Johnny Depp's Fresh Start

Johnny Depp's Fresh Start

Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors. Currently, he is starring in the latest rendition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I can still remember going to see that movie as a child, and a few months ago I rented it to watch with my kids. The DVD had extra scenes from the original movie, as well as interviews with Gene Wilder and the Director.

The director told an interesting story about how they got the funding for the movie. It was actually funded by a candy bar company (and people thought product placement was a recent phenomena!).

I have not seen the new movie yet, however I know it is doing very well at the box office. Johnny Depp's career was in a tailspin a few years ago, so he decided to pack his bags and move to Paris, France. There is a saying in real estate: "location, location, location". In Johnny Depp's own words, he described his life as: "Going downhill in LA." He was suffering from "Negative Gravitational Career Syndrome".

Certain times it's necessary to make a major transition in our life to get us out of the gravitational elements that keep us stuck in a bad situation. In some cases, staying in our current location or career setting keeps everything constant, and things won't change until we get out and start afresh.

A new location can be great. We often use the term "fresh start", and this is what a new geographic location can do. There can be some risks - what if it doesn't work out? As Johnny Depp discovered, Paris was a much better place for him to live his life (when not working in the Chocolate Factory). It enabled him to be more himself. As a result, I think his acting has been enhanced because the energy that he uses to be himself is minimized by distractions outside of his work. I have seen a similar situation with a client of mine who recently moved to the Vancouver area. Not only has it enhanced his career, but his life as well, making it the best possible step for him.

If you need help figuring out what that "fresh start" should be for you, our coaches would be pleased to work with you to bring focus and clarity to your individual situation.

Hey, if the Candy Man Can, So Can You!

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When Did Charlie Brown Get It ?

My son recently took out a book from the library on Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown. The book was written a number of years ago and, is a reflective look on the previous 35 years of his comic strip called "Peanuts".

Charlie Brown was one of my favorite comic strips when I was a kid, it was always the key section to grab, when the newspaper landed upon your doorstep-the big race for who got to the comics first.

The book my son borrowed is interesting, as like the original cartoons, they give you an unusual glimpse into what makes Schulz tick.

What I found fascinating, was when Charles told of being "discovered" on his first day of kindergarten; his teacher gave them huge sheets of white paper and large black crayons, and they spent the morning drawing. When she came around to look at the pictures that each of them created, she said: "Charles, you are going to be an artist."

It was an amazing gift, that this teacher discovered and encouraged at such a young and vulnerable age. What if his teacher had been critical and condemned the work that he created that day?

What would have happened if Charles hadn't had the courage to do what he loved to do? I wondered where would the world be without Charlie Brown. What specials would we watch at Christmas? What comic strips could possibly take the place of the endearing and wise Charlie Brown and his love and hate relationship with Lucy? Where would Snoopy the dog live?

I think the reason that cartoon figures are so popular, is that they often define feelings that are difficult for us to express ourselves. I loved Charles' definition of a cartoonist: "A cartoonist is someone who has to draw the same thing day after day after day without repeating himself."

I wonder what it would look like if we handled our lives and careers with that approach.

You're a good man Charlie Brown...

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Success Under the Star of Venus

Wimbledon--the Holy Grail of the Tennis World. All the great players must at some point win at Wimbledon, and not only win once but multiple times to stand apart from their competitors.

This past weekend Venus Williams won her third Wimbledon championship. What makes this particular win so important is the fact that she has been seen as a star on the down slope of her career. She was ranked 14th in the world, and she was playing against #1 ranked Lindsay Davenport, so statistically it was a no- brainer--Lindsay was a shoe-in to win. However, one thing Lindsay and the rest of the world hadn't counted on was Venus's confidence in herself and in her destiny.

Ranking has very little to do with winning. There are many examples of teams and individuals who believe they are winners even if the stats don't always prove it at the time. Here is what Venus believed: "I realize we live in a very tough time, critical times and, in order to keep your balance and your sanity you have to believe in something."

Remember, she lost to a 15 year old in this year's French Open, which just added to the evidence suggesting she was past her prime. One quote has stuck with me, however, when she said "I've always felt like a champion in my heart. I knew my destiny was to be back in the winner's circle and to win big titles again."

Three key ideas:

1. Venus believed in the deepest part of her that she was a Champion.

2. Venus had a sense of purpose for the potential she knew she still possessed.

3. You can beat anyone or any situation, with the above two beliefs!

The role of Venus's coach was to keep her connected to her beliefs and to remind her why they are still relevant. As a Career Coach, it is one of my great privileges to help clients connect to their own potential so they too can be champions!.


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The 5 Myths of Change

You may have heard about Steve Vaught, a 400-pound man who, several months ago, could not walk from one end of a department store to the other without sitting down to rest. Steve finally had enough. He was sick and tired of being sick and tired, so he started walking. In April, he left his kids and his wife at home to walk across the US. Three days ago, due to the kindness of a local physician, he weighed himself and so far he has lost 48 lbs. He has only gotten as far as Arizona but he has gone so much farther in terms of the change that has taken place within him.

According to the Johns Hopkins study on change that I spoke about last week. Here are the 5 myths of change:

Myth #1 Crisis is a powerful impetus for change.

Truth: Crisis is a moment in time and we tend to have very short memories. Life is about day-to-day choices, and it is in these choices that we need to make sustainable change.

Myth #2 Change is motivated by fear.

Truth: Fear often causes us to go into denial mode and convince ourselves that it won't happen again. We do much better with a positive vision of what change could do for us.

Myth #3 The facts will set us free.

Truth: This makes sense in theory, but the reality is that we think in stories and emotions, and generally not in facts, so when the facts don't fit the story or emotion we tend to ignore them.

Myth #4 Small gradual changes are always easier to make and sustain.

Truth: We are impatient beings and we should be more like Steve-choose a big goal and start walking. Larger changes yield larger benefits.

Myth #5 We can't change because our brains become hardwired early in life.

Truth: New research shows how elastic our brain really is, it truly is a sponge and very capable of change.

Now if 10,000 people start walking across the country tomorrow we will know why!


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