18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
18 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

I'm Wearing Leather Pants In Arizona, What Else Can A Guy Do?

by TimGross
14 replies
On American Idol last night, a wanna-be rocker with tattoos and a headband auditioned and was turned down, and he was shocked.

* He'd never taken singing lessons
* He'd never tried to play in a band or collaborate with musicians
* He'd never taken ANY step towards achieving his "dream" at all...

He auditioned in Arizona (it was 106 degrees that day), and his final statement was classic, he said:

"I'm sweating to death, I'm wearing leather pants in Arizona, I mean, what else can a guy do?"

...As if wearing leather pants is a substitute for years of developing the skills he needed to make his dream a reality.

Related Example: A bartender who'd moved to L.A. from Louisiana to become an actress told me once, "I never thought I'd still be working here after being in L.A. for a year..." (In other words, she thought she'd already be a successful actress)

When I asked her for details, she said she hadn't gotten any headshots done yet. In other words, she'd lived in L.A. for a year to pursue her acting dream and had never created the basic package that an actress would need to submit to try to get an audition...

But she was surprised she wasn't a successful actress yet!

It sounds ridiculous... But many people trying to start an online business are in the same boat:

* They read and post to the Warrior discussion forum
* They purchase training products they hope will inspire them
* They keep collecting information without taking action

If you're still on the sidelines stuck in "information overload" trying to start an online business, it's time to step up, pick a project (any project!), and take it through to completion.

Regardless of whether the first project you try is successful or not, the practical skills you'll learn from actually taking the steps to complete it will be invaluable... and it's the only way to turn the "dream" into reality.

I hope you got a little chuckle out of that "I'm wearing leather pants" quote like I did, it's easy to see other people's mistakes, harder to see our own. :-)
- Tim "Proudly not wearing leather pants" Gross
#arizona #guy #leather #pants #wearing
  • Profile picture of the author ageeson
    That is AWESOME! I seen that as American Idol is my favorite show, I crave this time of year for the show.
    Signature

    Results are reasons for success / Excuses are reasons for failure. And a round tuit is an excuse.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422670].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lance K
    Nice post, Tim. Examples and/or case studies are some of the most powerful ways to get a point across.
    Signature
    "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
    ~ Zig Ziglar
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422677].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Kaye
    Originally Posted by TimGross View Post

    But many people trying to start an online business are in the same boat:

    * They read and post to the Warrior discussion forum
    * They purchase training products they hope will inspire them
    * They keep collecting information without taking action
    Love this, but it makes me feel a little guilty for "reading and then POSTING!" I'm going to take my leather pants off now and get back to work...
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422719].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimGross
      Originally Posted by Mark Kaye View Post

      Love this, but it makes me feel a little guilty for "reading and then POSTING!" I'm going to take my leather pants off now and get back to work...
      Heh heh, funny observation; Of course, one of the problems with running online businesses is feeling isolated, so reading/posting here can certainly be helpful, the trick is to not confuse it with actual work. :-)

      For myself, tricks I've used are:

      1) Using 2nd computer (if available) for surfing, posting, researching, versus my WORK computer for actual direct productivity.

      2) Literally putting on a "work hat" or something to signify to myself when I'm actually working versus researching etc.

      3) Using a timer to actually clock work time (to avoid that "where did the day go?" conversation with yourself at the end of the day
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[423143].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Songster
    Tim your advice is right on the money.
    I see it all the time.

    I talk to so many people who "are trying to make big money" online and they don't even have a website. I'm sorry but thats a basic necessity.

    I have more respect for the person who has put up their website and "failed" then those who constantly complain that they can't get anything started.

    I proved (to myself) recently when I offered $25 websites that people don't want to work - price isn't the issue. If they bought the website then they would have to work - work is the issue.

    They would rather buy 5 $7 ebooks and then complain that they have information overload and don't know where to start.

    PS - I live in Arizona (saw the show too) NO ONE in their right mind wears leather pants in the summer here. He didn't have anything going for him - did he?
    Couldn't sing
    Dressed stupid
    Not hot enough to be a rocker! Maybe he should try radio...
    Hope he didn't quit his day job ... LOL
    Signature

    Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422732].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
      A new book Amazon.com: Outliers: The Story of Success:...Amazon.com: Outliers: The Story of Success:... , tells how it
      takes about 10,000 hours of practice to master something.

      Now look at where you are on that timeline, in whatever area
      you want to excel in, and ask yourself "am I really putting in
      the time to master this?"

      I'm on the path in a few disciplines myself. You gotta put in
      the time to get the skills.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422755].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Headhunting55
        Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

        A new book Amazon.com: Outliers: The Story of Success: Malcolm Gladwell: Books, tells how it
        takes about 10,000 hours of practice to master something.

        Now look at where you are on that timeline, in whatever area
        you want to excel in, and ask yourself "am I really putting in
        the time to master this?"

        I'm on the path in a few disciplines myself. You gotta put in
        the time to get the skills.
        I am in the middle of reading this book right now. It is AWESOME. ANYTHING by Malcolm Gladwell (Blink, Tipping Point) is excellent.....
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[423138].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Tim, that guy on American Idol last night was kind of pathetic, he was an emotional wreck! Zero confidence. His voice wasn't that bad...I've heard worse. What he lacked was confidence, a presence...the "it" factor,
      and the desire to change or improve.

      IMHO, you don't have to have singing lessons to become a big star...there are many stars who never had a lesson in their life and they are big...there are some stars who can't even sing well and are big..think Bob Dylan (love his lyrics!), Neil Young (love his song-writing!)
      need I go on?

      I never went to college for programming...I'm self taught, yet I've earned a living since 1997 as a web designer/programmer/WordPress specialist/Internet marketer. Persistence pays off!

      The point I'm trying to make here is that don't let your lack of credentials stop you from doing whatever it takes to succeed. You can learn as you go ( there's a ton of free resources at your finger-tips and many many people who are NOT out to take your money but will help you for free!)
      and once you have extra money then you can spend it on advanced learning products.
      Signature
      ---------------
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422776].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author TimGross
        Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

        IMHO, you don't have to have singing lessons to become a big star......I'm self taught, yet I've earned a living since 1997 as a web designer/programmer/WordPress specialist/Internet marketer. Persistence pays off!
        Absolutely... I wasn't suggesting that singing lessons were a requirement, I was just listing different steps he could have taken if he were serious.

        Persistence is the key to most anything... and he never took the first step, let alone being persistent about continuing down the path. :-)
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422829].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Phil Brown
    People are looking for a silver bullet they don't want to do the work,as for me being online is a business and people need to under stand that or they are wasting their time.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422791].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    Leather pants but no talent or ability makes the guy what
    we used to call, in L.A., on the Sunset Strip, a "poseur".

    Of course he probably didn't have the right big-hair, but
    the idea is the same. Even Britney Spears and other
    weak-voiced divas are often multi-talented performers,
    compensating for lack of vocal distinction.

    Case in point: Dylan, who had such a compelling message
    and gift for poetry he chose to make his style so
    distinctive it was annoying. It forced people to
    really pay attention to what he was saying.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422834].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Debbie Songster
    Of course you can always do the marketing trick the chick in the bikini did.

    My prediction - when she wears clothes in round 2 they won't even recognize her.
    Signature

    Getting back in the grove after taking a year off following a family tragedy.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[422856].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author axeray
    Some people have no idea. Leather pants, sheesh.
    Signature
    Free Website Design - Get a website designed for free.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[423177].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
    Originally Posted by TimGross View Post

    On American Idol last night, a wanna-be rocker with tattoos and a headband auditioned and was turned down, and he was shocked.

    * He'd never taken singing lessons
    * He'd never tried to play in a band or collaborate with musicians
    * He'd never taken ANY step towards achieving his "dream" at all...

    He auditioned in Arizona (it was 106 degrees that day), and his final statement was classic, he said:

    "I'm sweating to death, I'm wearing leather pants in Arizona, I mean, what else can a guy do?"

    ...As if wearing leather pants is a substitute for years of developing the skills he needed to make his dream a reality.

    Related Example: A bartender who'd moved to L.A. from Louisiana to become an actress told me once, "I never thought I'd still be working here after being in L.A. for a year..." (In other words, she thought she'd already be a successful actress)

    When I asked her for details, she said she hadn't gotten any headshots done yet. In other words, she'd lived in L.A. for a year to pursue her acting dream and had never created the basic package that an actress would need to submit to try to get an audition...

    But she was surprised she wasn't a successful actress yet!

    It sounds ridiculous... But many people trying to start an online business are in the same boat:

    * They read and post to the Warrior discussion forum
    * They purchase training products they hope will inspire them
    * They keep collecting information without taking action

    If you're still on the sidelines stuck in "information overload" trying to start an online business, it's time to step up, pick a project (any project!), and take it through to completion.

    Regardless of whether the first project you try is successful or not, the practical skills you'll learn from actually taking the steps to complete it will be invaluable... and it's the only way to turn the "dream" into reality.

    I hope you got a little chuckle out of that "I'm wearing leather pants" quote like I did, it's easy to see other people's mistakes, harder to see our own. :-)
    - Tim "Proudly not wearing leather pants" Gross
    Preach Brother...

    That used to be me. I had the appearance of being a marketer but wasn't doing anything "concrete" to reach my goals.

    I knew what to do and how to do it but it wasn't getting done so I had to call bulls**t on me and start accomplishing the goals that I laid out.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[423436].message }}

Trending Topics