Corey’s Story Journey, Integration
July 30, 2009
breaking free
Yesterday, on my weekly call with my storytelling guide, Annie Hart, we celebrated some serious achievements in the power of storytelling and how impacting this journey has been for me.
Last Saturday, I attended the National Council of La Raza national conference with Robert for our book “From the Barrio to the Board Room.” There was one other author there who didn’t leave his table the entire conference, while we didn’t sit at our table for more than 5 minutes. Why? Because we were out making contacts for five hours solid.
Let me share why this was such a pivotal role in my growth. If you recall, I’ve described this inner WIMP character I have inside of me as having been beaten down by my time in Hollywood. He felt crippled physically, which was symbolic of the emotional crippling I endured as an actor and filmmaker; pressure I absorbed whether I was being rejected for a job I wanted, or pressure I felt when I scored a big job, but still didn’t feel any “different” on the inside.
together and traveled around this huge conference, risking potential
rejection again. Luckily, this time I was greatly rewarded with interest from dozens of massive corporations. Regardless of the outcome, the willingness of these two sides of myself to work together was huge. Annie called it Integration, and that felt right.
Something is definitely changing within me. For years now I have created an image that has drawn people to me, because that approach has been safe and rejection free. But the combination of the power of the Barrio Brand we have built, the power of Round Table Companies, and the personal work I am doing, is lighting me up inside and I’m breaking personal barriers and starting to be aggressive again. And it feels powerful. It feels good.
Annie’s Note: This is an exciting turning point in the journey. When Corey and I set up the framework for his breakthrough, I always ask a standard question, “How will you know when you experience the change that you want?” In my field, this is what’s called an Evidence Procedure.
The reason it’s necessary is because honestly, the change is so thorough that sometimes people don’t even remember what the problem was. I told Corey that the evidence he chose might not turn out exactly as he anticipated. That’s very common.
Corey’s evidence of the change was that he would be telling his story comfortably. If you read into his blog post, you’ll see that he is now past the hurt and the dissapointment of his past which was the crux of the block.
So this is officially called “Evidence of the Change!” Woo-hoo, congratulations Corey. By the way, I love working with Corey Blake. He’s so much fun and he puts such energy and effort into both his personal and his artistic path.
Bad Creativity
July 29, 2009
Get Ready To Run With Scissors!
This week, I publish a story of the week called “Bad Story Snippets” and I wanted to elaborate on my concept of ‘bad creativity.’ I think we all need it.
We live in a world in which we are taught that everything should be neat, pretty or perfect. But this is not the reality of the world at all. In nature, life is messy, bloody, full of both creation and destruction. Like Barbie and Ken who are so anatomically correct that they are scary, we are incultured to believe that we should be like that. Look like that, dress like that and hide anything other than that.
But that is impossible! And in the creative domain we have the chance to break free of those unnatural and culturally imposed restrictions. Years ago I used to lead really fun creative workshops and I made up a list of “Rules”. I thought that was a fun twist on things because the very nature of creativity is to leave the rules behind. So I made a play on that. I thought you might enjoy having them. 
The Hard and Fast Rules of Creativity
get ready to run with scissors
- Dare to make a mess
- Work with what you have
- Embrace obstacles as creative opportunities
- Think outside of the box
- Try something different
- Explore
- Have fun
- Be willing to make a fool of yourself
- Forget about right or wrong
- Run with scissors and enjoy it
- Cut off that tag on your mattress
- Play like a child
- Don’t care what anyone thinks
** Be prepared to twist, bend, alter, change or totally toss any rules that don’t apply! (even this one)
So my suggestion is run with scissors, enjoy yourself and forget about being perfect. Be a poster child for bad creativity and spread the news everwhere you go!
Video of the Week, Consciousness & Creativity
July 28, 2009
Award-winning writer, director, and producer David Lynch discusses his films and his 30-year relationship with Transcendental Meditation, and its role in his creative process. He is joined by physicist John Hagelin, who was featured in the documentary ‘What The Bleep Do We Know?’ and neuroscientist Dr. Fred Travis, Director of the Center for Brain, Consciousness, and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management.
Fascinating stuff! This is why storytelling is so important to our brains.
Story of the Week, Bad Story Snippet, #1
July 28, 2009
I’ve always had the urge to bend the rules! I’m the kind of person that runs with scissors. I’ve been known to laugh outloud inappropriately at a stuffy tennis match and I even cut that tag off my mattress. You know the one that says, ‘By Penalty of Law, Do Not Remove!’
Some years ago, a young client from England said to me, “Thanks for taking my problems and spinning them on their heads.” I loved that. That’s what I’m good at, spinning a new light on things.
In my creative work, I’ve always had the urge to not make everything so neat, perfect or pretty. In my creativity workshops, I would hand the group a list of rules and the last one said, “Be willing to bend, alter, or totally toss these rules.” In other words, in the creative domain, leave the rules behind!
I always wanted to do a workshop called, “Bad Creativity”, where you purposefully try to create your worst work! How liberating and fun that would be. I can imagine us rolling with laughter. So in honor of the ‘bad’ creativity inside of all of us, I’ve created a series called, “Bad Story Snippets.” I had alot of fun writing them. Feel free to add your own bad creativity to them if you want.
And by the way, go cut that tag off your mattress, right now ok?
So here is the first in the Bad Story Snippet Series, please enjoy!
Misery Hates Company
“How to Get Rid of those Sickeningly Sweet, Know-it-all Friends Who are Trying to Make You Happy”
Ok, admit it, when you’re feeling miserable the last thing you want is someone trying to pull you out of it with their sickeningly sweet do-gooder spiritualisms. That’s because misery doesn’t want company, it wants a victim and you are it. Misery loves to wallow in the mud, lash out in senseless anger and blame everyone and anyone for your problems. Let’s face it misery likes itself just the way it is. It is not open to being prodded or jabbed by people who think you should be other than terribly unhappy. What is so awful about being miserable anyway? It’s just so darned annoying that people can’t accept you miserably, just the way you are.
Featured Story Expert, Annie Hart
July 26, 2009
Thank you to Kathy Hansen, who has featured me on her blog as one of her 40 Story Experts. These interviews will also be part of her upcoming free e-book, so if you’re interested go on her blog and sign up soon!
Kathy is creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers. She is an educator, author, and blogger who provides content for Quintessential Careers and blogs about storytelling at A Storied Career. Her most recent book, “Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career,” was published in April.
I enjoyed answering the questions. It really gave me a chance to remember what I really care about and why I love storytelling so much. I hope you enjoy the interview, let me know if you do, and tell all your friends.
Here’s the link below:
http://astoriedcareer.com/annie_hart_qa.html
Storytelling Video of the Week – Play The Spoons
July 21, 2009
I love this adorable little spoon playing video. I always wanted to play the spoons myself and I’m able to clack them around a bit, but nothing like this guy. I especially love his spoon rap!
Story of the Week – The Dare To Be Different Spoon Man
July 21, 2009
He lay quietly in the soft darkness of the cutlery drawer, planning his strategy. “Subtle but assertive, that’s what I want to portray. I must show those other spoons that I’m not like them, complacent and dull with nothing to look forward to except the everyday routine of going in and out of the spoon drawer. No, I’m definitely not like them. Why I plan to do different things, see the world from a different perspective, be bold.”
The other spoons slept quietly, unaware of the storm that was brewing within the Spoon Man’s metal heart. “I’ll just quietly tell them I’m leaving and that will be that. No big deal and I certainly won’t let them intimidate me.”
The next morning he awoke with a nervous know in his body. Somehow he’d gotten all twisted up in his sleep. But determination to be free spurred him on. He took a deep breath, looked around for one last time at his surroundings and reminded himself to be calm and gentle. With the strength of Hercules he rose out of the kitchen drawer and boldly declared, “That’s it you guys. I’ve had it! I dare to be unique and I don’t care what you think. I’m going off to live with the forks!”
The other spoons having been woken from their peaceful slumber, shrieked in horror, “You’ll do what?”
“I said that I’m going off to live with the forks….if it’s ok with you that is.”
The boldest spoon of all stepped forward. “What in the world will you do with the forks? I think that I speak for all of us when I say that I think it is a totally ridiculous idea and I for one won’t allow it.” The Spoon Man was taken aback. He hadn’t anticipated this type of reaction at all. What to do now?
“I believe in you.” It was the tiny dessert spoon
“You do?”
“Yes, why I think that you are bold and brave and I’m really glad that you have the courage to be different. I’ve been dreaming about these things all of my life but I would never have been able to come forth with them as you have.” 
The Dare to Be Different Spoon Man sighed. One of those soft and encouraging sighs that show the effects of having one’s dreams realized in the bat of an eye.
“Beautiful Miss Dessert Spoon, would you marry me and come to live with me in the unknown wilds of the fork compartment?”
“Oh Mr. Spoon Man, you’re the spoon of my dreams.”
The End
written by Annie Hart about 1989
Corey’s Story Journey – Resistance
July 21, 2009
- resistance
One of the things I love most about creative work is that you can literally use every part of your life to create from.
No matter what is going on – whether you’re in a good mood or a bad mood, whether you feel like creating or not, you can use it all. In fact you should.
Year’s ago, I had an amazing mentor Alice who I trained with in the expressive arts. Boy was I a tempest to work with! I had moods of all kinds. But she always found a way to work with me wherever I was. And I could never quite believe how she could do it. That really taught me a huge lesson – that life is art and art is life. And now I do use everything. I like to think of life as one giant story.
I say all of this because Corey had the idea this morning that he was resistant to working and yet I didn’t find him so at all. My experience of him was delightful as always. Maybe because he always dives in no matter what.
But I did notice that he seemed to brush right past a few important things that I was pointing out and so, since he’s hired me to kick a little creative (you know what) with him, I gave him the task of listening to our session and finding the spots that he missed! :>)
I knew he’d love that because he’s a very meticulous guy with his creativity and he really wouldn’t want to miss anything. So now let’s hear from the ever fantastic and creative Corey Blake:
Just got off the phone with Annie Hart and boy was I resistant today. I kept our conversation very surfacey (if that’s a word). You could say that my center remained in my head today instead of my heart. Sometimes creative resistance comes in the form of intellect instead of letting your body really experience the depth of feeling and today was such a day for me.
We did investigate my need to be needed and that my identity is so strongly rooted in supporting other people’s dreams that the idea of supporting my own artistic expression is terrifying. I know there is some real meat there. It’s part of unlocking my own artistic voice. I’m excited to get there, but on the lower end of the creative roller coaster today.
My assignment from Annie is to go back and listen to our conversation and find three places where I blew right by her. How embarrassing to be completely unavailable! Fuck. Part of creativity is also giving yourself a break and letting the down cycles be what they are. So I’m going to sit in my stew today and see what comes of it.
Annie’s note: Love this!
Corey’s Story Adventure, July 17
July 20, 2009
Corey’s really breaking some exciting new ground with his story! I love working with him. He is so much fun and always ready to dive into the raw and real story and find out what’s there.
This is the latest revelation between his two inner characters the Dreamer and the Wimp. Let’s hear from Corey:
I worked yesterday to take portions of my last call with Annie to build my script. Annie ended up taking on the role of my heart. Nurturing and fighting for the many sides of me to work together for the benefit of all of us. Today we talked for an hour and role played further into the dialogue between the Dreamer and the Wimp in me. In this sample my Dreamer is caught trying to BS my heart and the Wimp. He’s a good debater and he almost fooled the Heart! Enjoy this 6 minute snippet into me being busted.
Warning: I do cuss a bit, so be prepared. *Annie’s note, it’s all fun stuff don’t worry.
Tea Cup Sweetness
July 20, 2009
beautiful teacup
I have such good friends in my life! A few week’s ago I wrote a story called, “Life Cracks Easily” about how my favorite tea cup had broken into bits (boo hoo) and then a few days later I was on the scene of a terrible bike accident.
When the tea cup first broke I couldn’t understand why but I decided that there must be a good reason. Then only two days later when I came across this woman bike rider fallen on the road with head trauma, I suddenly made the connection – life cracks easily and we need to be aware that every moment is precious.
I have kept in touch with the friend of the woman on the bike. She had some pretty severe injuries, including a fracture in her skull, but she is doing ok and is in rehab. I am going to visit her this week. I have a sense that she needs me, this woman that I’ve never met.
Strangely enough in the past two weeks, I have been on the site of two more accidents. One at our local bookfair when an older woman fell and hit her face. She was ok but blood was gushing everywhere, and even though there was a small crowd of people around her, I felt instinctively that she needed me. I’m not sure why but I just knew it, so I pushed my way in to help her.
The odd thing is that my skills in the healing field are exactly what is needed at these times and I’ve never ever been on the scene of accidents before. But I’ve learned these things about how to help at the scene of an accident:
1. First get as calm as you can yourself. See if you can really breathe and bring your energy down so that you are very quiet inside and relaxed. Everyone else is usually rushing around frantically and that is the last thing the injured person needs.
2. Second is to talk to them calmly and gently. Tell them to breathe and take a few nice deep breaths. Say this in the calmest steadiest voice you can. That will do more than anything. This will help their focus go inside their body, rather than on their pain. It will also lower heartrate and blood pressure. It also puts them more in a proactive state, rather than reacting to the shock of the injury. Don’t say (as one ambulance technician did), “Don’t cry”. That is the worst thing you can do! It actually stops the natural healing process. Geez, I just about decided to go give some training to ambulance techs after this faux pas!
3. Last, if they will allow you to hold their hand or touch them somewhere gently, that seems to help too. But again calm is the key. If you are frantic, your words and your touch will only make it worse so back off!
I’ve successfully calmed and helped three people now. The third was my next-door neighbor who fell down our back steps. When I heard her crying I thought, “Oh my gosh not again” and even though her boyfriend was there, she needed the calming technique as well. She and the older woman are both fine.
But here’s the sweetness to the story. My dear friend Pam who owns my favorite Tea Bar told me that she had something for me. And lo and behold it was a new flowered tea cup with a gold rim. Gorgeous!
I could tell that she really went out of her way to buy it and pick it out just for me. I’m not sure what I did to deserve such a good friend but she really is one. I didn’t even know that she’d read that story on my blog. But after she read it, she went out and got me the cup.
Life is sweet. Life is precious and it should be savored every day with a nice cup of tea. In fact, I’m going to have one right now, a cup of earl grey in my new favorite tea cup.
Take time and savor today.
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