Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

What is Your Story?

As many of you approach the new year you might be inclined to take on a tradition suspect in its  success… “New Year’s Resolutions.”

I am a huge fan of the “MashUp” and thought we could team up a tradition with a technique.

The art of storytelling is a technique of master public speakers.  Just as pictures are worth a thousand words a story or a tale is worth a thousand graphs and bullet points.  A story allows us to relate to a message and data.

So I propose a new tradition .  A New Year’s Story.

I challenge you to take your resolutions, your dreams, your goals and write a story about how you want your life to look in 2010 and beyond.

Get vivid! Include people, places, plot lines and drama.  You might include some dialogue about telling your boss off and/or a Disney like musical scene with singing birds and public displays of song and dance.  It is your story you can make it what you want.

I challenge you to take some “creative liberties” just like those “based on a true story” movies you get inspired by every year.  This is your life and have a little fun with it.

Of course, no story is complete if kept to yourself.  Be sure to share it with a trusted confidant.  Feel free to share in the comments area scenes and chapters from your story for 2010 as you feel comfortable.

Once Upon A Time………………………..!

Whenever I find myself with writers block or “judgmental blog post syndrome” I remind myself to just write about something simple and true.

What can be more true than just sharing an experience, opinion or observation?

I will save you an exhaustive list but here is what comes to mind tonight.

• Raising a baby does get easier (don’t tell me about how it gets worse, I need hope right now).
• Men and Women and more specifically me and my wife don’t even come close to thinking or feeling or experiencing the world in the same fashion (how did I miss this for 38 years).
• What doesn’t kill me can make me stronger (see the last two bullets).
• I am so vain, I probably think this blog is about me. (Everyday I work to consider others first and everyday I forget and everyday I get back on that horse)
• I can complete a project asynchronously or in small chunks.
• Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto (asking for help and relying on others is new for me)
• It is OK to take a year or more to achieve a goal (I am on Toastmasters speech 7 of 10 after 18 months) and I am better for it.
• I would rather do it sloppy than do nothing. (Not something most people would admit)
• Learn to say NO 10 times as much as I say YES.  (It leaves room for the big fish opportunities)
• If it does not feel good it probably is not good
• Arrogance is a sly fellow and he finds his way into my life more than I prefer
• Been there done that is a nice place to be.
• Celebrate my friends they are precious.
• Listen for God’s calling and answer it when he calls. (Makes life simple)
• Encouragement may just be the missing link to success in all relationships.  (You are doing great if you are still reading).
• I am jealous of Lady Gaga – what a cool name.  Gaga in the Rough?

I hope you have learned something for yourself in 2009.

If you care to share, post it in the comments section.