What myths are holding you back from who you want to become?
Myths are preconceived notions or stories we tell ourselves which we assume to be true that keeps us in a career, business, or life situation that’s just not fun.
You know what?
Myths are 100% true to those who believe them.
As a coach, I’m in the Myth Busting Biz. Getting clients to think differently. A one degree difference is all it takes to shift a person from wheel spinning to traction to moving towards their endgame.
All of us, at one time or another, has an “Itty Bitty Shitty Committee” that sits on our shoulder whispering unhelpful dialog in our ears, telling us how bad things are which becomes part of our mindset.
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “This market is awful. If I lived in ______ things would be better.”
- “If I only could catch a break, my business would explode!”
- “An unhappy relationship is better than no relationship. Hopefully one day he’ll/she’ll change.”
- “I need to take one more course and then I’ll be set.”
- “I can’t stand my job. I have to stay because it pays the bills.”
A few months ago, I experienced a mega myth busting moment.
I have an eclectic taste in music that includes pop, contemporary Christian, classical, blues, smooth jazz, yoga, meditation, rock, world, country, and even rap and hip hop. Opera? Not so much.
For some reason, I’ve slowly developed a man crush for Justin Timberlake. Through his appearances on Saturday Night Live, watching him in motion pictures, his witty sense of humor, the bromance with Jimmy Fallon, and our mutual admiration for the love of golf, I’m a fan of the most successful singer to come out of ‘N Sync.
This summer I asked daughter Michaline if she’d like to go see JT in concert. After twisting her arm, she finally acquiesced. 😉
JT’s “The 20/20 Experience World Tour” was making a stop in Albany, NY (a two and a half hour drive from Syracuse) however it was sold out. There were seats available for the Baltimore gig though Mikey couldn’t afford to travel and take a day off work.
So, I did what any good father and raving fan would do, I went on Stub Hub and picked up a pair of halfway decent seats, at a premium, for Timberlake’s tour stop at the Times Union Arena. We sat halfway back in the middle of the second tier.
To have a nonpareil concert experience, a concertgoer needs to put out huge bank to get a seat close enough to see the beads of sweat spray off the performers brow. Right?
Or, is this a myth?
Following intermission, as Justin opened with ♫ Let The Groove Get In, ♪♫ Mikey and I jumped out of our seats, screaming, singing, beer glasses held high, as we witnessed this. (Clip is from the Baltimore gig.)
JT shocked the screaming fans by giving them an experience they will feel for the rest of their lives. I know Mikey and me will.
I would’ve liked to have been a fly on the wall when an engineer said, “What if we took a 120′ x 15′ transparent chunk of the stage, put it on an hydraulic pedestal system, and have it rise 30 feet in the air and traverse the entire length of the arena at two miles per hour.”
Timberlake and his production team busted the myth that the only way you can have an up front and personal experience with the entertainer is to spend $500 for a front row seat.
All it takes to bust a myth is to think differently about the endgame and ask, not what’s possible but, what do you want to create?
How about YOU?
- What’s a myth you’d like to bust?
- What do you want to create?
- Who do you want to become?
Would you like a partner? Contact me to discuss your endgame.
Photo courtesy of Ralph Larmann.
Love it. Great example. It’s so easy to think that they way it’s always been done is the “right” or only way. Love your message of breaking through to a completely different view.
Thanks Karin. JT blew us out of the water with his myth buster!
I’ll have to give you this one, JT has proven to be a quality guy; I wasn’t so sure initially back in the day. I like busting the myth thing; I work on that one every time I’m in public.
I agree. Timberlake is a quality human being. He does all the right things.
A great tool for busting myths is The Four Questions model by Byron Katie:
Step 1 Is it true? (Yes or no. If no, move to 3.)
Step 2 Can you absolutely know that it’s true? (Yes or no.)
Step 3 How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
Step 4 Who would you be without the thought?
Turn the thought around. Then find at least three specific, genuine examples of how each turnaround is true for you in this situation.
Well, in my case the myth I’m trying to bust has to do with race; we might have to talk about that one offline. 🙂
Ha! We’ll discuss when I see you next time. 😉
great post Steve! Justin brings the mountain to the audience!
I wonder how many more have a man crush because of this stage setup !!?
Ha! JT is real. Transparent. And most importantly, he shocks the hell out of the audience. That’s why he’s got millions of raving fans!
Thanks for stopping by Devin!