Where is Walt

The Power of Clarity

2010-08-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

The Power of Clarity

True story. When I was about 8 years old, I taught myself how to draw. I started out by tracing the photographs in catalogs and fashion magazines and eventually learned to draw on my own. I got so good at it that, as a 10 year-old child, I was earning money as a freelance artist for a local community center. Everyone who knew me at the time, said I had a bright future as a graphic artist.

As I grew into reading comic books, I was inspired to develop and draw my own characters. After seeing my work, a doctor, family-friend, and self-published author at our church, offered to help me publish my comic books. That never materialized, but I continued to draw and write, and soon, I had a whole universe of super heroes with different powers, and story lines.
One of my favorites was a team of young adventurers that featured a young couple--a Jamaican man and a Latin woman--who were romantically involved. Every day, I would spend hours and hours fantasizing about their exploits and drawing story after story as I indulged my artistic passion. Drawing was a source of great satisfaction, sublimation and also escape for my youthful thoughts and energy.
As I evolved through high school, however, I started drawing less and less, and by the time I graduated, those days of creative fantasizing and escape were almost nil, and my collection of art work ended up in boxes in closets and basements, and faded into the forgotten.

Jump ahead a few years, and I'm now at Columbia University, where, during my junior year, I meet a young lady. We start dating. She's everything I want: good heart, adventurous, intelligent, good conversation, independent, and, oh yes, pretty feet. I propose to her on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and we move in together.

Now, even though we never did marry (things fell apart shortly afterwards, as I was still evolving), all told, we were together for seven years. It was the longest, and most impactful relationship I've had. Her name was Reina--Spanish for "queen."

Jump ahead a few more years, and after redefining myself, quitting my engineering job, writing a few books, escaping from New York, becoming a nomad adventurer, I found myself going through some old boxes and came across the old artwork and comics I had created as a child in elementary school. Reminiscing, I start reading the old stories to see if and how my pre-teen mind has evolved. What I discovered gave me a shock!

I rediscovered that the name of the lead female character, the Spanish girl I had conjured up for my lead male character, the girl who was his partner in adventure--her name--which I had completely forgotten in the intervening years--had been “Rina!” In other words, the name I had created for the significant female character in my fantasies, years before in elementary school, turned out to be almost exactly the same name of the one woman I almost married many years later! Coincidence? I think not.

Treasure-Mapping
Motivational speakers, self-help gurus and personal development coaches all speak about the power of treasure-mapping as a way of creating your desired reality. Treasure-mapping is the act of pasting or posting images of your desired reality in a place where you can view and visualize it on a daily basis. Your treasure map--an actual physical collage of images-- might include pictures of your dream car, dream house, perfect mate, boat, money, any visual representation of things, or experiences you'd like to create in your life. Treasure-mapping is based on the principle that anything you dwell upon continuously, visualize, and live in will eventually manifest in your reality. It works.

Get clear on what you want.
When I suggest the treasure-mapping concept to coaching clients and workshop attendees, I often get a little resistance. While they recognize the validity of the concept, they are often a little hesitant about it. In order to successfully use treasure-mapping, and what I call treasure-writing, you have to be clear about what you want. All creation starts with clarity of outcome.
Some people are reluctant to get really clear because they feel they are limiting their possibilities by asking for a specific outcome. Don't worry about that. If you're like most people, I'd be willing to bet that specificity is not the challenge here. If there is an area of your life that is lacking, the reason you are not getting what you want is because you are not being specific enough!

You see, many people are entirely too vague in their desires. They want "a lot" of money, or a "nice" partner, or a "good" job, but don't get specific enough to really be happy. Imagine walking up to an airline ticket counter and asking for a ticket.
"Where do you want to go, sir?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter. Somewhere nice. You decide."
At the same time, many people go the opposite direction and focus more on what they don't want rather than what they do want.

Imagine what a frustrating and fruitless time you'd have if someone gave you a supermarket shopping list of, say, fifty things they didn't want. That only leaves 10,000 other items to choose from, and absolutely no idea of what to actually bring home.
Getting clear on what you want is the first step in getting anything that even closely resembles what you believe would make you happy. Getting clear on what you want tunes your mind and thoughts and actions and expectations to the right frequency to attract that which is in harmony with you. Getting clear on what you want saves you the time and trouble of sorting through the “also-rans” and “runners-up.” Getting clear on what you want helps you to maintain your standards so you don’t settle for what you don’t want. There’s an abundance of what you seek just waiting for you. There’s no need to settle, provided you can convince yourself you deserve what you seek.

Your assignments for today.
1. Create a written treasure map for your any aspect of your life.
To “treasure-write” your passion-centered business and lifestyle, for example, answer the following questions in the form of a descriptive paragraph. What sort of product or service are you offering? Where exactly is your business located? Where are you living? Describe in detail what you do from the moment you rise to the moment you go to sleep. How much money are you making monthly? How many employees--if any--do you have? What sort of feedback are you getting from the world? What are people saying about you and your business?
Your written treasure map might go like this: "In my ideal scene, I am in business for myself selling my crafts via the internet. I work from my home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is a canary-yellow, two-story townhouse with....yadda, yadda, yadda….” Be as specific and detailed as possible.

To treasure-write your ideal partner(s), as another example, consider the following: What does he look like? How tall/short is she? Describe her personality. What things do you like about him? How do you feel when she's around? What age, nationality, religion, etc. are important to you? What activities do the two (or three) of you like to do together?

2. Create a visual treasure-map.
Find, cut, copy and paste together a collage of scenes of people, places and things that represent the accomplishments and experiences of your ideal life. Post it on your wall above your office desk or anywhere in your home where you’ll see it regularly. Create one for your computer screensaver/wallpaper using scanned images or photos from the internet.

Conclusion
The ability to pursue your passion, live true to yourself, create the life of your dreams and set an example for others to follow hinges on the ability to be clear on what you want, to hold that vision in your mind and in your mind's eye, to live constantly in the feeling of the dream and to take steps every day towards the desired reality.

Yes, creating your ideal life is doable. Thoughts can become things. Words can create worlds. Dreams can come true. Fantasies can become real. Drawings can come to life. Trust me, it’s so easy, even a child could do it!

Double Rainbows on Saipan! Here's what it means

2010-07-17T22:12:00.001-07:00

So, my friend Angelo sent me a link to the youtube film of a fellow getting pretty, um, inspired by a double rainbow. The video on Youtube has received over 5 million views! Five Million!!

Now, for anyone blogging or doing business on the internet, "hits" or "page views" or "visits" is what it's all about! So, what that means is--I couldn't help wondering this, as I do business on the internet--that if I had acted like I was in physical ecstasy when I photographed this double rainbow on Saipan (included in the book, Jamaican on Saipan), I could have gotten millions of hits for my book!

Here are my own actual, real-life double rainbow shots, shot about a year and a half ago on the island of Saipan, before I knew just how famous it COULD have made me....soundtrack not included.

What's the Purpose of News?

2010-07-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

What’s The Purpose of News?

What do the World Cup, the Lebron James decision, the BP oil spill, and Roman Polansky have in common? If you said, current news items during the first week of July, 2010, you'd be correct.

Next question: how does knowing about these "news" items help you live a better life? Stumped? Do you see where I'm going with this?

Now, I'm not saying that these pieces of information are useless. These are all good things to know for some people, maybe even many people. If you are involved in the Polansky case, for instance; if you

make a living in the Gulf region, bet money on the World Cup, or, if you're Lebron's accountant, these are all developments you should know about. I suggest, however, that for the vast majority of people, the importance of what currently qualifies as "newsworthy" information in our lives is questionable at best. So, why do people invest so much importance on listening to, reading or watching "news?" Are they getting something out of it that defies observation and explanation? To answer that question for yourself, I’ll share with you my own personal beliefs that inform my decision to NOT follow the news. I know it's a radical idea from the fringe, but hear me out. (That's why you read this column, is it not? I mean if both of us--you and I--thought exactly the same way about everything, then one of us would be unnecessary!)

MY PHILOSOPHY

I have a philosophy. I've always believed (as mentioned before in this column) that the three most important questions to every human being are:

1. Who am I?

2. Why am I here?

3. How shall I survive?

Many of us spend at least an hour every single day tuning in to "the news." In addition, many of us spend as many as 16 years (some even more) of our lives obtaining an education. And billions of us hand over control of our thoughts and behavior to religious traditions.

With all this time and energy, it seems fair to expect that news, education and religion—pursuits that take up so much of our time and attention--should help us answer life's important questions, and concerns, don't you think?

THE DANGER WITH DISTRACTION

I also believe that anything I spend my time doing should have some reason or purpose. Now, don't get me wrong. Entertainment, pleasure, hobbies, etc, are all valid reasons for doing a thing. Distraction is as valid as reason as any other. And there's nothing wrong--in my opinion---with watching, reading or listening to the news for distraction, for entertainment or if it gives you pleasure.

The danger with entertainment, however, is that every story—from comedy to drama, to horror—creates an effect, by design. So, what is that effect? When you go to see a movie in a darkened theater, even though the emotions can be just as powerful, there's a certain amount of detachment you can achieve once the lights come on. With "news," however, the images and ideas have an added impact of being real, and images and thoughts of war, violence, murder, rape, terrorism, etc., exist and continue during every waking moment.

AN AGENDA

Even if you tell me that you follow the news because you simply want to be "informed," I say that's a good thing. However, I believe most people delude themselves into believing how informed they really are becoming. They are actually being informed in a biased, selective and manipulative sense.

We all know that in a half-hour newscast, that there is a world of

"news" that's never reported. There are rallies for world peace that never make the news. There are battles against corporate exploitation that go unreported. There are positive stories of triumph that are missing from the headlines. So, the news that is reported is obviously someone's choice of what to call "news." I suggest to you that behind every decision a producer makes of what to include in a news telecast, or that an editor makes of what to include in a newspaper or website, exists an agenda.

I won't get into a discussion of what that agenda might be, I'll simply suggest to you something you already know: that your mental, emotional and even physical state after consuming a bit of "news" is affected by what you read, listen or see. After consuming a bit of "news" you might feel a. uplifted, b. neutral, or c. depressed (as well as angry, fearful, tired, sick, etc., and every emotion in between.)

So, my third belief is that everything I expose myself to—every

person, every idea, every image, every sound—has an effect on my being. So, I’ve already made the decision to limit my exposure to what others deem to be “news.”

THE NEWS TEST

By the time you’re exposed to some information that an editor or producer has decided is news, it’s already too late. However, here is a brief test to determine if what you’ve been accepting as “news” really qualifies (based on my belief no. 1)

1. Has this information helped me discover who I am, why am I here,

or how I shall survive?

If you answer no to this question, then this bit of information might qualify as simply neutral, distraction, or perhaps even entertainment.

2. Is the quality of my life appreciably affected by knowing this news?

Information can still not be news, but help the quality of your life, after all. However, if you answer no to this question, then the bit of information in question may not be neutral, it might qualify as entertainment.

3.How do I feel now that I know this information?

If you feel discouraged, fearful, bitter, angry, defeated, hopeless, resentful, then this information is more than merely useless, it is potentially destructive, because how can you improve your situation, your relationships, your world and your life—and for that matter, how can you turn your passion into profit—if you are constantly consuming ideas and images that make you feel discouraged, and hopeless?

WHAT'S THE POINT?

If you believe there is (or should be) more to life than simply work and distraction; if you believe that the things you spend your time doing should have a purpose or reason; if you believe that the ideas, sounds and images you allow into your mind have an effect on your mental, emotion, and physical states; Further, if you accept that everyone has an agenda which may not coincide with yours (BP’s agenda is different than yours); if you can't depend on people

or corporations with competing or contrary agendas to filter and

interpret "the news" for you, then….it follows that you should be vigilant about, and filter what you spend your time consuming under the guise of "news." But it’s everywhere. One has to make a conscious effort to avoid it. That’s why even those of us without cable, televisions and radios still know about Lebron James.

Furthermore, whether you call it "news," "education" or better "belief system," there is information you SHOULD be seeking out to fill the void that exists in the vital and necessary knowledge you

need in order to find out who you are, why you are here, and

how you shall survive. Don’t rely on news to help you do that!

The Mango That Saved Saipan!

2010-07-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Mango that Saved the Saipan!
The Fable of The Forbidden Island Juice Bar

I had a dream the other day that I started a juice bar. Yep, in this dream, I was a successful entrepreneur selling fresh mango, pineapple, orange, papaya and other exotic fruit juices as well as green vegetable juices on the island of Saipan, on the US commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

But, this was no ordinary juice bar. This was a magical juice bar!

Absolutely! You see, it all started back in June of 2010, when I bought

a juicing machine. A few weeks before, I had started more earnestly living on an almost 100% raw food diet (nothing cooked), and decided to add a few daily servings of natural juices to my diet.

Things started off well. There were just two challenges. First, I had done some research online and discovered that the best fruits and vegetables for juicing--peaches, apples, nectarines, celery and carrots—also contained the most pesticides. [Search "20 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides" at sixwise.com]. So, I contacted Darlene and Gemma at Joeten supermarket and requested that they stock organic produce—to which they agreed.

The second challenge was that I learned, as a general rule,

it's always best to eat produce that's grown in or as close to the environment in which you currently live. It makes sense (doesn't it?) that the best food for people and animals living in a warm, tropical climate, is food that is native to that same climate? (Hyenas on the Tanzanian Serengeti don’t import air-flown seals for their dining needs). So, I made every effort to juice oranges, tangerines, pineapples, and greens purchased from local farmers--avoiding pesticides as much as I could.

Then the idea hit me: Why not share the juicing on a larger scale with the community? Not only would it help the development of healthy eating habits, it just might create enough demand to keep the organic produce in the stores, and encourage local farmers to supply a wider variety of locally-grown, organic produce. And so, the seed idea for “The Forbidden Island Organic Juice Bar” was planted. Now, I would need a location.

LOCATION 1

To lower my overhead costs, I started out with a tent at the Thursday Street Market, and Sabalu Market. I even experimented with a mobile juice-mobile so I could set a reliable schedule and visit key locations. I wanted to reach the government employees on Capital Hill,

the tourists in Garapan, and the hotels, as well as students at the college. But, why would people pay a premium price for juices from fruits that are growing in their back yard? I would need a unique selling proposition (USP)—something to set me apart.

COMPETITIVE EDGE (the secret ingredients)

As I said, this was no ordinary juice bar. First, I used only verifiably organically-grown fruits and vegetables. Second, as a result of all the research I had done over the years into natural living, herbal remedies and nutritional healing, I added a proprietary suite of "secret ingredients" to my juices. A few drops of Echinacea extract

in my "Flu-buster" citrus juice; a few teaspoons of Potassium in my “Rejuvenator” green juice; Blackstrap molasses in my "Gray-away" smoothie, and 17 others. People could request juices to address various health challenges or beauty goals. Because of the generally nutritionally-devoid content of the Standard American Diet (SAD), many people said they could feel a remarkable difference after just one serving! They kept coming back. I was on to something! This initial group of converts was great, but, I would need a reliable and steady stream of customers to make this thing viable.

MARKET

As word spread, my growing customer base began to included tourists who wanted a refreshing break from the Saipan heat. It included local residents who wanted to eat (and drink) a little healthier. It included athletes--trekkers, runners and bikers—who understood the need to replenish (in a natural way) the vitamins and minerals lost during sweating and physical exertion. It included new arrivals to the island who loved being able to add a healthy perk to island living. And, it also included a surprise group of unexpected, but very welcome clientele!

Encouraged by an article I wrote on the Gerson Therapy (gerson.org), a proven therapy for curing all types of cancer, local doctors started recommending that their patients consume generous amounts of green juice daily to help detoxify, rebalance, and alkalize the body as part of a wholistic diet to restore and improve the depleted, acidic, cancer-prone condition of the body of the average SAD diet consumer. As a result, I developed a contingent of repeat customers whose past dietary choices had resulted in degenerative conditions for which they now sought relief and repair.

THE MAGIC!

That's when the magic happened! To meet the growing demand within the community, local farmers started supplying me with more organic fruits and vegetables. Local residents, blessed with unique fruits growing on their property, started selling me pomegranates, sour sop, noni, and other fruits not readily available at the local market.

Rather than import produce from overseas--produce that could easily be grown here--Saipan farmers began growing more oranges, carrots, pineapples and other in-demand juice-friendly produce using organic farming methods. Export requests for “fruits from paradise” came from all over the region and the rest of the world!

We saw the beginnings of a sustainable business relationship and streams of reliable income for farmers and average citizens alike. A local, consumer and tourist-driven agricultural boom took place to meet the demand.

Organic fruits and vegetables were everywhere! Other juice bars sprang up to compete. What I call “the Saipan Healthy Living Renaissance” created a local pool of experts in sustainable, organic “paradise farming” techniques who marketed their knowledge around the world.

Yes, there was more happening than just the success of a single business venture, or the beginnings of a new (or, more accurately, return of an old) industry. There was the change in attitudes and beliefs within the society, as well as without and about the society.

It was a natural fit. Tourists were intrigued by the "natural living, back to nature, stay healthy" identity that Saipan was developing. Meanwhile, residents were pleased that their life in "paradise" came with the added perk of returning to a more natural, sustainable and healthy way of life that had always been part of the culture.

THE MARKETING PLAN

Boosted by positive word of mouth and mouse, as well as strategically-placed and publicized testimonials of health and wellness, Saipan, already valued by tourists as a naturally beautiful tropical escape from the literal, figurative and bodily congestion of fast-paced, high-stress urban living, developed a reputation as a place for rejuvenation! Tour agents in other countries promoted this new aspect of the island to appeal to the medical tourism, sustainable tourism, paradise tourism crowd. As more and more oil spills and pollution desecrated more of the earth’s air, water and land, there was growing interest in escaping to locations relatively untouched, and which offered a taste of pristine living.

GROWTH AND ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS

The Forbidden Island Juice Bar was at the center of this renaissance, and it grew exponentially. When the demand for our juices exceeded the capacity of a single booth and a mobile operation, we moved into a physical location. Then came another and another. We started offering juicing books, information pamphlets, demonstrations, classes by alternative healing practitioners, educational school visits and more. We followed up with fruit-juice inspired products: carrot cake made from the pulp of local organic carrots, and sweetened with local honey, as well as other incidental products. We even offered tours of the farms and groves so people could see where and how their fruits and vegetables were grown and harvested.

Rather than compete, savvy entrepreneurs decided it was better to go with our proven strategy, and the requests for franchises poured in. Independently operated Forbidden Island Juice Bars sprang up in neighboring islands and even on the mainland, with fruits supplied in part by farmers here on Saipan, Tinian and Rota!

FROM SWEATSHOPS TO SHANGRI-LA

Yes, it was a beautiful dream! This new Saipan identity shifted the connections of these islands in people’s minds from war zone to cure zone, and from sweatshops to Shangri-la! Saipan became synonymous with perfect health, unspoiled beauty, rejuvenation and natural living. It was great, I tell you! And it all started with the seed of an idea that germinated in a fertile environment, that blossomed naturally, grew organically, and ultimately bore economic fruit that changed Saipan, and then, yes, the world!

p.s. The part about requesting organic fruits from Joeten wasn’t a dream. Contact the store to find out when they arrive!

Epilogue:

Saipan activist, columnist and whistleblower, Ruth Tighe, was kind enough to mention me, and the Forbidden Island Juice bar in her weekly column.

More Jamaicans on Saipan!

2010-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

The pilot, the passionpreneur and the performer.
Ron McFarlane, Walt Goodridge and Wayne Wright, Jamaicans on Saipan

Maybe even enough to form a political party? You decide.

Prelude

As I sat in the lobby of the World Resort Hotel on the island of Saipan, the young lady I was waiting for walked in. She is a new arrival on the island and had been referred to me to get my advice and tips on finding an apartment. As she approached, I noticed a man walking a few steps behind her. Had they arrived together? Was this the “friend” she had mentioned she would bring to our meeting? He looks like someone I’ve seen before, I thought to myself. He did in, fact, look an awful lot like a guy I knew a long time ago, but….naw, it couldn’t be. That was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. As he approached the table, he broke into an all-too familiar smile….

Small World!

Eight-thousand miles, five former lives, and nineteen years ago, I was known as “Sir Walt,” the reggae deejay on WKCR-FM in New York. One of my regular guests, a fellow named Wayne Wright, was founder and lead singer of Abeng, a reggae group who would visit the station to promote their music. Shortly after I left the station, I started managing his group, and he and I and another partner formed Strata Records, a Reggae record label. (This was even before the music industry Tale from the Walt Vault episode in last week’s column)

Wayne was my first mentor in the music industry, and I learned a lot about managing artists, music production, touring logistics, and much more. I designed his album cover, and even got to participate in doing background vocals during the studio session for the lead track on his CD! (www.jamaicanonsaipan.com/abeng). Eventually, however, we went our separate ways, and I went on to start my own label, and Wayne and I lost touch with each other. That is, until Monday night, when he sauntered in to the lobby of the World Resort on Saipan brought to me by a woman I had never met.

Another?

Wayne and Shelli, Saipan’s newest resident, had met at Godfather’s Bar a few nights before. Once she discovered he was Jamaican, she mentioned that she had heard rumors there were THREE (yes, count ‘em), three other Jamaicans on the island--two pilots and one writer.

“He used to be an engineer,” Shelli told Wayne, about the writer.

“I know a few Jamaican engineers,” Wayne said.

“This one is now a writer,” Shelli replied.

“I know a Jamaican engineer who wanted to be writer,” he said. “What’s his name?”

“Walt,” she replied.

“Waitaminit! What’s his last name???”

Google was consulted for verification, and after the what-a-small-world-amazement phase, stories were shared, and they devised a plot to set up a meeting to surprise me!

And, boy, was I surprised! Once I got over my own shock, Wayne and I spent the evening reminiscing, catching up on the whereabouts and exploits of friends, band members, and business partners and played a reunion game of table tennis (fyi: never “ping pong” when speaking to a real Jamaican) which, um, I won. Sorry, Wayne!

In one of his own former lives, Wayne had been an electrical engineer for Bell Labs, and is now doing consulting for a regional telecom company, and had already been here for three weeks. But, his passion for music is still strong. I’m told he already picked up a guitar and did a little impromptu performance a few nights ago at a local club here on island.

Since his original CD was released years before the Internet took off, I’ve encouraged him to use some of the tools and strategies I’ve mentioned in this column (See “The Case for Createspace” Saipan Tribune, March 24, 2010) to reissue his “Unconquer-rebel” CD. You can give him an incentive by pre-ordering at JamaicanonSaipan.com/abeng.

And another!

And then, “it” happened. While hanging out in the hotel lobby, we were joined by the other Jamaican on Saipan, Ron McFarlane, a pilot for Freedom Air. Now, by “it” I mean, at that moment in time, in the lobby of a Saipan hotel, I dare say there were more Jamaicans convened in one spot than have ever gathered in all of Micronesia! I would even go further to suggest that, with four of us in a population of 60,000, that there are more Jamaicans per capita (per person) on Saipan than anywhere else in the world outside of Jamaica itself! Now, please don’t ask me to prove any of this. This is simply the nationalistic, self-glorifying, hyperbole for which Jamaicans are famous. In other words, “a jus’ so we stay!” [translation: that’s just how we are”] As a footnote, Cardiff Walker, Freedom Air’s other Jamaican pilot didn’t make the rally. (He apparently didn’t get the telepathic memo.)

Yes, it was an historic moment in the on-going saga of Jamaican domination of the world! (Same thing we do, every night, Pinky!) We Jamaicans may not be as evenly distributed across the planet as Filipinos and Chinese, but every corner and crevice on the planet has at least one Jamaican representing our island. So, to have FOUR in a place as remote and small as Saipan can only mean one thing: a bid for governor is next!!

The Point

Which brings me to the point of this article: If you’d like to encourage the rise in political power here in the CNMI of the world’s most ambitious, adaptable, skillful, creative, musically and otherwise endowed, sexiest national group of people, then do the following:

1. Thank the next Jamaican you meet for Bob Marley, Reggae, Rastafarianism, Colin Powell, Harry Belafonte, Notorious B.I.G., Grace Jones, Tyson Beckford, Usain Bolt, as well as the pineapple* or any other plant you see fit to be thankful for [*the pineapple was brought to Hawaii in the 1700s by Captain Bligh; search “captain bligh” on smithsonianmag.com]

2. If you meet Wayne Wright about the island before he leaves this weekend, say in a bar or club, put a guitar in his hands and force him to sing a song or two!

3. If YOU are Jamaican on Saipan and haven’t been counted in my unofficial census, feel free to check in with me, and finally,

4. Come election time, check your ballot for “Jamaican for Governor,” and let’s do the right thing! Yes, we can!

The Funny Things That Customers Do No. 3

2010-06-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

The Funny Things That Customers Do No. 3

Tales from the Walt Vault: The Gouger and The Glory:

Welcome back to Tales from the Walt Vault, stories of the funny-humorous and funny-strange things that customers and clients do. (#1, and #2 in the series appeared in Saipan Tribune April 14, and June 16, 2010)

The Goal

Once upon a time, several years ago, I ran an independent record label. We had produced singles for our Hip Hop artists, an in order to market them more effectively, I hired a video producer named "Dante" (not his real name) to create a video for one of our artists.

A contract was signed, money was paid, and the process begun.

Through numerous contacts, and relationships, we reserved a friend's photo studio, recruited dancers and pretty girls, and over the course of a hectic weekend, shot the scenes which were to be used in the video. It was an exciting time. We were all hopeful that this video would be professional enough to be played on BET (Black Entertainment Television), MTV (Music Television) and Video Music Box (a popular local New York show with tremendous influence in the Hip Hop market).

The Gouge

As I waited for Dante to call us to view the completed product, I slowly started to realize that something was amiss. I called, and got no reply. I visited his home in Manhattan's upper west side, and that's when he laid the gouge on me.

Things had been more expensive than he had originally contracted, and so he needed an additional $5,000 in order to complete the project. He wouldn't give us the masters or the raw footage so I could complete the project on my own. It was blackmail. If I didn't pay the additional money, we would have no video, and nothing to show for the investment.

The clock was ticking. The summer was gearing up with new releases from other well-funded artists with whom we would be competing, and, if we didn't have our video in time, we would miss our window of opportunity, the summer would pass, and our

songs would be "old" in a few months. What was I to do?

Well, one thing was sure, I was not going to give in to the extortion. I wasn't going to cave in to the Dante’s “gimme.” Instead I was going to go for the glory!

(gouge: verb. to extort from, swindle, or overcharge.)

The Gambit

Through either some person or process I’ve since forgotten, I found a film student named Lance Cain (real name), who had just graduated from New York University’s Film School. As I learned, every new graduate needs to develop a "reel," a collection of work that can be used as a visual resume. So, we agreed that Lance would create not one, but three videos, at cost. In other words, I would pay for the film, developing, and editing (and I think I fed the crew, too!), and everyone would be calling in favors, and working for free, all for the chance to add some accomplishments to their resumes.

It was a risky option. I had already sunk about $10,000 on one producer, and was about to spend more on one who was fresh-out-of college. The success hinged on getting it all done in one weekend, after which everyone—artists, producers, cameramen—would be scattered all over the country, unreachable and unavailable.

(gambit: noun. any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage.)

The Glory

The story of that weekend shoot itself, and how it came within a hair’s breadth of being cancelled is worth telling (perhaps another time), but to summarize, it was hectic, ambitious, impossible and a work of sheer genius. We would shoot one group's scene on one side of the street, then while they rested, we would shoot another group's scene on the other side. Cameraman Ian Woolston Smith, co-director Ken Greenblatt and Lance worked tirelessly for the entire weekend to make it happen. In a testament to their planning, coordination and editing genius, the locations were chosen and filmed such that you'd never notice that they were all within a 5-block radius in Harlem.

We came away with three outstanding videos with entirely unique feels, two of which got aired on BET, one which got aired on Video Music Box, and a host of other shows nationwide. And we did it all for under $7500! That figure will mean more if you understand that at the time, the lowest cost that most people thought you had to spend for just one music video was between $10,000 and $20,000!

We went for, and grabbed the glory! Lance has gone on to be an Emmy-award winning producer (www.cainfilms.com). Ian Woolston Smith is a famous steadicam operator (www.iancam.com).

The Gravy

A few months later, I found myself in a courtroom in lower Manhattan, sitting next to Dante, facing a small claims court judge.

I was ready. I had our original contract. I had my receipts. I had my documentation of the airing on BET and other shows, and I had my testimony.

Dante was visibly (and satisfyingly) shocked when I told the story of our BET victory, and Video Music Box airing. This was key to my case, because I had to prove I incurred additional expenses as a result of having to hire a new producer to complete the project he had failed to complete. He grabbed the documents to verify that I was telling the truth! He couldn't believe that I had already won!

Long story short: I won the case. (All the years of watching Felix Unger's courtroom exploits on the Odd Couple sitcom paid off!) Dante was slapped with a $7,000 judgment, and I walked away with the glory. As we passed each other in the hallway, Dante's last words

to me were, "You're never going to see any of that money, Walt." I kind of already knew that.

But, that was fine. I had the glory, and my principles in tact. I hadn't given in to his extortion. I hadn't allowed him to block my progress. And he had a permanent judgment on his record

to remind him of who he was messing with!

The Good

My mantra in life is: "The Universe is Perfect." I really only had three choices: 1. pay Dante more money. 2. Find another way to get things done. 3. use a baseball bat.

Think about all the good that I experienced as a result of making the right choice and responding correctly to what might have been perceived as an obstacle (I didn’t use the bat): I got three videos done for less than the price of one. I worked and helped a future award-winning producer. I got our videos played on national cable networks, and I now have a better story of victory to tell you today!

So, what have we learned from today's tale, boys and girls?

1. People will do what people will do

2. The Universe is Perfect, and what may appear to be disaster might be the catalyst for greater glory!

3. Don't mess with Walt!

The knowledge gained from that experience and others is included in Change The Game: How to Start, Run and Really Make Money with your Independent Record Label by Walt F.J. Goodridge (that's me!)

Visit hiphopbiz.com to check it out!

Stay tuned for more exciting gems from the Walt Vault, and, in the meantime, go for the glory!

Clear plastic bag? What's the point?

2010-06-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up in Jamaica, it was pretty well understood by all that the purpose of a supermarket grocery bag--whether paper or plastic--was two-fold. 1. to carry the items purchased which would be too cumbersome to hold in one's hands, and, more importantly, 2. to afford a measure of privacy so the world wouldn't "know your business." The contents of your shopping bag, as you strolled back home, were a private matter between the store owner and you.

So, today, when I purchased a box of raisins at a local market, the cashier bagged it in a clear (as in "see-through"), I refused the bag and opted to carry my bought box of raisins in hand. I mean, what was the point? It was a single item, easily carried in one hand. There was no privacy, as anyone who cared to look would know what I purchased. (And, hey, the store could save a penny and use the bag for another less-eccentric customer.)

I've watched silently over the years as supermarket plastic bags have gotten as thin as shear stockings (and equally transparent), but no more! I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore! It's time to stand up and reclaim our right to shopping privacy!!!

hmmmm. Or maybe I could bring my own re-usable bag. Maybe that was their plan all along....

Yes, that's where I am right now!

The Funny Things That Customers Do No. 2

2010-06-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

Tales from the Walt Vault

The Funny Things That Customers Do #2

Of Curmudgeons and Cutthroats

Welcome back to Tales from the Walt Vault, stories of the funny-humorous and funny-strange things that customers and clients do. (#1 in the series appeared in Saipan Tribune April 14, 2010)

"Wrong," said Fred

First, a little background for this tale. As mentioned in a previous column , I have a website called FreeSummerConcerts.com, which, for the past 6 years, has listed and emailed to tens of thousands of subscribers an ongoing calendar of the free summer concerts happening in New York City. Last week, after sending out the email blast, I received the following email from “Fred” concerning a specific concert presented by the popular Central Park Summerstage Organization.

Fred: “John Butler and State Radio” [the name of the artists] is a benefit concert for Summerstage. Not free. You'll find a handful of these shows on the Summerstage calendar.

I wrote back:

Walt: yep, that is correct. If you read the full detailed listing for that event, you'll find the benefit concert info. Even though they [the benefit concerts] are not free, I list them for the same reason Summerstage presents them: to generate funds to help keep the rest of the events free! Thanks for the feedback!

I didn’t want Fred to think I was ungrateful for his feedback, so, to acknowledge that he was indeed justified in pointing out the inconsistency, I added:

Walt: p.s. I'll modify the opening statement [of the weekly email which reads] "The following FREE Concerts are taking place in the next few days in NY" in the next mailing. Thanks!

Fred wrote back:

Fred: I read the description. I was wondering if your [sic] had. It's misleading because your website is called Free Summer Concerts.

Now, was it just me, or do you detect a little “attitude” in Fred’s email voice? So, after thinking about it for a while, and to add a little levity to the exchange, I wrote back:

Walt: Now, don't take that tone of voice with me, young man! Or, I'll refund your money and...., oh, waitaminit---

Get it? It’s a free service. That was a little sarcastic joke on my part. At this point, Fred was supposed to chuckle at himself, and we both would agree that his level of seriousness and complaining was way out of line given that he’d signed up to a free service, created as a free labor of love, to promote free concerts. And, my decision to include a not-so-free concert here and there shouldn’t cause him to get so bent out of shape.

Fred wrote back:

Fred: Please unsubscribe me

Ooops. Guess I lost one. Seems Fred wasn’t amused.

So, anyway, what have we learned today, boys and girls?

1. People will do what people will do

2. Sarcasm, or perhaps simply my brand of it, may not translate well in emails.

3. For someone who joined a free event service (presumably) to have fun, Fred's got absolutely no sense of humor!

[Definition: Curmudgeon. noun.a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person.] [sic = he Latin word for “thus,” or “such;” in other words, the misspelling appeared thus in the original email.]

Charlie the Chiseler

A few years ago, I agreed to help a coaching client convert an existing business manual he had found into an ebook in order to make sales online. I reserved the domain name, designed the site, enabled the e-commerce account, hosted the site free of charge on my server, fulfilled the orders manually as necessary, and dealt with customer service issues (refunds, download difficulties, etc.)

I promoted the site on the search engines, and after several months, our Google rank was steadily improving, our sales were increasing, and we were earning about $900/month. We had agreed to split the proceeds three ways—between the original author, Charlie, and myself.) Things were going well.

Hand me a chisel

Then suddenly, two years into the arrangement, without notice, reason, or explanation, Charlie decided to cut me out of the partnership. It started with a request (prompted, he said, by his lawyer’s advice) to transfer ownership of the domain name to his name. Then came his unannounced changing of the passwords to the ecommerce and email accounts.

I was able to observe and save copies of the emails chronicling the entire goings on—with back room deals, money exchanging hands with new partners, and attempted character assassination—as Charlie plotted behind my back, because he was using the shared access email account to communicate with his cohorts!

Charlie continued to (and still does) use the site I created, along with the graphics I designed, the ebook I proofed and edited, as well as the Google ranking I was able to achieve, and continues to sell the book without any compensation to me, or, at the very least of courtesies, any explanation as to why he decided to end the partnership.

In response, I’ve simply walked away, for it profits me not to work with individuals who don't share the same level of trust, respect and courtesy with which I conduct my affairs.

One advisor suggested I take legal action. However, there was no written contract in our gentleman’s agreement. As a general rule, I don't do contracts. I figure if I have to force a person to act ethically (especially in such a simple low-stakes agreement) with a piece of paper, then this is not someone I really want to do business with.

My personal philosophy is that I don’t chase money. Money chases me. The amount of mental, physical and emotional energy required to force people to pay something they don’t want to pay is simply not worth it to me. That energy could be better used to create something more lasting and that generates money that is free of negative energy, and given grudgingly, with resentment and ill-will. (I give that same advice to my friends seeking child support or alimony from former spouses. What if he/she simply wasn’t around for you to chase for cash? You’d have create your own income, anyway, wouldn’t you? So just skip the battle, and go straight for the glory.)

In a future edition of this series, I’ll share the story of the $7,000 small claims court victory I won over a video producer who tried to blackmail me for more money than we had agreed upon, and the “glory” of national media exposure I achieved by creating my own rather than giving in to his extortion.

The soul proprietor

But what about justice, Walt, you ask? Well, in reality, our “justice” system dispenses punishment and money, not justice. Money is not justice, it is merely compensation. However, for those who need a little karmic footnote to this story, I’ll share this with you. In one revealing email between Charlie and his new partner-in-the-chisel shortly after the split, Charlie mentioned that sales were down 50% since cutting me out of the partnership.

You see, I believe that products sell and businesses thrive because of the sustained focused creative energy of the people behind it. Withdrawing that creative force from a business or project is like removing its soul.

So, what have we learned from this tale from the Walt Vault, boys and girls?

1. People will do what people will do.

2. Justice is a natural process of balance that doesn’t need to be enforced with a piece of paper, and works well if you have the patience.

3. Fred in New York still has no sense of humor.

[Definitions: cutthroat noun. An unprincipled, ruthless person.

chisel. verb. to cheat or swindle (someone): He chiseled me out of fifty dollars.

Stay tuned for more exciting gems from the Walt Vault, and, in the meantime, go for the glory!

Rasta in health practice

2010-06-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

"Their ital diet comes straight out of the Bible, from Levitcus and Deuteronomy, with a lot of very specific rules about what you can and cannot eat. No meat except small fish, no milk of any kind, no eggs, no salt, nothing processed and only the fruits, nuts and vegetables that grow in their own gardens, eaten raw if possible."

"The natural lifestyle of an original Rasta in Jamaica - alone, isolated, surrounded by nature, eating only what grows in his garden, no distractions like radio, television or the internet - has embraced fulltime a method which guarantees him a brain that will attune to higher, spiritual intelligences..."

A few excerpts from an interesting site featuring profiles of a Rasta...

http://www.negrilstories.ca/index.php?pr=2_-_ZION_HEIGHTS

Interesting, how that's the lifestyle I'm drawn to even living in the heart of Babylon (New York), and what now draws me to live a nomadic, vegan/raw, close-to-nature lifestyle here in the Pacific....

“Trust me, you’re losing sales!” Intro to Customer Service 101

2010-06-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

It's been over two months since this article appeared in the Saipan Tribune, but as late as yesterday, a fellow approached me in the supermarket to say how much he enjoyed it! (Thanks, Alvin). So, I offer it here....(to receive access to the sequel, Customer Service Talk #2, sign up to my whereiswalt community list using the form at the bottom of the blog, or to the right.--Walt

“Trust me, you’re losing sales!”

Intro to Customer Service 101

By show of hands, how many business owners in the audience would like to make more money? Thank you. By show of hands, how many people have noticed a decrease in sales? Thank you. Now, suppose I could share with you a few simple tips for increasing those sales, how many people would be interested? Thank you.

Well, while there are numerous strategies for advertising and marketing that can increase sales, the purpose of today’s lesson is to impress upon you the importance of some basic points of awareness that can have a profound effect on your sales.

So, welcome to the “Customer Service 101” Training Course!

What’s Going On

As a business owner, you need to be aware of how your frontline staff is treating your customers, and the message and impression that is being sent every day to the potential buying public.

Because you are not on the frontline every day, interviewing your customers as they leave, you may not realize what is really going on.

Businesses are suffering the effects of phone answerers who are unintelligible, receptionists who are surly or downright unfriendly, wait staff who play “favorites,” desk clerks who don't acknowledge visitors respectfully, or at all, and even cashiers who are talking on cell phones while ringing up purchases. Trust me, these things are affecting your sales!

There's always Amazon!

Perhaps it’s a malaise that creeps in when one does business in what’s essentially a small town in the middle of the Pacific ocean. However, even on a little island with a "captive" market, people can and do exercise their freedom to choose where and with whom to spend their money. There are always other options. People can order online, those who can, may choose to go to Guam, or have relatives ship items from abroad. Or, they can simply decide to do without. I know one person who will only buy his gas from an “A” brand vendor” here on island because of how he felt he was treated at a “B Brand” station.

“Even if I ran out of gas,” he joked, yet serious, “I would still walk past a “B” Station and get my can filled at “A!”

Especially in this economy, we don’t have the luxury of offending, ignoring, or mistreating the lifeblood of every business—the customer.

The Talk

So, starting tomorrow, I’d like you to call your staff into a weekly meeting to give the following talk, or some variation of it:

“Ladies and gentlemen. We are a business in business together. As a business, we survive through our customers. Our job as a business is to make the customer happy and to keep that customer coming back. Therefore, we need to make our customers feel welcomed, valued, respected and special. So, how do we do that? It’s very simple.

But, before I tell you “how” we do that, I need to tell you “WHY” we do that. You may not always remember this, ladies and gentlemen—it’s so obvious that we often overlook it—but there is a direct connection between how YOU treat our customers and YOUR happiness. I say “YOU” because you are the person the customers see every day. While I’m in the office handling management responsibilities, YOU are the face of my company.

Remember, our customers don’t have to come here. They can go somewhere else. If they go somewhere else, we don’t make money. If we don’t make money, I have to reduce your hours even more, take a percentage of your tips, and eliminate any bonuses or incentives. Does that make sense? In other words, make the customer happy, and the business survives. When the business survives, YOU survive. Your paycheck, your livelihood, and your job are all directly connected to how you treat our customers.

But, it goes even further than that! Because this is such a small island, how a customer is treated—especially a visitor to the island—has far-reaching effects in other countries and ultimately affects the entire economy. One unhappy customer with a popular blog, a Facebook page, or a Twitter network with thousands of followers, can affect what people around the world think about our little island. You never know who is watching or reading the people who come through our doors.

Now, I understand that not all customers behave in ways that make you want to be nice to them. But, that’s just the reality of being in a service company like ours. Every day we meet people of different cultures, languages, backgrounds, upbringings, behaviors and attitudes.

We also bring our own attitudes to work. It ma be that you don’t like people from this group, or that, historically, people from this group don’t like people from your group, of that this group is always rude, or that people of this group are always loud and don’t tip well, or whatever. I understand all of this. We all have those ideas and experiences in some form.

However, as valid as they might be, I need you to leave your personal biases outside the doors of our business. I need you to do your absolute best to treat everyone exactly like they’re your favorite group! Even if they snarl at you! Be gracious and never get into fights or mistreat the customers. (For those of you in the wait staff, if a situation gets really nasty, just call me or the manager to handle it). Remember, this goes both ways, I also don’t want you to have to suffer abuse from our customers anymore than I want them to feel unhappy about doing business here. Everybody deserves the best!

So, starting today, I’m requesting that each of you do a few things: First, the minute you step through these doors, take a deep breath and remember that making ALL of our customers feel special is part of the job requirement. Smile when you greet our customers. Ask them if they need any help. Give them your undivided attention when you interact with them. Say, “Thank you very much, please come again!” when they complete a purchase (and even if they don’t).

In our next meeting, we’ll do some role playing and I’ll demonstrate how to greet, speak with, and even how to accept as well as hand the change and a receipt back to a customer, or how to return a credit card to our customers so they don’t feel disrespected.

These are just a few of some simple things that boil down to basic acknowledgement, courtesy and respect that we can give our customers so they don’t walk or drive past our doors to spend their money at another business for something we offer right here! With your help, we can create a welcoming experience for our customers that will keep them coming back and telling others about. Is everyone in agreement?”

[end of “The Talk”]

By show of hands, how many people found this helpful? Are there any questions, suggestions or other topics you’d like addressed? Thank you, and thanks for attending this session of Customer Service 101. Until next time, remember, someone is always watching!

Conversation with a Tourist!

2010-06-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Conversation with a Tourist!

As appearing in the Saipan Tribune

I recently had the privilege and pleasure of hosting two visitors to Saipan. Ricardo and Cristina De Leon are from South America. He is from Colombia, and she is from Guatemala. The couple are on a round-the-world trip visiting countries in this region and chose Saipan for a four-day stay in May.

While driving around the island, I called them at their hotel in Garapan to offer them my Jamaican-on-Saipan-off-the-beaten path tour of the island, but found that they needed no help at all!

Cristy: (by phone) “….we visited Mount Tapochau, Forbidden island, Banzaii Cliff, we met local residents who invited us into their homes, we toured from north to south! There’s not an inch of the island we haven’t seen!”

Walt: Wow, maybe I should be asking YOU to give ME a tour!

Later that evening, we met in their hotel lobby, and I got to know Cristy and Ricky even more. We talked about family, relationships, their travel adventures, and, of course, Saipan.

Walt: So, how did you two meet?

Cristy: We met in an airplane! It was in 1983, in March. We met in the airplane on a flight from Bogota, Colombia to Miami, Florida. He saw me sitting in the waiting area to board the plane. Then, after about 30 minutes or so after departure, he asked me if he could sit by my side. Of course, I said yes, and we talked all the way to Miami!

I was going to school in California, and was working for handicapped children and adults at that time. I was going back to Colombia to teach. That was my plan, but little did I know that he was going to rob my heart and make me live a way completely different from the one i had planned.

Ricky: Twenty-seven years later, here we are!

Cristy: We’ve been to 129 countries together!

Walt: Wow! 129 countries. I’m really curious about that. Do you plan everything out first? Do you make contacts in each country first?

Cristy: We just go! Well, now we do a little more planning, but back in the 80s and 90s, things were a lot different. We would just show up at the airport, walk up to a counter and say, “We’ve got so many miles. Where can we go?”

The ticket agent would type away for a bit, then say, “Well, you can go to Australia, there’s a flight leaving in 10 minutes at gate 7. Here’s your ticket!”

Sometimes we’d get to the gate, and the flight would be full, and we’d end up somewhere completely unexpected. That’s what happened once. The flights were booked, so the ticket agent said, “Well, there’s a flight leaving for Switzerland, so we ended up in Europe, but we had packed for the tropics! We have some great pictures of me shivering! But, it was a lot of fun!

This time, we got a “Round-The-World” ticket.* But we don’t usually make contacts first. That’s part of the adventure!

[*Search for “RTW” at wikitravel.org]

Walt: So, what brings you to Saipan?

Cristy: Well, when you’ve traveled all around the world, you ask yourself what else is there? We found your sites on the internet and contacted you. So, thanks for making this trip possible.

Walt: You’re welcome. So, now that you’re here, what do you think?

Cristy: The energy here is awesome! It’s a healthy place to be! The air here is so pure.

Walt: Well, you know, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Saipan ranks number 55 out of 56 states and territories for air pollution*. In other words, we’ve got the cleanest air in America! [See 2008 CNMI Toxic Release Data at www.epa.gov]

Ricky: (To Cristy) See, I told you! I mentioned to Cristy that I could feel the difference in the air here when we were at Forbidden Island.

Walt: I’m impressed that you found Forbidden Island and trekked all the way down on your own!

Cristy: We learned a long time ago that the regular tourist experience is very limited. We like to get to meet people and find out what life is like. A lot of people just visit a place. We like to experience a place!

Walt: Any suggestions of how we here on Saipan can improve that experience?

Cristy: We’re very adventurous, and we know how to get around. But, we’d love if there was more signage. You know, a consistent sequence of signs that say go this way, then go this way to find what you’re looking for. Especially when we were going to Mount Tapochau. There was that first sign, and then, not much else.

Walt: I’ll see what I can do! Anything else?

Rick: Also, is there anything you can do about the garbage we saw?

Walt: What do you mean?

Rick: Well, some of the places we went to had a lot of trash about the place. What was odd was that a lot of it was actually in garbage bags. So, it seemed people were dumping there.

Walt: There’s actually an organization called BeautifyCNMI, that was started to address that very issue. Volunteers organize to pick up trash around the island and educate the population. Things have improved a lot, but I guess there’s still work to do.

Walt: Cristy?

Cristy: I was looking for information on Saipan online, and except for your sites, I really couldn’t find what I was looking for. Even your sites didn’t have the-- [This would be where we turn off the “microphone” and Cristy shares some of her suggestions and world-traveler wisdom for me to improve my Saipan websites! Sorry folks! This is “market research!” I don’t share everything, you know!]

Walt: Thanks, Cristy. I’ll add those to my sites right away!

Cristy: You’re welcome. And don’t be afraid to just pick up and go! You don’t need to know people there. Just do it! In fact, I’ll give you a homework assignment. Check out Siem Reap, Cambodia. We’re going there as part of our ticket, and I think you’d like it. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Walt: So, where are you off to next?

Cristy: Back through Guam on the way to Fiji, then Vietnam…

Walt: Any final words?

Ricky: Well, Saipan has got a sensation of safety and security you don’t find everywhere. Everywhere else, you’re constantly looking over your shoulder!

Cristy: It’s such an exotic destination. It really is! I’m so glad we came!

Note: Ever wanted to direct your friends and family to a set of websites that revealed the best things about Saipan? Do what I do: send them to www.bestofsaipan.com!

Solving For Happiness

2010-05-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

The following is a preview chapter from the book Living True To Your Self by Walt F.J. Goodridge

CHAPTER 3: Solving For Happiness: A Mathematical Proof

A short time ago, a friend and reader of my weekly newspaper column ran into me at the post office and asked me if I could suggest any techniques, philosophies, or something—anything—that could help her “be happier.”

I was at once flattered that she asked (I guess I must look happy, or maybe I look so unhappy, that she figured I must be searching, too!) In any event, in my never-ending quest to provide value to others, I promised her I would email her something, and I set about figuring out what I could offer to really help.

As I sat thinking about it, it occurred to me that there must be a formula—a mathematical approach to happiness if you will—that anyone could benefit from. So, using my memories of math class, I decided to apply the concept of "proofs" to the concept of happiness!

Solving for "X"

If you remember from Geometry class, to complete a mathematical "proof," we start with a "problem" or a "given,” and then we have a conclusion to prove:

Given: Triangle ABC

Prove: The angles of triangle ABC, angles,

1, 2, and 3, sum to 180 degrees.

You proceed through the proof by starting with an assumption, making statements, invoking established geometric laws and postulates, giving reasons, all in a logical sequence, to develop the final conclusion. I won’t bore you with the actual proof.

Similarly, to solve for happiness, we can start with our own "given" and “problem:”

Given: I am unhappy

Prove: How can I be happy?

I believe we can use the same mathematical strategy starting with some basic assumptions, and making our arguments in the same logical sequence. Ready?

PROOF 1: What is the cause of unhappiness?

ASSUMPTION: Unhappiness has causes. It is possible to be happy.

ARGUMENT 1: If you are not happy, it is because there is a flaw in your belief system. Therefore, the way to be happy is to find a belief system that works.

ARGUMENT 2: Your belief system is comprised of your thoughts. Therefore, if unhappiness is caused by a belief system, and if a belief system is merely a set of thoughts, then:

CONCLUSION: Happiness is caused by your thoughts.

[You may rightly ask, “What about my words and actions?” Yes, Thoughts, Words & Deeds are the important trilogy we often talk about. However, since our words are a function of our thoughts. And since our actions are also a function of your thoughts, we can deal just with the thoughts, and words and actions will take care of themselves.]

PROOF 2: What thoughts must I change in order to be happy?

ASSUMPTION: It is possible to identify and change the thoughts that are making you unhappy.

ARGUMENT 1: There are only four types of thoughts that you have.

You think about your self, about others, about the world/universe,

and about life's situations.

CONCLUSION: Therefore, your thoughts about: 1. Your Self, 2. Others, 3. The World and 4. Life's Situations must be changed in order for you to be happy.

PROOF 3: What specific thoughts about my self are important?

ASSUMPTION: The thoughts about your self cover many facets of your being.

ARGUMENT 1: When it comes to your self, there are three components we speak most of: Body, Mind and Soul.

ARGUMENT 2: Also, when it comes to your happiness, there are three states of existence that we speak most of: Being (who you are)

Doing (what you do), and Having (what you have)

CONCLUSION: Therefore, your happiness in relation to your self will be a function of and determined by your thoughts (i.e. your belief system) about your body, mind and soul, and about who you are, what you do, and what you have.

We now have 3 initial conclusions to help us on our proof of happiness:

1. Happiness is caused by your thoughts.

2. Your thoughts about Your Self, Others, The World and Life's Situations must change in order for you to be happy.

3. Your happiness in relation to your self will be a function of your thoughts (i.e. your belief system) about your body, mind and soul, and about who you are, what you do, and what you have.

Solving for the Self

"To thine own self be true..."

The most important step to take in solving for happiness is to first solve for the self.

Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be true,” and likewise, I suggest to you that the more you learn (i.e. solve) about yourself, the happier you will become. Let me share with you my own experience.

One of the first revelations I experienced about myself occurred as part of team during a sales training course. As part of our orientation to become top sellers in a network marketing business we had just joined, we all took a personality test. The results of the test categorized us as different types of fish. Some people discovered themselves to be fun-loving "dolphins," others were money-loving "sharks," service-oriented "whales," while I fell among the fact and figure-loving "urchins."

The point of the test was to impress upon us that different people

we would work with—as well as those we would sell to—were motivated by different things. No personality was "better" than another, and all were necessary for the functioning of our team.

Until that moment, I knew these quirks of my personality, but I had always felt I was alone in my uniqueness. However, once I realized that my personality type was not unusual, that it was actually comprised of identifiable, recognizable, known traits, and that there were others like me, it became easier to accept who I was. I was simply a person more comfortable with facts and figures. I was an urchin!

This new understanding of who I was—this new belief system—explained a lot. It explained why I ended up as a civil engineer. It explained why I was able to recall facts that my schoolmates couldn't. It explained why you could move me to action by providing me with information rather than by promising me "tons of fun" or "lots of money." As I embraced and became more secure in my personality, others did, too. My team members knew they could come to me for facts and information about our products and industry, and that any answer I gave them would be correct.

Years later, I took the popular Meyers Briggs test and found out I was an "INTP" (Introvert, iNntuitive, Thinker, Perceiver). Again, I encountered a set of traits and preferences and aptitudes that described me perfectly, and added yet another dimension to my understanding of who I was.

Next came my introduction to the "life themes" concept, where I found the theme I was living was as "teacher." It explained a lot. It explained why I was drawn to write books that teach others. It explained why I was tutoring other students from as early as 2nd grade (I never went to first grade).

Then, as I mentioned earlier, the concept of "soul age" came into my life, and again, provided me with validation of things about myself that added more peace to my life. (See “If Old Souls Ruled the World”)

Yes, solving for the self is the first and most important step in the Proof for Happiness. However, it’s not enough. As we determined in our second conclusion above, in addition to your beliefs about your self, you must also change your thoughts about Others, The World and Life's Situations if you are to be happy.

Solving for Others

In my own Solving for Happiness journey, the more I discovered about myself, the more accepting I've become of who I am, and by extension, the more tolerant I've became of who other people are. I no longer expect "dolphins" to be more like "urchins," or "ESFJs" (Extroverts, Sensors, Feelers, Judgers) to be more like "INTPs," or healers to be more like "teachers." We all have our individual uniqueness, our purpose, our mission, our life theme, our personality traits, our talents, our predispositions, and our unique soul age that make us different, valuable, and necessary to the whole.

Knowing more about myself, and then about others had the added benefit of helping me actually predict how people will behave in certain situations. Things have become less of a mystery. In other words, I’ve been able to solve for others. Result: new understanding=new belief system=different expectations=more happiness.

Conclusion: The only thing you have complete control over in life is how you respond to the “others” over which you have no control.

Solving for Life’s Situations

Once you begin to understand yourself, and others a bit more, you’ll find that life can proceed a bit more happily. However, there’s going to come a day when you’re confronted with an some situation, emergency, catastrophe, development or some other condition which you did not anticipate or plan for.

The single most impactful lessons I learned about life's situations involved the law cause and effect, the law of attraction, and how to become accountable for the situations that happen in my life.

Many years ago, I took a course called "LifeSpring," an experiential personal development weekend workshop that introduced me to the concept of personal accountability. The concept was essentially: "Given that [this situation] is happening in your life, what did you do to create and/or attract it, and, more importantly, what are you going to do about it now?” Many people waste time playing the blame game, and instead of responding in ways that create their desired reality, waste time assigning blame to people or planets as the cause for creating the effects in their lives. Sadly, many people never move beyond that level of response to life.

Conclusion: The only thing you have complete control over in life is how you respond to the situations over which you have no control.

The final, and perhaps most truthful statement about happiness that I ever encountered was that "happiness is an unmet expectation." In other words, the only reason you are ever unhappy about anything, is because you have an expectation that is not in alignment with reality. Husband forgot your anniversary? You're unhappy because you expected him to remember. Change your expectation. Noisy neighbors? You're unhappy because you expect everyone to value peace and quiet the way you do. Change your expectation.

Now, I'm not saying you don't have a right to be disappointed when certain things happen. What I'm saying is that you also are able to make a choice as to how to respond. You could actually CHOOSE to be tolerant when others don't behave the way you'd like them to. You could actually CHOOSE to smile, when the racket starts next door. Anytime you cling to an expectation that is not in alignment with reality or truth, you are creating your own unhappiness, and you have the ability to create the opposite state by choosing a new reaction.

The Ultimate Key

So, therefore, the ultimate key to happiness is this:

"Something you believe to be true, and thus your expectation
about (fill in the blank) is not in alignment with reality and/or truth. Change the belief and the expectation, and create your happiness. For Happiness is merely a thought.”

USING THE KEY

Next, we will explore several specific examples of how to apply this key to your self (i.e. body, mind and soul, who you are, what you do, and what you have), to Others, The World and Life's Situations, and solve for happiness!

Enter your email address to download and read Part 2 and Part 3 of "Solving for Happiness,"

Conversations

2010-05-27T12:59:00.001-07:00

SHE (The jealous type): "A harem, huh?"

ME: "Yup. I'll send you an application, but you'd have to promise not to poison the other girls."

Life on a Flash Drive

2010-05-27T12:27:00.001-07:00

Here I am! On Saipan!

No, I haven't forgotten my promise. I'm right now sequestered in my apartment on Saipan working on a software program to streamline my communication with the many lists I manage. I know it's not the exciting details of a nomad's adventure you might be anticipating, but this is all very necessary. Prior to this, I had lists on numerous platforms for different sites. I would send my emails to the FreeSummerConcerts mailing list from one software, then send my PassionProfit emails through another online software, etc.

Now, as I finalize all the challenging little bugs and such in the PERL program to get the program to do everything I want, I'll be able to log into one software, and send announcements and updates to the SaipanLiving list, the Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin list, the HipHopEntrepreneur list, as well as many others!

THEN, once I'm in Vietnam, or Czech Republic, or Ghana, I won't even need my laptop in order to communicate. I could run my life from a 1-inch flash drive!

Genesis

2010-05-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Note: all links open new new windows!

I hadn't really planned on starting and maintaining a blog. It was at the suggestion of my friend, Saipan Blogger, and fan of the "LOST" TV series, Angelo, who made a joke about the Walt character on that show, that I whipped up this page yesterday to capture a few hits for my Jamaican on Saipan book.

But, when Angelo identified it as the newest blog in the Saipan blogosphere, it made me think.

I don't fancy myself a blogger. I've started quite a few blogs, but those were mainly just pages that should have been stand-alone sites. I'm too private a person to let the world into my life on a daily basis. With that said, however, I do consider myself a writer (yes, I know I've started sentences with "but" and "and"). And, as I thought about it, I realized that this might not be such a bad idea after all. Even though I like to think of myself as very busy--I write a weekly column, I have 50 websites to oversee, I have several books in various stages of completion, I have a tourism venture, among other pursuits), I do have a lot of thoughts that need a home. Perhaps this might be the best venue and voice for the real me.

Lately, beyond the PassionProfit books, beyond the coaching practice, beyond the writing, I've ben thinking more about continuing my nomad adventures in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Bali and China. Perhaps a "Where is Walt" blog might be the best thing to light a fire under that desire, and the the best place to consolidate all of the adventure.

It's got a built-in search-engine friendly name (thanks to the television series). It's applicable to any adventure I decide to pursue. And it's not limited strictly to business concepts, so I can throw in some vegan, minimalist lifestyle ideas, or old soul philosophizing as the opportunity arises. I could even expand it a bit and include the application process and auditions for the harem. (um, more on that later.)

We'll see. For now, I can only promise that I'll go with the flow and see where it will go.

Feel free to throw any encouragement my way, or reach out if you're in, or have any tips for visiting any of the countries mentioned above.

Oh, and before I forget....

CLICK HERE for the answer to Where is Walt?

Where is Walt?!!! The answer revealed!......maybe

2010-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hi, all,

it's me, Walt! Yes, Walt! I know you are all wondering where I am. With the final episode of Lost now a part of television history, this might have remained one of the greatest unanswered questions of television lore, along with "Who shot J.R.?

But, I couldn't do that to you.

Here, therefore, is the first suggestion to answer the question: Where is Walt?

CLICK HERE to answer: is this where Walt is?

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