The Morning Show: Building the Skill

The Morning Show is a blog companion to the podcast audio.

OK, we're working on relationships this week, and gettin' a bit philosophical, bro!  I wonder what Dr. Phil would say.  Oh wait, I know.  "You need to take a close look at your podcast, and evaluate it, young man!"  Whatevs, doc!

  Just like I practice guitar, I'm interested in improving my skill with people and relationships.  What are some of your favorite ways to do this? Let me know!   Here's a few of my favorite books: Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People", M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Traveled", Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind - Why good people are divided by politics and religion", and Mark Goulston's "Just Listen" are all high on my list.  What are some of your faves?

  I continually catch myself saying "Oh, I don't know what her deal is" or "why would that guy say that?"  Seems like it would behoove me to turn the rhetorical question into a quest for knowledge.  Oh man...This is tricky!

The Morning Show: On Relationships

The Morning Show is a blog companion to the podcast audio.


Goood morning!  I hope you like your Tuesday breakfast with marmalade and absurdity, 'cause got a doozy of a theme for you this week.  Was talking to my adopted sister Rachel - not REALLY my adopted sister, but close enough, and she suggested I do a theme on relationships.  I was like "WHAAAT?"  Then I was intrigued. Let's start off with the question of "what isn't about relationships?"   Or, "what's important that isn't about relationships of some kind?"  Of course, I'm not just talking about romantic relationships, as nice as they are, but all relationships.  The further I get in the entertainment industry, the more I realize almost everything is about people.  I'll have been teaching guitar for 13 years in September, and while I've learned much about music, I've learned way more about people from my extremely patient and kind students.  Again, almost everything is about people.  And yes, this includes those epic Tinder fails and dance floor horrors, too.  But that's for a comedy podcast...

  So, for today, I'm going to do this, and I invite you to join me.  I'll be looking at every single interaction, from other drivers on the road to highly personal conversations, and seeing...well...how I do, and what I'd like to improve.  Let's see how it goes!

Mr. Mayor

Let's set the stage, shall we?  Walking out of the house side of the US Capitol, you decide you just need to clear your head and get away from the typical politicians.  You start walking...and walking.  South Capitol street winds its way past the stadium of the Washington Nationals, over the Anacostia river, through some of the rougher parts of the city, into Maryland, past apartments and concrete, turning into a proper highway.  "Indian Head 21 miles" a sign says above the roar of the rush-hour traffic.  A casino looms in the distance, and still you walk,  Gradually, the cars thin, the trees gather, and you arrive in Indian head,  a Navy town that's seen better days, with some of the buildings sporting boards instead of windows. Trudging up the steps to the little town hall, you can buy a mug with the town's seal on it for only $3, and when you ask to see the mayor, you might first be surprised to learn that he's only 21, then doubly impressed with the seriousness and gravity that he carries himself.  Unlike some of the fellows back where you started your walk, he's here to get stuff done.  Elected when he was 19, he's working to revitalize the blighted community and make his hometown a better place for all of us.  He graciously agreed to an interview, so let's listen in.  Ladies and Gentlemen, Mayor Brandon Paulin!

(Here's the interview.)

The Morning Show: On the Cackle

The Morning Show is a blog companion to the podcast audio.

Good morning, and welcome to The Signalman Show.  Happy MARCH, yo!  So, continuing with the idea that we're entrepreneurs of our lives, the CEO of our happiness...Here's a question:  what's your personality "brand?"  Here's a fun way to figure it out, through a little challenge:  find something that makes you cackle today.  You know, that delighted, mischievous laugh that shows your funny bone has been tickled, and is often uniquely you.  For example:  I recently got the Kimoji app, Kim Kardashian's texting app that lets you send weird emoji pictures of her face and all sorts of items via your phone.  I also got the book on Abe Lincoln called "Team of Rivals."  Yes, the book is awesome and will make me a better person.  But I like the app, too.  I think there can be both...and the app sure makes me cackle.  I've been annoying the heck out of my buddies by sending them all sorts of obnoxious Kim faces.  NOT that I'm suggesting that.  But still....Find something that makes you cackle.  It's fun...AND it'll help you learn more about yourself.

The Morning Show: The Entrepreneurial Life

The Morning Show is a blog companion to the podcast audio.

"Well, I guess my teacher was just trying to get me ready for the real world" he said.  I was talking to one of my guitar students, and he was telling me what a dreary picture one of his teachers had painted for him.  I should just wear a shirt that says "don't get me started."  I've faced my fair share of that, and man, the "real world" that people warn about sure is BLEAK.  But is it even true? It brings me to the theme of the shows this week:  The Entrepreneurial Life.  Is that even a word?  Whatevs, man.  The idea occurs to me as a lifelong entrepreneur:  I can't just do what I want. There ARE real challenges.  But I often can build what I want.  Or at least aim in the general direction.  Zooming out a bit here, couldn't this apply to anything?  I want to be exceptionally careful here, and preface the question with the realization that circumstances can be crushing, resistance is everywhere, and pain is all too real.  But the question remains, with the utmost respect:  aren't we all entrepreneurs when it comes to our lives?  And if so, how does that realization change things?

The Morning Show: Goals v. Process

The Morning Show is a blog companion to today's podcast audio.

Good morning!  Continuing Ambition Week, let's look at the Goals vs. Process mindset.  For me, the most moving scene in the movie Jobs (about Mr. Steve Jobs) is when he's crying on his father's shoulder after suffering a huge setback of his goals.  In the background, you see a photo of his friends, waving and smiling at the camera, loving the process when they were building that first computer in the garage.  It's caused a bit of cognitive dissonance for me.  Can one enjoy the process while maintaining focus on big goals?


  With a dedication to the burn, talked about in the last episode, I believe the answer is YES.  If I'm burning to burn (my phrase for dedication to putting in the work), then I'm focused fully on the process, and that intensity is the way for me to move forward to new heights.  If I'm viewing a goal as an oasis where I will find rest and happiness, not only is it often a mirage, but negates the joy of the grind and the hustle.  What do you think?  Let me know!  For now, light 'em up!

The Morning Show: Burn to Burn

The Morning Show is a blog companion to today's podcast audio.

I've been sick, and it must have gone to my head.  I even cleaned my house for no reason.  This worried my mother.  After lounging around like a cat and falling asleep in the sun, I'm back, man, and I'm ready to shake things up.  This week's theme is ambition, and man, I want to be strong.  Strong mentally, strong in conviction, strong physically, strong in myself.  Something clicked in my head (besides the usual strange noise that happens when I walk funny), and I'd like to share.

  Previously, I've looked at Ambition as the striving for lofty goals, which would allow a rest, a reward, or other goodie once reached.  BUT - what if Ambition was the dedication to the burn.  

  What if we looked at ourselves like rocket engines, stocked with an unknown amount of fuel for our lifetimes.  We could burn fitfully and slowly, dying with unused fuel wasted.  Or, brightly, intensely, and with a roar that lights up the sky.  We'll still be here for the same amount of time, and the heights we reach - or don't reach - are irrelevant.  We dedicate ourselves to the burn, because that's what we do.  Who knows  how much fuel we have, or how far we'll go,  Only time will tell.  I'm reminded of gym rats - the men and women who go there to pump iron for the sake of pumping iron.  They get hooked on the process.  Sure, they're pleased with the results, and some may even win a few medals and movie roles along the way.  But they burn to burn.

 We'll be looking at this a little more in the next episode, but for today, try burning for burning's sake.

Houston, we have ignition!