FULL-TIME PART-TIME PROFESSION OR PASTIME

"Blessed is he who has found his work, let him ask for no other blessing"...Thomas Carlyle.

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again, "I absolutely envy and admire those who do what they love for a livin." With that said, I equally empathize with those who, like myself, aren't nearly as fortunate.

Last time around we recognized NHL all-star Teemu Selanne, prior to that I gave a shout out to Paul Rodgers, Charlie Parker and Pablo Picasso. I've touched on the prospect of Ingzig establishing a relationship with organizations such as NASCAR, the NFL, NBA, AMA, and Tour de France. Why? Because when it comes to work, engaging work, these guys got it down. No nine-to-five grind here; it's purely a labor of love.

Of course the harsh reality is that we can't all do what we enjoy professionally, but that certainly doesn't mean we can't learn a thing or two from those who do. The way I see it the aforementioned individuals and organizations not only symbolize some of the best in doin what'cha love for a livin, they also epitomize the art of Everyday Earnest Effort, and if the rest of us can apply a similar set of principles to our own ambitions we too can rein in the just rewards of a more fulfilling way of life. Now I know exactly what you're thinkin, "But that's what they do, it's their livelihood, I can't possibly invest that kind of time and effort." And that's OK, because 3E isn't only for those who are able to pursue their hopes and dreams full-time, it's for anyone who in their spare time is willing to make a full-time commitment. And according to Psychology Today magazine that's exactly what J.K. Rowling did during the most strenuous chapter of her life. "As a newly single mother struggling to support her daughter after the breakup of her marriage, Rowling committed herself to the dream of becoming a published novelist. It was 1994, and when baby Jessica would fall asleep Rowling would seize the moments of peace to furiously scribble out Tales of Harry Potter. The rest as they say, is literary history."

John Erskine, former concert pianist with the New York Philharmonic, as well as director of the Metropolitan Opera Association, learned one of the most valuable lessons of his life when he was only fourteen years old. His piano teacher asked him, "How many times a week do you practice, and how long do you practice each time?" He told her he tried to practice once daily, for an hour or more. "Don't do that" she responded. "When you get older time won't come in long stretches, practice in minutes, whenever you can find them; ten or fifteen before school, after lunch, and between chores. Spread your practice throughout the day and music will become part of your life."

So ya see, be it full-time, part-time, profession or pastime, both in good times and in bad, each of us has an opportunity to make the best of the time we have. "This time, like all times," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, "is a good one, if we know but what to do with it." Merry Christmas, see ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

DID YA FEEEL IT?

Let me just start by sayin that the last round was one of the toughest yet. It turns out tryin to accurately (and affectionately) describe the feelings brought on by 3E is no easy task. For all it's worth I gave it my best shot, still, I think I mighta come up short. Therefore, I'd like to share a story with ya that I think'll help sum it up. Or not.

In 2007 Teemu Selanne and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim score a 4 to 2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals to win the 7 game series 4 to 1. Immediately following the game (we're talkin still on the ice) a reporter asks Teemu how it feels to finally win the Stanley Cup. For Selanne, (36) who grew up playing hockey in Finland before joining the NHL in '88 where he's gone on to amass numerous records and awards including the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an honor awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport, winning the Cup is a childhood dream come true, and clearly he's overwhelmed as he struggles to find a few choice words. "Incredible, unbelievable," exclaims the 6ft 200 lb right-winger in his pronounced Finnish accent. Fighting back the tears, he takes another stab at it, then another, yet try as he may it's plainly obvious that nothin can adequately express the way he feels.

"An experience" they say, "is altogether different from any words attempting to describe it." And sometimes, there simply are none. Selanne's certainly not the only one who's ever been at a loss for words when asked how it feels to have accomplished something that's taken years of personal commitment and sacrifice. The stories are endless, and the people they portray from all walks of life.

Personally, when I hear stories like these I too can't help but get a lil choked up. When I see the heartfelt emotion and ponder for a moment the unshakable discipline and dedication that helped stir it I'm completely blown away. And honestly, I think that's why it rattles me when I hear effort being labeled as something to avoid or forgo whenever possible. Because when exercised regularly and in full support of that which you "genuinely" hope to achieve, effort not only increases your likeliness to succeed, but instills a feeling that in all likelihood will never be surpassed.

Defining or describing that feeling? Well, that just might prove to be beyond the bounds of possibility. Honoring it, celebrating it, and supporting it, however, that we can do. Hope you'll join us. Happy Thanksgiving, see ya soon. Till then, keeep it up.

CAN YA FEEEL IT?

I once heard it said, "Art isn't so much about how it looks, it's about how it makes you feel." And I'll be honest with ya, when it comes to personal growth and achievement I can't think of many feelings better than the ones that come from the art of Everyday Earnest Effort.

I say "the ones" because what I've noticed over the years (and this is purely my own experience, yours may be altogether different) is that there are essentially two clear-cut feelings or sensations that stem from 3E.

The first, although modest at best, is a feelin of accomplishment, and it comes from simply doin the little things day in and day out. Now take my word this isn't all that exciting so don't plan on gettin overly fired up and lettin out a big o' self-assured "YES!" just yet. The important thing is you did what'cha needed to do. Now just keep on doin it.

If ya listen to the experts it takes approximately 3 to 6 months to effectively change an old (or adapt a new) habit or behavior. I'd have to say it took me a while longer, just how long I'm not sure, but if there was a point when I felt I'd gotten on a roll and became moderately convinced that I had in fact established a new behavior in my daily routine it was when I started gettin pissed when I missed. Ya see when I first started drummin again in '02 I'd pretty much play whenever the urge hit me, if I was too tired oh well, if somethin better came along so be it, if I missed a string of days no big deal. But then, a couple of years into it, and after an unfortunate turn of events, I started playin virtually everyday without fail, and only then did I begin to uncover the built-in value of being brutally consistent. Don't get me wrong I'd still miss on occasion, only now, I knew exactly what I was missin.

What I'm gettin at is if nothin else, what 3E has taught me is to appreciate the process. From the outset I've touted Ingzig as a company that supports and celebrates both the benefits of and the honor in Everyday Earnest Effort, and this is what I mean by the honor in. It means dutifully and diligently doin the things that at the time seem insignificant and uninspiring. Honestly, do ya really think I get excited every time I sit down to play? Fat chance! But what I do get each and every time is a definite sense of accomplishment, knowin that at the end of the day I've done what I needed to do, and that, as uneventful as it may be, is a pretty good feeling.

The second feeling (although trust me this one is second to none) is the more magical of the two. Of course once you get to the point of feelin it you'll no doubt agree that it's anything but magical. It's somethin you've worked long and hard for, and there's nothin magical about that.

This being said, I must confess that over the years while sharpening my chops on the drum kit I've come across a few brief moments that felt nothin short of, you guessed it, magical. Tryin to sum up the feelin would be utterly unjust, but I can tell ya this, it's well worth the effort.

There's an old saying, "Life has its moments...this is one." There are also those rare and special moments we all live for...these are some of em.

Sadly, these fleeting moments are just that, but fret not, because while the magic of the moment may be short-lived, the long and ongoing discipline of daily practice is ever-present, and ultimately, it's here where you'll find that the real magic occurs.

Earlier I spoke about playin whenever the urge would hit, and that's great and all because truthfully after a 20 year hiatus it felt good just to be playin again. Yet by the same token not a whole lot was being accomplished. I certainly wasn't feelin the magic, momentary or otherwise. But then when I stumbled onto this regularity thing somethin "indescribable" took hold. Suddenly there was both purpose and progress. One determined effort spurred on another, then another, and consequently consistency became the goal, the new benchmark if you will, and yours truly was hittin it time and time again.

Needless to say I was pretty stoked. The ever-elusive powers of persistence were finally upon me and it was truly a beautiful thing. Where it'll all lead I really have no idea, but for the first time in a long time I can feel somethin brewin, and that, is a damn good feeling. Let me hear ya say "YES!" See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

FILLOSOPHY 101

Pardon my self-indulgence last time around, but ever since the inception of Ingzig I've been rackin my brain on how to make this the quality company I know it can be. I kid you not when I say I wake up every morning thinkin about this sh^% and don't stop until I finally dose off that night. For me, it's become what Anthony Robbins describes as "Your Magnificent Obsession." Throw in the everyday demands of earnin a livin, routine chores and responsibilities, family, drummin, and now blogging! It's a full schedule, and I'll be honest with ya it can get a little overwhelming. At times it definitely feels as though my cup runneth over.

So...a professor stands before his Philosophy 101 class and on the counter in front of him sits a variety of items including a large empty jar. When class begins he fills the jar with golf balls then asks his students if the jar is full. They all agree it is. He then picks up a small box of pebbles and slowly pours then into the jar. He lightly shakes the jar and as he does so the pebbles trickle down into the jar filling the gaps between the golf balls. Once again he asks the students if the jar is full. They agree that it is. The professor then picks up a sack of sand and pours it into the jar. This of course fills any remaining spaces in the jar, and again he asks the question. The students respond with a resounding yes! Then, he pops open two cans of beer and pours the entire contents of each into the jar. The students are dumbfounded. "Now," says the professor, "I want you all to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the most important things; your health, your family and friends, your deepest desires and favorite passions. Those things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still feel complete. The pebbles also represent things of importance, things like your home and your job. The sand, well, it represents the small stuff. The little (often materialistic) things that we've all come to love but in a pinch could surely do without." "If you fill the jar with sand first," he continues, "there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls. And the same is true in life." One of the students then raises their hand and inquires, "So what's the beer represent?" The professor smiles. "I'm glad you ask," he says. "It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may be, there's always room for a couple of beers." Cheers, see ya soon. Till then, keeep it up.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

What the *&%#$ am I thinkin? After all this talk about Everyday Earnest Effort what's timing got to do with anything. Not a whole helluva lot actually, but it was definitely on my side last Friday night.

Music as you know has a very special place in my life, and this past week we went to see one of my all-time favorite bands: Bad Company. I dig these guys and have seen em numerous times over the years. But I especially didn't want to miss this opportunity because 1) it'd been awhile since the original lineup performed together, and 2) unlike in their heyday when they were sellin out huge arenas, they were playin at a relatively small venue; a hotel/casino in not so far away Indio CA.

For us it's about a 100 mile drive, one which on a Friday night however can easily take every bit of two hours. We got on the road around 4:30, the concert was scheduled to begin at 8:00. Sure enough the traffic sucked! We finally arrived at about 7:15, checked in and got up to the room just in time to settle in and unwind.

In typical tailgate fashion I brought along a small ice chest with a couple of cold ones. Hey this ain't Vegas, beers are five bucks a pop on the casino floor and twice that inside the show. Anyhow we're in the room, I'm twistin one open and my wife asks me if I would go get some fresh ice for margaritas (OK so it's not that small of an ice chest). I politely tell her that as soon as I finish this first beer I'll go grab some. Beer downed, thirst quenched, I grab the ice bucket and fling open the door. Who walks past at that very instant? Mr. Paul *%^$# Rodgers of Bad Company.

Now I know I said I dig these guys, but Paul in particular is someone I've personally admired from afar for a long long time. Easily top 10 on my list of rock n' roll royalty. So we make eye contact, cordially acknowledge one another, shake hands, and off he goes. "Honey! You'll never guest who I just met, Paul Rodgers!" "Cool" she says, "did ya get the ice?"

In short it was an incredible night. The show was great, the band in top form, and my close friend Paul, well, that rich baritone voice of his is as iconic and soulful as ever. He's still beltin em out after all these years. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

Y3E

So of all the virtues, qualities, and traits commonly associated with pursuing your dreams, why Everyday Earnest Effort? Why not some glorified old mainstay like strength, courage, faith or hope? Why not God given talent or ability? How bout heart, passion and desire?

Well here's the deal. Like many of us I too am fortunate enough to have inherited many of the aforementioned qualities. Ya see for much of my life I (like many of us) have had to muster up the strength and courage to get up each morning and face the days challenges. And ever since flingin papers, flippin burgers, and poundin nails I've had faith in that if I work hard good things will come my way. And yes, throughout all of it I've remained incurably hopeful that, well...you know, maybe someday. Because after all, I'm a pretty talented guy, and deep down I know that I (like many of us) have the ability to do whatever I set my mind to.

So ya see I have been blessed, I am gifted, but I gotta tell ya, these blessings, these gifts as precious as they may be, simply aren't enough when it comes down to the practicalities of pursuing your dreams. I can tell you from decades of experience that all the strength, courage, faith, and hope in the world cannot and will not make me a better drummer if I don't sit my ass down behind the kit and practice. And that talent and ability alone will only take ya so far. Heart, passion, and desire, hell I got truck loads. But again, I can assure you that without a daily dose of some good ol' 3E I might as well kiss my dreams and any other long term goals goodbye.

I can also tell you that since stickin with it, a host of other virtues have begun to come forward in an amazing show of support. Steve Chandler, in his book, Reinventing Yourself, writes, "Most of my life had been wasted waiting for faith and courage to show up, I thought it was something I needed up front, but come to find out I had the whole process reversed. Faith, confidence and courage only come later, they are the rewards, not the requirements for action."

In addition to being a rock hard "requirement," another reason 3E got the nod is because I'm a sucker for the underdog, and in many ways 3E epitomizes that. Author, scholar, and Zen philosopher Alan Watts used to say he hated the word "discipline" because it had so many negative connotations. Yet he also knew the key to fully mastering and enjoying any activity was in the discipline. The same goes for effort. I mean let's be honest, it's never been a fan favorite. Strength, desire, passion, these are typically the decorated players in personal growth and achievement; the "stars" of the show. 3E's not a show horse, it's a plow horse, and that as unfortunate as it may be, is rarely if ever looked upon as a star quality these days.

You might also be wonderin why we chose 3E over persistence, perseverance, and/or diligence. Determination and tenacity may also come to mind, and so they should. After all they too are plow horse type qualities. Yet if you think about it not only does each one imply a steady application of ongoing effort, but in order to be effective, requires it.

All in all there's a long list of reasons why we chose 3E to be our unofficial motto. It's from the heart and to the point, straight forward tried and true. It's pure and simple, black and white. Unmistakably down to earth, yet ultimately up to you. It's understandable, recognizable, easily accessible and definitely doable. It's joyful, painful, and at times quite a handful. It's low key, yet highly effective. It isn't about havin it or not havin it (i.e. faith, courage, strength, passion or talent). It's about rollin up your sleeves and doin it! It's not about ability, it's about accountability. It's slow yet steady, and like a good friend there whenever you're ready. It makes sense and costs nothing. In essence, it's everything. Or shall I say, more than you could ever possibly hope for. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

THE HORN SECTION

Charlie "Yard bird" Parker, jazz legend and saxophone extraordinaire once said, "If you don't live it, it won't come outta your horn."

By now I'm sure you have some idea of just how much I admire people who, like Yard bird, dedicate their entire lives to doin what they love. As far back as I can remember it's something I've looked up to. Unfortunately it's also something I've far from lived up to.

So why in the world then when it comes to bulldogged persistence would you listen to an ill-suited windbag like me? Well, for starters, I too, like those teary-eyed newspapermen in Terry Hills story last post, have wept for the winner in all of us. I too know firsthand the aching and ailing effects of untapped greatness. For nearly four decades inconsistency has gnawed away at any seemingly valid attempt I've made at realizing my own dreams, leaving behind little more than a legacy of good intentions. So you see from that standpoint I have lived it. I've lived it to the very fullest, and I'd like nothin better than to encourage you to live it differently.

From the beginning as the idea of Ingzig began to take shape I'd often talk to my brother Ron about my eagerness to help others, and during one of our early conversations he said, "Well, you know what they say, 'if ya wanna lift people up ya gotta get to higher ground.'" Until then I'd honestly never heard anyone say that, nevertheless, it hit home. It got me to realize that if I'm gonna do this I really gotta do this. If I'm gonna talk the talk, I gotta walk the walk.

And so it's been for the past seven years that I've done my best to perfect the art of Everyday Earnest Effort. Have I succeeded? Not entirely, I still falter now and again (old habits are a bitch). But I do feel I've made some significant strides in the right direction, and I've done so one small and consistent step at a time.

In the words of Dr. Robert Maurer, "While the steps may be small, what we're reaching for is not." Stuff that in your horn and blow it. Happy 4th, see ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

GETTIN PERSONAL

For the past few weeks I've been ramblin on and on about missions, goals, and products. So today I thought I'd get a little more personal.

My name's Pat Lange, founder and "3EO" of Ingzig. I'm a pacifistic idealistic kid at heart whose favorite sports are motocross and ice hockey. Yet regardless of the type of competition chances are you'll find me rootin for the underdog. I absolutely adore music and have been playin drums and dashboards on and off since I was thirteen. I'm a deeply impassioned person with an undermining tendency to be more moved than motivated, and little if anything moves me more than seein someone successfully doin what he or she loves to do. And quite frankly, little has affected me more adversely over the years than my own inability to make the same claim.

In the short story Cafes Are For Handicapping, a story Steve Chandler refers to in his book 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, Terry Hill writes about a character named Joe Warner, a reporter who was in the press box at Belmont when the now legendary Secretariat put away the Triple Crown by 31 lengths. "I looked around me as he was coming down the stretch, and all these hardened cigar-chomping New York newspapermen had tears running down their cheeks like little babies. Of course I couldn't see too clearly myself for the tears in my own eyes."

"This story," says Steve Chandler, "brings me closer to a question I've been asking all my life: why do we get all choked up when witnessing great accomplishments?" "My theory," he explains, "is that we weep for the winner in all of us, that in poignant moments like these we cry because we know for a fact that there is something in us that could be every bit as great as what we are watching. We are, for the moment, the untapped greatness we are seeing, and we get tears in our eyes because we know that that greatness isn't being realized."

The reason I bring it up here is because this story, along with Mr. Chandler's interpretation of it, pretty much describes me to a tee. You see for most of my life I too have watched others pursue their dreams while I passively sit on the sidelines thinkin, "I could do that." And I mean that quite literally. Ya see for years I'd buy concert tickets that were far from the most coveted seats in the house, opting instead for those that were way off to the side of the stage where I could get a much better look at the drummer. And there I'd vicariously sit, thinkin, "man that could be me." The sad thing is I still do the same thing today; watchin, wonderin, what if I'd stuck with it? What if I'd kept it up?

At thirteen I honestly had no idea of the impact my on-again-off-again relationship with drummin would have on the rest of my life. And today at fifty-one I can't even begin to tell ya. But hey, the good news is that for the past seven years (my longest stint to date) I've once again been playin on a regular basis. And I gotta say it's been both moving and motivating. Like the Charmin, I'm on a roll. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

TEE TIME

Amidst all the uproar of racetracks and arenas last time around you may recall a remote reference to t-shirts. And that's what I'd like to talk about today, because as ambitious as our goals might be here at Ingzig, as sincere and excited as we are about pursuing them, for now, t-shirts (and a handful of stickers) are all we've got to rave about.

From its nineteenth century origins as something with a Henley neck and buttons to its current iconic status, the t-shirt (a long time personal favorite of mine) has become an American staple. And while we have absolutely no intentions of building a reputation as a clothing company, we're convinced that this beloved classic is a perfect fit.

Now as much as I'd like to tell ya our t-shirts are made of some of the finest fabrics from around the globe, and that we covertly whisk off to undisclosed exotic locations in search of these indigenous textiles, the truth is these threads are pretty much your run of the mill stuff. But once again, even here our prospective goals are nothin short of ambitious. Meaning that while we can't expect to be top of the line right outta the gate, we will (and continually do) strive to offer up the highest quality products within our price range.

What we feel is most essential right now, however, is that our growing line of products continue to reflect our foremost values and vision. And thus far, each and every individual design is in its own unique and spirited way doing exactly that by giving a well-deserved nod to the unadorned art of Everyday Earnest Effort, as well as, collectively representing an integral part of a much anticipated greater good.

Here at Ingzig we have a number of philanthropic programs we hope to introduce in the near future, and the success of our products will be instrumental toward implementing those programs. After all it's about much more than simply spreading the good word, it's about sharing some good will.

So ask yourself, do you need to be wearing an Ingzig original to realize your own potential? Of course not, and I'll be the first to tell ya that. Like Lieutenant Kaffee said to Lance Corporal Dawson in the film A Few Good Men, "You don't need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor." However, with that said, we'd be no less than honored if you chose one of our products to help celebrate that potential to the very fullest. Thanks for your continued support. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

JUST A REMINDER

Today we're doin something that we probably won't be doin all that often: sharing some statistics. Tabulating data isn't really our thing but we felt it was important to begin this entry by laying down a few established facts. In the opener we noted that today more than ever people are looking for a more satisfying way of life, this according to numerous studies including one rather extensive one in Time magazine. Now while this in itself isn't all that surprising, what is surprising and a bit disturbing actually, is that the numbers indicate that it's nearly 70% of all Americans. That's about 213 million of us! In addition, every year approximately 5000 books on personal and professional achievement hit the shelves. That's 13 a day! Ten years ago there were about 1500 certified Life Coaches working in the U.S., today there's an estimated 20,000. All total, the personal development industry is said to be $11 billion strong, and again that's here in the U.S. alone.

This clearly shows that people are in fact looking for something more, and that there's a wealth of information available that can help. The aforementioned resources have proven to be invaluable when it comes to this and we encourage anyone so inclined to take full advantage of all they have to offer. Here at Ingzig, however, we're doin things a little differently.

English author Samuel Johnson said, "People often need to be reminded more that they need to be instructed," and that in essence is our mission. Wherever you see the Ingzig name, logo and/or 3E motto, be it on a t-shirt or on a sticker, at the races or inside the arena, you'll be keenly reminded of the unexpected power of this gentle art called Everyday Earnest Effort.

Races! Arenas! Sounds a bit ambitious right? It is. But hey, if M&M's and Tide can get on the hood of NASCAR why can't we? If Best Buy and OSH can adorn the boards of the NHL why can't we? If AT&T, Bud Light, Ford, Fed Ex, Taco Bell, State Farm, Monster Energy and Radio Shack can be a part of the NBA, NFL, Motocross/Supercross and the Tour de France why the @$%#& can't we? After all, which of the following better reflects the very kind of personal commitment it takes to wholeheartedly pursue a worthwhile dream, "Plain or Peanut?" or "Everyday Earnest Effort?"

And who better to help spread the word than those individuals who've made such a commitment, and in turn, have become so highly recognized and even revered for their efforts? Steve Chandler, noted author and speaker says, "That's what's missing in our field of personal growth and achievement, we need to share this experience not teach it."

Nothin personal mind you, but here at Ingzig we feel it's time personal achievement got an "ingzigorating" kick in the words of Alan Webber, co-founder of Fast Company magazine, a leading business publication described as a cross between Harvard Business Review and Rolling Stone, "If you make education too bland, nobody's gonna wanna swallow it."

In other words, it's time to rock this thing! See ya soon. Till then, keeep it up.

IT'S ALL A BUNCH OF CRAFT

Although we intended to discuss how Ingzig plans on spreading the good word about the unadorned art of Everyday Earnest Effort this time around, we thought before we do that we oughta tell ya that from the get go we've been on the fence about the word "art." This dilemma exists for two reasons 1) we feel it's a term that's been highly overused in popular culture and thereby rendered a bit trite or trivial; a cliche if you will, and 2) in essence Everyday Earnest Effort isn't really an art form at all, it's much more akin to a craft. Yet the overwhelming feeling here at Ingzig is that an unwavering commitment to craft is in its own "unadorned" way an incredibly beautiful thing, therefore, an art.

A woman was strolling along a street in Paris when she spotted Picasso sketching at a nearby sidewalk cafe. She impulsively asked him if he would sketch her. Picasso obliged, and in just a few brief minutes there she was, an original Picasso. "And what do I owe you?" she asked. "Five thousand franc," (about 4900 bucks today) he answered. "But it only took you a few minutes, " she politely reminded him. "No," Picasso said. "It's taken me nearly all my life." So you be the judge. Where do you feel the real beauty is here? On the canvas, or in Picasso's lifelong commitment to his craft?

There's no question that the spotlight will always shine brightest on the results of our efforts rather than on our commitment to them, and so it should. Because in all fairness (and these are just a couple of examples) when you listen to an accomplished musician perform or watch a top-notch athlete compete, the level of artistry is truly a thing of beauty, and thereby fully deserves center stage.

However! The underlying beauty is that these celebrated individuals weren't always so skilled or accomplished at what they do. Nor was it talent or ability alone that made them the "artists" that they are. Like Picasso, they too had to work long and hard at their respective craft, and that is certainly something we can all do.

As one noted art historian put it, "An artist is not a special kind of person, but every person a special kind of artist."

In the end we've decided to go with our gut and stick with "the art of" Everyday Earnest Effort. Although to remain abidingly true to our core mission we will periodically refer to the word art as an acronym. Because as aspiring artists we need to "always remember that" (A.R.T.) in order to become an artist we first need to hone our craft. And in order to do that we need to develop the necessary skills. And, in order to do that, ya simply gotta put in the time and effort. Ahh, the beauty of it all. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE

Welcome back. As you know, last time we introduced ourselves and talked a little about who we are and what we do. Today we thought we'd continue with why we're doin it in the first place.

Do you recall when you were first learning how to ride a bike? If so, you probably can still picture that certain someone scurrying along your side doling out well-intended words of encouragement as you frantically shimmied to and fro. Or maybe you were so overcome with fear at the time that all those well-intended words fell on deaf ears, drowned out by a pestering little voice in your head that had you thoroughly convinced the invention of the wheel wasn't such a great idea after all. In any case, chances are you carried on, and with each and every attempt you managed to keep your bike just a tiny bit steadier and ride it just a little bit further than you did the time before. In turn, your confidence began to grow, and instinctively you knew right then and there that if you just stayed with it you'd eventually prevail. Well, odds are you did, and at that very moment if you could've somehow found the courage to loosen up on that vise-like grip you'd have clinched your fists and thrown up your arms in an almost uncontrollable display of joy and excitement.

Now depending on your goal(s) you might have to wait a little longer before you actually begin to rejoice. But the point is, at one time or another we've all battled some fears, beaten the odds, and accomplished something we felt really good about; something that took a bit of time and effort to achieve. And the cool thing is, much like ridin a bike, once you've done it, you rarely if ever forget how.

Everyday Earnest Effort is nothing new, and it's certainly not something we've forgotten how to do. It is, however, in this day and age of immediate gratification something that's constantly overshadowed by that which is quick, easy, and instant.

Author and Life Design Coach Martha Beck says, "We're yearning for a powerful source of liberation that's right under our noses, yet it's quite clear that we'll do almost anything to avoid it." Entrepreneur Magazine put it this way. "We often give lip service to the idea that success, happiness, and personal fulfillment take some effort to achieve, but in our day-to-day lives we think, 'I don't want to work that hard.'"

The simple truth is this: while an immediate payoff may in fact be more desirable, hard earned returns, those that truly do take some considerable time and effort, are far and away more rewarding. And here at Ingzig we intend on reminding you again and again, just how rewarding they can be. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.

INTRODUCING INGZIG

Welcome, to the first ever blog cast from your good friends at Ingzig, a So.Cal. based company that supports and celebrates the unadorned art of Everyday Earnest Effort, aka, "3E."

Our core mission is to shine a refreshing new light on this reliable old standard, because the fact of the matter is, today more so than ever people are looking for a more satisfying way of life. Yet when it comes right down to it often the last thing they wanna hear is the "Ef" word. And that's a real shame. Because the truth of the matter is, few things on the planet are more satisfying than working diligently at something you'd genuinely like to achieve.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for checkin us out. We'll see ya soon. Till then, keeep it up.