holiday Season: Beyond Busyness

2008-12-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

How do you make the holiday season meaningful for yourself? How do you juggle all the events and things to do and still enjoy it all? This show will be about making the most of the holiday season. Be ready to share your secrets and ideas for how we can all dash through the snow. And of course, there is always our focus on intention, which is essential, but not sufficient. Action is where your intention becomes your life.

Listen to Playing Huge this Sunday, December 14th at 8:00 p.m. PDST by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/playhuge.

Dear Optimists,

2008-12-02T06:49:00.000-08:00

December 2, 2008

Dear Optimists,

It started last spring in a group of parents talking about ecological sustainability. I began to feel like we are probably living today at the peak of global travel, healthfulness, and wealth (defined in a broad sense). I wondered if my kids will enjoy the accessibility to the world and its resources that I enjoy.

In other words, I am curious about the future.

I go back and forth with how optimistic and pessimistic I feel, but one thing remains in tact. I am called to action. No matter how hopeful or not I am about the accessibility of fresh water, accessibility of food for people, and our continued use of carbon for fuel, I am going to make an effort today (and tomorrow) to make a difference.

A lot of people I have been talking to recently have been saying, “I am an optimist”. The implication being, I think, that everything will be okay. And I am always grateful for that perspective because it helps my motivation. But, I will admit that there is always part of me that gets uncomfortable and until this morning I could not figure out why. I now understand it.

Pessimistic Optimistic
No Action – “out there” – complacent
I. “It’s not worth it. I cannot make a difference.” II. “Everything will be okay. Even in bad times, things have always been okay.”
Action - “right here” – Inspired
III. Does this happen?
If so, it is hard because of a lack of passion or belief. IV. Here is where the difference gets made. Action with Optimism fuels on target, passionate, inspirational effort.

If you are an optimist that is great, and please, please, please join us in action. I guarantee that the kind of change that we need now is not just going to happen. If we let things just keep on happening we are not long for this world.

But, if we can be in action working to make a difference and consistently feel like our effort is having an impact (or that it even has a chance to have an impact) then we will keep going. But, if we begin to feel like hope is lost or there is no reason for our continued effort then…well…

So I call on all optimists, join us in box IV! We love your optimism. We need your optimism. That feeling in me that started last spring continues and I feel like there are more and more global thinkers and organizations that are expressing similar sentiments.

I am called to action. You will find me today and everyday working to make a difference and I want your optimism along for the ride.

Playing Huge.
morgan

An object in motion...

2008-11-27T08:43:00.001-08:00

November 24, 2008

After last weeks radio program about Bursting the Bubble and getting our selves out of the Trance we are in, I have been thinking more about what it takes to get in action. The truth is that I think about this all the time, because it is a foundational element of my work as a Life Coach.

How do we get in action?

I woke up this morning and wanted to exercise, but did not feel the motivation to do so. I have done yoga for over 10 years and often get up in the morning and do some stretching. But lately I have not felt the motivation to do it, so I have not done it and I have felt like a slug.

Then I remembered the Sun Salutation. It starts with breathing and simple movements. The first several rounds are very simple and easy. Then the salutations slowly ramp up their intensity. What I know about myself is that if I start then I get into the flow and instead of losing myself in a mindless (and useless) activity, I get wrapped up in my yoga. I know this, but starting is always the most challenging part of the whole thing.

The last 3 days, I have gotten up and begun the simple breathing and motions of a Sun Salutation and on all 3 days, I have spent at least 30 minutes doing yoga/exercising.

What is the difference between executing what we want in our lives and sitting around hoping that we execute what we want in our lives?

In the meditation that I did after my exercise, it occurred to me that this is exactly why the Sun Salutation is designed this way. It starts simply and then gets more challenging as you warm up, get into it and warm your body up.

Newton’s first law of motion states:
An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

The difference between getting what we want and not is action. In order to make a difference in your own life and in the world, you must get in action.

Do something, anything, to get yourself moving.

What is your experience?

Playing Huge Radio reflection

2008-11-21T21:36:00.001-08:00

Friends,

There were more learning experiences last week.

The show ended up being more of a live show than I had previously intended. Live from Ithica was expected; unintentionally live from the campus bagel shop was not what I had in mind.

I thought a lot about the experience and want to share my perspective.

The first possibility is to think how unprofessional the show was. It happened in a public place and there was background noise. These are not choices that I would make and I am disappointed in the level of excellence that it conveys.

When I begin to think about this possibility I begin to really question what I am doing and whether it is a worthwhile effort.

The second possibility to consider is that despite some challenging circumstances, the radio show happened. It clearly was not ideal and it would have been easy to bail out and not do the program – it was late at night, I was wiped out from a conference and hours of driving, I was in a bagel shop, and it my friend was making a big effort. But I did not bail. I persevered despite many challenges. In fact, it was never a question in my mind.

The message that I hope this conveys is that Playing Huge matters. The show matters and making and effort matters. The foundation of the show is that intention is essential, but not sufficient; and getting in action is where the difference is made. If I did not feel as strongly as I do about coaching people to step up their effort last week’s show would not have happened.

I care and I will do whatever it takes to keep the momentum that is building moving forward!

Playing Huge Radio Program -- Sunday, November 16th @ 8pm PDST

2008-11-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here is what I learned from last week’s show.

It turns out that it was the perfect metaphor for what we were talking about.

Doing a radio show was a risk for me and I did not know exactly how it was going to go. During the show there were lots of challenges that I faced and frustration that I experienced, but the show happened. And now I can share some of the things that I learned:

1. All of this work is personal for me. It is not political; it is not about our new president. It is about my passion and my vision of how I want to make a difference. My commitment moving forward is to own my message and keep it accessible to everyone!
NOTE: This is the reason for the name change to Playing Huge
2. Create a consistent format. I think that you will be pleased with the ideas that I have moving forward. My hope is to make it more accessible and organized.
3. Keep it Simple! Define my terms, do not try to do too much, and remember to laugh.
4. Deal with the technical problems. There was a lot of technical stuff that I did not know how to handle, but now I have it under control -- at least I think I do.
5. I am so appreciative. I feel deep appreciation to all of you for your effort to listen, contribute, and be a part of making a difference.

This week the topic of Playing Huge will be these two things:

1. Your gnawing feeling – what is your commitment?
2. What are the tricks of sustaining action?

I will also debut a new format! The format will (most likely) include a “People of the week,” a journey on the Play Huge Stage, and a reflection of gratitude.

Tune in on Sunday, November 16th at 8:00 p.m. PSDT to keep the momentum going.

Yes, we can. Time to get in action.

2008-11-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Now the work begins.

Whether you are on board with change already, or you have yet to join the movement, this radio program is for you. Because I know you and I know that your heart is in it. I know that:

You feel hope. You want change.

"This victory along is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were."
- Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

What is your commitment?

The challenge is clear: Change from the bottom up. Yes, we can. The reason that we are where we are today is because of the effort and commitment of millions of people, but nothing different is going to happen because we elected a new president.

Now we, you and me, have the chance to make the change happen. I will go a step further, because we do not just have the chance, we have made the commitment and now it is time to honor that commitment.

"It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice."
- Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

I ask you to not let me be complacent. And I ask you to make the same request of me.

What is your commitment? I want to know.

Sunday night, from 8 to 9 pm PSDT I am hosting a radio program. My first powerful request to you is to listen and join in. My goal is for 50 people to tune in and I hope there are 200. My second powerful request of you is to get 2 people you know to listen also.

Change begins right now. Lets make our dream happen.

"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you."
- Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

I believe the victory by Barack Obama is a call to action for all Americans. I know that many of you gave time, energy and money to the Obama campaign. I know that many of you were rooting for John McCain. But, I believe everyone realizes the need to do things differently.

Whatever you stand for now is the time. Honor your word. Keep your commitment. You must, right now, today, this instant, in any way you know, with courage, with humility, with love and support, and with passion create the change that is in your heart.

Here is where you will find the radio program where we will begin to make it happen:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/playhuge/2008/11/10/Yes-we-can

Playing Huge.
morgan

Dear President-elect Obama

2008-11-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

Dear President-elect Obama,

Thank you for your courage, your vision, and the hope and possibility you have inspired in people.

My commitment to you is that I will do the work. I will make our vision come alive. I will talk to friends, strangers, supporters and people not yet on board, and most of all, young people. I will work to create opportunities for them to keep living and feeling “Yes, we can”!

I am in deep gratefulness to all the millions of people who worked to create the victory and the opportunity we now have – the chance to make the change. I did not do my part, but will now. I give you my word.

I have been fighting back the tears of hope, change, and possibility. But they are flowing now. Thank you.

Sign me up for the army of change makers and hope mongers.

Playing Huge.
morgan

Thank you Committed People of the campaign

2008-11-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

Dear committed people,

You have spent countless hours working on the Campaign for Change across the country.

I am deeply honored and grateful for you. You made the commitment in your effort and with your heart. All I know to say is Thank you!

Thank you for opening to door for all of us to storm through with an equal effort to yours; our mission is now to make good on this chance to make change you created for us.

The people of the United States thank you and people all over the world thank you!

I did not do my part, yet. My commitment to you is that I am joining the army of change makers and hope mongers. I give you my word.

I look forward to walking with you on this challenging and fulfilling journey.

Playing Huge.
morgan

Greed, Games, and No Responsibility

2008-10-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

Listening to people talk about the current economic crisis who were involved in it has got me fired up. I do not think that the real cause of what happened is being talked about. We are missing (again) what the real crisis is.

People say that they did not know what was going on.
People say they were just a cog in a bigger wheel.
People say they were just playing by the rules trying to get an edge.
People say that they were being opportunistic.
People say a lot of things but they do NOT say, I apologize. I knew what I was doing was lousy and I should have stopped.
They also do not say, I know that many innocent people lost a lot of money because of my actions and I would like to do something to make that right (here, you can have my boat, or would you rather have my beach house?).

They avoid responsibility.

As they explain, they are either lying or we have a much bigger problem on our hands. If people are not able to determine whether what they are doing is gaining for themselves at the cost of others, then we are missing something fundamental in the kind of people we are.

What do we do about it?
Well, I propose a couple things.
First we have got to slow down. I watched a guy clean an awning at a business the other day. He was maintaining the foundation of the business - cleanliness, infrastructure, the basics. We are so busy that we are missing out on the basics.

Second we have to get back in touch with the basics. The basics we are missing? Human connection “I am too busy to see my friends.” Treating people with respect and dignity - answering our cell phone when talking to someone. Being conscientious of others - driving while you talk on the phone endangers yourself, people in your car, and other people (80% of accidents are caused by distracted driving -- not drunk, distracted). Taking care of our health - eating fast food, not exercising, relying on pills to alleviate our health concerns.

Third is we have to take responsibility for our actions. We have got to Play Above the Line (to learn what I mean by that, you can visit my site at www.playhugecoaching.com), and stop making excuses, justifying our behavior, denying that we are doing something wrong, or bailing out and not cleaning up our mess.
We have got to begin living with integrity, compassion, and confidence, while treating people with dignity and respect.

There is a way out of this mess, but it is not about financial models, bailouts, and economic gymnastics. The solution is looking out into the future and remembering some things that no one can take from us and will be the foundation of our future success.
People. Relationships. Honesty. Care of others.