I also saw Zombieland and inspired by the hard taught lessons that show up as rules in the film, I am going to be creating my own rules throughout the year. RULE #1: NEVER READ THE REVIEWS BEFORE WATCHING THE MOVIE OR READING THE BOOK. Why this rule? It seems silly at first glance, but something that has kinda been bubbling under the surface for me recently is the way access to public opinion shapes my own opinion and experience of something. When I read a review, I feel like I am setting myself up to feel a certain way about something. If people don’t like it then I won’t like it right? If people love it, I’ll love it, if it makes people laugh, I’ll laugh. If it makes people cry, I’ll cry. And where am I in all this “experienced” emotion. Nowhere. I want to remember what I think, what I feel, what I like and what I see. I want to be surprised. So that is rule #1.

Cleo from 5 to 7

In a rather strange way, this leads right into a movie I was watching today. It is called Cleo from 5 to 7. I won’t tell you what I think of it (see Rule #1). I was watching it when I thought of the rule and strangely, about 15 minutes later, cleo said something about how you should never read a review before watching a movie. Strange. Serendipity. A message that I’m on the right track maybe?

So this year…here’s to this year. A year of authenticity and a year of freedom. I am welcoming it with my arms outstretched and my eyes wide open. I hope you are too!

I’m experimenting with the idea of change right now. Sometimes you just know that things need to change and I am at that point right now. Give me the strength to make the changes I need to make. (these would all be good ones, just a little scary)

My Brand New Journal

I knew it was going to be fun, at least judging from the flickr pool of fellow wreckers, but I was totally unprepared for how freeing it would feel to do some of the exercises.

Me taking my journal for a walk

You just don’t realize how tied we all are to perfection until you try to resist the urge to be perfect, keep things perfect, or act perfectly. It is harder then you think to take a brand new book and drag it through a puddle of water. In a way, going through some of the exercises is like giving yourself permission to loosen up a little, make mistakes, be creative and take risks and also let go of the idea of possessing things.

My Journal - after a fall from high in the sky

Is anyone else wrecking a journal? Would love to hear your thoughts on the process!

In terms of diet — I need permanent change as well as an approach that will get me to a stable weight and exercise level. I no longer believe in diet books or diet gurus. This time I am going to make myself an expert and I am going to depend on myself to make the changes that need to be made.

Thus – what I am calling the tipping point diet. I will be making one change at a time. When I have mastered one change, I will add another and at some point I will have to reach the tipping point and finally see my body and health moving in the direction I want it to be. The initial changes will be more drastic/less long term, but as I get closer to my ideal health point, I will revise some of them to be more livable over the rest of my lifetime.

I started with one a few weeks ago and have been happy with my progress so far. If anyone wants to join me in doing this along the way I would welcome fellow tippers! I’ll be updating you as I create new goals for myself. Wish me luck!

Goal Numero Uno – No eating out – no restaurants, no fast food, no food from booths at fairs, Starbucks is still allowed.

Like I said, I’ve been doing this for a few weeks, even when I really don’t want to cook and I love the results — I am saving money and loosing a little of the pudge. I’m thinking about the next thing to add to the list — I have a sneaking suspicion it will have to do with exercise.

Yep you heard right, free! Speakers include the likes of Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Every time I listen to one of these talks I become more motivated, more willing to go after my goals, to set the bar a higher and take a chance. You can find all this knowledge goodness on Stanford Universities’ Entrepreneurship Corner website.

The last podcast I listened to brought to my attention Tina Seelig, Stanford Technologies Ventures Program’s Executive Director.  Listen to her speak and you feel the passion and joy she gets out of sharing her knowledge. She is like the teacher you always wished for, creative, engaging and empowering.

I invite you all to listen to her talk, The Art of Teaching Entrepreneur’s. Below are a few key takeaways from her talk and my thoughts on them. Also, for a less teaching oriented talk here is another talk she did that covered a lot of the same points, What I Wish I knew when I was 20.

1. All problems are Opportunities. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity.

This is about perspective. How do you look at problems? Do they hold you back, do they keep you from continuing on a path or do you use them to benefit you by exploring the possibilities that the problem creates? How do you objectively view your own problems so that you can see the possibilities hidden within them?

2. Experimenting is important.

You can’t just theorize solutions. Part of finding a great solution is experimenting and experiencing things. You learn so much from trying what you think is a great solution to a problem. I look at this as real-time learning – like rapid prototyping. Get your idea out there and react to the market or comments you get. If you are not starting a business, you can use this advice in your life. Are you too scared to try something new or are you willing to actually put your dreams into action and then revise?  View a big change as an experiment, knowing that you can adjust and change along the way.

3. Value takes different forms

It is easy to get caught up in monetary value. There are many different types of valid value. Ask yourself, what type of value you want to create in the world?  Do you want to create social value by helping out in your community, intellectual value by writing a book, artistic value by creating a painting?

4. You need to be able to make your own luck.

There are opportunities all around us. You create your luck by opening your eyes up to the possibilities that are around you. Be curious, take risks!  Open yourself up to a type of serendipity.

5. Don’t wait to be anointed

Okay I love this one. Pretty much the gist of this is that you create your own job. Don’t let other people tell you what you are. If you want to be president – call yourself president. You don’t need a job or a boss to do that. As an entrepreneur you can build your position. Name it and become it. In life, you decide your own worth, no one has that power except you.  If you are looking to become something different in your life, anoint yourself and then build the ladder below you.

6. Never miss an opportunity to be fabulous

This is my new mantra Thanks Tina!