I've been doing Aikido for a long long time.
I am a second degree black belt in Aikido which means
I'd still cover my crotch and roll up in a ball if I were ever in a fight. Aikido is like violent Yoga.
I got better and better at Aikido because I just kept showing up. I go 3 to 5 times per week. Every time I go, it's a struggle. "I don't feel like it, I'm no good at this, I just want to relax today"...Head voices.
I show up and the rest takes care of itself. Aikido is a frustrating activity. Often, I don't do well. I don't understand the instruction or I'm not clicking. But I show up. And I get better. It just happens.
This is how I got better and better at performing. Shows are not always good, some I hate, some I'm in way over my head. But I show up, over and over and over. And I get better.
This is my approach to all things creative. Just show up. Then you're stuck, you have to create something.
i.e. This monstrous blog. I committed. I show up and write over and over and over. I'm getting better and better.
I created a children's show on Public Access years back. When I started I was all over the place. I tried green screens, I tried doing things in studios, I did crazy characters.
It was not very good.
I remember learning how to use Final Cut Pro. It was a nightmare, I was near tears trying to get my show in by the deadline.
Then I got better and better. I can fly around Final Cut these days. I did a video series called "Hey Mr. Sub!" I eventually flew through those.
The show got easier to make. It got better and better. Because I showed up. Meaning, I signed myself up for a time slot and committed to making something month after month. I'd still be making that show if the station still existed.
When I was younger and more handsome I auditioned for commercials. I showed up and got better. To get better at auditions, you have to audition. To get more auditions you have to be good at auditioning. So, you show up.
I started doing a "holiday" show every year. The week between Christmas and New Years. It was stressful. I didn't know how to get audiences. I knew how to perform but I was exploring a new world of clowning for myself. I didn't know my audience would enjoy my personal clown explorations.
I kept showing up. Year after year.
Stress never goes away. Fear never goes away. Self-Doubt never goes away. Those are voices, like awful Muzak you can turn down but not off.
But you show up. Day after day, year after year. You'll get better. Ever see the first 3 episodes of Seinfeld? Not great. They kept showing up. The show became great.
Right now, I'm working on another joke book. It's frustrating. It's been about 75% complete for six months.
It bugs me that it's not done. I decided a few days ago to start showing up. It's happening. I can see an end finally. Then on to the next book.
It's easy to start something new. Showing up day after day...Sigh, not as easy, not as fun. But that's how you complete things. Whether you're a clown, a writer or you're building a house.
Show up.
I am a second degree black belt in Aikido which means
Toughest Clown in San Francisco!
I got better and better at Aikido because I just kept showing up. I go 3 to 5 times per week. Every time I go, it's a struggle. "I don't feel like it, I'm no good at this, I just want to relax today"...Head voices.
I show up and the rest takes care of itself. Aikido is a frustrating activity. Often, I don't do well. I don't understand the instruction or I'm not clicking. But I show up. And I get better. It just happens.
This is how I got better and better at performing. Shows are not always good, some I hate, some I'm in way over my head. But I show up, over and over and over. And I get better.
This is my approach to all things creative. Just show up. Then you're stuck, you have to create something.
i.e. This monstrous blog. I committed. I show up and write over and over and over. I'm getting better and better.
I created a children's show on Public Access years back. When I started I was all over the place. I tried green screens, I tried doing things in studios, I did crazy characters.
It was not very good.
I remember learning how to use Final Cut Pro. It was a nightmare, I was near tears trying to get my show in by the deadline.
Then I got better and better. I can fly around Final Cut these days. I did a video series called "Hey Mr. Sub!" I eventually flew through those.
The show got easier to make. It got better and better. Because I showed up. Meaning, I signed myself up for a time slot and committed to making something month after month. I'd still be making that show if the station still existed.
When I was younger and more handsome I auditioned for commercials. I showed up and got better. To get better at auditions, you have to audition. To get more auditions you have to be good at auditioning. So, you show up.
I started doing a "holiday" show every year. The week between Christmas and New Years. It was stressful. I didn't know how to get audiences. I knew how to perform but I was exploring a new world of clowning for myself. I didn't know my audience would enjoy my personal clown explorations.
I kept showing up. Year after year.
Stress never goes away. Fear never goes away. Self-Doubt never goes away. Those are voices, like awful Muzak you can turn down but not off.
But you show up. Day after day, year after year. You'll get better. Ever see the first 3 episodes of Seinfeld? Not great. They kept showing up. The show became great.
Right now, I'm working on another joke book. It's frustrating. It's been about 75% complete for six months.
It bugs me that it's not done. I decided a few days ago to start showing up. It's happening. I can see an end finally. Then on to the next book.
It's easy to start something new. Showing up day after day...Sigh, not as easy, not as fun. But that's how you complete things. Whether you're a clown, a writer or you're building a house.
Show up.
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