BetterPhotoJim

Final Blog of the "76 Days" Experiment and of the Decade - Day 76

This is the final blog post of the 76 Days experiment and, indeed, my last blog entry of the decade. As I write this post, the ball is dropping in New York's Times Square and the world is celebrating the release of the old while ushering in new hope. Photography enthusiasts are securing their cameras on stable tripods and getting ready to open their shutters and create long exposure images of fireworks streaming across the sky. Others are breaking out the party hats and/or bottles of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider. I am keeping warm under my electric blanket, thankful that the kids are all sleeping (finally). A quite New Year's Eve for us, we don't even have the TV on... After I finish writing, I'm hoping to watch a Netflix'ed Blu-Ray of "Braveheart".

In all the energy of this holiday, I encourage you to keep it real. If you get tempted to make New Year’s resolutions, remember the power of taking small steps. Rather than telling yourself you’re going to diet and start an extreme workout program and get totally fit, considering eating 100 less calories each day. Start there and see where it goes.

Also remember the value of starting off each day with a Power Hour – doing what is most important first thing in the morning. My own Power Hour consists of first praying and thanking God, then walking while reading or rocking out to my favorite tunes, then doing yoga and strength work with Wii Fit Plus, and finally writing ten things I appreciate in my Gratitude Journal. Your Hour of Power will inevitably be unique. List a few of your “big rocks” and make it happen each morning. That 1-2 hour session will completely revolutionize and maximize each day. It's an investment of time that multiplies what you get out of the rest of your day.

As I mentioned recently, this “76 Days” experiment has been a great success for me. I’ve found my voice. I am now clear on my main focus for 2010 and the next decade. I’ve burst free from the self-imposed shackles of fear and am now feeling a degree of confidence I’ve never known before.

I fully understand that I will come up against challenges and make mistakes and continue to grow. But the change I’ve experienced is remarkable.

A Few More Things I’ve Learned

• I’ve learned how to focus and stay on target, avoiding distraction and multi-tasking.
• I have been reminded that I am a strong man, able to kill fear and make decisions with confidence.
• My theory was correct: self-love is a good thing… when I take care of myself, I am less needy, less fearful.

And this entire "76 Days" experiment, I now know, has been simply a starting point.

This is just the beginning. I have gone through kindergarten. Now I enter the first grade. I have gone through orientation. Now I begin my freshman year.

Will I continue blogging? Yes... I will share my thoughts as I continue writing my forthcoming book and developing presentations for upcoming speaking engagements.

Together, we can get our "master's degree" in self-confidence with a minor in fear-slaying.

Thanks for joining me during this initial orientation.

Happy New Year and best wishes for an awesome 2010!

What is Most Relevant to You... What Most Concerns You? Day 73

As I near the completion of this 76 Day experiment and prepare to launch into the new decade, I find myself thinking back and standing with deep gratitude for the things I've learned and the realizations I've traveled through. To anyone seeking direction, I highly recommend doing a similar experiment of self-exploration.

I also wonder about your own journey and invite you to share your feedback.

So let me ask you:

What is most relevant to you? What has stood out to you? What are you most hungry (indeed, most starving) for?

Please take 2 minutes to do this 1-question survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/33L78W3

Thanks!

Forgive Your Neighbor as You Forgive Yourself - Day 70

Anxiety levels ran high this morning at the Miotke house. Celebrating Christmas, the kids were a bundle of expectations waiting to explore, and the roller coaster of emotions with each of our three kids challenged my ability to remain calm... to the very edge.

The holidays can be wonderful. They can be stressful. They can be joyful or depressing. Like every other day of the year, we are presented with the opportunity to make them good or bad. The only difference is that the emotional depths we can reach during the holidays can far surpass those we experience on other days.

So if you had a great day today, give yourself a pat on the back. "Atta-boy" or "atta-girl"... you did good, kid!

If you "lost it" at any point today, or otherwise disappointed yourself, this is the time to give yourself the best possible holiday gift: forgiveness.

We all tend to be our own worst critics. It's time to let that go.

With each of our past mistakes - especially with those that are most emotionally charged - we play a movie in our heads, looping over the event again and again... continually punishing ourselves.

It's time to turn that movie into a comedy. Make light of it and smile. See how the movie called "My Past Mistakes", when viewed by another, might cause a chuckle, a giggle, or a smile. Play the movie in fast motion if you need to. Apply techniques that the best comedy writers use. Toss a pie into someone's face in your movie (ideally into your own face). Let yourself laugh.

As you shift your interpretation of the event(s), you'll find it much easier to forgive yourself.

The Bible says "Love thy neighbor as thyself." That presupposes self-love. Yes, it's okay (and in fact absolutely necessary) for you to give yourself the same kind of respect, appreciation, love, honor, and forgiveness you'd give to a close friend.

I read that many people feel depressed during the holidays. Don't take that last sentence as rationalization and authorization to feel depressed. I intend for the exact opposite.

Let's send a wave of love and joy around the world. We can do this. Simply focus for the next few minutes on forgiving yourself and others.

Repeat this several times a day... whenever it occurs to you. Write a note to yourself so you're reminded often of how awesome you are and how many reasons you have to feel an overflowing sense of appreciation, love, and gratitude.

You Can Experience Your Next Transformation and Ultimate Success - Day 69

I set out on this 76 Days to Selfless Success with the intention of self-transformation - finding my purpose, my next step, and the path to my next level of success. I wanted to burst out of my bubble and get the upper hand on fears and self-doubts that were causing me to constrict. Instead of shying away when life challenged me, I wanted to expand and shine bright.

I did not know if the experiment would be successful or where the journey would lead.

With 8 days left, I am delighted to tell you that...

I did it!

In truth, I've been on this journey for many years. I had accelerated progress since I attended EngageToday in Calgary in late September. And especially with the recent, breakthrough help of a great counselor and friend, Sean Stephenson, I am the new man I was aiming to discover.

In The Way of the Superior Man, David Deida writes:

"...you will experience layer after layer or purposes, each one getting closer and closer to the fullness of your deepest purpose. If is as if your deepest purpose is at the center of your being, and it is surrounded by layers of concentric circles, each circle being a lesser purpose. Your life consists of penetrating each circle, fro the outside toward the center."

What I have experience in the past few months, culminating in particular this past weekend, is one of my 7 greatest transformations I've experienced in my life. The first one that I remember was when I was 15 or 16 and I realized that I was in control of how I looked and what I thought and felt. This big realization was one of the first big layers or circles I have been blessed to break through.

I just got through another circle and am thrilled.

How about you? Are you committed to breaking through to the next circle? I'm here to help.

The first thing you can do is take a small step: simply ask yourself every morning:

"If I knew I could not fail, what would I do or be?"

or

"If I only had one shot... if this was IT... my one opportunity to make it... where success was the only option and waiting was not... what would I do or be?"

These are questions that usually cannot be answered with one asking. So ask it with a playful heart every morning until you start to see the answers.

Ask it again and again... within days or weeks, your mind will not be able to resist and will provide answers.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. For the next week, I will share my findings and, together, we can prepare to launch into the new decade with joy, infinite love, peace, gratitude, freedom, and power.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day, Hanukkah, New Years and holiday season!

Video on How One Small Step Can Change Your Life - Day 64

What is the smallest thing you can do that will bring you closer to your dream job? In this video, I share a book I read on the flight to Chicago yesterday, called One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer. Highly recommend the book, and, if you sometimes dread your day job and dream of doing more meaningful work, I invite you to watch this short video.

(One warning: I still haven't figured out a good way to stabilize my iPhone, so it's giggly... if you feel a little seasick, look in a different direction and just listen to what I have to say... you may find that this one little idea gets you into more meaningful work in an astonishingly short amount of time.)

Details about the Creative Confidence Weekend Workshop Process - Day 63

I'm in Chicago meeting with a wonderful man, Sean Stephenson. Sean is amazing... a great speaker, a great writer, a perceptive and insightful psychologist, and an all-around nice guy. If you are interested in success and reaching your fullest potential, I recommend his superb book, "Get Off Your BUT". Get it at Amazon or any bookstore.

As I was traveling here, it occurred to me that some of you might be wanting more details about my weekend workshops. Are you considering attending one of my upcoming "Creative Confidence" weekend workshops, but wanting to learn a little more? Are you thinking about taking me up on my December special where you can save $500.

If so, here you go:

At these 2-day weekend workshops, we will dive deep and get clear about fears, goals, purpose and passion. You'll learn how clarity in these issues bolsters self-confidence and, in the process, you'll learn what it takes to create beautiful art, win in the world of photography, and have more fun in the process. In short, you'll learn the mindset of the successful creative photographer.

First thing Saturday morning, you will first do some guided, systematic, and step-by-step soul-searching (and finding) exercises. I’ll walk you through the assignments and exercises that have helped me the most over the years.

After you gain clarity in regard to your purpose, you’ll be able to identify your true values and vision, as well as your beliefs. Some beliefs, you’ll find, hold you back and others propel you closer to the achievement of your deepest dreams.

After you have insight into our purpose, values, and vision, I will help you focus your goals and determine what is your highest, most authentic path.

On Day Two, you will learn how to build winning habits – one small step at at a time. You’ll see the magic of the “Power Hour” as well as relaxation and gratitude. You’ll learn how to save time and increase the likelihood of success through visualization and affirmation.

Do you want to feel less busy and stressed? I’ll share with you the power of eliminating clutter and working in small doses of uninterrupted time.

At the end of our weekend, after you set yourself up for long-lasting success by identifying your support systems, you’ll learn how to create your “Soul Purpose Portfolio” a portable, visual reminder system to help you stay focused during the days, weeks, and months following your transformational weekend.

That is how the weekend will work, step-by-step. You can expect to receive, through this process, a renewed energy, a sense of relief, a confident attitude, a clear picture of yourself and the next steps toward your most important goals.

The first weekend will be held in Monterey, California on February 27-28th. I'll also be going to Phoenix and Orlando, if those locations work out better for you.

People are already signing up and space is limited. If you're on the fence, I recommend that you take me up on the December Special and sign up today.

My guarantee: if you’re not satisfied, I’ll refund you your entire tuition AND let you keep the study materials.

Learn more at:

Creative Confidence - 2-Day Weekend Workshops

Okay I'm going to get some sleep so I can make the most out of my own weekend workshop here with Sean Stephenson. Talk to you tomorrow!

Storytelling: A Little Bit About Myself - Day 62

I have been working today on writing my memories from an early age all the way through to my professional years. I highly recommend this - it's a great way to get closer to all the elements of your story and see how they relate to your current self and your continual improvement. Here's a bit from what I wrote today. I'm just sharing - hope you enjoy:

***

When I was 22 years old, I met my soon-to-be wife in an English class at our local community college. It was love at first sight for me. On a break from class, the first question I asked her was “Do you have a boyfriend?”

When she answered in the affirmative, I asked, “Are you going to marry him?”

Later she told me that, besides being surprised at my direct, forward nature, she was horrified to realize that she had no intention of marrying her boyfriend and actually thought very poorly of him. Within two weeks, I held her hand while she broke up with him. 2 weeks after that we were engaged.

We went to U.C. Berkeley together, studying English Lit. I wanted to be the next Great American Novelist but couldn’t write a single page (due to fear and being under prepared). After college, we traveled through England, Scotland, and France – combining bike travel with the train system. Denise has hardly ever looked at a bike since, let alone went riding.

While in Europe, I had a vision – seeing us living in Monterey, CA. Soon after getting back home, we found an apartment in that beautiful area. I got a job at a local camera shop, and got seriously interested again in photography.

After waiting tables and doing photography, we moved up to North Bend, east of Seattle. I worked photographing babies and young children in homes, and Denise did real estate.

In 1996, I learned of the Web and posted my Top Ten Photography Tips. That was the beginning of BetterPhoto.com, which now offers 80+ classes taught by 30+ instructors, and entertains 5 million unique visitors each year.

And as they say, the rest is history...

The Power of Focus and the Inefficiency of Multitasking - Day 61

As I prepare for my upcoming teleseminar on "Destroying Fear by Getting Clear", I find myself doing all sorts of other things - when I should be focusing. I've recently learned the power of focus, of working without interruption or multi-tasking.

This reminded me of an exercise that Alex Mandossian taught me at Engage Today in Calgary. (BTW, if you go to the Engage Today site, and see a "Highlights" video, I'm the guy in the white shirt on the far right of the thumbnail for the video.  :)

Anyway, Alex Mandossian gave a teleseminar to the event attendees (he was in England at the time) and shared excellent tips on how to be super productive. I want to pass along his exercise to you, so you can see for yourself how efficient or inefficient it is to multi-task.

Get out a piece of paper, a stopwatch, and get ready to write the phrase "Multitasking is a lie" and the corresponding number under each letter. 

First, you'll time yourself writing down each individual letter and then a number below each letter. For example, you'll start your stopwatch (or note the exact time) and then write:

M

1

Then

U

2

Then

L

3

In the end, our paper should look something like the below:

M U L T I T A S K I N G  I S  W O R S E  T H A N  A  L I E

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

When you're done, stop your timer and note how long it look you, when switching back and forth.

NEXT, time yourself writing out the phrase AND THEN the sequence of numbers (without switching from letter to number and back again). So in this case, you'd start your stopwatch, write:

MULTITASKING IS WORSE THAN A LIE

and then the sequence of numbers below it.

Note how long it takes you to do this and compare to the first race.

If you're like me, you'll find that you were much faster when you did not multitask - when you focused on completing one task at a time, without switching gears.

Do you see how switching your focus (multitasking) can be so much less efficient than focused, uninterrupted action?

Let me know how your times work out for you. I had about 3 minutes the first way and 1 minute the second way.

Now, it's time for me to focus on preparing for my teleseminar. Should I go check my email first? hmmmmm.....

Don't Let the Fear of Success Stop You From Shining Bright - Day 60

In my recent "Destroying Fear by Getting Clear" teleseminars, I have been exploring the fear of perfect, brilliant success.

Yes, that’s right… fear of success. While conscious or subconscious worries about rejection and failure may be easy to see, fear of success may seem counter-intuitive. However, when you look closely, you’ll see that there really is something to this type of fear.

We may worry about things spinning out of control, or those close to us no longer loving us. A little voice within might say “If I really do make it big, perhaps my friends and family will no longer accept the new me.”

Just as much as the fear of failure, this fear can hold us back from reaching our goals and making our best contributions to the world.

They both need to be stomped into oblivion at every opportunity.

The following is a quote by Marianne Williamson that I read in my phone seminar:

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking,
so that other people around you won’t feel insecure.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It’s not in some of us.
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

                                                                         - Marianne Williamson

Do you want to play big and let your light shine?

Then take steps today to amplify your courage and confidence enough to overshadow any false fears of failure or success.

You may experience rejections or mistakes, but there is no failure. Take each as learning lessons and you’ll always win.

You may witness negativity, jealousy, envy, etc. in others but you need not internalize it. Remember that what other people think about you – now or in the future – has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. It is a reflection of their world, not yours.

When you zap the supposed power in these two kinds of fear, you'll find your life becoming more and more filled with present-moment enjoyment, fulfillment, and awesome success.

You're reading this blog... you're already well on your way. I commend you.

Keep going in this direction. I wish you the best of success and a holiday season filled with fear-slaying and the resulting joy.

One Simple Way to Feel Happy Right Now - Day 59

I have been hearing a lot about stress and anxiety from a lot of friends and family lately.

These challenges attack us all – both during the holidays and at other times of the year.

I estimate that I feel down or overwhelmed at least 3 times a week. My wife might give a larger number. But when I do notice that I’m down, I start walking.

If the negative feelings keep me from doing this activity, I’m grateful to say that my wife often encourages me until I’m on the treadmill or doing my Wii Fit or out moving around in some other way.

As my iTunes goes from Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” to Queen and David Bowie performing “Under Pressure” (one of the best songs EVER!), I am reminded that MUSIC also plays a key role for me.

So if you are currently feeling down or become overwhelmed during the next few weeks, I encourage you to:

1. play your favorite energetic "feel good" music, 
2. crank it up, and
3. stand up and dance, or go for a walk…

Just move your body.

You may feel resistance from that negative energy that wants you so stay down… but DON’T listen to it. Just start moving and keep moving for at least 5-10 minutes. You’ll likely feel better even then. But keep going for 20-40 minutes to feel REALLY awesome.It’s hard for me to write this because now Rush has come on with “Spirit of Radio” and I can hardly keep myself in my seat, typing on this laptop. I got to get up and dance. Okay I’m standing up now :)

You’ll likely find that this strategy is one of the best ways to reach your goals. Once you start moving and dancing to the music, your mind will leave the past and go toward the exciting possibilities.

You’ll be in the best place you can be – looking forward to the New Year with a sense of anticipation. You’ll be in a much better place to plan and prepare.

Why not get going on your New Year’s resolutions today… you’ll be a million times more productive – naturally getting more out of every minute of the holidays.

This is the way to be the best in the world in whatever your passion leads you to do.

And a nice side effect is that, when you keep up this strategy for a month or two, you’ll be in the best shape of your life too!

Do you want to be the best father or mother, the best spouse, the best grandparent, the best friend? It's easy if you simply focus on one thing: keep yourself in good spirits. That’s one of the very best things you can do for everyone you rub elbows with.

And if you do get down, don't allow guilt in. Don't beat yourself up. That's only re-enforcing the problem. Instead, start by... you know what I'm going to say... moving your body!

So this holiday season, give yourself and others the best gift you can offer.

Give yourself freedom, joy, energy, hope, and positive expectation… all simply by getting into the habit of moving around. In the process, you’ll be generously giving those around you the best of gifts – a happy mood and an example of inspiration.

And you'll get a major head-start on your New Year's resolutions!

Okay, Sting is starting to tell the story of how he sent out a message in a bottle... on that note, I'm going to get up and dance.