What Kind Of Story Are You Telling?

Last five songs played on iTunes

  1. Reelin in the Years– Steely Dan
  2. Dreamboat Annie– Heart
  3. Sweet Child O’ Mine– Guns N’ Roses
  4. Why So Serious? – The Dark Knight Soundtrack
  5. Ghost riders in the sky – Johnny Cash

Have you ever thought about recording the conversations you have with your friends and/or writing down all of the thoughts you think about during the day?

I have and I do…think about it.

The reason for this is simple. I want to hear/read the story I am telling everyone else and see if it is the same story I tell myself. I want to know if I am selling a bill of goods to myself and everyone else about what my goals for the future are and the steps that I am taking to make them come true.

My gut feeling is that I am not and have not been anything but forthright about these things.

The conversation that Mark and I had in the comments here about football and weightlifting is what got me thinking about things. It made me think about what was important and what still is.

I remember when it was of paramount importance to spend those hours in the gym and hit those marks I set for myself. I looked at the old guys and rolled my eyes at their stories about not having the same time or energy for lifting. I didn’t believe they didn’t have time to work out, I thought they were lazy.

Well, I am not lazy but I am one of the “old guys” now and what was important is less so. Ask me why I don’t look exactly the way I would like to and I will tell you it is because I like to eat and have done a lousy job of adjusting my diet.

I am responsible.

Responsibility, eBooks and Goals

A while back I decided that I wanted to write two ebooks, but I haven’t produced either. It is not because I am incapable of it. I produce more content than most and I do it at a faster pace than many.

So I ask myself why is it that I haven’t done it. What have I done or not done to get it done. On a related side note the fabulous Craig McBreen has just released his first ebook The Art of Breaking Out: My NOW Manifesto. You should go check it out. While you are at it go visit Jens and check out his ebooks.

The responsibility for the lack of production lies solely on my shoulders. It is not because I can’t do it, it is because I haven’t done it. I think the reason why is because I haven’t focused my attention there.

That is not the kind of story I want to tell or share with you. Who wants to list where they have fallen short. Who wants to say they are their own worst enemy and provide examples of what hasn’t worked.

Well I guess that I do. It is not to gain accolades for honesty or praise for being willing to take some lumps in public but because blogging is where I hold myself accountable.

This place is where I air out my thoughts and figure out what I think, what I feel and what I need.

What is The Point of an eBook?

While I am thinking out loud I need to share the obvious question. What is the point of my writing an eBook. What benefits come from doing writing it? Off the top of my head I think it can help establish authority and credibility on whatever topic you are writing about.

It is a marketing tool you can use to try and obtain speaking gigs, work opportunities and it is cool to say that you wrote a book. The coolness factor of writing a book is somewhat offset by the number of readers of said book, but that is a different topic.

If I believe everything I just wrote (and I do) then I have to accept that I need to adjust what I am doing or stop telling the story I have sold myself.

Echoes Of The Future

You can accuse me of falling in love with that phrase if you want, but I hear the echoes of the future calling and I am ready to answer them. This post is one of the gifts of blogging. The opportunity to clarify our thoughts and gain a deeper understanding of what we need and what we want is awesome.

I don’t know about you, but I have an overwhelming feeling that 2012 marks the beginning of something truly special. I keep talking about the journey because I am on one and I am grateful that you are here with me too. It is not lip service, it is the truth.

So here is my story. I am Jack, the dad blogger who is reaching for the brass ring. I take responsibility for my failures and my successes. Truth is I have far more success on the tally sheet than failures and I am getting ready to add a couple more hashmarks.

That is the story I am telling and I am sticking to it.

How about you?

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13 Comments

  1. Craig McBreen July 13, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Hi Jack,
     
    You, Sir are too kind! Thanks so much for the mention! Nobody ever called me fabulous, but I’ll take it 😉
     
    As you can see, I agree with my friend, Joe DeGiorgio, about you having an unlimited arsenal of great material :) 
     
    To me writing something like an eBook is about spreading influence and in my case, hopefully sparking a few people to action. I love coming here because you write from your heart and you’re pretty damn honest about your feelings. It’s also refreshing reading your view on parenting, because it’s a no bullshit display of how you really feel. All good and many can relate.
     
    Anyway, thanks for sharing as always and just keep plugging away like we all do!

    • TheJackB July 14, 2012 at 8:23 am

       @Craig McBreen 
       
      You deserve the accolades. You have been on fire and have produced a ton of excellent content. I respect and appreciate that.
       
      I appreciate the support and kind words too. I can put together the eBook with what I have here without too much work. The hardest part is selecting which posts and pieces to include. I have the beginning of a plan forming in my head so we’ll see what happens.
       
      Writing from the heart is easy for me. I am pretty open about most things. This parenting gig is especially easy to write about because so much of it is universal. As parents most of us are doing our damnedest to raise our children to be good people.
       
      And it is a really freaking hard job that never ends, so it is good to have company. 😀

  2. penneyfox July 12, 2012 at 1:37 pm

    I went down that path too and just recently participated in 15 day writers challenge. It shook me out of my comfort zone, made me look at my excuses and stared down my fears. It struck me so much to my core that I blogged about the whole experience (that was the post you commented on that weirdly went into spam). I’ve now switched gears and pulled back from the ebook idea. I’m working on a 12-week online course for FREE with the idea to grow my community/platform, show my experience and basically at the end of this, find a way to pay it forward.
     
    The challenge stuff is still up if you want to work through this on your own: http://goinswriter.com/great-writers/
     
    Think about it Muadib … it could help you move past your fears and find some clarity. (when the fear is gone, there will be nothing, only I will remain)

    • TheJackB July 12, 2012 at 4:37 pm

       @penneyfox That sounds like a great idea Penney. I like the idea of building the course for no other reason than how much you can learn from creating it. That sounds like it could be very rewarding.
       
      My challenge isn’t really fear. I can do this and I know it. What I am working on most is focus. Got to be like the Fremen and use my energy wisely.

      • penneyfox July 13, 2012 at 5:42 am

         @TheJackB I’m now in the camp who believes to give something of value to others to start creating your community and build trust. THEN you’re able to sell to them because you’ve developed the relationship with them on a level that had nothing to do with a hard sell.
         
        I hope you check out the challenge links – I think it will help you find your focus. The challenge takes you through some questions to steer you in a direction and that sounds like something you’re looking for.
         
        Now that I think about it, you are more like the Fremen. I recall one of our conversations about your desire to ‘ride the worm’ 🙂
        I’m feeling more like Duncan Idaho these days – the warrior who works through my fears and facing down the enemies to fight for the good cause. Of course, you need to get to the last book to truly understand Duncan’s significance.

  3. Hajra July 12, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I wouldn’t go for an e-book. I feel an e-book should be only if you have something to offer that might help others. But then I feel at this point I really have nothing to offer besides my blogging and I will keep it to that at the moment! 
     
    These guys are so talented and I am looking forward to reading their books. 

  4. JoeDeGiorgio July 12, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Blogging is interesting to me because of the stories. I love reading about the struggles and the victories of others. Your story is compelling. The stories of my friends and family are worth the time and effort of writing them down. I find them compelling.

    As a fledgling “old guy”, I can run into a time crunch with regards to working out as well. That’s why you can find me doing push ups or cracking the heavy bag at 11PM, after the wife and kids have been tucked in. No time is an excuse I can no longer use. At 49, exercise has to be a priority for me.

    E-book? I think you have enough material for 10,000 ebooks. You don’t have to write, just reorganize… 😉

    • TheJackB July 12, 2012 at 4:33 pm

       @JoeDeGiorgio 
      Hi Joe,
       
      I recently heard about a gym where the guys play ball all night long but I am afraid to go check it out. Not because I can’t keep up but there are lots of nights where midnight rolls around and I am ready to run.
       
      Sometimes that is because I have been doing exactly what you mentioned- pounding the bag or slinging metal. I could easily slip out those nights and go play, but I fear the mornings.
       
      I am a natural night owl and could play until close to sunrise, but too damn old to live on the hour or two a night I did at 20. Can’t sleep all day any more either. 😉
       
      The stories are the best. Sunday when I was at the cemetery to see my grandparents I sat down and thought about all they told me and wondered what I hadn’t heard.

    • TheJackB July 12, 2012 at 4:34 pm

       @JoeDeGiorgio Oops forgot mention that I plan on taking a bunch of posts and converting them for the ebook. I think that is part of the problem, I can do it quickly so I have dragged my feet.

    • Craig McBreen July 13, 2012 at 10:40 am

       @JoeDeGiorgio “You don’t have to write, just reorganize… ;)” … I agree … 🙂 And, Joe, you and I are old guys in the blogosphere. Maybe we should start saying “life begins at 50” so we’re ready when we finally hit that big number 😉

  5. BetsyKCross July 12, 2012 at 5:30 am

    I’m in the thick of it, too!
    Wish I could do more storytelling these days. Thanks for sharing yours!!

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