The 2 Deaths to Life
Today, I attended a seminar that had two excellent speakers. The 1st speaker, Alice Osborne, spoke on the Obstacles to Writing a Book. I think her message was directed at me and me only. Yes, there were 25 other people in attendance, but this seminar was for me. My book is mostly written, but it is a mess, and it stays a mess primarily because of fear. I have a message. A good message and I want to share it. So what am I waiting for?
The 2nd speaker, Brian Hilliard, spoke on “How to Monetize a Free Speaking Engagement.” All except one of my speaking engagements have been free up to this point. Learning how to monetize those events can go a long way. Oh, but wait! How can I monetize those events if I don’t have a book to sell? Or a CD recorded? Or a coaching program to offer?
Something Alice spoke about has stuck with me all day. Alice spoke about the 2 deaths we must experience while on our journey to great accomplishments. The Heroes Journey, as Alice called it. The 1st death is obviously some life changing event that happens in our life. It could be anything from the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship or a deep inner desire to make some great change. It was the 2nd death that has had me thinking all day. Like the 1st death, the 2nd death will be personal to each and every person that experiences this process. The greatest 2nd death I could experience would be the death relating to Fear of Failure. I have failed before and I will fail again. So what’s the point of the fear. Up to this point, none of my failures have killed me. As a matter of fact, several of my failures have been the catalyst for some of my greatest accomplishments. A failed business is opening the doors to a new developing career that I feel more excitement about than I have felt in years. Many failed relationships led up to meeting my wife which led up to having the 2 most incredible daughters a father could ever ask for. If you had asked me at the end of some of those relationships if that was actually the catalyst for the greatest loves of my life, I would have said “absolutely not!” I probably would have called you an idiot as well.
And what about the death of Procrastination? I would sing great praises if I could experience that death in my life. As a matter of fact, while I type out this blog, I have the movie Blazing Saddles playing on the TV for background noise. Maybe I’m just hoping Lili Von Schtupp will distract me long enough to forget I am working on something important to me. Distractions are a great catalyst to not experiencing failure. I can’t fail if I don’t finish. Right?
Alice pointed out the need for strong friends and mentors to stand by us during those trying times of the 2nd death. I am blessed to have some incredible people in my life. Did they come to be such important people in my life merely by accident? Well, maybe our initial meetings were by chance, however, the relationships that have developed have been completely intentional. I heard a saying once, “Stick with the winners.” I make it a habit of sticking with the winners. People that have drive, dreams, passion, a purpose. To live any other way would be to live in death. I refuse to live that way. I am so grateful for the friends and mentors I have had and continue to have in my life.
I honestly believe I may have experienced the beginnings of a 2nd death today. I don’t want to change, but I can’t wait to change.
