Throw Everything Away and Start All Over

Sometimes the things you think make you successful may be the very things that are actually holding you back.

Crazy? Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it’s not true.

I was reminded of this idea after watching a video of comedian Louis C.K. speak at a tribute to George Carlin that a friend sent me. You can see it here:

(Warning! There is a lot of profanity in this. If you don’t like that, or are in an environment where it would be bad for someone to hear the “F” and “S” words emitting from your speakers, well, then you may not want to hit “play.” Consider yourself warned.)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R37zkizucPU#!

It starts out pretty funny, with Louis making fun of clowns (because, hey, “why not?”).

Then he talks about how he got started in comedy…

After 15 years of performing the same jokes and routine over and over he wasn’t really getting anywhere. One day he listened to George Carlin talk about his act, and he was stunned to hear that Carlin would write a brand new act and throw away the old one every year.

Many comedians (and speakers) would tell you this was crazy, since the common wisdom is that you work your existing material until it is perfect, and then you stick with that.

Not George Carlin. He decided that by creating a new act every year it would:

1. Keep him fresh and excited.
2. Give him something to look forward to every year.

Louis was one of those comedians who was afraid of doing this. He had been telling the same jokes for 15 years, after all.

However, his career was nowhere and he was willing to try anything. He did it, and he continues to do it, and since he made that commitment, he has seen much more success than he ever did in the 15 years he spent telling the same jokes.

That’s pretty damn powerful.

It’s also something we can all learn from.

You may not be a stand up comedian, but chances are you have some things in your life that you have been doing the same way for a very long time. And you continue to do them because they work for you.

However, those same things you do that work for you may very well be the things that are holding you back from achieving an even higher level of success and happiness.

Take a look at any area where you are not as successful as you would like to be. Then take an honest look at how you have been approaching that area. Have you basically been trying the same thing over and over, or just slightly tweaking and adjusting your approach, hoping for a big change?

If so, consider throwing away everything and starting over:

• Been trying unsuccessfully to lose weight for years? Throw away everything you are trying and have tried to lose weight and start with a blank slate. Make a new plan that is completely different than anything you have done before.
• Been struggling to build your business? Throw away your marketing plan. Start completely from scratch and ask, “What can I do to make my business successful now?”
• Been trying to find a new job? Stop visiting all the same web sites. Throw away your resume and build a new one from scratch. Heck, throw away what you think you want as a job and ask yourself, “What do I really want to do?” (Note: If you’re unsure, check out my Mining Your Gold program). 

This is all based on a simple fact: if what you’ve been doing hasn’t been working, then you should try something different.

Beyond that, as with Carlin, even if things have been working, throwing it away and starting over can help you be even better.

Throwing away everything and starting over can be a very scary thing.

And I am not saying you apply this idea arbitrarily. So no, you don’t have to leave your spouse, quit the job you are happy at, and sell your house.

That’s silly.

Start with an area of your life you are unhappy with. Start with something small. And start out in the “thought phase,” where you simply are willing, in your own head, to throw everything away and start over.

It worked for George Carlin, it works for Louis C.K., and it can work for you.

***
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About

By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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