Jason

- - - | written by Jason on 9/8/2019 | - - -

How an Improv Rule Can Improve Your Life

My brother used to be in an improv group, participating in a series of unscripted games for the entertainment of an audience. He was pretty good. The ones who weren’t seem to have the same thing in common. It wasn’t a lack of talent or that they were missing a funny bone. It was their refusal to adhere to the “yes, and…" rule. It’s the difference between success and failure in an improv skit. If a fellow performer suggests that your shoes are made of marshmallows, and you say, “No they aren't. What are you talking about? These are normal shoes,” the skit dies a hard, painful, and unfunny death. Instead, you need to accept the premise, and add to it. "YES, my shoes are made of marshmallows, AND they enable me to jump over cars!” What is vital to the success of an improv skit is also the key to a successful business or a happier, more fulfilling life. It’s possible to become more resilient while positively responding to challenges with grace and effectiveness, and we …

- - - | written by Jason on 9/1/2019 | - - -

Does Your Life Have a Recombobulation Area?

There is a sign at the General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee that I love very much. It’s visible right after you go through security and are collecting your shoes, belt, wallet, phone, keys, rubber duckie, ping pong paddle, and other essentials. It simply says, “Recombobulation Area.” The fact that it’s printed in a plain, bold, official-looking font makes me love it all the more. (Comic sans would just ruin it.) Now, “recombobulation” is not technically a word, but what else do you call it when you’re trying to regroup yourself after feeling discombobulated thanks to the TSA screening process? Barry Bateman is the former airport director who coined the word and suggested the signage, understanding that traveling can be stressful and hoped to put a smile on people’s faces. I love this for two reasons. First, it’s a great example of how just about everything can benefit from a little whimsy, even one as serious – and important! – as a security checkpoint. …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/26/2019 | - - -

Brad Montgomery, August 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month

An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Brad Montgomery is a master at not taking himself too seriously! He’s funny (hilarious!), incredibly engaging, and he knows the power of being the real deal. As a professional speaker who encourages people to “embrace their awesomeness,” Brad is a refreshing voice in the business world! He is a shining example that you can make a real difference in the world and be successful in your career, all while intentionally maintaining a soft chewy center. One thing we have noticed over the years is that people LOVE Brad!! His playful smile and spirit attracts people (and clients) to him continuously. He is living …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/25/2019 | - - -

The Life-Changing Wisdom a Cheetah Knows That You Don’t

“Speed Racer” by Jason Kotecki. 30″ x 40″. Oil on canvas.Original is SOLD. Prints available here. The cheetah is known for being fast.Really fast.It's the fastest land mammal, achieving running speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. But what most people don't know is that the cheetah can’t maintain those speeds for long. In fact, a cheetah spends very little of its time running. It needs to recuperate and build up energy for the next hunt.Obviously, if a cheetah doesn’t run, it cannot eat. But if the cheetah doesn’t rest, it cannot run. If the cheetah spent all its time doing what it does best, it would die. The rest is just as important as the chase. How much there is to learn from the cheetah! Oh, we have the running part down. We’re good at racing from one commitment to the next. Meetings, grocery shopping, clarinet practice, yoga, daycare drop-offs and pick-ups, baseball tournaments, birthday parties...the list goes on. But the resting part, that’s where we …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/18/2019 | - - -

Are You Near-Sighted or Far-Sighted?

I got my first pair of glasses in eighth grade. “Oh great,” I remember thinking, “Now I’m going to be one of those people.” I figured the least I could do was select a style that would be cool. For some reason, I thought big, brown frames with lenses the size of dinnerplates fit the bill. Since then, I’ve gone through quite a few frames, including the horrible clear plastic cheapos that were the best I could find in an emergency late-night mall trip. I busted lots of frames early on. At the time, I blamed my aggressive, living- on-the-edge lifestyle, but it probably had more to do with the awkwardness of puberty (good times). In a cruel twist of fate, the nasty clear plastic ones lasted the longest (good riddance, sophomore year). I even went through a contact lens phase before ultimately deciding that glasses were easier and I got comfortable with the idea of being “one of those people.” One thing that hasn’t changed is that I’m still near-sighted. …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/15/2019 | - - -

Escape Adulthood Summit 2019 Re-Cap

The 2019 Escape Adulthood Summit – our seventh! – was another sold-out affair. More than seventy people, from 14 different states and Canadian provinces gathered in the Middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, for a chance to take a break from the daily grind, connect with other Adultitis Fighters, and take their lives to a new level. This year's theme was inspired by the Henry David Thoreau quote, "All good things are wild and free." That being said, we wanted to set the tone in a wild and memorable way. As guests arrived with their Golden Tickets, they were greeted by snakes, alligators, lizards, and turtles presented by the Madison Herpetological Society. While some folks admired them from a distance, others were eager to get up close and personal with the unconventional ambassadors.A wild start indeed. Once the doors opened, we greeted each guest one by one, excited to share with them all that the team had spent many months …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/14/2019 | - - -

Revealing the Winner of the “A Chance of Awesome” Framed Canvas!

Everyone who pre-ordered my book, “A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything” was entered to win this stunning framed canvas reproduction of the cover painting. So, who won? Tune in and find out! Learn more about the book at https://aChanceOfAwesome.com …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/11/2019 | - - -

What’s Your Must Be Nice?

It’s a natural human tendency to compare ourselves to others, especially to people who are in the same field we’re in. Comparison isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it leads us to discover areas where we can improve. But when it shifts into envy or jealousy, that’s a problem. I often attend the annual convention for the National Speakers Association. I always have to brace myself for the “must be nice” game. In the speaker world, it goes like this: Of course he gets booked all the time, he’s a former NBA player. Must be nice. She’s got so many connections from working all those years in the corporate world. Must be nice. I wish I could juggle fire and do backflips like that. Must be nice. I spend so much time noticing all the things I’m not that I miss the things I am. One theme that drove itself home for me during a convention years ago was my talent as an artist. It’s something I’m good at, and it’s a skill that very few speakers possess. And yet …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/4/2019 | - - -

Keep Casting

You can spend all day fishing and catch nothing: 2,375 casts; 2,375 failures. But. The next cast could be the one that changes everything. Since I started my company in 1999, I’ve encountered many dead ends. We’ve had a lot of projects we were excited about, initiatives we were certain would deliver the breakthrough beyond our wildest dreams, that failed—hard. We’ve lost money, time, and pride. Sometimes, it’s taken a long time to recover. After you’ve been hit by a car so many times, you start to wonder if maybe you should stop standing in the middle of the highway. But one thing that kept me going was a quote by Thomas Edison, who said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” I guess I was more afraid of being a failure than I was of failing. And there’s a difference. Dead ends happen. But hitting one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dead or at the …

[Read more...] about Keep Casting

- - - | written by Jason on 8/1/2019 | - - -

How to Reawaken Your Wild Heart

In this light-hearted and vulnerable talk delivered at the 2019 Escape Adulthood Summit, Kim shares her experience with the "joyful haul" of motherhood. She recounts her hunt for wonder, what she found, and how you too can rediscover your wild heart in order to bring more peace, fullness and joy into your life. After you watch the talk, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway. Feel free to share it in the comments! …

« Previous Page