Tag: work

CHECK THIS OUT! This post in case you missed it, is the first in a series of posts in regards to practicing what I preach in regards to working with intent. In it you will also see examples of the content creation pipeline put into full effect. It’s quite the journey that’s gotten off to a rocky start due to those “things” that are out of one’s control.

One of the things about blogging is that it gives you the opportunity to flush everything out on “digital” paper. This is great because otherwise I’d have probably taken out at least 1% of the worlds paper supply over the last decade. That’s not to say I haven’t done about half of that anyway. You should see the mountain of notebooks, pads and loose stacks of papers and index cards piled up around me.

*** Recommendation Note: At the end of the article you’ll find links to two books I strongly recommend that have helped me tremendously in this portion of the journey. ***

I’ve always been one to advocate brainstorming things out on paper before you ever crack open the microphone or take the first frame of video. The ironic part is, while I do make those notes, I still enjoy the free flow that comes from flying by the seat of my pants. But then comes the missed details that then lead in turn to overthinking things and then a rut of self doubt and fear. It was far less destructive before 2020 but by now (2022) the inner me has a dialogue that goes something like this:

That conversation has happened in my head far too often over the past two years and if I’m being honest, a few years prior. It was a slow, trickling process that led to fear induced self doubt and why it can be a bear to break that cycle. Rest assured dear reader that it can be done because I myself am proof in the pudding.

With the evolution of the “Dignity of Work” series going from idea in the back of my head to the notes, to the screen and everywhere else it will be translated into, I came face to face with what I had been self sabotaging myself with; that fear induced self doubt. The kicker was though that I looked busy. Very busy.

I’m sharing this now to hopefully help you break the cycle that you too may be trapped in but not aware of. Let’s start with the basics of it all; “Why am I not getting anywhere? I’ve brain stormed, studied, journaled, experimented and learned so much! What am I doing wring??!?!?!”

Short answer:

Working without clear intent.

To clarify, this goes deeper and more laser focused than simply making a goal to achieve. Working with clear intent is indeed goal setting but more importantly it makes you get very serious about the steps to the end goal, all the while making marked and reaffirming progress everyday.

I’m sharing this with you know not to brag or boast about being back on track but instead to show you that I practice what I preach as we all as creating my own “working with intent” structure to keep myself focused on my own goals. First a little background:

For over a decade, I was in a working environment that left me longing for a team. Wasn’t in the plans or the budget but I refused to let anything like that stop me from seeing a vision come to life. I wanted to create a television show that was normally comprised of at least ten people to handle the heavy lifting (writing, producing, directing, filming, hosting, editing, mixing, graphics, final cut and then distribution, marketing and promotion). I was intent on making it happen so I did it all. I’m still proud of those efforts but man oh man can I see where certain aspects suffered due to the load, especially considering the time schedule I was on. Still, I did it. Numerous shows with numerous episodes, all the while managing my day job duties at the TV station (which included pretty much all of the same multi tasked roles) and being home with the family everyday as close to five o’clock as possible.

It was too much. I can see that now but then, it didn’t matter at all. I had a vision and a regular job to do and a responsibility s a father and husband. I’d be damned to not make it all happen. I can admit that was the piss and vinegar of pride talking. I knew that but again, didn’t care. I was making it happen and eventually it would all pay off. That mindset of course didn’t have a clue about the inevitable burn out that would along with the cuts and bruises of the times that things didn’t go exactly as planned or desired for the final outcome. Also, I didn’t realize what I was doing to myself, my family, the clients and the audience.

In the beginning few years, everything went off without a hitch. Problems on the fly were quickly solved and any bigger issues were handled almost as quick. I brought my “A game” to everything (so I thought) and nothing was impossible or even implausible. I had it all under control. Then the cracks started forming.

I’ll keep the minute details to myself, dear reader but know that all of those cracks did indeed lead to many holes growing and needing patched. They were, but the overall durability of the dam was being compromised. I never saw the full structural failure until 2020. Even then the damage itself wasn’t realized completely. Not until now that is.

You see, what had been an Achilles Heel of mine was the subconscious need to audition and prove myself over and over and over again no matter that I had been doing the thing for decades to great success. But every project and client HAD to be shown that I was capable NOW. Yesterday’s good wasn’t good enough. Talk about a toxic relationship with yourself.

There are some positives to all of that. In needing to fill all of those different roles, learning was incredibly important. Thankfully books and the internet exist so as a need would arise, I could hope online and find an answer, tip, trick or lessons that would get me to a solution. Once again there was a touch of gray on all of those silver linings. Getting overloaded with too much knowledge and arrogant in the same. Think of it as a spiral that leads to quantity over quality.

Again though, there is always a bright side once you can be honest with yourself. The bright side that evolved for me is that while I had overloaded myself with so much knowledge that every idea would branch of way too far and wide, thanks to the past couple of years.

Here’s what I’m getting at and what I’m giving you today:

To show how my head works further, (forgive me for doing exactly what I said I was trying not to do anymore, but YOU don’t know me so an audition is in order PLUS it’s a great strategy for businesses, organizations and hobbyists to add value to their existing efforts ) here’s my long term plans for that one simple PDF form.

First off, I’m using it as you read this or after listening to the podcast OR you may have came into contact with it and me by way of the link that was shared on a featured video posted on YouTube and embedded on the JTB homepage.

Proof in the pudding.

I had been working on a book that covered all of this tentatively titled “Adding Value”. The problem was that the book got bigger and bigger and bigger because I wanted to ensure that I gave a potential reader as much bang for their buck as possible. That would be an unforgivable form of hypocrisy on my part.

Admittedly I was overthinking the book. However this blog and the pdf being the end result of the many months of back and forth,rewrite, repeat, reuse and recycle it all showed me the message that I’ve shared today. Work with INTENTION and YOU WILL get whatever you are wanting. For me it is a book and training series because of the many passions that I have, to teach, inspire, encourage and motivate are certainly the top of the charts for your old buddy Jimbo. I just had to get myself on track to help you do the same.

To get to the book and training series, I discovered I needed a pipeline. Now I have it and now you do too. Everybody wins and this is the closest fastest way I can get back to work doing what I was born to do: Inform and Entertain. This content creation pipeline is the best starting point I have generated for myself that I know can help you too. Plus, you can’t beat the price. On that note, if you found value in this blog, the podcast or the pdf, feel free to drop a tip in the jar or subscribe to any of my outreaches to learn more about all of these avenues tackled in the pdf and when the larger format editions will be released.

Until next time my dear readers, I’ll leave you with this quote from former U.S. President, Civil War General; Ulysses S. Grant that I think is a great personification of how the best intentions can get sidetracked by mistakes in process.

“My failures have been errors in judgment, not of intent.”

Ulysses S. Grant

Now, Go Play!

Jim 05/10/2022

Thanks for reading this entry. Please be sure to visit Jim’s Toy Box daily for all kinds of informative and entertaining blogs, articles, interviews, podcasts and videos that I hope will inspire, encourage and motivate you to live life to the fullest right NOW. Also, thank you for shopping the links listed as well as ordering products from the site. Those are what keep this ship afloat and I truly appreciate your support of this journalistic and entertainment outreach.

*** Here are those recommendations along with some great reviews that I found helpful***