Mindhacks

Archive for the ‘Goal Setting’ Category

Bill Bartmann – From Rags to Riches

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Bill Bartmann – An Inspirational Story

Bill Bartmann is the ultimate underdog and overachiever

At the age of 14, Bill Bartmann was homeless, a high-school drop-out and a member of a street gang.  What’s the key lesson Bill Bartmann learned while he was living on the streets?

He learned to read people really well, which is a great skill that he took into the business world.  Bill Bartmann continued to drift until he was 17 but one very important moment changed everything. 

What happened?  Watch the interview with Bill Bartmann to find out:

 

Not only did Bill Bartmann turn himself around, he became one of the leading authorities on entrepreneurship in America.  Here are a couple of the achievements and awards that Bill Bartmann has been recognized for:

* Bill Bartmann was named as “One of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs of the Last 100 Years” by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

* Bill Bartmann was awarded the American Academy of Achievement’s “Golden Plate Award for one of the 20th Century’s Most Extraordinary Achievers” – an award previously bestowed upon five U.S. Presidents and three Nobel Prize winners.

Bill Bartmann was not only recognized as one of the leading entrepreneurs, he also started some of the most women and family friendly businesses in the world. In fact, the Working Woman Magazine recognized Bill Bartmann as “One of the Top 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers”.

Learn more about Bill Bartmann

 

Here is the second part of the inspirational video on Bill Bartmann where he reveals his secrets to success.

Today, it is Bill’s personal goal to share his secrets of success with aspiring entrepreneurs and to lift the self-belief and confidence of hundreds of thousands of teenagers.  Bill Bartmann is truly an inspiration.

New Book Review : The Passion Test

Monday, October 1st, 2007

What would your life be like if you were fully living your passions?

Take The Passion Test to find out!

passiontestsmall.jpg

Jack Canfield said, it “changed the way I have lived the past year.”

Jay Abraham said, “it is unlike anything anyone has ever exposed me to.”

T. Harv Eker said, it will help you “get clear on who you are.”


What would your life be like if you were doing what you love, with the people you love, in places you love?

Everyone knows that following your passions is the key to a successful, fulfilling life. Yet, how do you discover what they are?

And even if you think you know what you’re passionate about, how do you stay on track?

“It wasn’t until I took The Passion Test that I realized one of my top five passions . . . my mind was blown!”

Dr. Jacalyn Buettner is one of the most successful chiropractors in San Francisco. She made this statement after using this powerful tool to clarify her top passions and then two days later receiving an invitation to fulfill that passion.

The Passion Test is a simple, powerful tool that allows anyone to discover their passions and clarify what matters most to them in their life.

Yehuda Berg of the Kaballah Center is known and respected by hundreds of thousands of people around the world, including Madonna, Guy Ritchie, Demi Moore, and Ashton Kutcher. Yehuda said,

“I couldn’t put it down. Taking the Test I realized how valuable it was to hear the story . . .”

This book is a fun, engaging read that may change the way you live your life.

And here is one of the best parts:

Now you have the chance to purchase an incredible book, AND to receive a remarkable collection of thought-provoking gifts to help you live a truly passionate life.

These gifts feature people like:

- Dr. Wayne Dyer
- Michael Dell
- Jack Canfield
- former President Jimmy Carter
- Tony Robbins
- Maya Angelou
- Robert Kiyosaki
- Dr. Christiane Northrup
- Jay Abraham
- Mark Victor Hansen
- James Ray
- Byron Katie
- John Assaraf

All told, you’ll receive more than 40 life-changing gifts when you purchase the book today.

Take me to The Passion Test

The Passion Test has transformed the lives of thousands of people throughout the world. The one thing that all the most successful people in the world share in common is, they have followed their passions.

What would your life be like if you were fully living your passions?

Are you ready to find out?

“The Passion Test – The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny” is the road map to your passionate life.

P.S. Take a look at the gifts you’ll receive when you buy this book now. They’re unbelievable.

And the best part is this book is such a fun, inspiring and useful read, you won’t be able to put it down. Weeks before it was released, it was already a #1 Amazon.com bestseller. Order your copy now and get your own library of transformational gifts by going to:

The Passion Test

P.P.S. You can also hear the authors give The Passion Test live and in person at these bookstores:

October 9, 7:30 PM – Boulder, CO
Boulder Bookstore
303-447-2074

October 10, 7:30 PM – Denver, CO
Tattered Cover Bookstore
303-470-7050

October 11, 7:00 PM – Phoenix, AZ
Changing Hands Bookstore
780-730-0205

October 15, 7:00 PM – Chicago, IL
Transitions Bookstore
312-951-7323

October 17, 7:00 PM – Seattle, WA
East-West Bookstore
206-523-3726

October 24, 7:30 PM – Los Angeles, CA
Bodhi Tree Bookstore
310-659-1733

October 25, 7:00 PM – Santa Cruz, CA
Gateways Bookstore
831-429-9600

October 30, 7:00 PM – Sebastapol, CA
Copperfield’s Books
707-823-2618

November 7 – San Diego, CA
Warwick’s Books
858-454-0347

December 9 – Corte Madera, CA
Book Passage
415-927-0960

Segment Intending : Hack your environment

Monday, July 16th, 2007

Happy Monday! Another great week of head-hacks to help you boost your manifestations!

Here’s an awesome excerpt from a post that I came across this morning. A part of it deals with how we tend to blame our enviroment for our negative situations.

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Don’t forget – learning how not to blame our circumstances and instead to bridge it with positive thoughts is an IMPORTANT and CRUICIAL part to manifesting awesome things into our lives.

See how goal setting and segment intending can dramatically change the way you can use your enviroment to improve the law of attraction!

(more…)

Creative Imagination

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

The Greatest Force in the Universe?

Creative Imagination has been declared by some of the greatest people throughout history as the most powerful tool that we have at our fingertips. Let’s take a look at some of the most influential sources we know about Creative Imagination.

 

Albert Einstein:

“Imagination is the greatest creative force in the universe.”

The Bible:

“As a man thinketh, so shall he become”

“Without vision we perish”

A creative imagination has been at the forefront of modern day visionaries such as Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Nelson Mandela, Napoleon Hill, BUT is it the most powerful force in the universe?

 

The Most Powerful Force in the Universe

By David Cameron

 Albert Einstein said that imagination is the greatest creative force in the universe. Why would such a great man say something that sounds so silly and trivial? Look at those words again: ‘greatest creative force’. Imagination? Not education? Nor money? Nor luck?

Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, said that imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known. Before you pass him away as a crackpot, know that Mr. Hill was an advisor to two U.S. presidents, was commissioned by the great and wealthy Andrew Carnegie to teach people about making their dreams come true, and has been thanked by many of the greatest people around the world for the success he helped them achieve.

People like F. W. Woolworth (founder of Woolworth’s), Woodrow Wilson (former U.S. President), George Eastman (founder of Kodak), W. M. Wrigley, JR. (Wrigley’s), and many others have used his teachings to manifest their dreams.

Imagination is the force that takes you to places you have never been.

Henry Ford relied on imagination and belief. Walt Disney said that had he not seen Disneyland in his mind, the rest of the world would not have seen it on earth. Bill Gates first imagines his products before they become actual software that we rely on. And it would serve you well to remember that many of the world’s greatest people started with nothing and built empires. They had a dream. And the universe conspired, as it always does, to let them experience their imagination.

The universe always lets you experience your imagination, whatever it may be.

The Bible says ‘As a man thinketh, so shall he become’. It also says ‘Without vision we perish’.

Your mind’s images are literally the blueprint from which your world is built.

Your mind is infinite. What are your limits? What are limits, except those that you say are so? Why else would two different people have different ‘limits’?

Life is images of the mind, expressed. What this means is that Life, The Source, uses your thoughts, your mental images, as the instructions by which to create your reality in the material world. Life expresses your mental images into physical reality.

To express is to make known, to state, articulate, communicate, convey. The force of Life makes known your thoughts to yourself and everyone else by forming them into experiences and objects that can be experienced, here in the physical world.

You experience your own thoughts first hand, your images of your mind, so that you may know which ones are suitable and which ones are not. That is how you know yourself, that is how you experience your self, and that is how you grow.

This is the supreme purpose of this physical world that we are now in. It is designed to enable you to experience your Self. It is designed to enable you to experience an idea and its effects and consequences.

Life does not select which ones of your images to express and which ones not to. How would it choose for you? It therefore expresses all of them to the extent that you have them and believe them. You have true free will.

This free will is truly free because of the fact that all of it is acted upon without filtering or favoring. Free will is truly free because of the fact that it actually gets results all the time, not just some of the time, and it gets them exactly.

Your ideas, visions and dreams, whatever they may be, are the prophecies of what you shall one day become and achieve. You can predict your outer life tomorrow by looking at your inner self today. You can change your tomorrow by changing your inner self today.

As you think, there do you find yourself. You attract the people that have something to teach you in line with your thoughts, people who have something to learn from you in line with your thoughts, and you repel those who have nothing more to learn from you and give you in line with your thoughts. The same goes for places and conditions, situations and environments.

Many things influence your imagination – past fears, desires, poor mental training, lack of awareness, sub-personalities, lack of goals – any much more. But anything that influences your imagination is under your control.

You can stop it simply by becoming aware of it and releasing it. And this is where awareness, consciousness, comes in as the key to clearing your mind of the debris that brings suffering to you and sabotages your success.

full article >>

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Most Passionate Filmmaker Ever? Giving Up $250 Million For Transformation.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007

 

How did a simple street artist go from painting grains of rice to directing a movie with two Oscar Winning Legends? The answer to this question can be summarized in one word- chutzpah (and barrel loads of it at that!)

I’m guessing a few of you don’t know this term- it means audacity or nerve. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten:

“that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

I’m not saying for a second that this is what Bret Carr would do but he certainly possesses the same qualities. I spoke to Bret on the phone last week and am finding it impossible to keep his incredible story to myself.

Many people in the same position would have been overpowered with the feelings of despair but Bret had other ideas- to manifest his dreams.

Here’s his story- be prepared to be literally stunned at the lengths one man will go to for the success of his vision.

 

Bret Carr moved to Los Angeles and began work as a street artist painting pictures on rice grains for tourists. But his real ambition was to make movies that change people’s lives.

 

Bret incredibly managed to get two Oscar winners to give him their time and energy for free and created the movie RevoLOUtion which he starred and directed in. It was released to the general public in April 2006.

This is amazing in itself but you’ll have to believe me when I say it’s only the beginning of the feats that Bret pulled off. Bret endured more difficulties then you could ever imagine along the way and the making of RevoLOUtion was a complete rollercoaster ride. All of these feats I’ll give to you in kind of a ‘chutzpah list’ called “The Rise of RevoLOUtion”. Prepare to be shocked.

First things first here’s the lowdown on what RevoLOUtion is about:

The Odd Plot – A Boxer that Stutters

RevoLOUtion is the fictional story of Lou, a stuttering ex-boxer who can only speak normally when starting trouble protecting the Brooklyn neighborhood in which he lives. Lou transforms from violent, extreme stutterer into a great, powerful communicator.

Awareness magazine note:

“The viewer so identifies with Carr’s Oscar Caliber performance, that they are taken on a near death psychological journey with “Lou”, and come out having had their own awakening.” 

The Rise of RevoLOUtion

I’m going to share with you 8 phenomenal stories that many would consider seemingly impossible that perfectly demonstrate the sheer audacity and nerve that Bret possesses.

1. Giving up a $250 million Inheritance

 

The Chutzpah of Carr was evident from a very early age-  at 18 he left his family where he was vice president of a billion dollar holding company ran by his grandfather, Victor Posner. He gave up a 250million dollar inheritance, and then exposed him on front page of Wall Street Journal as a child molester to protect his sister.

 

He couldn’t get her away from him, because Posner had 4 gun toting bodyguards that would chase her down and take her car back every time Carr got her out. Both Carr and his sister had no money so Carr had the audacity to take the initiative.

This story goes a long way in explaining why Carr is so passionate about getting this film out. Carr grew up in a relatively dysfunctional household and found a way out of reliving that drama- RevoLOUtion.

A tough decision to make… not for Carr!

2. Enlisting the help of Oscar Winner Redeker and Funding RevoLOUtion

Pic Left: The Deer Hunter, 5 times Oscar Winner written by Quinn Redeker, writer of RevoLOUtion

Bret Carr got in touch with Quinn Redeker, the writer of the five time Oscar Winner The Deer Hunter starring Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, to help him realize his dreams.

Redeker laughed off any suggestion of help, that was until Bret shared his amazing techniques that would be embedded in the film.

Truly inspired by Carr’s vision Redeker waived his usual 6 figure fee; so Carr set about his task armed with only passion and a small organized crew of technicians getting them to work for free. (You might be rightly getting the impression now that Bret can be very persuasive)

The out of pocket expenses were funded in a rather bizarre fashion- Carr is a talented street artist who can capture dreams on single grains of rice, which he would then sell to tourists.

The 300,000 dollar production was also very hard to obtain- Bret had to explain to Kodak that he was making the first film in 3 decades from the guy who liberated a generation of Vietnam Veterans with The DEER HUNTER, and how dare anyone want to charge him for the production. Let’s be honest, he’s got a point, The Deer Hunter is a masterpiece with an immense cult following. Kodak caved in and Bret got the $300,000 funding.

Bret has shown one way of producing a film with no money whatsoever and how to attract Oscar Winners- Could you have done the same?

 

3. Getting Bill Conti, the composer of the Rocky Soundtrack for free

Pic left: The Original Oscar Winning Rocky Motion Picture Score by Conti

Carr was struggling to get composers for the soundtrack to RevoLOUtion, with even those who only had a history in commercials charging hefty prices.

So Bret and his team took the task upon themselves singing themes and going around in circles always ended up always bellowing out the ROCKY theme.

 The solution was obvious but still a bit of a pipe dream. They sent the movie to Bill Conti, the composer of the Oscar Winning Rocky Soundtrack, there was after all nothing to lose.

Bill’s response was that HE COULDN’T TURN AWAY FROM THE PERFORMANCE and HAD TO DO THE THEME.

With absolutely no money Bret needed to get Bill an orchestra, he managed to persuade 20 musicians to come together for 400 bucks and the rest is history. . .

Another Oscar Winner on board for the meager sum of $400. Go Bret!

 

4. Filming with Burt Young- ‘You Got Balls Kid’

Surely you’ve seen the legendary movie Rocky- Who hasn’t? Then you’ll all remember the character of Paulie, Rocky’s brother-in-law played by Burt Young.

Carr’s producer Mary Helen ran into Burt Young in the street and they managed to persuade him to shoot for an hour the next day, he possibly accepted because he was playing the role of an angry stutterer.

When Bret told Burt when and where he wanted to shoot Burt’s response was the classic “YOU GOT BALLS KID”- Sylvester Stallone eat your heart out- one of the most famous Rocky quotes!! Carr organized a crew to meet outside Burt’s  broadway play in front of a police station without permits. And even got the cops to help shoot.

Check out the Video Clips Later:

Clearly Bret has huge balls- Keep the Hollywood legends coming Bret!

5. Jane Fonda and Kumar Pallana Saga

Which Hollywood legend would Bret target next?

Carr still wanted to reshoot some scenes for RevoLOUtion and set about enrolling the help of the legendary Hollywood actress and writer Jane Fonda. Despite being told by the powerful agency courting Carr, not to bother her, Bret got Jane’s email from a journalist and sent her the movie.

Jane declined the reshoot due to her hip operation and pending bus tour but instead gave a quote on the film:

“Intense film, an extraordinary performance”

She ALSO included in her email, brilliant reshoot notes which Carr implemented with Kumar Pallana, the iconic Indian character actor who appeared in the Spielberg Film “Terminal” starring Tom Hanks.  Carr’s team checked out Kumar on IMDB, he was 30 minutes outside of Hollywood, they met up, he then signed and starred. 

 

6. Hard Hitting Agent Joe Klien gets RevoLOUtion the recognition it deserves

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing different cuts of the movie, Carr created a pseudonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hitting agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’, got the movie into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Carr got representation from Jon Sheinberg, a Hollywood agent turned manager and son of Syd Sheinberg, ex-President of Universal for 20 years.

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing different cuts of the movie, Carr called up the head of the IFP who runs a work in progress screening each year of 5 of the worlds best undiminished films. Historically the program discovered Brothers McMullan, She’s gotta have it, and many others.

Carr was rejected, but authorized by Shienberg who didn’t have time to represent him as hoped for, Carr created a pseudonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hitting agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Here’s the gist of how the conversation went:

“Hello, put the Executive Director on the phone please. This is Joe Klien from Jon Sheinberg’s office.”

“Michelle Byrd? This is Joe Klien, I work for Jon and Syd Shienberg. You know who they are don’t you.”

“Yes”

“Well let me remind you. Syd discovered a filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. NOW we represent Bret Carr, whose film FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT (RevoLOUtion’s name at the time) was rejected…

“Sir, first of this an organization and we have a screening committee which I’m not part of. I run the organization. Secondly selections are closed. The deadline is firmly over.”

Joe, “Let me tell you what. If you don’t take that tape home and make a decision yourself on Bret Carr’s movie, you are committing soul murder of the most important Cinematic Voice since Steven Spielberg. Do you understand me.”

Michelle Byrd, “Are you threatening me?”

Joe, slamming his fist on the table, (Bret told me he was so in character he scared himself with the flesh smacking wood):

 “You’re goddamn right I’m threatening you, I’m threatening you with being haunted by killing a masterwork. What I’m really doing though, is talking to you like I’d talk to the head of a studio fighting for the LIFE of a filmmaker who has risked EVERYTHING to make the most powerful movie any of us in this office has ever seen.

A movie that changes lives. And if you don’t take that tape home and have an answer for me, at your authentic discretion… A yes or a no… after that movie has been watched by YOU personally tonight, then you will be responsible for crushing the most powerful motion picture  visionary I have ever seen, and flushing  thirty five years of this masterfilmmaker life down the toilet. DO YOU COMPREHEND WHAT I AM SAYING TO YOU?!”

Michelle, meekly, “Yes, sir.”

Joe, “Do we have an understanding that I will hear from you no later than 10 am my time tomorrow?”

Michelle, “Yes, sir.”

9am next day, Michelle, “We would be honored to have Bret’s movie in our festival.”

The Result

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’ got the movie into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Yet another example of steely chutzpah.

 

7. Quest for Distribution

Carr wanted Distribution after being turned down by everyone so he shot a 20 dollar short PASSION OF THE HEIST.

He emailed to 3000 people, and within days it was forwarded all around Hollywood and reported on the radio from  Marty Grove who also is a writer for the Hollywood Reporter. He made Bret FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH .

However, the distribution deal fell through, as the company’s finances didn’t come together. Restless Carr relentlessly with no money and no distributor cracked on and filmed another short starring LOU BENEDETTI… FARANHEIT 6911 costs 20 dollars and makes it onto the front page again, of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER- BUT…

Despite all this success and relentless effort to get distribution Carr had no distributor UNTIL… he stumbled across an inheritance from his newly rich mother.

8. Crazy Experiment that Shocked Studio Execs:

The Drugs Test

Carr came into a lot of money- $300,000 left to him in an inheritance, however in another bizarre twist he had to take a drug test to convince his newly rich mother that his addiction to perfecting RevoLOUtion wasn’t actually a drug addiction.

Carr naturally put all of this money into the NY and LA release of the movie in a revolutionary ingenious idea. Take a look below:

The Experiment

Bret then had the audacity to promote RevoLOUtion in a way that was to take the movie world by storm, you’d think it would be better to take things one step at a time.

This video clip has managed to get 556 diggs within 16 hours of being posted on digg.com. It has way over 10,000 views on YouTube

Cary Berglund, NBC Reporter:

“Imagine if every dollar you had to pay to see a movie was with the confidence of 20/20 hindsight”

The revolutionary experiment, pay what you think it’s worth,  is an all new approach to ticket sales and has the potential to revolutionize the movie theatre experience.

Bret Carr explains the logic behind his hot idea:

“I walk out of 90% of everything I ever see, that’s why I wanted to give the power to the audience to be able to decide how much they like the film”

The result of the experiment was exceptional- the NY and LA release was double the average box office take outgrossing 90% of the Studio Independents along the way.

You’d think Bret would just be happy to finally get his film out to the public but instead he creates a whole new approach to movie-going.

 Overview of The Rise of RevoLOUtion. . .

These 8 sensational stories clearly demonstrate the chutzpah Bret possesses- How much balls can one guy have? The length and breadth Bret Carr will go to to get his movie the exposure it deserves is astonishing. SO…

The Future of RevoLOUtion

Despite the sheer chutzpah evident in Bret Carr’s nature the major problem holding back RevoLOUtion is the problem of distribution. This movie has to get out to the masses- check out the major impact it’s had on audiences who have been lucky enough to see it:

The phenomenal impact the movie has had on real people’s lives:

Now Carr is trying to build up a fan base for this miraculous film so the public can witness this heart-warming and awakening movie.

And you can be a part of this by subscribing to his community of videos which show excerpts,trailers, arrests, and battles in getting RevoLOUtion made.

SUBSCRIBE to the RevoLOUtion YouTube Community>>

Bret Carr is a truly remarkable character with a rock solid nerve who has harnessed his feelings to become a success and inspiration to many. And I’m sure you’ll agree this is mirrored in his movie.

Who has more chutzpah than Bret? What did you think of the movie? Share your thoughts- you can also Stream or purchase his movie.

check out the revoLOUtion website>>

 

 Video Clips

Burt Young Cameo in RevoLOUtion:

In this clip Burt Young threatens to bust up Lou, the stuttering boxer from the movie RevoLOUtion, who confuses Burt for his character Paulie in the Rocky movies.

Lou introducing RevoLOUtion- check out the trailer:

Related links

The Experiment

Remember it received 556 diggs within 16 hrs of being posted. . .

do you digg it?>> 

6 Ways To Master Difficult Subject Matter

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007

Editor’s Note: The Capacity of our mind to learn new subject matter and subject matter which is extremely difficult to grasp is truly staggering. However, are we using the right methods to learn to our full potential?

I found an article on a very alternative approach to learning which after racking my brains for ages makes perfect sense. I’m sure after you read this article it will make sense to you as well. Just think about it – there are so many pitfalls we fall into if we can’t grasp a hard topic – for example, reading and reading and READING over the same material.

Let’s get the scientific aspect out the way:

The Physiology of Learning

Learning is the acquisition and development of memories and behaviors, including skills, knowledge, understanding, values and wisdom. It is the goal of education, and the product of experience.

Thinking can be thought of as a network of neurons firing in a very specific pattern. As neurons are used, they become thicker and more permanent. It follows then, that the stronger the stimulation, and the more common the stimulation, the more likely the stimulus is to be remembered. More so, memory comes easier when multiple parts of the brain (such as hearing, seeing, smelling, motor skills, touch sense, and logical thinking lobes; informal names given) are stimulated.

There’s the technical side – let’s look at the alternative learning methods article:

Six steps for learning difficult subjects quickly

Here’s a strategy I’ve found useful for learning dry and difficult material quickly. At various times, I’ve used it to build up my knowledge of subjects like economics, investing, writing and computer programming languages. Some people have been surprised at how fast I can learn these kinds of skills, but I think anyone can do it with the right plan. Of course, you can use this to teach yourself interesting things as well, but most people don’t have any problem learning stuff that’s fun.
Okay, here are the steps…

Step 1: Bombard yourself with information

Many people try to slowly and methodically digest difficult material. They underline things and re-read paragraphs ten times to try and understand. This approach might eventually work, but most people get fed up with it and give up before finishing. Our brains hate this way of learning.

Instead, try to get through the material as quickly as possible. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything, just keep reading on. Push yourself to get the damn textbook finished, and don’t worry too much about how much you take in.

Skip any exercises or quizzes and just keep ploughing through.

Some people can read an entire textbook in a couple of sittings, but not me. I like to digest 10-20 page chunks, then go and do something else for a while to give my brain a rest. If you do this three or four times a day, you can finish a 600 page textbook in about two weeks.

The only time I stop to go back is if there’s some key concept that’s being repeated a lot and I don’t know what it means. Then, I might allow myself to read a key paragraph or two on that topic, but no more. Otherwise I just challenge myself to get through the book as quickly as possible.

Step 2: Identify the key concepts and make them yours

Once you’ve finished the text, think about what the key concepts were. Don’t concentrate on the details at this stage, just identify the core ten or so ideas that form the basis of the subject. Look them up again and try to define them as simply as you can. Putting them in your own words, with an example, rather than learning by rote is important.

For example, The Economist defines the concept of Opportunity Cost as: “The true cost of something is what you give up to get it. This includes not only the money spent in buying (or doing) the something, but also the economic benefits that you did without because you bought (or did) that particular something and thus can no longer buy (or do) something else. “

So you could say to yourself: “Opportunity cost means not being able to spend your resources on one thing because you’ve already spent them on something else. I can spend my Saturday night doing homework, which means the opportunity cost is that I can’t spend that time going to the movies.”

Step 3: Only memorize what absolutely has to be memorized

Most facts and figures can be looked up. Don’t fill your mind with junk trivia that’s only a mouse-click away. Instead of the raw data, concentrate on understanding the ideas of a subject.

However, in any topic, there are some things that simply must be memorized. Cut the list of these down as much as possible, so you’re only remembering that which absolutely and definitely has to be remembered.

There are all sorts of memory tricks around, but the one I find most useful is pretty simple. I just repeat out loud the thing that has to be remembered ten times or so. Then, I wait until later in the day and try to remember it again. If I can’t, I look it up and repeat it out loud again. Then I wait for later and try to remember it again – and so on. Usually, you can burn a fact into your brain pretty quickly using this method.

Step 4: Get some feedback on your understanding

Now that you’ve filled your head with stuff, it’s time to get some feedback on how well you’ve understood it. A good way is by doing some kind of mock-exam. You can find these for various subjects on-line, or you might want to try some of the exercises in the textbook.

Again, break this dull task up into chunks if necessary, doing a few different tests over a few days.

You’ll probably find that you did pretty badly when you mark yourself. After all, you raced your way through the text. But if you look up the questions that you got wrong, you should amaze yourself at how quickly you start getting a detailed knowledge of the material.

What you’re trying to do is build up a framework of the subject in your mind and then fill in the details. This will probably be pretty fuzzy at first, but clarity usually comes quickly as you teach your brain how the concepts are related.

The important thing is not getting the answers right, but looking up what you got wrong and learning it. Do this as quickly as possible. Try to avoid reading whole chapters unless you feel you absolutely need to.

Step 5: Bombard yourself with some more information, but from another source

Now is the time to get some information from other sources. Often, hearing something in a different way helps me to understand it better. It also gives some flexibility to my comprehension.

I’m not suggesting reading another whole textbook. Instead read a few short articles on the subject in magazines and on websites.

Step 6: Get some real-world feedback

Now’s the time to get some real-world feedback. If you’ve learnt a language, try speaking to a native in it. If you’ve taught yourself anatomy, try having a discussion on the subject with a doctor.

 The best real world feedback of all is if you attempt to use your knowledge for fame or fortune (on a small scale of course). Throw yourself in the deep end, in other words. Join a discussion board on the subject and pick an argument with one of the participants. Or try to get paid employment using your new knowledge.

So there they are, my six steps for learning a difficult subject quickly. Of course, the actual amount of time it takes depends on how much work you put in, but this is the most efficient method I’ve found in terms of understanding achieved compared to time and effort spent. Usually, I can get a good broad understanding of a topic in a month or two using this method.

check out more from Paul>>

How Do You Learn Difficult Subject Matter?

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Two Young Men Set The Impossible For Their Goal And Changed The World Forever

Friday, March 30th, 2007

An inspiring story based on the Wright Brothers. Armed with nothing more than a high school education, they rose above all obstacles and achieved the impossible.
Be inspired by this lesson about attaining success even if the odds are against you!

 

WINGS. . .

 

 

“If GOD had intended that man should fly, he would have given him wings”- George W Melville, Chief Engineer of the US Navy (1900)

Here’s Their Rollercoaster Ride

This is proof that nothing is impossible.

What Do You Think?

 

Bret Carr- How Much Nerve Can One Guy Have?

Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

How did a simple street artist go from painting grains of rice to directing a movie with two Oscar Winning Legends? The answer to this question can be summarized in one word- chutzpah (and barrel loads of it at that!)

I’m guessing a few of you don’t know this term- it means audacity or nerve. The classic definition is that given by Leo Rosten:

“that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.”

I’m not saying for a second that this is what Bret Carr would do but he certainly possesses the same qualities. I spoke to Bret on the phone last week and am finding it impossible to keep his incredible story to myself.

Many people in the same position would have been overpowered with the feelings of despair but Bret had other ideas- to manifest his dreams.

Here’s his story- be prepared to be literally stunned at the lengths one man will go to for the success of his vision.

 

Bret Carr moved to Los Angeles and began work as a street artist painting pictures on rice grains for tourists. But his real ambition was to make movies that change people’s lives.

 

Bret incredibly managed to get two Oscar winners to give him their time and energy for free and created the movie RevoLOUtion which he starred and directed in. It was released to the general public in April 2006.

This is amazing in itself but you’ll have to believe me when I say it’s only the beginning of the feats that Bret pulled off. Bret endured more difficulties then you could ever imagine along the way and the making of RevoLOUtion was a complete rollercoaster ride. All of these feats I’ll give to you in kind of a ‘chutzpah list’ called “The Rise of RevoLOUtion”. Prepare to be shocked.

First things first here’s the lowdown on what RevoLOUtion is about:

The Odd Plot – A Boxer that Stutters

RevoLOUtion is the fictional story of Lou, a stuttering ex-boxer who can only speak normally when starting trouble protecting the Brooklyn neighborhood in which he lives. Lou transforms from violent, extreme stutterer into a great, powerful communicator.

Awareness magazine note:

“The viewer so identifies with Carr’s Oscar Caliber performance, that they are taken on a near death psychological journey with “Lou”, and come out having had their own awakening.” 

The Rise of RevoLOUtion

I’m going to share with you 8 phenomenal stories that many would consider seemingly impossible that perfectly demonstrate the sheer audacity and nerve that Bret possesses.

1. Giving up a $250 million Inheritance

 

The Chutzpah of Carr was evident from a very early age-  at 18 he left his family where he was vice president of a billion dollar holding company ran by his grandfather, Victor Posner. He gave up a 250million dollar inheritance, and then exposed him on front page of Wall Street Journal as a child molester to protect his sister.

 

He couldn’t get her away from him, because Posner had 4 gun toting bodyguards that would chase her down and take her car back every time Carr got her out. Both Carr and his sister had no money so Carr had the audacity to take the initiative.

This story goes a long way in explaining why Carr is so passionate about getting this film out. Carr grew up in a relatively dysfunctional household and found a way out of reliving that drama- RevoLOUtion.

A tough decision to make… not for Carr!

2. Enlisting the help of Oscar Winner Redeker and Funding RevoLOUtion

Pic Left: The Deer Hunter, 5 times Oscar Winner written by Quinn Redeker, writer of RevoLOUtion

Bret Carr got in touch with Quinn Redeker, the writer of the five time Oscar Winner The Deer Hunter starring Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, to help him realize his dreams.

Redeker laughed off any suggestion of help, that was until Bret shared his amazing techniques that would be embedded in the film.

Truly inspired by Carr’s vision Redeker waived his usual 6 figure fee; so Carr set about his task armed with only passion and a small organized crew of technicians getting them to work for free. (You might be rightly getting the impression now that Bret can be very persuasive)

The out of pocket expenses were funded in a rather bizarre fashion- Carr is a talented street artist who can capture dreams on single grains of rice, which he would then sell to tourists.

The 300,000 dollar production was also very hard to obtain- Bret had to explain to Kodak that he was making the first film in 3 decades from the guy who liberated a generation of Vietnam Veterans with The DEER HUNTER, and how dare anyone want to charge him for the production. Let’s be honest, he’s got a point, The Deer Hunter is a masterpiece with an immense cult following. Kodak caved in and Bret got the $300,000 funding.

Bret has shown one way of producing a film with no money whatsoever and how to attract Oscar Winners- Could you have done the same?

 

3. Getting Bill Conti, the composer of the Rocky Soundtrack for free

Pic left: The Original Oscar Winning Rocky Motion Picture Score by Conti

Carr was struggling to get composers for the soundtrack to RevoLOUtion, with even those who only had a history in commercials charging hefty prices.

So Bret and his team took the task upon themselves singing themes and going around in circles always ended up always bellowing out the ROCKY theme.

 The solution was obvious but still a bit of a pipe dream. They sent the movie to Bill Conti, the composer of the Oscar Winning Rocky Soundtrack, there was after all nothing to lose.

Bill’s response was that HE COULDN’T TURN AWAY FROM THE PERFORMANCE and HAD TO DO THE THEME.

With absolutely no money Bret needed to get Bill an orchestra, he managed to persuade 20 musicians to come together for 400 bucks and the rest is history. . .

Another Oscar Winner on board for the meager sum of $400. Go Bret!

 

4. Filming with Burt Young- ‘You Got Balls Kid’

Surely you’ve seen the legendary movie Rocky- Who hasn’t? Then you’ll all remember the character of Paulie, Rocky’s brother-in-law played by Burt Young.

Carr’s producer Mary Helen ran into Burt Young in the street and they managed to persuade him to shoot for an hour the next day, he possibly accepted because he was playing the role of an angry stutterer.

When Bret told Burt when and where he wanted to shoot Burt’s response was the classic “YOU GOT BALLS KID”- Sylvester Stallone eat your heart out- one of the most famous Rocky quotes!! Carr organized a crew to meet outside Burt’s  broadway play in front of a police station without permits. And even got the cops to help shoot.

Check out the Video Clips Later:

Clearly Bret has huge balls- Keep the Hollywood legends coming Bret!

5. Jane Fonda and Kumar Pallana Saga

Which Hollywood legend would Bret target next?

Carr still wanted to reshoot some scenes for RevoLOUtion and set about enrolling the help of the legendary Hollywood actress and writer Jane Fonda. Despite being told by the powerful agency courting Carr, not to bother her, Bret got Jane’s email from a journalist and sent her the movie.

Jane declined the reshoot due to her hip operation and pending bus tour but instead gave a quote on the film:

“Intense film, an extraordinary performance”

She ALSO included in her email, brilliant reshoot notes which Carr implemented with Kumar Pallana, the iconic Indian character actor who stole the Spielberg Film “Terminal” from Tom Hanks.  Carr’s team checked out Kumar on IMDB, he was 30 minutes outside of Hollywood, they met up, he then signed and starred. 

 

6. Hard Hitting Agent Joe Klien gets RevoLOUtion the recognition it deserves

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing different cuts of the movie, Carr created a pseudonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hitting agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’, got the movie into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Carr got representation from Jon Sheinberg, a Hollywood agent turned manager and son of Syd Sheinberg, ex-President of Universal for 20 years.

After being rejected 5 years in a row utilizing different cuts of the movie, Carr called up the head of the IFP who runs a work in progress screening each year of 5 of the worlds best undiminished films. Historically the program discovered Brothers McMullan, She’s gotta have it, and many others.

Carr was rejected, but authorized by Shienberg who didn’t have time to represent him as hoped for, Carr created a pseudonym and personality, JOE KLIEN, a hard hitting agent who didn’t take no for an answer.

Here’s the gist of how the conversation went:

“Hello, put the Executive Director on the phone please. This is Joe Klien from Jon Sheinberg’s office.”

“Michelle Byrd? This is Joe Klien, I work for Jon and Syd Shienberg. You know who they are don’t you.”

“Yes”

“Well let me remind you. Syd discovered a filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. NOW we represent Bret Carr, whose film FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT (RevoLOUtion’s name at the time) was rejected…

“Sir, first of this an organization and we have a screening committee which I’m not part of. I run the organization. Secondly selections are closed. The deadline is firmly over.”

Joe, “Let me tell you what. If you don’t take that tape home and make a decision yourself on Bret Carr’s movie, you are committing soul murder of the most important Cinematic Voice since Steven Spielberg. Do you understand me.”

Michelle Byrd, “Are you threatening me?”

Joe, slamming his fist on the table, (Bret told me he was so in character he scared himself with the flesh smacking wood):

 “You’re goddamn right I’m threatening you, I’m threatening you with being haunted by killing a masterwork. What I’m really doing though, is talking to you like I’d talk to the head of a studio fighting for the LIFE of a filmmaker who has risked EVERYTHING to make the most powerful movie any of us in this office has ever seen.

A movie that changes lives. And if you don’t take that tape home and have an answer for me, at your authentic discretion… A yes or a no… after that movie has been watched by YOU personally tonight, then you will be responsible for crushing the most powerful motion picture  visionary I have ever seen, and flushing  thirty five years of this masterfilmmaker life down the toilet. DO YOU COMPREHEND WHAT I AM SAYING TO YOU?!”

Michelle, meekly, “Yes, sir.”

Joe, “Do we have an understanding that I will hear from you no later than 10 am my time tomorrow?”

Michelle, “Yes, sir.”

9am next day, Michelle, “We would be honored to have Bret’s movie in our festival.”

The Result

Bret via his alter ego ‘Joe Klien’ got the movie into slamdance, an irreverent film festival. From this platform RevoLOUtion has won Jury Prizes and distinctions at 15 international film festivals.

Yet another example of steely chutzpah.

 

7. Quest for Distribution

Carr wanted Distribution after being turned down by everyone so he shot a 20 dollar short PASSION OF THE HEIST.

He emailed to 3000 people, and within days it was forwarded all around Hollywood and reported on the radio from  Marty Grove who also is a writer for the Hollywood Reporter. He made Bret FILMMAKER OF THE MONTH .

However, the distribution deal fell through, as the company’s finances didn’t come together. Restless Carr relentlessly with no money and no distributor cracked on and filmed another short starring LOU BENEDETTI… FARANHEIT 6911 costs 20 dollars and makes it onto the front page again, of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER- BUT…

Despite all this success and relentless effort to get distribution Carr had no distributor UNTIL… he stumbled across an inheritance from his newly rich mother.

8. Crazy Experiment that Shocked Studio Execs:

The Drugs Test

Carr came into a lot of money- $300,000 left to him in an inheritance, however in another bizarre twist he had to take a drug test to convince his newly rich mother that his addiction to perfecting RevoLOUtion wasn’t actually a drug addiction.

Carr naturally put all of this money into the NY and LA release of the movie in a revolutionary ingenious idea. Take a look below:

The Experiment

Bret then had the audacity to promote RevoLOUtion in a way that was to take the movie world by storm, you’d think it would be better to take things one step at a time.

This video clip has managed to get 556 diggs within 16 hours of being posted on digg.com. It has way over 10,000 views on YouTube

Cary Berglund, NBC Reporter:

“Imagine if every dollar you had to pay to see a movie was with the confidence of 20/20 hindsight”

The revolutionary experiment, pay what you think it’s worth,  is an all new approach to ticket sales and has the potential to revolutionize the movie theatre experience.

Bret Carr explains the logic behind his hot idea:

“I walk out of 90% of everything I ever see, that’s why I wanted to give the power to the audience to be able to decide how much they like the film”

The result of the experiment was exceptional- the NY and LA release was double the average box office take outgrossing 90% of the Studio Independents along the way.

You’d think Bret would just be happy to finally get his film out to the public but instead he creates a whole new approach to movie-going.

 Overview of The Rise of RevoLOUtion. . .

These 8 sensational stories clearly demonstrate the chutzpah Bret possesses- How much balls can one guy have? The length and breadth Bret Carr will go to to get his movie the exposure it deserves is astonishing. SO…

The Future of RevoLOUtion

Despite the sheer chutzpah evident in Bret Carr’s nature the major problem holding back RevoLOUtion is the problem of distribution. This movie has to get out to the masses- check out the major impact it’s had on audiences who have been lucky enough to see it:

The phenomenal impact the movie has had on real people’s lives:

Now Carr is trying to build up a fan base for this miraculous film so the public can witness this heart-warming and awakening movie.

And you can be a part of this by subscribing to his community of videos which show excerpts,trailers, arrests, and battles in getting RevoLOUtion made.

SUBSCRIBE to the RevoLOUtion YouTube Community>>

Bret Carr is a truly remarkable character with a rock solid nerve who has harnessed his feelings to become a success and inspiration to many. And I’m sure you’ll agree this is mirrored in his movie.

Who has more chutzpah than Bret? What did you think of the movie? Share your thoughts- you can also Stream or purchase his movie.

check out the revoLOUtion website>>

 

 Video Clips

Burt Young Cameo in RevoLOUtion:

In this clip Burt Young threatens to bust up Lou, the stuttering boxer from the movie RevoLOUtion, who confuses Burt for his character Paulie in the Rocky movies.

Lou introducing RevoLOUtion- check out the trailer:

Related links

The Experiment

Remember it received 556 diggs within 16 hrs of being posted. . .

do you digg it?>> 

Introducing a New Transformational Film- RevoLOUtion

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007

 

 

Bret Carr moved to Los Angeles and began work as a street artist painting pictures on rice grains for tourists. But his real ambition was to make movies that change people’s lives.

And the movie that he created, RevoLOUtion – is now changing people’s lives.

In April 2006 the transformational epic movie Revoloution was released to the general public.

Filmmaker Bret Carr stars in and directs the movie and his inspirational story both on and off the screen is stuff only dreams are made of.

RevoLOUtion is the fictional story of Lou, a stuttering ex-boxer who can only speak normally when starting trouble protecting the Brooklyn neighborhood in which he lives. Lou transforms from violent, extreme stutterer into a great, powerful communicator.

It is structured around an ancient rite of passage, and creates powerful transformational effects with numerous members of viewers. 

Awareness magazine note:

“The viewer so identifies with Carr’s Oscar Caliber performance, that they are taken on a near death psychological journey with “Lou”, and come out having had their own awakening.”

Check out the YouTube video below for the trailer and audience reactions.

The phenomenal impact the movie has had on real people’s lives:


check out the revoLOUtion website>>

Help with Setting Your New Year Resolutions

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007

It’s that time of year again…

A new year always brings with it new resolutions of people
hopeful to change the old. Popular changes that many people
would like to make are listed below, in no particular order.

1. Lose Weight – With more than fifty percent American adults
and countless others in other countries being overweight, it’s
no wonder that this resolution appears a lot. Unfortunately
there are so many plans out there for losing weight and eating
right, that it’s difficult to know what works and what doesn’t
and which plan is best for which individual. Keys to successful
weight loss focus on good eating habits, a good exercise program
and sticking to targeted goals to reach.

2. Pay Off Debt – A main resolution of many is to pay off credit
cards and minor installments loans; i.e. like auto loans, not
mortgages. Often a tough job, lack of paying off debt often
stems form economic issues, unexpected bills, decreased income,
health-related bills and more mounting all year long. Do you best
and check into refinancing at lower rates is often advised.

3. Stop Bad Habits – Popular resolutions often involve stopping
bad habits like smoking, drinking, gambling, drug abuse,
cheating on a mate and being a workaholic. To help overcome
these, there are 12-step programs out there for nearly any issue
today.

4. Continue Education – Another popular resolution is to return
to school to finish high school accreditation, to complete
college programs and complete other educational training. And
with online technology so advanced today, many are able to jump
back into programs with online help round the clock and round
the world.

5. Travel – Hitting the road, the sea or the air is another top
resolution of many. Travel sites offering helpful online planning,
booking and savings grow in popularity as does this resolution
made by many.

6. Workout – Both genders make resolutions to get fit in the
new years ahead. Whether it’s to lift weights or run track or
bike or swim, people as a whole seek better fitness. And trying
to work in a fitness plan is not always easy with families on
the go today. So trying to squeeze in smaller amount of time
blocks might help many. For example, workout for 15 minutes a
couple of times each day instead of looking for blocks of an
hour where you will be free.

There are more popular New Year’s resolutions. Make some of
your own and see what you are looking forward to, then make
plans to reach your goals. Happy New Year!

Now the problem is actually achieving your resolutions, not
setting them. Anyone can set a new years resolution, right?

Exactly.

So make sure you actually set yourself up for success. Write
it down and keep it in front of you. Tell others about it and
then work on it daily.

For a free report on setting and achieving your New Year’s
Resolutions, check out:

http://www.newyearsresolutionshelp.com/freereport/?a=541

Follow the link above to download a free report on setting and keepign your resolutions. I personally had a look at the report and think Fabio Marciano had done an excellent job in helping to guide people with setting their New Year goals.

Download the free report by clicking the image below.

New Years Resolutions Help

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