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.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
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.
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.
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