Blog-Thomas G. Jones PhD
4-9-08
Innovation Highway – part one
It’s after midnight and I’m sitting in my home office thinking about my day tomorrow. I have a ten o’clock appointment in a studio to record the first two chapters for an audio book, “The Small Book of Small Business Wisdom.” I have been gaining the experience, teaching the classes, and counseling the business owners that comprise this book for more than 20 years. I know my craft, know my material. I’ve been a public speaker for more than 15 years and walk out, easily, in front of large audiences. The classroom is my favorite place. Speaking on my subject area is, for me, as natural and effortless as breathing. But not in a studio. Not without students or an audience. I feel self-conscious, unnatural. I have only been in a recording studio once before. I was terrified and it took numerous takes to effectively deliver a very short introduction for another speaker’s audio tape. Fortunately, I was in the skilled hands of a master audio tech. He was relaxed, patient with me, I flubbed one line half a dozen times. After the sixth mistake he smiled broadly and mentioned that it was an awkward script. He relaxed me and I did a simple re-write. The next take went flawlessly and the three minute audio session was completed in about 45 minutes. The same audio tech, Scott, will be handling my session tomorrow. That makes it easier. My partner, Linda, will direct the session. Both good signs. But the same nervous reader, me, will attempt to record two book chapters. One long, one short. I added the short one…just in case. That is, just in case it takes the full 90 minute session to lay down a short chapter. That way, we won’t come up empty on the first of the 25-30 sessions it will take to record the book.
I want to encourage you to do something that you are not an expert at. To learn something new. To put yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. Deep water.
It will keep you engaged. Provide you with humility. Encourage you to trust others, be the student. Be the beginner again. As you work through the discomfort and incompetence you will grow. Grow in new arenas. Grow in greater confidence. Deepen your trust in others. And in the doing, add new skills to your repertoire.
I’ll let you know how it goes. How I do. As importantly, I look forward to adding my new audio book to the innovations list on my website.
Be Joyous Today. Let now be Beautiful!
Blessings,
Thomas
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