In the beginning, I dreamed

About 12 years ago, in the early days of my publishing business, an advertiser bartered a "Brian Tracy Peak Performance" program for some advertising. We sat in a room and watched videos as we worked through the 'program'.
Some of the stuff seemed downright silly, like the application of "Positive Self Talk" and "Positive Affirmations". I mean, I like talking to myself, but repeating "I like myself, I really like myself" seemed quite wierd.
Business setbacks occurred and it looked like I was going to lose it all. I lived in a dumpy apartment, had more debts and assets, and not much to show personally after 38 years on the planet. Suddenly, some of that 'stupid stuff' in the videos stuck in my mind. "I am responsible for myself", the mantra read. "it isn't my family, my parents, my 'bad luck' or anyone else who created my problems -- they are mine, and mine alone, and I will have to solve them myself." I also appreciated what I had -- good health, a mind capable of exploring new ideas, and a willingness to change.
So I went with the program. I moved into some cheap shared accommodations, located three blocks from the local mental hospital. Every morning, I got up and jogged over to the hospital grounds, and ran around them, citing my affirmations and 'positive self talk.
Amazing, but it worked. Two years later, I was married to the woman who had been 'lets be friends' with me. She had money, so my standard of living elevated dramatically. So did my business, to the point that I was properly contributing my share of the household costs. Eleven years later, we share our lives with a wonderful, cool, and very smart seven year old.

* * *

Last Friday, I had my first true one-on-one conversation with the guru who had a big part in changing my life, but like everything in the real world, not everything is quite as it seems. Mr. Tracy was in Ottawa for the Financial Superstars seminar. I had some suspicions about the 'free invitation' for this event valued at $149.00, and my anxieties grew when I checked and found the organizers had run into some trouble with Australian regulatory authorities. In my naivity, I contacted Mr. Tracy's assistant and advised him that there was something wrong here.

I'm sure that the Financial Superstars operation stays on the right side of the law, especially in North America. But it pushes very expensive training courses and programs on gullible people who are 'turned on' to the dreams of getting rich through self employment. (Nothing wrong with that -- I run my own business, but I don't think the best way to get started is by paying a couple of thousand bucks for some program hyped at a slick meeting.)

What concerned me most, however, was the way Mr. Tracy rationalized his participation. Of course everyone participates out of free will, and money back guarantees are offered. But his tone seemed condacending, as if he regarded people with a journalistic mind set like public school teachers (whom he disdains). Then it hit me -- I probably see the world through the paradigm of a journalist. Right at the endof the conversation, Mr. Tracy suggested that I perhaps should not criticize those who have it 'made' by following the advice in the programs touted at the seminar; then he caught himself, and asked, "You are financially independent, aren't you?" I said "Yes, but I also view the world through the journalist's perspective, as I suppose a public school teacher would view the world through that perspective."
Of course, most journalists are not financially independent. I'm fortunate -- unlike most who are wage slaves, I decided the right thing to do would be to start my own newspapers, and I did.
But that is another story for another blog session.
"I like myself, I really like myself."