by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman Are you totally happy with every aspect of your life? Family, friends, fitness, home, money, spirituality, experiences and work – most of us dream of success and happiness in all these areas when we’re growing up. Unfortunately, by the time we reach the age when we think we should have attained a high level of success and happiness, most of us are disappointed. Our family life isn’t as happy and tranquil as we think it should be. We don’t have the number and quality of friends we want. We don’t have time to get in shape, or enjoy activities we love like fishing, skiing, golf, etc. Our bank accounts are anemic and our spiritual lives are lackluster or non-existent. And work has become a chore where we struggle to keep up, are constantly looking over our shoulder fearing we’ll lose what we have, or, and maybe worst, work has become a place where we find ourselves outwardly successful but inwardly disappointed and empty. Life just isn’t as rewarding, fulfilling or fun as we think it should be, and we don’t know why. If you find yourself anywhere in the above description, then the first place you need to look for explanations is in the mirror. If you don’t have the level of success and happiness you want, the person staring back at you is the person who got you stuck where you’re are. The good news is that whoever is looking back at you is also the person who can change it all for the better. There are 7 things most of us do everyday that...
by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman Anthropologist Joseph Campbell spent his life studying the myths and stories that built our world. He discovered that there really were very few stories and that they kept being told over and over again. He discovered that great stories had certain components in common, 12 to be exact, and if a story had all of these components, it was far more likely to resonate with the people who read, heard or saw the story, than a story that didn’t. Stories that didn’t have all the components rang false and fell flat. Stories that had all the components resonated with their readers because they felt real, authentic and believable. Today, the work of Joseph Campbell has been discovered by marketers and corporations. They’re trying to hit all the right notes to motivate people to buy their products, and its working, sort of. I discovered Joseph Campbell over 30 years ago. The myths he wrote about resonated with me and motivated me to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and moved me to get my MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. At AFI, I learned from the best of the best on modern storytelling, like James Cameron, Bill Moyers, Sidney Poitier, Kirk Douglas, Gary Marshall and Charleton Heston. They fostered a passion in me for discovering great stories and sharing them. I still have a passion for stories. When I speak, I tell stories. When I hear other speakers, I’m listening for their stories and how they resonate in me. When I go to a movie or a play, or watch TV, I rejoice when...
by john@johnhagerman.com |
By John Hagerman “Dr. Seuss provides great career guidance to adults,” Jeanne Mock said at a recent presentation to adult students enrolled in the Takoda Institute Public Relations Specialist program in Minneapolis. During her presentation, Mock read several quotes from Suess’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Book. As Director of National Accounts for the Kids in Need Foundation, former Director of Community Relations for Target Corporation, as a former teacher, and as a full-time, life-long learner, Mock is a bit of an expert when it comes to where she’ll go next. The theme of the event Mock was addressing was, Who Will You Become? Appropriately the first quote she used was “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” I never knew Dr. Seuss and I were such kindred spirits! I’ve been teaching public relations writing at the school for the past eight months and knew all the students in the room. They were instantly intrigued with Mock, and the quote. It resonated with me, too. One of the consistent themes in my lectures to the group has been, “It’s up to you to invent the future you want,” and the quote supported the theme. As Seuss implied, if you’re not going to steer your own course, then who’s going to do it for you? Next up was, “Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things...
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