Today, I finally did it. I caved in to the pressure. I became a blogger. You have to understand one thing about me. I don’t like to write. I’m not into anything that feels labor-intensive. But the real reason I don’t like to write is a deep-seated fear about my writing ability. My third grade teacher, in front of the entire class, told me that I was a lousy writer. Every kid in the school knew about my writing inability by recess. Isn’t it amazing what sticks to us, depending upon the source of the criticism? Thank goodness for friends. Two friends helped me with a Mindset Shift™. That is, they shifted my thinking from immobilized to empowerment.
The first friend, Carrie Perrien Smith (http://www.soarhigher.com), told me to separate my ideas/content from my grammar. This was an eureka moment for me.
“You can hire an editor to correct your grammar. But only you can come up with your content.”
“It just haunts me that you don’t have more in print because of something a teacher told you years ago. You are way smarter than that teacher will ever be and doing really important things. I don’t think teachers really have any idea that things they say innocently or by accident can shape a person’s personal truth. Even if you were a crummy writer (which I know you aren’t), editors make their money turning great content (which you have in your head) into digestible books for your target audience. Your time is now!”
Thank goodness for friends.
My other good friend, Darren LaCroix (http://www.humor411.com), convinced me in two sentences and a question.
“A blog is nothing more than an email sharing what you’ve learned. You do this for a living. Can you write a two paragraph email about what you’ve learned?”
Darren pointed out that I’m a copious note taker. It’s true. Whatever meeting I attend, I take lots of notes. I want to make sure that I get the key ideas… the Key Notes. I’m also a keynote speaker. So the name of my blog is “Key Notes.” Yes, it is a double entendre.
Thank goodness for friends.
Presto! There it was a Mindset Shift™. It took years to develop this phobia about writing and I’ve created an amazing story about how I do not like to write. But my friends dissolved that excuse in seconds — like Alka-Seltzer in water.
Have you ever experienced a Mindset Shift™ in a matter of seconds? That is, you felt one way and in a matter of minutes or seconds, your mindset shifted? So what’s your story? What cherished beliefs (excuses) are you holding on to that’s keeping you from growing? What area(s) of your life needs a Mindset Shift™? Maybe you need a people-shift. Write me your two paragraphs (or less).
P.S. I welcome your comments if you catch any grammatical errors. But you must give your Mindset Shift™ ideas first and the corrections second. It’s my blog. My rules.
#1 by Stevie King - April 30th, 2009 at 11:03
Ed I feel your pain as a writer. My personal mental block comes from my 12th grade English teacher, who was a wonderful lady, but my handwriting was so bad that I had to read all my papers out loud on a cassette for her. The “double work” I did that year really put a seed in my head that my writing wasn’t very good.
I fell to the blogging pressure a few months ago as I felt I needed to have a written history of my journey through the WCPS this year. Amazingly enough I discovered that I actually could put a few sentences together that made a reasonable level of sense.
I also had a shift from a good friend that simply told me that “writing makes you smarter.” I can’t confirm or deny the validity of this concept but I do know that it at least makes me think more and that has to be a good thing.
Thanks for the post and I look forward to following you!
SK
#2 by CK - April 30th, 2009 at 12:48
Ed,
Welcome aboard ! Great to see you here ! I am a Toastmaster from India and I’ve watched your prize winning speech video umpteen number of times and never seem to get tired of it !
I’ve found blogging to be an excellent way to connect ! And don’t worry about grammar – remember, broken English is the most commonly spoken language in the world ”
I’m definitely going to write my two bits of wisdom on mindset shift but right now, signing off by letting you know I’m thrilled to see you blogging !
cheers
CK
#3 by Rich Hopkins - May 1st, 2009 at 10:49
Ed – welcome to the blogosphere – a great way for us to get to know you more.
Stevie – Congrats on your District Win! Good luck at Region.
#4 by Chris Elliott - May 12th, 2009 at 04:29
Ed,
Welcome to the world of blogging.
I have had a mindset shift this weekend about marketing and the Internet.
Good luck.
#5 by Dr. Shaun Jamison - May 15th, 2009 at 14:26
Ed, congratulations on starting your blog! There’s no way to write other than writing. I look forward to your messages.
Shaun
#6 by Derek L - May 15th, 2009 at 14:44
..pssst! I will take “fear of writing over fear of public speaking” any day – that’s why I’m cutting this em note short..cya
#7 by Mon J Gamil - May 15th, 2009 at 15:16
Thanks for your blog, Ed. One of the main reason I joined TM is to challenge my mind to be active. I have been a Toastmaster now for 7 years – even earned my DTM recently. But I have the same challenge as you – grammar. Especially if I am writing my first draft of a speech and I spent 3/4 of my life in the Philippines. I have learned through the years to edit and edit and edit – until it sounds better.
I learned it from David Brooks that you can’t edit something you did not write. I sort of accepted it that I have bad grammar. But I got your blog and I have to have a mindset shift and mobilized myself to just do more. Thanks again.
Good luck on your blogging.
#8 by nn - May 15th, 2009 at 15:31
same grammar challenge. tried one of those speak to computer programs. ended up looking like some foreign language.
maybe i need work on my diction as well.
I look forward to reading your blogs.
#9 by Joseph Miller - May 15th, 2009 at 15:44
Way Cool Ed!, thanks for sharing about the negative
teacher…unfortunately too many of us have had the same experience. But riding to the rescue is the great Ed Tate! :0)
#10 by Julia Bowlin MD - May 15th, 2009 at 15:45
Hi Ed,
It never ceases to amaze me how some intelligent people can become fearful as a result of a past exeriences. Myself included. I have had numerous attempts to unblock myseld in my writing out of fear that my content is not worthy. Guess what? Everyone’s content is worthy to someone. Congrats in moving to the blogging world. Maybe I will follow in your footsteps in the future. Wish me luck in the Protrack at NSA!
#11 by Lisa Diaz - May 15th, 2009 at 15:52
Ed,
Mindset shift is a great topic! It reminds me of a favorite question about empowerment I ask people: What’s your ‘normal’?” What are your expectations of possibility and how much of those expectations are driven by what you see every day and therefore, potentially limit or expand those expectations?
When I lived in Phoenix, I trained for triathlons with a group that was very encouraging. Everyone in the group had completed at least one Ironman (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run). As I rode with this group, I changed my belief of what I could accomplish, in spite of the fact that I had a back injury which some doctors felt should stop my running. I got stronger with each ride and eventually completed a half Ironman, injury free.
This caused me to wonder what others were capable of who might be in environments where there may not be as many positive influences. What can someone accomplish if they did not subconsciously believe they were limited because of what they were exposed to? What is and “can be” their “normal”?
My mindset shifted after that experience. What can we do to support others so they can see beyond pre-conceived limitations?
Ed, I am a CCTM (Cherry Creek Toastmasters) member. So sorry I did not get to say hello when you were in town recently. Happy blogging!
#12 by Steve Jans - May 15th, 2009 at 15:53
It’s good to see you started a blog, I look forward to reading your posts.
I’m a pen maker as a hobby. I thought having a blog would be a good way to let my customers know about new materials, pen styles, etc. that I was working on. I tried the blog briefly, but being a huge procrastinator made it difficult to put up new posts. Pretty much the same problem I have improving my speaking skills.
Tomorrow I’ve got to quit procrastinating.
#13 by David Adams - May 15th, 2009 at 16:02
I am in the process of preparing yet another speech…for the fine folks of Region III Toastmasters. Every time I would think of my deadline to have the perfect speech ready to go…my creativity dissipated. Then I watched the movie “The Peaceful Warrior” as you and the boys suggested. Living in the now…just focused on the task at hand…creativity flowed…and I am closer to where I want to be.
Thank You
#14 by Elizabeth Lloyd-Jones - May 15th, 2009 at 17:33
Ed, The best bloggers read as if they’re having a conversation with you, and guess what your post came across just like that. I was almost hearing you speak as I read your words, and since you invariably have something interesting to say when you speak out I’m looking forward to more Key Notes!
#15 by Brian Cohen - May 15th, 2009 at 21:20
My mindshift came this weekend. I was the Conference Chair for the D46 Spring Conference. I realized that be helping to create a learning environment for others I created a learning environment for myself that was much greater than I ever imagined it would be.
That is probably a run on sentence. Please don’t tell the teacher.
#16 by Pamela Wilson - May 15th, 2009 at 21:20
Hi Ed – Congrats on the new blog. I started blogging about a year ago and just begun to Twitter. Have you begun “Twittering” yet?
I think it’s been about a year since we spoke personally. I just began hosting a weekly talk radio program in Denver 630 KHOW called Parenting Your Parents, http://www.parentingyourparentsradio.com
Hope you are well. Pamela
#17 by Arnold Kunst - May 15th, 2009 at 21:44
Dear Ed:
With respect, leave your 3rd grade teacher, dead, to bury the dead, and move on to where the life is. I’m an English teacher and you’re road kill if you even THINK of splitting an infinitive, or dangling a modifier, within a mile of me, No, your writing is fine. That is, if you hadn’t told me about that damned third grade teacher I’d never have known there was a problem!
Peace,
Arnold Kunst
#18 by Gregory L - May 15th, 2009 at 23:41
Congratulations on your new beginning!
Worrying about your writing instead of your message is like worrying about how you look on stage instead of your audience.
We’re looking forward to hearing what you think is important – this is going to be a valu-blog!
#19 by baseeth - May 16th, 2009 at 08:27
Ed,
Quiet a few members of my Toastmaster’s Club have been persuading me for nominating myself to contest as President. I was a bit reluctant. A close friend of mine and my mentor changed my Mindset Shift™ . I have gained the courage and nominated myself. I experienced a Mindset Shift™ in a matter of seconds.
#20 by Laya Saul - May 17th, 2009 at 14:21
I used a great little book called “If You Can Talk You Can Write” by Joel Saltzman. He talked about grammar and this is what I learned: He said he wanted to teach the best way of knowing the difference about when to use “who” and when to use “whom”… then he wrote: “Whom cares?”
Keep talking, keep writing.
Looking forward to more,
Laya
#21 by Darren LaCroix - May 17th, 2009 at 15:30
Congrats! Ed… you listened!
You’ve got an incredible business mind. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of the world. You ARE a good writer!
Blog time,
Darren
PS BURN THE BOATS NOW!
#22 by Tony Lawder - May 17th, 2009 at 18:33
Thanks Ed, always appreciate your comments and input so your blog will be essential reading for me. Thanks
#23 by Liz de Clifford - May 18th, 2009 at 00:36
Ed,
As a fellow Toastmaster DTM and from the Alan Weiss community – congratulations on your Blog! I look forward to following you very soon. All us speakers excel at speaking…the only thing I can say is lets talk with our fingers…just do not ask me to read what I wrote as I cannot see with my severely dyslexic eyes.
EdeC
#24 by Fran Watson - May 18th, 2009 at 08:59
Welcome to the world of blogging!!
I am looking forward to reading your blog. I was very impressed with the speech and workshop you did at the Toastmasters conference in Mt. Tremblant and purchased your CD set which I have listened to several times.
Fran Watson
#25 by David Thompson - May 18th, 2009 at 09:10
Ed,
Today, you have motivated me to begin the process of blogging.
Over the years, I have learned sometimes we just have to jump into the deep end of the pool.
Ed your writing ability is just fine. Your personal Mind Shift is saying to yourself that you are an excellent writer and then acting on this new found belief. I’ll give you an example. Prior to getting married my wife told me I could fix her garbage disposal…because I was smart. At the time, she did not realize that I am handyman challenged. Nevertheless, I fixated on the fact that she thought I was smart. Somehow, my mind and hands synchronised. Today, I am saying the same thing to you. “You can write because you are smart”. I hope this helps in your Mind Shift quest.
#26 by Aqeel - May 29th, 2009 at 15:16
Hi Ed tate,
Thank you very much for sending me your blog. I liked it.
I have attended DTAC 2009 in Abu Dhabi last week and I sheked hands with you and Darron. I am proud of that
Ed, I have competed almost 3 years in Toastmasters and I still have fear from the table topic roles, I feel afraid when I have been called to answer the question. I Dont know WHY?
I would like to improve my skills in impromptu speaking. how can I overocme that ?
thank you
Aqeel
Bahrain