You Are The Only One Standing in YOUR Way
August 14th 2009
This past weekend I attended Podcamp Boston 4 and had an absolute wonderful time.
But, I left with one thing in my head that I had to share with the world and that is the fact that while some people might get in your way during your career, life or chasing dreams the only person that really holds you back is YOU.
I wrote about this topic on Digital Dads and now had to cover it on Managing the Gray. Once you listen I would love to know your thoughts on it.
If you liked what you heard, please subscribe in iTunes or leave a review for the show.
Posted in
Podcast |
Comments(14)
Good stuff, CC. All great points and definitely consistent with my constant preaching that there really is no such thing as can’t. Some things are harder, more costly, etc. but anything can be achieved.
That said, an interesting exploration would be the need to hold yourself back at times. I often grab for too many rings at the same time. I’m a mile wide and an inch deep, so I know a little about a lot of things. And I’m passionate about a lot of it. That’s probably why I have started so many companies. Too many, in fact.
One of the biggest challenges with believing that anything is possible that the more you drink that Kool Aid, the more likely you are to go after every shiny object.
But there are times when putting some blinders on may actually be the best approach … oddly enough!
in order to talk about my reaction to this episode, i need to talk about what has taken place before and after hearing it. i am one of those people in a dead end job.
two days before you uploaded this, i was working out on my lunch break listening to the latest six pixels of separation show w/tara hunt talking about making space for happiness and laughter in business. to be honest, i got really resentful while listening. all i kept thinking was that i’m on a treadmill during my lunch break in an attempt to muster up more energy to deal with the inevitable b.s. the job will bring my way for the second half of the day…and i have this woman in my headphones sitting with mitch joel at some bistro in montreal talking about how fabulous her life is, how she doesn’t wake up early if she doesn’t have to, and why can’t other people’s lives be equally as fun. all i could think about was how that thinking goes completely and totally against what i see in my own life and those of good friends who are either out of work or overworked when it comes to employment. i thought about the fact that most of my energy is siphoned by a position i have no passion for and that whatever energy is left over after that (as well as handling fatherly duties once i get home) goes into the podcast or some other mix of music and social media. fighting through the fatigue to stay up late to get the fun things done sometimes is a losing battle, and i resent the fact that those things i’m passionate about remain the hobby and not the nine to five. in short, living to work is the reality of my everyday while working to live is an elusive, intangible concept.
but i realized while listening to your show is that i want the same thing that tara hunt already has…and i more than likely have already put limits on myself knowing that it’s difficult to effectively make a switch in careers while being a full-time working parent. when your latest show popped up in my google reader, i said to myself: “this will more than likely piss me off, but i have to listen.” so as i left my house at six o’clock in the morning yesterday to get my laundry done (a bi-monthly routine on a saturday morning), i listened, i considered, and knew i would have to listen again because i already had a hardened heart and soul from three days prior.
but something happened today that caused me to listen to this show again. i went to church this morning and a guest preacher spoke from the subject “shifting into your place of promise.” he talked about getting prepared to go to that next level of life that God wants you to be in. he talked about how oftentimes our issue is US, about how blaming others doesn’t change the fact that we need to get ourselves together before that shift can take place. at that moment, there was confirmation from the spiritual side of my life about what had already been said by you in the secular/social media/marketing realm. and anytime there’s confirmation between the spiritual and the secular in my life, i know i need to pay close attention.
so after my daughter settled in for her afternoon nap and after i recorded some voiceovers for an upcoming podcast episode, i sat down and listened to your show again, still deep in thought about the sermon i heard this morning and how i really need to get the hell out of my own way. you may not have set out to be some sort of motivational speaker, but it’s clearly a gift area of yours. i believe that you have many gifts, but motivation through marketing and/or social media could very well be one of your strongest.
thank you for the tough love. you’ve given me a number of things to think about. i hope and pray that i have enough common sense and enough courage to take the time necessary to plan out and act upon those thoughts that could lead me to greener lifestyle pastures…and remember to ask for help along the way. suffering in silence tends to be a detrimental character trait of mine. at any rate, thanks again. continue to do what you do, be it managing the gray, media hacks, accident hash, one guy’s thoughts, or the advance guard.
regards and respect,
jason (macedonia)
CC,
Once again another great episode. I love when you go on a rant about all the good stuff in life! I really do appreciate the message of how we tend to get in our own way! It is up to us to remove, go through, or around obstacles that we may bring up to hold us back.
I also appreciate the comment about how things take time and we should not give up if it doesn’t happen over night. This instant access media and video game world has conditioned us to expect things in a hurry. We need to learn to chill and not give up on our dreams/goals.
Thanks again and keep up the great work!
I’m enjoying reading you’re comments here CC… wow.
My reactions to your stuff is always so complicated, I never know quite how to comment… but I guess I’ll tell you my story..
So.. I was in a whole lot of darkness.. I actually still am. Monsterous creepy scary out of control darkness… err, maybe not that bad, but maybe worse.. I don’t know..
Anyway.. so I made this commitment to really work hard on like.. animation, motion graphics, and video… and I was quickly greeted by magic in my work.. that though I was pretty clueless about what I was doing.. it seemed like there was some kind of amazing magic stirring in it.. and that unto its self was enough to give a little lift to my spirits.
And then I bought an actual “good” video camera.. well, prosumer HD.. and I was scared.. cause you know.. its kind of a risk to go spend a lot of money on stuff.. and.. even if I took a lot of classes related to film and video in college.. and even if I’ve messed with it since a little bit.. there’s a big difference between that and like.. going hard core on it… and would I even be able to create anything that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with the world?
I have to tell you that I still have that fear.. big time.. but already I’m kinda feeling the power of it. See I’m often a little shy about sharing my true self.. there’s one side that’s like.. mad super genus guy.. and another thats like mad supper sensitive guy.. I’m rarely letting ether of them show them selves and I’m starting to see that… well I guess this is the complicated part.
Can you tell an abuse victim that they are holding them selves back? Not that they are not but.. on the one hand they internalize the abuse as they’re fault.. so its a kind of a sensitive area.. but.. perhaps more complicated.. when we say you are holding you’re self back.. just who exactly is the “you” you are referring to? When you say the word “I” what does I refer to? I think that’s like one of the deepest most fascinating questions a person can ask.
You go far enough down this rabbit hole and are you even you any more? We are all so interconnected.. not just you and I and humans.. but like the fabric of the universe.
Conventionally the you who is holding you back is your ego… but thats not really necessarily the case with the abuse victim, or at least its probably not that simple. You can fight with everything you got every day and you’re still damaged.. and you get into those rough spots and its like.. you don’t even know if you’ll be able to keep your head above water… will the damage just overtake you?
I liked what Jason said about the spiritual.. cause.. I think that gets to something.. it gets to what this is really all about. The birth of a dream is the birth of something in us.. the dawn of a certain kind of calling.. and.. well, what are you going to do about it? The thing of it is.. in the end, is it even the “I” that makes it happen? At this point in my life I’m just like screw it.. I’ll go with the damn calling.. I don’t know that I totally believe in it.. but what the hell else do I have to work with?
Well.. you hang out with a video camera long enough.. and its like a relationship where you’re able to break down more and more walls.. and gain more and more intimacy… and when you connect to that camera.. man.. you could be connecting to anyone… I mean who’s that camera a surrogate for? LOL.. I’ve had a few friends who meant the world to me.. but none of them ever seemed to so literally mean the world.. lol, one hell of an invisible friend!
I also liked what Jason said about your strength possibly being that of a motivational speaker.. I’ve always kinda thought of you as more then that.. and I often kinda look around and wonder what other people are thinking when they hear you speak.. Do they see it? I mean in the sense that like.. ok.. so you’re CC Chapman and like.. some kinda rock star right, and isn’t it easy for folks in those shoes to be so positive? And can that kinda positivity even be true? I mean is it even something one is capable of believing in?
Well I’ve spent ALOT of time with Joseph Campbell, and like.. depth psychology.. and exploring the inner workings of our humanity.. and I guess I just love what you’re a voice of.. and it is like an everyday reality for me.. even if I am regularly threatened by monsterous scary creepy darkness.. for ever threatening to over take me..
Err.. don’t know if I ever got to what I meant to drive at.. but what the hell, its just blog comment, right?
“make it a great day” – consider that stolen again!
I, too, have a “don’t let anything stand in my way” success story, and have cc (in part) to thank for it. I dropped a voicemail some timeback (to really capture the pasion). Maybe I’ll do that again. Perseverance, passion, unrelenting focus, mini-successes to keep you spirited – that was my formula (if there is one).
[...] something, we’ll never do anything. Feedback from JR Murdock and Kreg Steppe starts us off. A little inspiration mixed in from CC Chapman. Most importantly, we talk about what we can do… and why we need to start [...]
I have to say, I using your slogan “Make it a great day” for my oldest daughter and wife. I really enjoyed your podcast, it may have been a little all over the place but it really hit home for me.
Thanks, you just earned a new listener.
Your recent podcast about gate-jumping really hit me! I am starting a website/blog founded entirely on the premise that each day we choose our own health as men. Period. Run today? Drink more water? Have a cup of green tea? Any one choice to better your body, and there by your mind, and you have become a Fit Man. Nothing is holding anyone man back from this simple CHOICE. Thank you for your stellar efforts in this world. -Fit Man
-Continuation-
I am amazed at how many men are voicing there struggles. How many of us really remember to notice our success? Did you drink plenty of clean water today? Did you dress well and shave? Are you showing your love to those in your life? Any one simple act is a success! Celebrate your life and loves- life is a perennial as the grass…
Well, CC, looks like you got people to comment on the blog!
This was just what I needed to hear this morning, particularly the “Make it a good day.”
If there are people trying to hold me back, I don’t notice it. My particular barrier is limitations of health and energy. I have yet to find a way to keep that from slowing me down, but I’ve learned that I don’t have to let it prevent me from following my passion.
Great episode. I just started my thing although I thought I was not ready. But I realized if I waited for the perfect moment “it” would never happen. Every time when I step out of my boundaries of comfort, things have gone well, but it’s definitely not for the faint at heart. Peace out, Hans
I’m leaving a reply because you said people are more likely to tweet/post on social networks rather than on blogs these days. Of course that’s true, since I just tweeted some quotes from your podcast.
Why? Because your short podcast is probably the best version of “How to Live & be Successful in Life” I’ve heard in 2009 – excellent!
Everyone, literally everyone, should forward the link* to this podcast to everyone they know and care about in life.
* http://bit.ly/BSAgO or http://su.pr/2YrsH9
Also, I wanted people who haven’t actually listened to your Managing the Gray podcast to hear how great you truly are. “Stream of consciousness” is hard to pull off, being both intelligent and relevant, but you’re able to do this consistently – amazing!
As a Social Media Marketing instructor at UCLA Extension, I always refer my students to your podcasts as excellent examples of podcasting, not to mention your gems of SM wisdom.
Thanks so much for what you do…and for being out there.
And now I can thank you for summarizing much of Life’s wisdom into this 1/2 hour podcast which every human being should hear.
Not to mention being like the brief audiobook version of Guy Kawasaki’s bible of business/marketing success tips in: “Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition” as well.
Best, Karl @karlkasca
Love the inspirational words CC. I’ve turned on a few others to your site, and they’ve enjoyed it as well. Keep it coming. Thanks.
[...] your life forever? Then go to here, listen to the podcast, and immediately improve your life: You Are The Only One Standing in YOUR Way (Chasing Your [...]
I’m chiming in late but I just had to say, great podcast, great message. I really needed to hear it today.