Jan/100
limited possibility perspective?
Do you suffer from LPP? A lot of people do and don’t realize it. What is it?
Simply put… the Limited Possibility Perspective is thinking that you can’t, more than believing that you can. It is operating from a scarcity mentality that tells us that dreams cannot or do not come true.
Great things are accomplished by those who dare to dream.
Those who refuse to accept the status quo.
Those who take intelligent risks and live on purpose.
Those who embrace and expand their perspective of possibilities.
Those who courageously step out and take action over apprehension… often in the midst of adversity and uncertainty.
If all this sounds like a bunch of positive thinking, motivational and inspirational nonsense to you… then you are likely suffering from acute LPP right now.
Limiting our possibilities makes the world appear very small. Physics tells us that when spaces get small, the pressure goes up. The world of possibility is vast. Options and opportunities are everywhere. But you have to look for them. You have to see them. Sometimes “seeing things” is the best thing.
But this same world is full of nay-sayers and dream stealers ready and willing to tell the rest of us what can’t be done and isn’t possible in their opinion and from their perspective. It appears as though they get great joy from pounding and pouncing on others’ ambition when in fact they are just running scared themselves. Run from these people. Distance yourself from dream stealers and instead surround yourself with dreamers who decide to do each and everyday.
Regardless of our individual definitions of success, or the actual outcomes, greatness is reserved for those who pursue it. And this greatness exists within the pursuit of possibility.
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who believed that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.” – Bruce Barton
©2010 Tom Leu
Dec/090
begin an end
Like a lot of people, endings often make me sad. It’s been this way my whole life. Whether it’s the end of a vacation, a marriage, or a movie, the idea of something that was anticipated being over is depressing. It’s been said that the end of one era begins yet another. So to begin an end means to anticipate the conclusion of events, relationships, and seasons of life in advance. To prepare mentally for the inevitable. It’s not morbid, it’s practical.
Not all endings are bad of course. In fact, oftentimes they’re actually good things… just in disguise. Some things inevitably have to end in order for the benefits to finally come from them.
The band Semisonic puts it like this… “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” So instead of looking at something being finished as an ending, maybe we ought to look at it as the next beginning of something even better. Always the optimist, this notion appeals to me much more.
This anonymous quote sums it up nicely for me: “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.” Begin an end where the end result is the beginning of your next new outcome.
©2009 Tom Leu
Nov/090
“When I Grow Up” #7
So what do you want to be when you grow up?
I have no idea.
No idea? Really?
I used to think I knew, but I didn’t, and still don’t think I do. Not exactly.
I find that hard to believe.
Why’s that?
Because you’re always so busy with so many projects, and you appear so focused and seem to have so much direction and purpose in life.
Interesting words you used: busy, projects, appear, seem, direction, purpose… As an old acquaintance of mine once said, “It’s all smoke and mirrors.”
How’s that?
She said that she was aware of how all of her activity looked to others. It appeared as though she was really doing well because of all the outward activity that others could see. And that was by design. It was being done on purpose to promote that she was very purposeful. And she was.
But she wasn’t doing well in reality? Was it all an act?
Well, I don’t know. That’s really a question only she could answer. I mean, it’s years later now and she still seems to have quite a bit going on when I look her up online. She’s doing all the things she’s always done and more. I guess by some measure she’s doing well… whatever that means to her.
I’m confused.
Just because someone has a lot going on externally doesn’t necessarily mean they have it all together internally. Get it?
Sort of.
I have done, and have had, many, many different careers in my “career” thus far. I have been a musician, salesman, manager, writer, public speaker, television host, producer, and teacher among other things. And I’m proud to say that I have excelled with each of the various occupations I have ever undertaken.
So what’s the problem?
I’m not exactly sure, except for the nagging fact that I never seem satisfied with my path; with myself. There’s always a certain amount of perpetual discontent present.
I’m confused again.
I get to learn (new things). I execute. I do well. Then I do very well. Then I get bored. Then I inevitably move on. Repeat.
There’s got to be certain things that you don’t tire of, yes?
There are.
How about “doing” those things?
I’ve been attempting that for many years now. But the problem is that I always wish to turn these things into my business; my livelihood; the way I make money.
Why?
Because whether it’s right or wrong, that’s how I measure and evaluate the relative success of these endeavors. When I undertake something and they don’t actually produce as much as I expect them to… I question everything. I doubt. Discontent creeps back in. And I want to quit.
So if these endeavors make money, then you’re successful, and if they don’t, you’re not.
I believe so.
I believe that’s what you believe. But does that belief make it so?
What’s that supposed to mean?
I mean… just because someone believes something doesn’t necessarily mean that what they believe is actually true.
Yes, I suppose that’s true. But what is “true” for each of us profoundly shapes our perspective and ultimately our behavior. What we do and don’t do each and every moment, each and every day is largely influenced by our “truth” – whatever that is.
So… whether something is actually true or not in reality, if it’s my truth, then it’s true (for me) because it’s likely to significantly affect my decisions and my behavior. Is that what you’re saying?
That’s what I’m saying.
It’s not really about adjusting behavior but more about adjusting beliefs?
Exactly. I’ve heard it said “you can’t think your way into new behavior, you have to act your way into new thinking” or something like that.
So back to what you want to be when you grow up…?
Yeah, well I’m still working on how I perceive all of that. I realize that my thinking in this area is likely a bit skewed. I think psychosocially speaking, all of us are always “working” on how we see our world and where we fit into it.
And of course, this is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
Well that’s how it’s turning out for me. The point is that if we truly want something to change here, there, or anywhere, we have to adjust our perspective. We have to allow other viewpoints into the mix. We need to attempt to see things in a different way if we hope to move in a different direction.
Isn’t that kind of a “grown up” realization?
It sounds like it doesn’t it? But I think that “being” is a destination resulting from the “growing up” process.
Do we ever really grow up then?
Man, I hope not.
Me neither.
©2009 Tom Leu
Nov/090
Getting lucky on Friday the 13th?
Article up on Examiner.com:
Planning on “getting lucky” on Friday the 13th? Better consider the following…
Read full article >>
http://www.examiner.com/x-29067-Music-Marketing–Motivation-Examiner~y2009m11d13-The-luck-stops-here
Comments and article sharing always welcome!
©2009 Tom Leu
Oct/090
“Bathroom Books” #6
I love to read.
I know you do.
Or maybe it’s more accurate to say I love to learn.
Perhaps… reading may just be a means to an end for you.
Maybe. But that’s another conversation entirely.
Tell me about these 
books of yours.
Well, I have lots of books. Lots of great books full of great information. But I also have several “bathroom books.”
So are these “bathroom books” anything other than the obvious?
Nope, just books that may or may not be full of great information at the time of reading.
Books that you read, uh, while in the bathroom right?
If you say so.
I’m saying what I think you’re saying.
I’m saying that I frequently have serendipitous moments in the bathroom while reading my “bathroom books.”
Serendipitous moments? In the bathroom?
Yes. I’m just passing the time while taking in a bit of reading. And then it happens. Bang!
C’mon, you’re killing me here… What happens?
It’s simple. I read something that blows me away. Something valuable jumps out of the reading that I wasn’t expecting. Something that stays with me and teaches me something. And I’m thinking: “How can this be? It’s just a bathroom book?”
And then it keeps happening time and time again right?
Yeah, that’s the strange part. After several episodes of this I start to realize that my bathroom books are every bit as important as my other books. They contain the same, if not, more useful information than any other book in my collection.
So playing devil’s advocate right now, the cynics out there are asking themselves, “WTF does this have to do with anything?” Books or bathroom books, who cares?
And I’d politely say that they’re missing the point entirely.
And so the point is to read more bathroom-type books?
No. The point is to be open to discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary… no matter where you find yourself or what you’re doing.
Whether you’re in the bathroom, the bedroom, or the boardroom right?
Right.
Okay, I think I just found one… right here, right now, based on what you’re saying.
Good. That’s the idea. Seeing things from a slightly different perspective can sometimes change everything.
Kinda like the scene when Robin Williams is standing on the desk in “Dead Poet’s Society?”
Yep. Exactly like that. But it’s hard sometimes. It takes work. It takes extra effort to find the different perspectives.
But most people are very attached to the way they see things; the way they “see” the world.
So true. Which is why most are unwilling and/or unable to do the work to “see” things from any other perspective except their own. And then they wonder why many of their interpersonal relationships are so often strained.
I believe this willingness to see things from another person’s perspective is technically called [double-consciousness]. Is that right?
That’s it. And I think that’s the goal with all of this. Double your observation. Take a deeper look. See beyond the ordinary; just underneath the obvious. Consider another perspective; take in some new information; have an open mind. You never know what you might find. If we all did this just a little bit more, a little bit more often, we might be able to do a lot with a little, you know?
I know. And now I must go.
To the bathroom?
No, to find the proverbial ”other” bathroom. The one that few others find.
Way to go.
©2009 Tom Leu
Sep/090
choice one
I’ve heard it said that confidence is what you have when you don’t fully understand your situation, or your circumstances.
So why do some seem to have the confidence to ”choose” success while others do not?
Why do some achieve and others don’t?
Here’s the continuum:
Uncontrollable Factors ↔ CHOICES ↔ Cosmic Interludes (uncontrollable factors) ↔ CHOICES …
The majority of the determination of our outcomes lies in our choices. What we consistently choose, over time – we become, do, and have. A fraction of our influenced outcomes are affected by uncontrollable factors and/or “cosmic interludes.”
The cosmic are things people like to call good and bad luck, acts of nature, higher powers, etc.
Uncontrollable factors are real and certainly do affect outcomes at times. But they are most often the minority and reactive; compared to our choices which are the majority and proactive.
Have the confidence to choose wisely today.
©2009 Tom Leu
Sep/093
taking inventory
“Stop confessing someone else’s sins.” – Stephen Covey
Most of us are really good at noticing other people’s faults. We seem to take joy sometimes in pointing out where others are falling short. It’s as if we’re empowered and begin feeling better about ourselves when we can tear someone else down instead of looking at our own “areas of opportunity.”
In 12 step groups, “taking other people’s inventory” is often discussed and always discouraged because recovery (from anything) is an inside job. Our problems aren’t “out there” somewhere. Our problems, as well as the solutions, dwell within ourselves; within our minds. Here, the intellectual constructs that we create and manage our world around often take over. The world now becomes as we are, not as it is.
We need to be continually taking our own inventory; not the inventory of others. Easier said than done… but with ongoing practice, it is possible. To do this, we need to be actively observing ourselves and recognize that we are not our thoughts and emotions. Who we are and what we do are two separate things. The mere act of noticing when we are angry, sad, frustrated, elated or anxious for example, puts us in a heightened conscious state to now react in a way that will best serve us and those around us. This is powerfully persuasive both internally and externally. And this is a form of taking our own inventory that puts us on the road to finding true and lasting contentment. Something I believe everyone is after…
©2009 Tom Leu
Aug/091
“images”
The challenge and the reward is (to see) the “images” within:
the knowledge and the wisdom.
the common and the complex.
the literal and the figurative.
the emotional and the intellectual.
the searching and the serenity.
the vision and the quest.
the seeing and the believing.
the art and the science.
the religion and the reason.
the persuasion and the manipulation.
the courage and the fear.
the stillness and the motion.
the giving and the taking.
the beauty and the mystery.
the confusion and the clarity.
the details and the distinction.
the insights and the inspiration…
present in:
the words, the pictures, and the music.
…these are the “images” encouraging capture in the mind, heart, and soul.
©2009 Tom Leu
Aug/091
teaching teaches teacher
The bad news: I believe most people are well-adjusted, yet somewhat discontented with life. They’ve got some combination of jobs, homes, families and health perhaps, but are still unhappy overall. Nothing is good enough. 
There’s always the quest for more. Most are searching for something outside of themselves to make them happy; to fill the void; to ease the pain (on the inside). Hence, the high prevalence of the many vices, devices, & distractions people employ to “escape.”
The big questions are: What is the source of this pain? And is this source common to most of us? The “answers” will vary of course depending on who you talk to.
The good news: A lot of people successfully create lives that do not require escape. It appears that those who are content with, and have found serenity in their lives (regardless of the specific source of the serenity), are the richest people in the world because they have what everyone wants.
Sharing some hope and some tools to attain this contentment and serenity, while pursuing it yourself, is a noble life’s work.
I’ve heard it said that “teaching, teaches, teacher” – and so it goes…
No one has all the answers… but I’ve found it serendipitous contributing to the conversation.
It’s why I do what I do. Thanks very much for reading, and keep coming back.
©2009 Tom Leu
Aug/097
three-sixty-self
People are self-centered more than not.
Everyone’s favorite subject is themselves; whether they admit it or not.
And as such, each and every person is in the “sales” business.
Those who are truly successful at marketing, promoting, and persuading [anything] understand one key distinction:
!! Whatever you do or produce has to make people feel something about themselves to get them to respond.
Be it hope or fear, it’s the feelings tied to their emotions that people actually “buy” (literally or figuratively).
Your offering must move them emotionally first, before it will move them behaviorally.
Your offering must communicate something that is about them and for them.
If it’s about you or someone else, they’ll care less.
They’ll get bored and move on.
If they believe it’s about them, they’ll stay tuned in and interested.
Most people are most interested in that which relates to them and theirs.
To fill their needs by increasing their pleasure and by reducing their pain.
To discover ways to better their lives by enhancing what’s already good and/or by improving what’s not-so-good.
All of life’s pursuits, passions, and problems involve people endlessly searching for ways to fill these needs.
So you “make it” by filling a need by making it feel like it’s about them.
Make someone feel and you’ve now made a fan.
To do this, you must…
!! Present the universal that’s perceived as personal.
Then they will pay attention.
Then they will respond.
Which is what you want.
Which is also what you need.
Because this isn’t about them.
It’s actually about you.
It’s for you.
- To use
- to do
- what you need to do
- to feel the way
- you want to feel
- about you.
It’s a win-win.
And so the cycle begins again…
©2009 Tom Leu
TOMLEU.COM | TOMLEU.TV
Tom Leu is a writer, speaker, and teacher with degrees in Psychology & Sociology. Tom's RockStar Way™ brand uncovers extraordinary "images" within music, marketing & motivation.
Paragon Productions, Inc. "RockStar Marketing & Multi-Media Brand Enhancement"
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