Questioning Johnny and Lee's Rules

I've started this post several times, but each one has sounded and felt like I was writing sales copy, which is the one thing I really wanted to avoid.  Hopefully this time I'll get it right. Note: because I've started and stopped several times, I'm going to also keep it really short!

A quick thought:  It's easy to fall into a trap of following the crowd (convention) when living your life, instead of actually building YOUR life.  You've probably heard it before, and maybe you even agree.  It sounds good.  Just build your life the way you want it.  But it's not always easy to figure out where to start...

If you are unfamiliar with Johnny B Truant or Lee Stranahan, I'm in luck.  I get to introduce you to a couple of genuine characters.  Ok, characters isn't that great.  Awesome characters?  No, that just sucks.  Even the word awesome doesn't help.  For now, lets go with something simply descriptive like Nonconformist Evangelists.

They have a new course out called Question the Rules.  It could very well have been called Break the Rules, or Make Your Own Rules, or many other permutations.  The basic premise is that if your life is not what you want it to be, it's probably because you're following someone else's rules--and you should question them.

I've consulted with Johnny several times in the past year, and have been consistently impressed with his up front style and honesty when talking one-on-one.  My hope was that this course would be a relatively inexpensive extension of those sessions.  In my estimation, it went far beyond that, because it addressed questions I didn't know I had.

There's a lot of information out there which gives you step by step methods of achieving a certain goal.  Whether it be money, lifestyle, dating or whatever.  The one thing most of those have in common is that they often leave out the uniqueness of the individual.  They assume *everyone* can follow the same steps, and get the same results.

That's bullshit.  Yes, it'll work for *some* people, but not for *everyone*.  For example, if you are not a chef, and are handed a cookbook and ingredients, do you think you have a chance in hell of making a better dinner than a top chef?  Why do you think diets often don't work?  Same idea.  The rules aren't your own... They are someone else's.

Question the Rules primes your mind to look at what you are doing, and how you are doing it.  What's working, what's not.  Then it gives you tools to use in building your new life...

Something I really appreciated were their examples and stories that backed up what they taught.  Not boring stories either.  The stories provide context for the lessons, and help you see similar scenarios you may have missed in your own life.

I can personally vouch for the benefits of networking, and their 3 part section on it rocks.  My life has been enriched through meeting interesting people of all types, as I hope theirs has in meeting me.  Some of the ideas were new to me, others weren't, but served as great reminders.  I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't get their money's worth out of the course just for this section alone.

Damn... I'm doing it again.. After I swore not to.  I'm sounding like a fricking sales letter, and worse, I'm editing while I type.  Dang.  Too late to turn back now.  In fact, it's getting too late... I need to get some other things done, and fall asleep next to my lovely wife.

Suffice it to say, I'm impressed, as I thought I would be.  I wouldn't have bought the course if I didn't expect something great.

Is this course for everyone?  No. Not everyone.
...if you are stuck in your ways, and have no interest in changing.  Forget it.
...if you are squeamish about a few cuss words here and there.  Forget it.
...if you love what you do, follow your own rules, and want to help others...you should have them (or me) interview you instead!  Can't wait to hear about how you questioned the rules!

BUT
... if you are antsy as hell to have validation for your own ideas (you shouldn't, but this'll help)
... if you really want to change your life by looking at things differently
... if you are ready to take responsibility for your situation, and can't wait to make that situation 1000% better

...then you should definitely check it out.

If you are reading this in May, you'll notice my site is pretty bare bones and plain.  One thing which keeps hammering me on the head is that you just need to take action towards your goals, regardless how little or much.  If you just sit in the perfectionist/planning stages you are guaranteed to fail.  This course was just one more reminder of this fact, and it resulted in this post.  Onward!

One thing I know for sure.  If Question The Rules doesn't light your brain on fire, you're made of mud. 

-Tim

P.S. (Yes. Those are affiliate links, and it'd be totally sweet if you used them, but it's ok if you don't)

P.P.S. An excellent complement to this course is the How to be Rich and Happy book by Tim Brownson and John P. Strelecky.  I'll be talking about that more in the future.