do what you love, and the underpants will follow.
April 26, 2008
What, you thought I blogged for money? No way, I blog and write for ice cream. And underpants.
Last night, I ran in the warm spring rain, without a rain jacket. I couldn’t find it, so I went anyway and got soaked. Literally from head to toes, because of my funny shoes.
I could feel the water soaking through the fabric after the first 200 feet or so, and it was very nice. Only the sound of the rain, and my feet softly padding on the ground. Okay, and a couple of cars… it’s a small town, but it was Friday night.
The spring air was alive, the moisture filling me with vitality, the source of life. The raindrops collected on the lenses of my glasses, distorting my vision slightly and transporting me into a dreamscape.
Magic.
I run not to lose weight, I run to feel alive.
And so that I can celebrate, by dancing like all good Vikings do, and by eating ice cream.
Thanks to everyone – all of you – for a great week, here, and at your blogs.
Do what you love, and do it well. The money, or the ice cream, or the underpants will follow.
So, without further ado:
| Distance | Time | Weight | |
| Monday | 3.1 km | 23 min | 199 lb |
| Wednesday | 4.0 | 29 | 199 |
| Friday | 5.2 | 37 | 198 |
I think this is pretty good for two weeks of running, I’ll have to be able to run 42.195 km for a full marathon. I know I can do it. Barefoot (almost). In a kilt. Without briefs.
Perseverance. Time. Effort. That’s what it takes. If I run at 8 km/h for 5 hours 16 minutes 27-3/4 seconds, I can complete a marathon.
I think I did well since last week, and it will be interesting to see how far I’ll be running by the end of the sixth week.
Once again, thank you to everyone for your encouragement and support, and a lot of laughs this week.
Laughing with friends about underpants – what more can one ask for?
Perhaps another bowl of ice cream… if I were a superhero, my secret weakness would be ice cream.
Just ask Sandie, she knows – she’s one of the great people I met this week, and her son MonkeyBoy makes me want to turn in my geek card. I’m amazed at how many people I’m meeting through blogging. The network is expanding exponentially. I’m thinking that soon we’ll be able to take over the world.
(Yes, that’s a rum bottle in the photo, Captain Morgan to be precise – but it is maple syrup, honest!)
Next week, I will return with more stories. They may or may not involve underpants. Oh, and a new 6 week challenge – if you tell the entire world you’re going to do something publicly, there is no better motivator.
^^
. .
^
o
Thanks for the link and the geek love.
Running a marathon is impressive. Running a marathon barefoot borders on crazy. Running a marathon in a kilt makes you my hero. Running a marathon without briefs is insane…you do know what the word chafing means, don’t you?
Speaking of kilts…what’s the tartan/clan? My hubby is a MacLaran. He’s got the kilt and the clan badge tattooed on his back (it takes up his entire back). I have a wide assortment of Scots in my ancestry, but I’m proudest of Emily Wallace. She claimed to have been descended from William Wallace.
Hi Sandie,
You are quite welcome, thanks for stopping in to say hello to a fellow geek.
Oh yes… if you followed the Twitter stream from last night, Karen & I were talking about that very subject, and I concluded that running in sweat pants in the rain (without underpants) is *not* a good idea.
(Friar, no comments about chafing… I know you can’t resist…)
My Irish half is McGarry/McKian from grandpa/grandma’s sides. I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to find the proper kilt, but I’ll try.
Okay, your husband has now moved up in coolness a few orders of magnitude, and he was already pretty cool. That is awesome, I can imagine how that looks.
And you have a proud heritage yourself – that is something special.
Toe Shoes!!!!! LOL. Lovely post , Brett. I hear ya.
Best, Jan
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..The Essence of Cakeness
Is that the ice cream with maple syrup? You just had to tempt me with a photo! Note to self: *do not eat ice cream for breakfast, do not eat ice cream to breakfast, do not…*
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
Hey Brett
If you want to be really “serious” about your running, you should do what my sister and her husband do.
Go to a clinic, and spend big bucks to get yourself hooked up to a treadmill-electrode machine. Get your VO2 and measured so you can pinpoint your proper “Zone” is for training.
Then buy yourself a GPS watch/heart moniitor so you can track your distance and average speed to 4 signficiant figures, your calories burned and the heart rate. Mabye you can make an Excel spreadsheet when you’re done.
Or….you can continue to just go outside and RUN, just for the fun of it.
PS. I notice you lost a pound. Is that due to running, or did you just have
a good dump beforehand?
Friar’s last blog post..Small-Town Radio
@Janice – thank you for your compliment, and glad you liked the toe shoes again
@Allison – oh yes, ice cream with *real maple syrup*, made locally… yum! I didn’t eat ice cream for breakfast (and yes, I’m lying – okay, I had ice cream and a piece of pizza, I had to clean up leftovers)
@Friar – I knew you’d say that, so I was kind of leaving myself open for it heh heh… I don’t even bring a watch when I run, I just choose a random route depending on where I feel like going, and let my mind carry me. I wrote this post in my head last night while I was running, actually… it is my time to think, to unwind, to run for the fun of it – just as you say
I’ll save the answer to that question for my “bodily function confessional blog”, a grossly logical extension of my confessional blog.
PS – I like your Small-Town Radio post a lot! go check it out people
Brett,
I wish I could enjoy running, because you make it sound so damn.. nice, and it’s not at all (for me)! I’m in the “just don’t get it” bus apparently.
So glad you find it enjoyable though, and I find your progress and determination impressive.
Ice cream a weakness of mine as well, but with maple syrup?! Now that’s new to me, and I grew up on “Sugar Island”, so named for the maple syrup made there.
Nicole’s last blog post..All Things to All People
Nicole,
Hey, it’s not for everyone… a lot of folks like golf, or cross country skiing, where I live – and both are great sports (I even own 2 sets of clubs). Yet, they don’t do anything for me. I’ll golf if invited, and if someone asked me to ski, I would as it is fun. But I would rather do something else
I assure you, you most certainly do get it.
Maple syrup, yes, it sounds different doesn’t it? Blame my father, I guess, for showing me that as a child.
if you tell the entire world you’re going to do something publicly, there is no better motivator…
Truer words have never been said. Nothing holds you to your commitment better than such pressure. It is a good kind of pressure.
Read a lot of your posts. Better blogs have rarely been found. I’m a fan. Subscribing!
VM (Holy Text)’s last blog post..Why you should plan for good times
@VM,
Thank you *very* much for such a kind compliment. I had a quick peek at your blog as well, and you now have a new subscriber in me. Your latest post really rings true with me.
Glad to have you here, and I look forward to talking with you often.
-Brett
Hey Brett, Thanks for the linky love! You run, I’ll dance, and meet back in the blogosphere for more undie chat! Heheh.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Briefs are Not Just Underwear
Hey Melissa,
I couldn’t resist, as you were my “partner in crime” with the underpants thing
and that’s a deal, together we are stronger. I’m looking forward to our joint venture too (will chat later on IM)
-Brett
Hey Brett.
Heh heh heh. I just had to throw in that comment about GPS’s and cardiac monitors and such. (I know that is totally the OPPOSITE of what you like to do).
Now, when you run, do you wear underpants with your shorts, or do you wear the shorts with the built-in underwear?
And does that count as one piece of clothing, or two?
And how do the gnomes make money on this?
Friar’s last blog post..Possibly an Announcement
Oh, yeah.
I also forgot to ask.
What about CHAFFING?
Friar’s last blog post..Possibly an Announcement
@Friar – I was laughing when you wrote it, because it sounds a lot like someone we know…
Think I’ll have to break out my old bike shorts soon. Those could count as underpants, so the gnomes might take them… and with regards to chafing, not sure yet.
I’ve been kicking around the idea of running in a kilt
just ask Karen and Melissa and Wendi and a few others about that! Barefoot (nearly), in a kilt, maybe I could go bare chested with woad on my face (the blue paint from Braveheart) – you know, just to really stand out from the crowd…
Vaseline is the answer…
to the chaffing question (shouldn’t that be one ‘f’?)
So glad to have found your blog having so enjoyed your comments elsewhere.
Another subscriber is born…..
Donetta is right. Chafing is probably one F.
But the “serious” runners dont’ use Vaseline. You have to use “Runners Lube” (I know this because my marathon-running family members use it)
Chafing is probably one of my favorite words right now. Especially how Brett and I use the expression at work: “chafing the rod”.
It may sounds vulgar. But I got this expression from the Discovery Channel on TV on the show “How is it Made?”
The narator was referring to a technician who was polishing a steel shaft to put in some kind of machine.
Chafing, boss. Chafing the rod.
Friar’s last blog post..Possibly an Announcement
@Donetta,
Thank you for your kind words, and I’m happy to see you as a subscriber. I have some great stuff coming up that I hope you will enjoy!
@Friar,
I knew you couldn’t resist that one
heh heh
On a non-related note (and I’ll email you about this one too), the link back to your last post doesn’t jive with the actual post, I’m wondering whether it’s something at my end or your end. Weird.
Friar, you Liar! That is not your blog?! Or is it?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
Brett,
I think my heart actually skipped a beat when you suggested a marathon without briefs.
I HOPE I am understanding that someone has already explained the reasons why your wife will not be a happy woman if you follow through with this unreasonable plan.
If not…we will take this discussion out of the public and I will fill you in on some of the more unpleasant side effects of being on your feet for 26 miles, or whatever that comes to in Kilometers.
That set aside …for now…your time is excellent! You are doing really well. I have a bunch of running books in my library, if you want to talk running books for training, I would be happy to let you borrow some.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Masterminds and Daffodils
@Ellen,
You know the Friar, he’s always up to something
although in this case I’m not sure what’s up. It might be my CommentLuv plugin is too old…
@Wendi,
As I just tweeted on Twitter,
I just thought it fit in with the whole “underpants, boxers or briefs or commando” thing that’s been going back and forth all over… believe me, after only 5 or 10 km you’d know you did something wrong!!!
I might still wear the kilt, though…
Thank you for your encouragement! I know this week will be even better. Yes, I might be interested to see some of your running books – I’ll email you tonight to ask you about it.
Howdy Brett!
As always, big fun over here at your “Post Party”! I mean, 21 posts in and you folks have already covered ice cream, kilts, tattoos, chaf(f)ing, panties, running, technology, and the value of public accountability
Thanks again Brett for another fun and funny post with a built-in nudge. Today’s “if you tell the entire world you’re going to do something publicly, there is no better motivator…” pairs nicely with the Work -> ? -> Underpants theory…
I’ve been rethinking the “?” part of my plans since I started the True Fans series last week, and wayyyy more intently since your underpants post lol.
And now that you’ve helped me shake myself up a bit, and further inspired my rethink, you drop the idea that telling everyone what’s up is a fab path to getting stuff done. So now I’ll have to do tell everyone my goals or answer to myself for why I won’t.
You make inertia verrrry uncomfortable, if not impossible.
Powerful stuff, Mr. Ten Toes. No wonder you always have packed house
Crystal’s last blog post..Making a Million With 1000 True Fans: Big-Ticket VIP Access for a Few
Hey Brett
In case people are asking (like Ellen), .NO, that last posting is NOT from my Blog!
I have no idea where it came from, I’ve never seen this before.
I think there is a glitch on Wordpress or your CommentLuv. Can this be fixed?
Friar’s last blog post..Watercolor #8. Flight over Wrangell St. Elias
[...] 6 Weeks [...]
@Crystal,
I value non-linear thinking very much, so I’m glad everyone is happy to oblige
and I’m glad that the little nudge gave you food for thought. It has given me a nice way to get things done without excuses too.
I’ll be putting up a few other 6 week challenges to myself soon, and everyone else is free to kick me in the butt if I falter. If this made you rethink your plans, it did that doubly for me. There’s no reason why I can’t start now at what I want to do – no reason except for my own fear of success.
So I’m going to go for it, and let the public hold me accountable.
Thanks for the nice words, too. I’m looking forward to the continuation of your 1000 True Fans series. That is part of my plans, and you’re helping show the way for me.
@Friar,
I figured it wasn’t you, as I checked your blog and saw you had a new post – and now it seems to be working again. I talked with Harry by IM and he suggested I update CommentLuv first, and if that doesn’t work, then WordPress. I should learn how to do that anyway.
Perhaps it is just a ghost in the machine…
@Brett
Not for the first time, you said “fear of success”… so you’re not worried about failure then, but worried about doing well? If I have that right, why’s that?
And I’m looking forward to how the series ends too LoL I’m eager to hear what you guys think about these last bits…
Crystal’s last blog post..Making a Million With 1000 True Fans: Big-Ticket VIP Access for a Few
Crystal,
I’m glad that you asked about that
It isn’t a term I invented, but one I liked very much and adopted. It fits in well with what you said about inertia being uncomfortable.
Sometimes people don’t want to try something new, don’t want to change, because they are comfortable. Perhaps you know someone with a job they really hate, and they complain all about it. But they do nothing about it, because they are afraid.
But, afraid of what? If the person is already at a low point, why not try to change? They have some kind of fear, perhaps, but of what? A lot of times, they just fear a change from the status quo, even if what they have is really bad.
So I use it as a motivator for myself. Of course we will all fail – it is inevitable.
Therefore, we should not fear failure. Why fear something that we can do nothing about? (Death is the same thing. Fearing it is quite pointless, really. I know that’s easy to say, but it is true.)
So, whenever I find myself stalling on a new project or course of action, I tell myself, “it is fear of success holding me back – perhaps I’m afraid of what might happen if this *really* works, if the book I’m writing *really* takes off, I get on Oprah, become a celebrity…”
Then – I imagine this to happen. I visualize the change that will happen if I take action. And I think about it, and say, “you know, that wouldn’t be bad at all – that would be great!”
Then, to really make it fun, I’ll say “success is inevitable – why fear the inevitable?”
So, I use it as a motivator, to help myself get going. It is a very powerful tool. I’m still learning how to use this, but each time I do it, I’m amazed.
I think that “Announcement” was from Wordpress. They’re going to start tacking on links to other articles that might appear to be related.
(…Whatever). Anyway, the CommentLuv link thing seems to be working now.
Related to your running. I admire your courage telling everyone what you’ll do beforehand. Now you’re comitted, and there are a whole bunch of people cheering you on.
I do the opposite…I usually keep quiet about things I”m going to do, so if I fail, nobody has to know about it.
For example, I’m thinking of running a 10 km race in the near future. I even have a specific race in mind. But I might or might not do it.
@Friar,
Hmm, that is interesting. They shouldn’t do that, it’s kind of spammy in my opinion (then again, I suppose if they give you free hosting, they are apt to start doing that eventually).
Perhaps it might be good to tell only the people who will encourage and support you no matter what. Like, if you tell me you want to do that race, I’ll help you and encourage you and run it with you – and hey, if you didn’t finish for some reason (but, if you do it, I know you will!), I’d buy you a half-dozen beers and we’d have a good laugh.
Everyone here is supportive, so I thought, “let’s have some fun with this!”
Brett’s comment luv appears to be working.
@Crystal – Nice to meet you. You have a nice site, with interesting info. I will add you to my list. I only need 300 subscribers to be famous? Then I can retire? Hey, you know, I hear you only need 10,000 people to buy your book for it to be a bestseller. Actually, I should look this up again. Be back in a few.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Feed on Some RSS Fruit
Okay I just found this at the Irish Times:
http://www.ireland.com/blogs/presenttense/2008/02/04/how-many-sales-make-a-bestseller/
And at Tess Gerritsens:
http://www.tessgerritsen.com/blog/2007/07/18/how-many-copies-sold-is-a-bestseller/
I’ve heard of her but haven’t read her yet. Her numbers are closer to what I thought.
Man, I need to write 10 pages a day. Yeah. That’s my goal.
I might not run, might be getting a little fat, but it’s the novel that needs to be done eh!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..Feed on Some RSS Fruit
Ellen,
Thanks for those links. Perhaps we’ll have to start or use a different distribution medium for our works.
I think that we write as well or better than some of the “bestsellers” out there, so perseverance makes it a possibility – no, a reality. The power of vision
Brett
You and me and the Fallen One were talking about running that race (and drinking pints the night before).
Hey, I’m up to it. (Even if I have to take breaks and walk part way). Who cares if I come in “DFL”?
It would be fun, actually. Kind of an “anti-race”. Just DO IT…for the heck of it, who cares what anyone thinks?
Friar,
That’s right – hey, we will do it then. It doesn’t matter how long it takes for us to finish, we’d just be there for the laughs anyway…
maybe we can tell jokes as we run, perhaps that one from Monty Python.
(if you can read German, stop right now, this is fatal)
“Wenn ist das Nunstruck git und Slotermeyer? Ja!…
Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!”
Yeah, that’s the one! Apologies to any German-speaking folk who read this…
(actually, apologies because I don’t think this is completely authentic German…)
Brett,
You know, you could, if you so chose, use various body coverings for the next few weeks to anchor your posts…
For instance:
SOCKS – What bloggers can do with their feet while their hands are busy.
or
Jamies- Why ever change out of your jamies, unless you need clean UNDERPANTS?
Finally, Jackets – Bloggers Unite! Leave the laptop and venture out beyond your door – plenty of new ideas for content await.
PS…You could add brassiers and discuss the two for one offers online…
Just a thought.
Harmony’s last blog post..The H,I,J, and K of Golden Zen
So THIS is what you’ve been up to while I’ve been on my mental-health-break non-blog-surfing hiatus: underpants. I should have known.
@Harmony,
Now, that’s a great idea! Tune in next week – “Toe Socks – They Aren’t Just for Hippies Anymore”
and I love toe socks… and if we get on the subject of bras, we’ll have to start up a “support group” LOL
@Amy,
You see what happens when I don’t have you around to keep me in line?
Wait a minute, this would have happened anyway, except it would have been a lot more fun with you here. Glad you stopped in today, we’ve missed you, my friend.
Hahahaha.
))
Brett made a funny.
Harmony’s last blog post..What if You Lost Your Mind?
@Harmony,
I could have kept going too, what if you don’t wear pyjamas or underpants:
“How to Dry Clean your Birthday Suit (ouch)”
PS – your new post is great. I’ll be over tonight to comment.
@Brett – Owwwwww, the German made my head explode – I should have listened to your warning!
That “German” doesn’t really translate, but I believe that the English equivalent may look a little something like this:
When is the glorf baf and goofy? Yeah!
Bloofyba the doodily do wented biffidyboo!
Hahahaha!
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@RLD,
How are you typing without a head?
take two Aspirin and call me in the morning…
I like your translation, pretty good (I can picture myself reciting it as I march through the combat zone…)
@Brett – Oh, how I love a good joke about German! Unfortunately, I’ve had to censor myself in my department at school, here, because my humor is slightly off-color. APPARENTLY, Germans don’t *quite* appreciate a good Nazi joke as much as I do….
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@RLD – I know what you mean, I guess Hogan’s Heroes is about as far as you can take it
but also you can’t blame them in some ways, I suppose. I had a friend in primary and secondary school who was German, and people used to make all kinds of jokes, even though his family wasn’t in Germany back then… I guess it’s hard for them sometimes.
Brett,
Late to the party, sorry. Just wanted to say that I’m amazed at how rapidly you were able to increase your distance in the little time you’ve been going. Keep up the good work!
Pizza, beer, ice cream, kettlebells, and marathons. You are a well-rounded dude indeed.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Are You a Manager or a Leader? Why Pushing Change Always Fails
Kelly,
No need to apologize, the party is still rocking days later (time for a new post, though!)
Thank you – actually, I was quite pleased. I trained with the kettlebells over the winter and walked. The KB’s do a good job of overall conditioning, so really I’m just being extra careful and “breaking in” the muscles in my legs that need to get used to the runs. Slow and steady wins the race, literally in this case
I have to increase the kettlebells and marathons, and not have too much pizza and ice cream though, or I’ll be really well-rounded!
-Brett
@Brett – I had some culture clashes that way with my German exchange partner. We make fun of Hitler and the Nazis constantly in the US – the biggest joke coming to mind is “gay Hitler” from Saturday Night Live. I had to explain to the German girl that in order to deal with tragedy, the US has to laugh. We need to joke in order to stay sane. I also had to explain that we’re p. quick to forgive and forget.
Unfortunately, we forgave Germany long before they started thinking about forgiving themselves. It’s a phenomenon in their country aptly named “Vergangenheitsbewältigung” (translation: coping with the past). I’ve studied this a little bit, and it’s r. fascinating to see this attitude that so deeply impacts the culture. Even today, the German young people live in shame of their past, but they seem to be slowly getting over it.
So yeah, it’s hard for them, but it’s getting easier
Guess I’ll have to hold out on calling people “coffee nazis” for a couple more years…. 
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@RLD – I think that is a really good description of the situation, thank you for writing that here to help with the explanation. I couldn’t remember the name of that phenomenon – it is a heavy, heavy cross that the German people bear to this day, and some people seem to go out of their way to add weight to it.
(I don’t mean people like you who use humour, by the way – I too use the coffee nazi or soup nazi cultural references myself from time to time – can thank Seinfeld for that
)
Brett
Talk about the butterfly effect and chaos!
I was watching Southpark tonight. It was the episode with the UNDERPANTS GNOMES!
How karmic is THAT…!?
“Time to go to work, we work all night….We need underpants, hey!….”
Friar’s last blog post..Motivational Posters: Part II
Hey Friar,
We are on the verge of the underpants revolution. Watch for the sign.
(no, I’m not drunk, just tired…
)
Think I’ll print off and put up Motivational Poster #1 tomorrow, heh heh.
It’s funny, how the stars align and these coincidences happen. There’s something in the air…there’s “doin’s a-transpirin’”. I predict this will be the year of change.
As for Motivational Poster #1….don’t give them any ideas! We might all get one next Christmas.
Friar’s last blog post..Motivational Posters: Part II
I agree, this year is a year of change for all of us – I think every year, every day, really is – we just need to watch for the signs.
Don’t worry, they won’t give us a poster. Too expensive. They’ll give us lunchtime training on how to BUY one, however…
“if you tell the entire world you’re going to do something publicly, there is no better motivator…”
Is the foundation of AA and the 12 steps.
It is the most successful way to deal with addiction.
Is failure an addiction we need to break?
@Francis – I like your thinking. For me, I think that *fear* of failure is an addiction that I need to break. When I fear failure, I end up not doing anything >.< When I’m held accountable though, I can’t cop out so easily
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
Sorry it took a bit to get back here, classwork’s been pulling at me this week
@Brett—Ahhh, the motivations of fear of success, and resolution too —Love it, love it!
@Ellen Wilson—Good to meet you, and thanks for dropping by my blog
Yup, it’s looking like it’s within reach for any and all of us. As for only needing 300 or 411 eager consistent buyers, our mileage may vary lol But it’s worth a shot, yes?
And what cool links about being a bestseller! Particularly the one that detailed bits about sales to libraries, and in Costco and grocery stores not getting counted. Very interesting that she shifted her book release date to give her title a better shot at visibility on the bestseller list. Visibility begets more visibility, after all…
And it makes me wonder about how audiobook sales weigh in? I rarely read my pleasure “reading” anymore, but go through 24-30 hours of audiobooks each month while cleaning house, driving among errands, etc.
@Francis—I think failure surely can be an addiction, though I don’t know how to explain why I feel that way? Addiction or not, failure can be comfortable. We can nurse a single failure for decades, but a success has to be met (or topped) with more successes. Maintaining success is continuous labor while maintaining failure can be a cozy blanket and a cocoa…just a thought….
Crystal’s last blog post..Bible Sales: A Marketing Fable
Francis,
I think there’s a bit of truth to the addiction to failure theory, and a lot of self-esteem issues must be involved if the problem is extreme (I wrote about the corporate version of hoping to fail a couple of weeks ago; it’s a similar issue).
I have a very good friend who seems to have an addiction both to starting things and failing at them. Diets, dating, personal projects, classes, jobs… you name it, she jumps in, gets halfway to serious, then abandons them. I’ve known her a very long time and I’m not sure if she’s ever seen anything through to a successful end… ever. I love her but I am completely astonished that anyone can live like that, courting failure all the time.
It is not the same as “fail early, fail often,” where making mistakes is part of the process of seeking higher successes. In that case making mistakes is, as a shop owner said to me a week ago, “a sign that we’re taking risks and trying our hardest.” Small failures for big rewards.
Better get back to writing. I’m two days late quoting her at MCE already, and I do not want to fail to get something out tomorrow!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: With Laser-like Focus, He Went the Wrong Way…
@Francis & Crystal,
Failure can certainly be an addiction. For instance, a child may choose to fail, to act out, misbehave, to garner attention in that way.
Attention is attention. I think some adults also do this, in different ways. And as Crystal says, we can nurse a failure, continually return to it, use it as an excuse for not trying something new.
I’m sure many of us have done that. I know I have, in the past.
@RLD,
I think fear of failure and overcoming it can be tied to procrastination, and how the pressure of deadlines can break one out of the procrastination cycle. That is a good point.
@Crystal,
You are a genius. Audiobooks. Just got me thinking, as I have a couple of e-books in the planning stage. I think I have a good speaking voice. That might be a nice alternative.
@Kelly,
I was responding to everyone else and your message popped in behind me!
That post you wrote was a great example of this, with a twist, and you captured the essence of “fail early, fail often” perfectly.
Fall down seven times, get up eight times. My kids do it, I did it as a child, I can still do it.
@Brett—Hey, if we must write (and we MUST), we should leverage every medium. Folks are doing so many neat things out there: audiobook, ebooks (I’m learning about the Mobi format thanks to @ageekgal), translations into multiple languages, giving away free chapters on their blogs/websites…
Gotta work every angle once we have something precious to share. I’m so grateful for the Internet…
“Genius”? I so like the sound of that! Can I quote you?
Brett, re: falling down as an adult—now it requires pizza and beer and runner’s exhaustion, right?
I am SO not supposed to be running around catching up on comments right now.
Hehehe.
Kelly’s last blog post..Inspiration Points: With Laser-like Focus, He Went the Wrong Way…
@Crystal,
You may quote me on that. I’ll even say it myself, at your blog (soon). We are very lucky, this medium gives us almost unlimited power (if we can stay off Twitter…)
I’m toying with the idea of giving away chapters of my biography actually. I think it might work.
@Kelly,
Definitely, last night’s run was topped off by a two-day old donut and a glass of milk
I hear you, better get back to work, err, commenting…
[...] all of the chatter and tweeting back and forth about horned* Viking helmets, kilts, and running marathons in funny shoes, I thought it might be fun to start a new tradition [...]
[...] if you do what you love, then the underpants (and ice cream) will follow. If on the other hand you are a secret rebel and forgot to take your meds you might be inspired and [...]
[...] need to anymore. He also really does like to swim in very cold water. Brett really loves his ice cream and wine, and he’s a runner and a Viking-lover, among other great things. Kelly is a very cheerful [...]