Reinvent Yourself: Feel Like a Kid Again

GTO's Thoughts:

I saw "The Last Jedi" this weekend.

And I was not disappointed.

"The Last Jedi" is full of wonder, excitement and, most of all, respect for the original trilogy.

And for these reasons, it's the best Star Wars film in 30+ years. *

I'm happy to be a fan of STAR WARS again.

Since Chris Gore (over at Film Threat) summed it up so well, why don't you read his review of the movie.

Click on Luke.

If you scroll down to the comment section of Chris Gore's review, you'll find a quick comment by yours truly.

I'm currently the only commentator under his review.

Why? I don't know.

Film Threat rocks!

Another group who had insightful things to say about this film were c|net's staffers from around the world.

I really liked hearing the different thoughts and opinions expressed.

Click the C-Net headline:

Now, I had some issues with "The Last Jedi" - a few in fact.

But there was so much great stuff in it, it's hard to focus on the negatives.

"The Last Jedi" feels like the final, third film in a grand trilogy.

It's epic and satisfying and well-made.

And it feels like a completion to the original films.

Please bear in mind, I was massively disappointed in the prior four films (those helmed by J.J. Abrams & George Lucas).

Upon viewing the prior "The Force Awakens" I declared that Star Wars was dead to me.

Not kidding.

I was done with Star Wars.

Ask my buddy Larry (Tweet him @theguestroompod).

Or my buddy Shawn (Tweet him @SVashaw).

They'll tell you.

I take this shit seriously.

So any new Star Wars film would have to come a long way to erase the anger and sadness I've felt over the last 30 years as a beloved sci-fi trilogy was ripped off, spat upon and robbed entirely of its magic.

The original Star Wars films had such a hold on me that they convinced me to devote my life to movies. To study film in college. To work in the film business.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

So for me to overlook the various flaws of "The Last Jedi" and to actually feel the hope in this film, and to relive the dreams of my teen years at the same time, is a major emotional achievement for me.

I'm excited to give "The Last Jedi" an 8 out of 10.

And the best part?

I will not argue with you if you want to rate it a 10.

(If you had spoken so highly of "The Phantom Menace" or "The Force Awakens" I would've politely never talked to you again for the rest of my life.)

So for the time being, I've turned away from the cynicism of the Dark Side that had been growing in me for 30 years.

I'm thankful for this cinematic return to the Light Side.

I feel like a kid again.

Thanks for reading.

GTO

* Apologies to "Rogue One" which is a good (8/10) Star Wars film. But because it exists outside the Skywalker line of stories, and because my heart is so attached to the original trilogy of characters, I consider it an outlier in the canon in the best possible way. No offense intended.

Reinvent Yourself: Relive Summer with an Easy Sangria Recipe

GTO's Thoughts:

I get into these moods.

Maybe once or twice a year.

Where I just need to remember summer.

Usually it's in September, October or November.

Winter is approaching.

June, July & August have faded into sweet memory.

My tan is long gone.

My skin barely remembers being licked by the warmth of the sun.

I barely put a dent in my bottle of sunscreen this year.

I didn't get enough time in my brother's pool.

I didn't get enough sand, didn't get enough surf.

And - dammit! - I have no memories of a sweet summer romance.

My John Travolta did not meet his Olivia Newton-John.
My Frankie Avalon did not find his Annette Funicello.
My Barbara Hershey never became the wind beneath her Bette Midler's wings.

Those warm, sunny months have come and gone, all in the blink of an eye.

And I miss them.

But there are a number of ways to remember summer.

You could try losing your $500 Nike glasses in the waves of Ocean City, Maryland in July 2012.

Like I did!

OR -

Even better,

Ignore the lessons of Ocean City 2012!

And lose another pair of $500 glasses in the gorgeous waters of Playa Paraíso in Mexico's Riviera Maya in July 2017. **

Yep! That's what I did!

So the summers of 2012 and 2017 are LOCKED in my brain!

For.

Life.

And as winter approaches in the Northeastern United States, how do I relive such wonderful summer memories as losing $1000 in prescription eyewear to the oceans of the world?!

I GET DRUNK  (ha)

What helps me get drunk are sweet and colorful adult beverages!

THIS is where SANGRIA comes in, because:

SANGRIA TASTES LIKE SUMMER.

I make it from time to time when I'm desperately trying to hold onto summer for a few cold, getting colder, weekends this time of year.

It's easy to make sangria.

WINE + FRUIT = SANGRIA

It's quick, delicious and refreshing.

If you don't like fruit, you're outta luck. More for me.

If you click on my photo below, you'll be taken to my 60-second easy sangria recipe.

Easy Sangria Recipe - Greg's Helpful Videos

** Upon losing expensive eyewear for the 2nd time in five years, I was completely and utterly embarrassed.

My family was there to witness it BOTH times!

And I was also very angry at myself.

SO ANGRY.

And there was swearing to be had.

Lots of swearing.

Lots of LOUD swearing.

And there were children everywhere!

And. I. Didn't. Care.

I was swearing with no thought of social decorum.

I was uttering profanities in the clear, warm waters of Mexico,

(Proud of myself, I am not.)

BUT -

After about 15 minutes, I finally calmed down and surrendered to the situation.

It was simple: I was going to be legally blind for my entire vacation in Mexico.

And then!

My brother, Doug, stepped on something buried in the sand near the shore.

He reached down, expecting to be bit by a crustacean, but instead he found my glasses.

It was amazing. Really amazing.

I'm still blown away by it.

My brother found my glasses!

They could have gone deeper into the Caribbean Sea.

They could have gone parallel to the shore.

Never getting closer, never getting further away, just keep moving to the right. Or to the left.

They also could have drifted just a few feet away from where I had lost them to the large wave.

Into water that was too deep to gain footing.

But -

They headed towards shore.

Where my brother was able to find them.

Amazing.

So,

As I sip my sangria,

This is one of the great memories I'll relive from the summer of 2017.

Thanks for reading!

GTO

What are your memories from the summer of 2017?

Reinvent Yourself: Help Others Solve Netflix Silverlight Error N8010.

GTO's Thoughts:

I was having trouble getting Netflix to work on my MacBook.

I kept getting Silverlight Error N8010.

Which means Safari's Private Browsing Mode was supposedly restricting Netflix from storing settings on my computer.

But there was more to it than that!

I finally figured everything out, made a quick video, and wanted to pass it along.

Just click the photo and you'll be taken to my YouTube video (3 min).

If this solution helps you, let me know. Thanks, GTO.

Using Safari to Watch Netflix? Getting Silverlight-Netflix Error N8010? Here's a FIX!

Reinvent Yourself: A Motivational Lament

Why are my moments of highest motivation always, ALWAYS, just before I have to go to work - or just before I go to bed?

A smart friend of mine suggested that maybe it's a survival reflex. That our subconscious knows that's the only safe time to inspire us because it's the easiest kind of motivation to get out of.

"You have energy. You could start that thing you wanted to start. But darn! - you have to go to work! Oh well, we'll get 'em later, Tiger. Have a great day!"

"Thanks, subconscious! You have a great day too."

And you work.

And you intend to give that thing you wanted to start another go.

But at the end of the day, a funny thing happens.

Your work is done, you've eaten, spent time with the family & friends and now, now it's time for sweet sleep.

You've waited all day for this. The stress is gone. You're relaxed. Your inhibitions are down. You're in the twilight of consciousness, drifting off, and..

BAM!

A great idea hits you!

And your subconscious knew one was coming all along. But it reminds you:

"You have energy. You could start that thing you wanted to start. But darn! you have to sleep! Oh well, we'll get 'em later, Tiger. Have a great night!"

"Darn you, subconscious. Right again. You have a great night too!"

So you'll give that thing you wanted to start another go.

In the morning. Before work.

But for now, zzzz :: drool :: zzzz :: snore :: zzzz!

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince

I know. I'm boring and unoriginal. But I'm going on the record & saying: 

"When Doves Cry"

is my favorite Prince song.*

The hypnotic, syncopatic keyboards, those dang, unmistakeably-Princely drum synths, the passion with which he cries out at himself and his lover, as they repeat the same behavior he sees in his parents' stormy relationship:

Why do we scream? Why? This is what it sounds like.

When doves cry.

LOVE  IT. LOVE IT. LOVE  IT. LOVE IT. LOVE  IT. LOVE IT. LOVE  IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.
---

*Followed, so-closely-as-to-be-unmeasurable, by 

"Let's Go Crazy" 

Dearly beloved. We are gathered here 2day 2 get through this thing called Life. Electric word, Life, it means 4ever, and that's a mighty long time, but I'm here to tell U.. 

there's something else.

That driving beat. The idea of celebrating even as the world is falling apart. 

And if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy!

PUNCH A HIGHER FLOOR!

And that kick-ass guitar-solo! That solo! 

That FREAKIN' solo!

TWO MORE-PERFECT SONGS HAVE NEVER BEEN WRITTEN!

---

I will also sing my guts out to "Raspberry Beret" and to "Kiss" 
(a song I very much disliked in 1986):

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with, I just want your extra time and your (jangle-jangle-jangle) kiss.

You were mysterious & enigmatic. Some said shy.

I thought maybe a bit stand-offish & holier-than-thou. 

AND

let's not forget 
you were way too sexy for my fragile ego. 
You flaunted sex in a way that I was never comfortable with. 
You rubbed it in our faces. 

And then on top of that, 
you go and introduce us to 
*THE* *SEXIEST* WOMEN* of the 80's:

Sheila E, Apollonia, Vanity. 

My god, it was just too much for my hormone-rattled youth! 

(But you did introduce us to that dude in the headband. He seemed cool.)

(You gave him the line: 

Life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last

in the video for "1999".)

(I just found out his name is Dez Dickerson. Even his name rocks.) 

(I also always had a soft-spot for Lisa & Wendy too.) 

But I digress.

---

Please allow me to close by saying: 

Mr. Prince, 
sir, 
U were an artistic genius
and your music 
made an impact 
on my life and soul.

Thank U for that. 

Rest in peace.

GTO

Reinvent Yourself: Look at Life with a New Perspective

GTO's Thoughts:

Ran across a series of illustrations by artist John Holcroft (via Wired Magazine (Facebook) via Good).

Holcroft takes mundane nuances of modern life and juxtaposes them against the larger societal message.

Holcroft has his detractors (many on Facebook said his work was too focused on the negatives in life, others said his work was childish or too "grumpy old man"-ish), but these illustrations spoke to me & felt like a good fit for my blog's theme of making small, positive changes in one's life.

Especially this one:  --------------------------------------->

I WANT A HAPPINESS KIT!

Friendship, laughter, ethnic cuisines, personal freedom, quiet moments, pinball - these are just some of the things that would make up my Happiness Kit.

What would be in yours?

Check out John Holcroft's work here.

Peace out,
GTO

Reinvent Yourself: FLOSS IN THE SHOWER

GTO'S Thoughts:

Yeah, I do this! What of it?!

Yeah, I admit it... 

I floss in the shower. 

Not all the time. 

(Just most of the time.)

I have 3 reasons for doing this:

(1) At the bathroom sink, the tiny container of floss gets lost amongst the bottles of pain relievers, toothbrushes, toothpastes, combs, hairsprays, colognes, handsoaps, razors, hand lotions, medicated powders, etc.

If I don't see it, I won't use it.

But in the shower, I actually see the tiny container of floss. 

It's sitting there by itself, right on that handy little shelf that's supposed to hold a bar of soap. 

(The soap always slips off! - but that little container of floss stays right where I can see it.)

And if I can see it, I have a better chance of using it. Score!

(2) Flossing in the shower protects your mirror -- from FLYING DEBRIS.

I pride myself on not flinging food particles out of my mouth at high rates of speed. 

But you do! (Admit it.) I'm just trying to save you from yourself here! okay? 

Also, cleaning a food-spattered mirror is kinda disgusting if you think about it.

Yet - getting food from our teeth isn't the main point of flossing... 

We floss. To remove plaque. And to strengthen our gums. 

(And for some to fling food from their teeth at high rates of speed!) (Not naming names. Y-O-U.)

 

If your gums bleed after flossing, it's because you attacked them like a maniac with that razor-sharp floss! Try using dental tape instead! - like my buddy Bob prefers. It's more gentle.

Another reason our gums bleed is because they're not healthy. The more you floss, the stronger your gums become and the less they'll bleed. Win!

And finally, (3) - When you floss in your tub, the shower head offers an immediate, powerful cleansing rinse. It takes some getting used to [see: avoid drowning in the shower] - but once you get the hang of it, the rinsing action of the shower really helps your mouth feel clean. 

Sure, you could use a Waterpik. I almost bought one. My dentist, Dr Spatz, said water flossers don't do a good-enough job of removing plaque. (My buddy, Bob, agrees.) Doctor said there is no substitute for flossing.

My dental hygienist told me that flossing is actually more important than brushing. A lot of research backs this up. Dentists don't tell us this because if they do, we'll stop brushing and flossing!) (Admit it!)

Flossing is important. We all need to do it more often. We know this.

(Yes, we still need to brush too.)

When you floss and brush on a regular basis it makes having a laugh an even more enjoyable experience!

SO LET'S DO THIS, PEOPLE! 

FLOSS! FLOSS! FLOSS!

Thanks for listening.

Sincerely, GTO

Reinvent Yourself: STOP LIVING FOR "SOMEDAY"

Subtitled: A Scary Phrase (That's Haunted Me For Years)    

I was listening to the Internet Business Mastery podcast today, and Jeremy and Jason mentioned a phrase that has haunted me for years.

They mentioned it in passing, so it clearly wasn't something that they've wrestled with to any degree.

But the fact that this phrase actually had a name distracted me for several minutes as I wrestled with guilt, and the feeling that I had wasted so much time already, clinging to a belief that told me over and over again:

"Someday, I'll be happy."

I rewound the podcast. And listened again.

The phrase they mentioned was the Arrival Fallacy.

(Just typing it makes my blood chill.)

What is the Arrival Fallacy?  (brrrr...)

It's the belief that you will achieve happiness and fulfillment only after certain, future criteria have been met. You cannot be happy now. You will only be happy after this happens. Or when that happens.

Or when this and that happen!

Perhaps it's after you get the raise you wanted. Or after you finally buy a home.

You've decided that you will only be happy when you've arrived.

Are you like me?

Does your happiness lie just around the corner, or in some distant future?  Does it always seem to be out of reach?

Perhaps you believe in the Arrival Fallacy too.

"How can I be happy now? I'm clearly not the person I want to be yet."

"I'm overweight." "I don't make enough money." "I haven't found love yet."

Oh, yeah.  I know all about this kind of thinking.

Do you live for a happier time? A better place? Are you wishing you were somewhere other than where you are right now?  Do you secretly think: "Someday..."?

"Someday, I'll start making those changes."

"Someday, life will be better, and I can start fresh."

"Someday, I'll be happy."

These thoughts echo in my mind, and have for years. 

Of course the fact that the world is a miserable place isn't helping us at all. How can we possibly be happy right now? While people hurt, or kill, or die?

It's true. The world isn't a perfect place. Not even close.

I think that's why it's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "Someday". 

It gives us an excuse, perfectly wrapped in a shiny package. "I'll wait until life is just a little bit better before I start doing that important thing I've wanted to do all my life." "I'll wait just a little bit longer before I start doing the things that make me happy."

I didn't even realize I had this mindset.

I thought I was just being hopeful.

Someday things'll get better. Someday I'll achieve the things I want to achieve.

Sure, it's hopeful thinking - but at some point, if you're not careful, it can become an avoidance technique.

That's what it became to me.

I've pushed so many of my dreams so far into "someday" that I've never had to worry about actually achieving them.

So I just stay right here. Where it's safe. Locked in thoughts of a happier future. Never having to put my neck out there. Never having to risk failure at achieving my goals.

... because someday it'll all be okay. One of these days, I'll find that elusive confidence I've been seeking. I'll give voice to the artist inside of me. One of these days, I'll create! I'll Do! I'll Be! Go me! Yeah!!

Sounds wonderful. Like heaven on earth.

But there's bad news. (You knew I'd have bad news. You probably already know what it is. You're smart like that.)

The bad news is one of these days we're going to die.

(I hope it's a peaceful death for us. In our sleep, surrounded by family.)

But what if we end up with a lot of time to contemplate the things that might've been, could've been... weren't? What if we were able to see what needed to be done, but we hadn't done it?

Don't know about you, but that would be pretty crushing. Living in the shadow of goals unpursued.

That's the way I've been living. (Have you been living that way too?)

[insert long sigh of sad realization] [ha]

There are a few cures to this scary scenario.

You could try reading this (hysterical and vulgar).

Or try this (not hysterical or vulgar).

Or I could just cut to the chase and tell you to:

START

I don't care how crappy it is.

I don't care how scary it is.

I don't care who'll laugh at you.

SOMETHING

Take a first step toward a worthy goal.

Do something that matters. Right now.

It doesn't have to matter to anyone else but you.

But start doing it. Whatever it is.

TODAY.

Do it because arrival is a fallacy.

You're already here. You're on the planet. You're breathing air. You're reading these words.

You've arrived. 

You've arrived at the start of a beautiful new day. 

And this day is all we have.

And unlike "someday", TODAY is not a fallacy.

START. SOMETHING. TODAY.

It could just make you happy.

Thank you. Sorry for rambling, ha.

GTO

Reinvent Yourself: MAKE A HAPPINESS JAR

Subtitle: Ditch the New Year's Resolutions! Make a Happiness Jar! In 3 Easy Steps!

I'm not making any New Year's Resolutions this year.

There. I said it.

I've been doing resolutions every year for decades now, but dammit!... it's time to admit the truth.

I FAIL at New Year's Resolutions!

And because my friends & I review our resolutions on New Years Eve each year, I begin nearly every new year on a disappointing note by stewing on my failures of the past 356 days.

And what makes it worse is that I've often recycled the same resolution from year to year because: (1) it's usually a great goal on some level, and (2) it deserves another shot at being accomplished. I think most people have done this.

But we shouldn't recycle our goals.  We should accomplish them!  Then move on!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I had one resolution for 2012

Start School.

Did I start school?  NO.

Am I happy about not starting school?  NO.

Did reflecting on "not starting school" start my New Year off with a bang?  NO!

Get the picture?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

So I want to try something different for 2013.

I love the idea of making a "Happiness Jar". (It goes by many names.)

It's a simple idea. And there's only 3 Easy Steps.

(1) Get a jar.
(2) When something good happens to you in 2013, write it down on a scrap of paper, and
(3) Put it in the jar!

Then on New Years Eve 2013-2014, you & your friends can take turns reading notes from your Happiness Jars. (You can even do this alone.)

To me, this is a great way to honor a year. So much better than reflecting on the failures, don't you think? You get an opportunity to remember and acknowledge and reflect upon the good things that happened to you in a year. I love it.

Of course if you're really good at setting goals and accomplishing them at New Years, by all means KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

But since the context for my message is that New Year's Resolutions are more like fun ideas that aren't structured to be taken seriously (not like focused goal setting), and since many of us are tired of slamming our heads against a wall come New Year's Eve, and since many of us would like a boost to kick-off a new year, consider making a Happiness Jar.

Already started mine.

"1/1/13: Heard (& Saw) a Trilling Screech Owl!"

Hey, it made me happy!

But you need to find the things that make you happy!

Then write them down & throw them in the jar.

Maybe, just maybe, 2014 has a chance to start off really great!

Happy New Years to you, World!

Action to Us All!
GTO

Reinvent Yourself: Read "6 Harsh Truths" by David Wong

Subtitle: Failed Artists! Disgruntled Creatives! Depressed Citizens! Anyone!.. who expected MORE from life! PLEASE READ THIS!

David Wong of Cracked.com has written one of the best articles I've ever read!

6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person (by David Wong).

It lays out, in brutally-honest (and brutally-funny) language, what we can do to make our experience on this planet more meaningful. It will especially appeal to people who have lost touch with the dreams and goals of their lives. (I count myself among this group.)

Be warned: there's plenty of vulgarity here.

But there's also plenty of truth.

QUESTION FOR YOU:

Did you enjoy this article as much as I did?

Please let me know in the comments.

GTO

Reinvent Yourself: ORGANIZE (& ELIMINATE) YOUR SPAM

Subtitle: Organize Your Spam Folder (It's Fun!)

Do you get a lot of spam?

MagicJack Plus!
Platinum Credit Card!
Want to Add Inches?
Hey! Remember Me?
Grow More Hair!
Pharmacy Online!
Raspberry Ketones!
Real Email from Mom!
Solar America!
Urgent Deposit!
Free Coffee!
Online Education!
Pimsleur Approach!

Did your brain get woozy looking at this list?

Did you miss the Real Email from Mom? (She wants to know if you'll make it home for Thanksgiving.)

Well, here's a little trick I discovered that made a huge difference when cleaning out my spam folder. I use Yahoo! Mail, but this should work with most mail services - but apparently not Gmail. (Bad, Google!)

Before deleting any spam, organize your spam folder ALPHABETICALLY!

(In Yahoo's case, you do this by clicking on the "From" heading.)

Wow! So much easier on the eyes and brain!

It doesn't feel like you're wading through a jumbled mass of eye pollution, does it?

There's a streamlined feel to the preceedings.

You can see legitimate emails more easily. You can see which spammers are most prolific. You can also see the marketing emails you signed up for, but that are long overdue for unsubscribing. (You bought that car already, so you no longer need your local Ford dealers or Enterprise Rental Cars emailing you on a weekly basis, right?)

Right.

So if this technique helps in your fight against spam, let me know, okay?

GTO

P.S. - You can also organize your Inbox alphabetically.

See all of Mom's emails in a convenient, sequential order!

You sent her a Christmas List in 2009. (Did you remember? Of course you didn't! Time has buried Mom's emails under thousands of other emails, all vying for your attention!)

There are gift items in that long-forgotten Christmas list that you'd still love to receive from Santa! Add these items to 2012's list!  Easy peasy.

By occasionally organizing your Inbox alphabetically, you'll get a better perspective on your life and the people important to you. 

(Just remember to change your Inbox back to its original "organized by date" setting when you're done. It's really the best setting for receiving emails. Just not the best for fighting spam. Or rediscovering older, important emails.) 

Reinvent Yourself: LET ME READ YOUR SCREENPLAYS!

Greetings, friends!

Okay, I admit it. My blog looks a little rough. (I hit the wrong button, answered a question incorrectly and unknowingly erased my original template. The template I've used successfully for 3 years. Argh. Now my ads won't display correctly (or at all) and my blog just looks like it's fallen into a state of disrepair.)

But rest assured, I am here. Slowly patching things together.

Over the next two months, I'm going to try something different with my blog.

I have readers from all over the world... (I know this because I can "see" you in my Google analytics page)... but most of you have remained very quiet as you've perused my blog.

No worries. Really. It's my fault. I accomplished my goal of updating & transcribing an excellent article from Modern Maturity and now there's not much need to keep up with the blog.

(And, yes, perhaps it's time to start a new blog!)

(And, yes, perhaps after this little experiment, I will do just that.)

(And, yes, perhaps this little experiment will power the new blog!)

But, listen, forget all that! Here's the deal.

Thanks to Google AdWords, I've been gifted with $100 of free advertising. So I wanted to take this opportunity to turn the tables on my readers and let you know that:

For the next 2 months, I'm open to reading your original, unpublished screenplays and will provide feedback free of charge to anyone who is willing to share.

(Of course we'll have to work on a proper release form.)

And I definitely prefer to focus on screenplays for now.

I studied the form for years - I've practiced the form for years - and it's the form I'm most comfortable with. And yes, it's true I'm not a professional - but honestly, reading screenplays and giving constructive, useful criticism is something I'm pretty dang good at.

So -

This is the chance to get real feedback on your screenplay for the low, introductory price of FREE.

I ask that you please put your script into standard script format. (I'll find a link that will explain all the proper formatting tomorrow.) If you use a script formatting program, that'd be best. (Right now I can read screenplays in .FDR, DOC, .PDF & probably a few other formats as well.)

Then email me with "Screenplay" in the subject line, or leave a comment here (the preferred method) with your contact information - and I'll be in touch! (My email is mynameisgto@gmail.com).

This is a good time to get feedback on one of your scripts. (Yes, sorry. One script per person please.)

Perhaps you don't have any friends you can talk "shop" with. Or perhaps you need more input than: "That was good, honey!" (with a friendly pat on the head). Maybe you need to know WHY your script was good. (Or maybe why it wasn't good, egad.)

Now, I don't want to crush your dreams of writing for the movies. I just want to give you more feedback than you may have received thus far. But I'm definitely suited to screenwriters who want real, down-to-earth, & HONEST feedback.

We'll figure out a way to discuss your script at some point. Perhaps in a live chatroom. Perhaps via email.

But that's the deal for now.

Okay?

Let me know if you have any questions.

I look forward to getting to know you - and reading some cool stories!

GTO

Reinvent Yourself: TRACK YOUR GOALS

Subtitle: Tracking Goals With The Writer's Store "Don't Break The Chain" Calendar

The Writer's Store sent this very handy 365-day calendar to the subscribers of their mailing list. Most of these subscribers are, of course, writers - but you don't have to write (or even know how to spell) to utilize the "Don't Break The Chain" calendar. The 365 numbered boxes are small enough to fit on one page. But how do you use it? What is the philosophy behind it? Jerry Seinfeld knows! In a nutshell, it's a year-at-a-glance reminder that can be used to track any goal that needs to occur on a consistent basis. Here's the abridged original email. GTO

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This year, I'm gonna write more."

It's a popular resolution amongst our crowd. A great goal, but vague.

Maybe some of us promised to write every day. (That's better.)

But just like hitting a plateau at the gym, we sometimes lose the steam that once powered a new and exciting story idea. We take one day off, which turns into two days off; eventually, we find ourselves opening up a document only to realize it hasn't been touched in two weeks – or more.

Let's say you do write most of the time, but you take one or two days off each week for any number of reasons. That's still a lot of writing. But consider this: at the end of the year, that's roughly 10 weeks, or 2.5 months' worth of days that you didn't write anything.

That's where Jerry Seinfeld's productivity tip "Don't Break the Chain" comes in.

Years ago, when software developer Brad Isaac was performing stand-up at open mic nights, he received his best advice ever from the already-famous comedian.

Seinfeld explained his method for success: each January, he hangs a large year-at-a-glance calendar on his wall and, for every day he wrote new material, he had the exquisite pleasure that can only come from drawing a big red X over that day.

Drawing those Xs got to be pretty fun and rewarding, so he kept doing it. Eventually, he began to create a chain of red Xs. The idea was to never break that chain.

Not only does this approach program the body and mind to sit down and write daily – it also motivates you to continue that beautiful string of big, red Xs. If you don't write one day, you don't get to draw the X.

It doesn't particularly matter what you [do]. It can be anything, as long as you're actively and routinely pushing yourself.

[What are your goals? What can you accomplish - on a consistent basis - that would make you feel better about yourself or your life?]

Who is going to push you? For many, it's going to come down to self-determination. Your partner or parents or kids can encourage you too. Let them know about the calendar. After you prove you can keep the chain connected for a couple of weeks, they too will motivate you not to miss a single day.
 [I love the support that can come from our friends & family.]

Don’t waste another moment – start building your chain today!

[Source: The Writer's Store newsletter, January 2011. As edited by Greg Olszewski.]

Reinvent Yourself: REACH THE WORLD, START A BLOG

Subtitle: Greetings, World!

This is my first entry in over a year. The reason for that is because my original goal - to get a delightful Modern Maturity article online (and update it slightly) so others could enjoy it - was accomplished, and I felt that I had done all I had set out to do with this particular blog.

So I put away my keyboard and let the blog collect dust. (It was, after all, my first experiment at blogging and I figured that no one would ever find it - especially considering it placed near the 500th spot on Google - and that was only if you searched exclusively through their blog search!)

Well, I recently checked my Google Analytics for the past year and - OMG - I'm blown away!

When I left this little piece of work, I had a total of 50 visitors from 7 countries. That was during the course of its entire 1st year of life (2008-2009).

But during 2009-2010 - the year when I did NO work on it - I've had 1400 visitors from 48 countries!

OMG! WOW! HOLY MACKEREL!

I wanted to say THANK YOU to the folks who have "accidentally" stumbled across this blog. (I'm not going to fool myself into believing that anyone "intentionally" sought it out, ha!)

[Although I do have one fan, a lovely young woman who goes by the name of Erin Marie Designs. I didn't even know one's blog could have followers. And I usually have to approve all aspects of my blog, from the comments to the followers - but somehow Mrs Erin Marie got through and I'm happy that she did. She seems like a perfectly likeable, well-adjusted woman with cute step-kids and a positive outlook on life! -- so she's staying!]

So anyways, I wanted to tell the world THANK YOU!

THANK YOU, WORLD!

Maybe there's something to this blogging thing after all!

Perhaps you could reinvent your life by starting your own blog & reaching out to the world! You never know who might read it.

Please leave a comment & let me know you were here!
GTO

Reinvent Yourself: DO IMPORTANT GOALS FIRST

When we go to work, there's an extensive system in place to ensure that we punch-in on time, get something worthwhile accomplished (at least on most days), interact effectively (and politely) with our co-workers, and punch-out before heading home.

Unfortunately, when it comes to accomplishing personal goals, these systems are harder to implement.

One thing that helps me accomplish goals is building a new routine into the beginning of the day. For example, when I was trying to lose weight, I made sure I woke up early enough to exercise before going to work. ("Before" is the operative word here because after work there's too many excuses not to do things. You're tired. The kids need help with their homework. You're hungry. It's much easier to let yourself off the hook.)

When you set time aside each day to attend to a goal (and when you put this goal ahead of the other events of the day), you're honoring the goal. You're giving it value. You're proclaiming to yourself and your household and to your day that this is an important and worthwhile goal.

In using this technique, you can achieve a wonderful sense of accomplishment - even if the rest of the day goes to crap.

By putting an important, personal goal ahead of work, your heart and your head begin to accept that no matter how bad the day might turn out, you've already done something important for yourself. You've taken care of your own emotional or physical well-being. You've done something for yourself.

And that emotional connection is so important. There's power in that feeling. (It gives you confidence. And peace.) And carrying those emotions with you throughout the day will improve your mood, and push your energy level in a positive direction.

So stop staring at the stationary bike. (.. that's what I was doing..)

Or maybe you have a treadmill. (.. clean the clothes off of it.. ha)

And hop on!

Even 10 minutes is good.

Start making room for the important changes in your life.

Just 10 minutes.

You'll feel much better about your day.

And yourself.

GTO

Reinvent Yourself: HAVE A LAUGH

GTO's Thoughts:

Laughter can be great medicine. I'm not usually very political, but this spoof of the Vice-Presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden (as done by Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis) had me rolling with laughter. The characterizations are dead-on, and neither side escapes skewering. Enjoy!

HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.hulu.com/watch/37730

I've been thinking for a couple days about "Having a Laugh" and I remembered that some of the most enjoyable, most laughter-inducing times I've experienced have been game-nights with family and friends. There's nothing quite like it. Talk about great medicine!

Have you ever played Balderdash? Oh my gosh, it's as close to perfection as a game can get! Unlike trivia games (where unevenly-yoked players fight a desperate battle to get a single correct answer, even as their more well-read counterparts are crossing the finish line), Balderdash is a bluffing game where players make up definitions to words they've never heard of, and earn points when other players choose their bogus definitions as actual definitions.

It's a pretty level playing field if you ask me. But bluffing is only one aspect of the overall entertainment value in a game like Balderdash.

One of the things I enjoy about the game is seeing a side of your family and friends that you rarely get to see. Hidden talents bubble to the surface. Family members begin to show facets of new personalities. And the room begins to feel a lot smarter than you remembered!

Just try to keep a straight face as you collect everyone's definitions and read them aloud to the other players, I dare you. You can't. It's impossible. Balderdash insiders know what I'm talking about! I'm not even playing the game and I'm cracking up at the comedic tension that fills the room during this stage of the game. (Oh, Dasher, your stifled yet gut-wrenching giggles betray you!)

It's a feast of amazing cleverness, unexpected creativity and uproarious laughter - all shared with people you know and love. And you won't even care who wins! I love it!

Play Balderdash and have a laugh. Or watch Saturday Night Live.
What makes you laugh? Let me know! GTO

Reinvent Yourself: MAKE A 10-MINUTE COMMITMENT

Subtitle: Don't Let Yourself Off the Hook

How often do you say you're going to do something - and then fall short of actually doing it?

Do you let yourself off the hook more often than you should?

Have the people in your life stopped taking you seriously, or have you stopped taking yourself seriously?

Well, friend, I know your pain.

And as a living, breathing example of someone who lets himself off the hook way too often, I believe that we pay a severe price for this behavior.

When we say we're going to do something, then don't - aren't we, in essence, lying to ourselves?

(Now, you can choose to believe that it's not a lie, but then my question becomes, when does it become a lie? At what point does saying something (and not doing it) become a lie? -- a month? A year?)

The point is, putting off important things compromises the trust and belief we have in ourselves. The longer we put off important things, the more doubt creeps in. Our brains start asking the wrong kinds of questions, start seeing the wrong kinds of outcomes - and we stop moving forward. Inertia sets in, then paralysis - the result of no longer believing in ourselves.

We can start believing again.

By doing what we say we will do.

Take that first, tiny step.

In my case, the first tiny step is often just sitting down. Sitting my butt down and focusing on something for five minutes.

What important things do you need to do? Can you do them for even five minutes?

Do you have a paper due? Can you work on it for five minutes?

Do you need to lose weight? Can you exercise for five to ten minutes?

Or is it as simple as your dishes piling up? Can you wash five glasses or plates right now?

Is your house a mess? Make the bed!

(Making the bed only takes two minutes, yet completely changes the look of the room!)

Just get started!

Even a small change to our environment can help us feel like we're taking action.

And before you know it, things are starting to look up.

But don't overdo it. (I'm talking to the beginners here!)

For things to change, you need to take small, consistent actions. But don't overdo it!

If you write for two hours today, you may not feel like writing tomorrow. I'd rather you go slowly everyday than risk overdoing it, scaring yourself, or wearing yourself out, and never getting back to the matter at hand. (I'm speaking from experience here.)

We want to offset the sinking emotions you've been feeling recently, but we don't want to overwhelm you. So take small, gentle action everyday.

Don't let yourself off the hook!

With those small, focused, consistent actions, momentum begins to build. Sometimes it takes a while. (Some argue that it takes a month for new habits to kick in.) But even before that you'll start to see that you're getting back on track. Moving forward. One step at a time.

My friend, Elwin, and I get together to write once a week. At first, we'd spend a majority of our writing-time catching up with each other, or getting into very interesting conversations about this or that. (It was mostly my fault.) But as the weeks went on, as we got comfortable with our writing-time, we found ourselves getting to the important stuff (the writing) much more quickly. Yes, it took weeks, but we stayed consistent, and now spend the majority of our time doing what we need to do - the important stuff.

We can't afford to lie to ourselves for long. There's a time-limit on life.

Things change constantly. One day an opportunity may present itself, then the next day it could be gone forever.

To get ready for these opportunities, we need to stop lying to ourselves, take tiny, focused action, re-establish a level of trust and faith in ourselves, and move on to the next thing as soon as possible. 

All we need is a 10-minute commitment.

(We'll add more time later.)

Today. 10-minutes. Don't let yourself off the hook. This is important.

We're training ourselves to be consistent. We're training ourselves to stop lying.

We can do this.

We got this.

GTO

Take Stock

The Marylhurst University Life Planning and Career Development Program in Portland, Oregon, is geared to adults in transition. It focuses on evaluating strengths and preferences, creating a vision,
and developing a new life plan (800.634.9982, ext. 6260; on the web
http://www.marylhurst.edu/learningassessment/lifeplanning.php). [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski]

GTO's Thoughts: A program like Marylhurst's would certainly be helpful to a lot of people. I did some digging and found that my local community college (CCAC) offers a 2-credit course on this very subject. Perhaps you could check with your local college.

Couldn't hurt.

My alma mater, Penn State, offers lifetime career services to alumni. Current students also have the opportunity to use their resources. The website is http://www.sa.psu.edu/career/. Job fairs are held at least twice a year and the University also keeps extensive job listings online through their Nittany Lion Recruiting site - http://www.sa.psu.edu/career/nlr/.

If you're a PSU alum in need of a new career, definitely check those sites out.

But there's a ton of other job resources online. Aside from Monster.com, another website I tried was LiveCareer.com. Their Career Interest Test was fun, informative, and free. (You'll have to pay for an expanded report.) But it's definitely worth checking out.

Of course, an obvious suggestion is to try Googling/Yahooing/
Dogpiling "new career" or "career change" for more ideas.

Let me know what you find!
GTO

Write Your Eulogy

What would you want people to say about you after you're gone? Addressing that question can help you better understand who you are and who you want to be, advises Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute? (Ten Speed Press, revised and updated annually). This career-hunter's bible offers a checklist of values to help you set priorities. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January-February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

GTO's Thoughts:

I stopped publishing this blog for a few months while I thought about my eulogy. I wasn't going to continue until I had figured out exactly what I hoped people would say about me when I die.

So here we are.  And here I am.  And I got nuthin'.

Although..

Here's two things that I don't want my family and friends to say
at my funeral:
(1) "He was a 'nice' guy."
(2) "He had great potential."

Ugh, the "nice" guy thing.

Nice guys have their points. (They hold doors, they say hi to people in the park, they'll listen when strangers tell them their entire life stories waiting in line at the grocery store.)

But a part of me wants to scream -- "NICE GUYS FINISH LAST!"

(I mean, look at me -- I'm in a casket! If I wasn't so nice, I'd still be alive!)

But, seriously, nice guys are (often) afraid of the world - and of life!
Nice guys don't (often) get what they want from this world.
And nice guys are not remembered (often).

Now "great potential" - that's something I think about everyday.
I'm more haunted by it actually.

I'm not doing enough with my life. I'm doing little things, but they're just not adding up to a colorful life. I want a colorful life.

I want to travel. Go on adventures. Stay with friends wherever they live. I want to see the Aurora Borealis. Skydive. Pilot a glider. I want to be interviewed by a magazine. Any magazine. Swim with dolphins...

(Yeah, just some basics. I'll start with them, then move onto more creative ventures.)

But I've got to stop having potential, and start having:

KINETICISM.

That's the real trick.

Thanks for reading!
GTO ("the nice guy with great potential")

Start a Journal

Cleopatra, Marco Polo, and Anne Frank all kept journals as a tool to help them make sense of their lives. "Along the way," says Lois Guarino, author of Writing Your Authentic Self (Dell Publishing, 1999), "each of these people discovered more about who they really were, even though at the time they may not have consciously known this is what they were doing."

"Take Marco Polo. His intention was to chronicle his world travels, yet among the dates and descriptions are personal insights and observations of himself and others. As Marco Polo broadened his horizons, he also broadened his sense of self." [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

GTO's Thoughts:I've journaled for a majority of my adult life. Since high school.

I don't remember why I started the practice.
(I should read my earliest entries to see if they provide a clue.)

But speaking as someone who's kept journals for over 20 years, here's a few reasons why I think they're important.

(1) We are our memories. If I want to know how I felt about something in 1984, I can find out. If I want to know who I loved in 1991, I can find out. I already know the basic facts, but the journal helps me to round out the picture. It goes a bit deeper than my natural memory does. The journal adds detail to those memories, color. And keep them more fully alive.

(2) I always wanted to be a writer. Something inside of me always felt that if I wrote a journal, taking the next step and writing a book wouldn't be as difficult.

I haven't written that book yet. But I have enough journal entries now that they could fill at least two books. Heck, maybe three. (Point #3 is a book by itself!)

I'm not a prolific journaler. Most times I don't sit for hours and hours, though sometimes I do. If you sat down for just a few minutes each day (or week) to write a little something, I bet you'd have enough words to fill a book too.

(3) Journaling helped me come out of a very dark place in my emotional life by making me aware of trends (some a decade long) that had overwhelmed my life.

For about 10 years after college, I fell into an obsessive/compulsive state that did serious damage to my psyche.

You've heard the stories of teenagers obsessing over a single pimple on their face, and thinking themselves ugly and unattractive? That was me in my mid-20's.

You've heard the stories of men and women, worried whether they will be called back for a second date, obsess over things they could've done differently to "really impress" their date? That was me in my mid-30's.

In my 20's and 30's I was living like a stereotypical teen. But my obsessive/compulsive thoughts weren't only limited to personal attractiveness. They were limited to anything that entered my brain.

I'd alternately obsess about one thing while behaving compulsively toward another, all while being addicted to, of all things, the Internet. Which, back then, was charged on a per-minute basis. It wasn't unusual to see $200, $300 or $400 AOL bills each month. I lost a lot of time and money.

I also lost myself.

Keeping a journal helped me to become aware of how much damage I was causing myself. Not just financially, but also emotionally.

Let's say the woman of your dreams has just moved to California. Despite the distance, your feelings for her do not decrease. You don't date anyone else because you know that you're destined to be with this woman. God has something good in store for the both of you. And you know that, despite how difficult it is now, you're going to be together someday - and you're going to marry her.

You hold onto these thoughts even when she comes back to town for the holidays, but doesn't contact you. You hold onto these thoughts even after she stops returning your calls altogether.

Eventually, you hear from a friend that she's a lesbian.

But you know God will bring her back to you!

I'm stopping there. Hopefully, you see my point.

If you read enough of these entries, you start to see trends in your behavior. And you start to see how things like denial and naivette and pure stubbornness play in your decisions. These are important lessons.

Your journal can provide a wake-up call. A slap in the face. Even if it's a slow-motion slap in the face that takes 5-10 years to make contact.

Better late than never.

Start journaling.
GTO