Goal-Free Quotes
A number of years ago, in an attempt to get more students to join their humanities program, Indiana University ran an advertising campaign with some great (goal-free type) slogans like:
“Do What You Want When You Graduate or Wait Twenty Years for Your Mid-Life Crisis”
“Insurance for When the Robots Take Over All The Boring Jobs”
“Okay Then, Follow Your Dreams in Your Next Life”
And my favorite – “Yeah, Like Your Parents are So Happy”
Source: “Skeptical Inquirer” magazine, November/December 2006
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Podcast with Michael Pollock
I was recently interviewed for a podcast (after some opening comments) on Michael Pollock’s website. He specializes in helping small business owners use blogs and other new media tools to grow their business. I got some great tips from his site. Be sure to check out the podcast, and then peruse his blog.
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My Top Tech Tips
In running my business, I use a number of cool technologies — technologies to play audio and video on my websites, for blogging, for desktop productivity, and more. Today’s blog entry is a list of my favorites — many of which are free. Please leave comments with your favorite technologies (no spam, thank you). You can download this list as a pdf by clicking here.
WEB – This blog uses all three
1. 
WordPress.com blogging or WordPress.org for download (I use the download version)
2. 
Aweber for autoresponder, newsletters, webforms and more ($20/month or less and very powerful)
3. 1and1 for hosting – relatively cheap and reliable. Inexpensive domain registration. Free newsletter and website builder software, plus much more
VIDEO AND AUDIO
4. Windows Media Encoder – Converts various video formats to WMV format. Free from Microsoft.com
5. RIVA FLV Encoder – Software that converts video (except WMV) to FLV (flash)
6. Web Audio Plus – converts MP3 and WAV files to flash audio with buttons for website. Free from CNET.com. This was used to create the audio message above.
7. Flowplayer – Software for playing flash videos on your website
8. Audacity – Audio editing software
9. Windows Movie Maker – Simple video editing that comes with Windows XP
10. Total Recorder – Records streaming audio, microphone input, line-in input, as well as CDs and DVDs. Extremely useful! (highcriteria.com)
11. Yasa Video Converter – Converts videos to any format. Useful if converting unprotected DVDs (VOB) to editable video.
12. DBPowerAMP Music Converter – useful for converting from one audio format to another (e.g., from WAV to MP3) — $14 from DBpoweramp.com
13. Dazzle analog to digital video converter – allows easy transfer of VHS to computer for editing or DVD creation
14. Xilisoft DVD ripper – converts copyright protected DVDs to MPEG files – xilisoft.com ($35)
15. Radio Shack Phone Recorder Controller (Model: 17-855) allows you to record phone conversations on your computer or on any recording device. $27
BUSINESS GROWTH
16. PRLeads.com – inexpensive PR opportunities from journalists who want to interview experts
17. PRWeb – cheap and free press release posting which landed hundreds of newspapers hits
18. The National Publicity Summit – Landed the Oprah article here (nationalpublicitysummit.com)
19. Google AdWords and Yahoo Search Marketing – pay per click web advertising
DESKTOP PRODUCTIVITY
20. SharpReader – Free RSS software for aggregating feeds from blogs and news (sharpreader.net)
21. Skype – speak to friends around the world for free
22. Download Accelerator Plus – useful for quickly downloading lots of files from websites – free from speedbit.com
23. LookOut email search engine for Outlook (free from http://tinyurl.com/46shl).
24. Google Desktop – Free desktop searching engine
25. Trillian – Instant Messenger integrator that is free
26. pdf995.com for free software to convert any document into a pdf file
27. Datadepositbox.com – remote back-up of data. Recently saved me when my hard drive crashed
28. instantpublisher.com for easy book publishing directly from Word documents
MOBILE
29. BlackBerry Pearl (8100) from T-Mobile (just got it and LOVE it)
USEFUL WEBSITES
30. istockphoto.com for inexpensive images
31. speakeasy.net/speedtest for testing your download speeds
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Goal-Free Athletes
Sunday evening I had more fun than I have had in a long time. Let me explain.
A while back I stumbled across a wonderful company that does gift bags for VIP events like the Oscars. Goal-Free Living has been included in several gift bags over the past year. The most recent gift bag was for Billie Jean King’s Women’s Sports Foundation. One hundred female athletes and other VIPs were invited to a black tie event held last night (Monday) at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. On Sunday evening, an informal “swag room” was put together – a room where the dozen gift bag contributors could show there goodies and meet the athletes. The other tables had handmade jewelry, cool t-shirts, and high-end cosmetics. And they were giving away their goodies. I was there with my books. At first, I was concerned that no one would visit my table.
Here was my set-up.
As you can see, in the back, I had a pink teddy bear wearing a pink “Goals Suck” T-shirt. This was my sister’s idea. A pink teddy bear? Ok, I’m man enough to do that. But I wasn’t sure how the athletes would respond to such a T-shirt; I assumed that most had goals to get to the Olympics, to win the LPGA tournament, or to be victorious at Wimbledon. I even joked with my dad that the hockey team would surely dislike the Goals Suck mantra.
At 8PM, the athletes started to flow in. The first ones to visit me? The US Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. And the first one to sign the bear? The goalie! She was thrilled when I gave her a Goals Suck T-Shirt. Here are some hockey players signing the teddy bear.
As the night progressed, I met so many amazing people like:
- “Grandma Luge,” Anne Abernathy, who is in the Guinness World Book of Records as the oldest woman ever to compete in the Winter Olympics Games (she’s over 50) and is the first woman to participate in 6 Winter Games.
- Jean Discroll, the only person to win the Boston Marathon 8 times…in a wheelchair…and she still holds the course record.
- Mary Ellen Clark, who won two Olympic bronze medals diving.
And SO many more from every imaginable sport. I was inspired. I was in awe. And in the end, I had a teddy bear with 50 signatures from some of the most amazing people I ever met.
I was truly goal-free when I went. I had no idea what to expect. In fact, I was a bit hesitant. How could a book on not having goals compete with free jewelry and cosmetics? In the end, I found that people were intrigued by the goal-free concept. And that MANY of these top athletes said that there success came in unexpected ways. For me, it was an incredible night where I met many incredible people.
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Goal-Free Golfing
I recently went golfing with my dad. I’m not the greatest of golfers, but I always have a wonderful time with him. He ALWAYS wins (easily), even when he handicaps me one stroke a hole.
Golfing is a great metaphor for Goal-Free Living. Although you want to align your feet and body with the destination (the pin), once set, you must focus on the present (the ball). If you lift your head while swinging to look at where the ball is going, you are certain to miss the mark.
Golf is a great test of one’s ability to stay present. As a rookie I tend to over think my swing. I have this annoying monologue going on in my head every time I approach the ball. It goes something like this: “Are my legs planted properly? My knees are a bit achy from walking all day. I wish we took a cart instead of walking. Are my arms extended just right? I think my left arm is not straight enough. Tighten it up. Ok, now relax the right arm. No, that’s too relaxed. Come on Steve, pay attention. Look at the pin. Yup. I’ve got a long way to go. Oh shoot, there is a huge water hazard on the left. Please don’t go in the water. Ok, now look at the ball. Is the club head straight? I think so. A minor adjustment can’t hurt. Please keep your eye on the ball. You always lift your head. Ok, I think I’m ready. Please don’t go in the water!” Of course, the ball always goes in the water.
These conversations flow through my head every swing. That’s nearly 100 long, annoying conversations over the course of 18 holes.
The last time I was golfing with my dad, I decided to avoid trying so hard. I silenced the conversation. When I got to the tee, I would simply align my body (my compass), and then I would then close my eyes and totally relax for about 5 seconds. I did not worry about my swing. I just took a deep breath. Then, I would then open my eyes and swing, without thinking about what I was doing. That day, without a doubt, was my best round of golf. My swing was effortless. My balls went straight. And my distance was incredible. Tiger Woods would be jealous. And if you are wondering, no, I still did not beat my dad. Lost by one stroke.
I decided to try the same approach at a recent competition. I was speaking at a convention with about 1,000 people. On the convention floor was a very complicated miniature golf hole. Everyone was given a chance to putt. If you got a hole in one, you were entered into a raffle to win a trip. By the time it was my turn, several hundred people had already tried…and failed. I decided to use some goal-free golf. Instead of trying and thinking, I just relaxed and swung. You guessed it. I got a hole in one. The first one of the day. By the end of the event, only 3 people got a hole in one. And if you are wondering, no, I did not win the trip.
When you try too hard, you create stress. Imagine the last time you were driving down the highway in the middle of winter. The road seems clear. You are relaxed. Then, without warning, you hit a patch of ice. You immediately tense up to try and control the car. You grab the steering wheel with both hands, white knuckled. Unfortunately, in doing this, you inadvertently become a worse driver. Your muscles tighten up. If your car crashes, this rigidity is more likely to cause your body harm as you are not resilient.
When you find yourself trying too hard at any endeavor, relax. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes if necessary (unless you are driving, of course). And stop over analyzing everything. Although it is not always easy, the more you can be present and in the flow, the better your performance, whether it is at work, on the golf course, or in times of crisis.
You can find related articles on sports, school exams, falling down, and dating.
Do you have a story of a situation when you were more “successful” with less effort? A time when you were truly present without overthinking? If so, please share your story as a comment.
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