Two hours ago the owner of this sweet little rental apartment came by to drop off the missing chair-bed and blankets and sheets we'll need when the family shows up tomorrow night, and he showed me that they had made up the bed in the fold out couch, and I told him I had found the extra pillows. (They do pillows and pillow cases right in Europe - big, just soft enough, covered with super-fresh linens). Well, the doorbell just rang and it was him again, he returned to hand me another blanket he had forgotten and 2 bagettes (because I had mentioned I forgot to get them at the market). If anyone needs a week or so stay in Toulouse, write me. This is our third time here, and it just gets better. I'll give you the info.
So anyway, it being Sunday morning, I made my way to the market, a lovely oval shaped 1 story brick building with produce stands all around the outside (during the week it's all used books :-) ) and meat, cheese and fish so fresh you can't find it with your nose, you just bump into the stands by accident. I bought 3 lamb chops (or sheep chops, probably), 1 very large snow white mushroom, a 1/2 lb of butter, 3 carrots, 1 zucchini.
Every one of the merchants smiled and was extra helpful. The days of them being mean to people who don't speak proper (or any) French seem to be gone, at least from this part of France. The opposite seems true. They looked genuinely delighted when I tried to explain what I wanted. The woman who sold me some truly proud and handsome carrots and the huge white mushroom, on learning that I needed some 'beurre,' gave me a big grin and said 'I weel show you.' She opened the heavy plastic curtain to the inside and pointed to one of the glass cases that said "Cremerie."
"Ah!" I said. "D'accord!" (I sure hope that means 'Of course!')
Then I bought a pear. This man seemed more serious, more French - big with a craggy face and a bit of a scowl. I poked at some rock-hard pears and said 'Quand?' He looked askance. 'Pour manger?' I said, mimicking eating one. He nodded with respect and found a large, mottled one and let me squeeze it. It seemed okay. Not pretty but just firm enough, so I got it. When he gave me my change I accidentally dropped a coin among the pears and he leaned over and moved some pears and found it -- it was a tiny penny (centime?) and we both grinned and shrugged. Such is life. Weh, weh.
I carried my little bags back, climbed the stairs and took off my coat (and Romeo's coat, too, and if you don't know who he is, well, I'm not going to tell you because it doesn't really advance the story here). Was I hungry? A little maybe. But I was more than ready to finally eat some protein and have my first dinner since I got here 3 days ago. (Don't ask. You don't want to know. Suffice it to say I was up each morning at 4 starving, waiting for the hotel to serve carbs and coffee at seven. Such hardship.)
Well, I put butter in the pan and thin-sliced in about half the mushroom while I got the chops out of the fridge. I kept the mushroom slices away from each other because I watched 'Julie and Julia' on the plane coming over and Julia Childs says Don't Crowd The Mushrooms. Anyway, I wanted them to brown so I always do that anyway. I just don't think, in that high-pitched stentorian tone "Don't Crowd The Mushrooms." It may have had an effect, because she was right. Oh my was she right.
While the chop was cooking, I removed the golden mushroom slices to the waiting plate and ate them with a fork, standing there at the stove. OMG. Sooo good. Why? I don't know. But I've done that in NY and they didn't taste like this. Is it the butter? Oh, mercy.
Then I ate the chop. Good God, it was fantastic. Slightly tough, nothing on it but a little salt and pepper. But the taste was in technicolor. Gorgeous. Why was it so good? I wasn't starving. There's no reason it should taste like that. But it did.
And now the whole apartment reeks like a quick-fry joint on a Sunday at Ocean Park, even though an hour has passed. I hope the smell has gone by the time my son and family get here tomorrow night because it's gotten really cold again and I don't want to open the windows to air the place out. And it hits you, that smell.
But I don't care. I'd do it again. In fact, I will surely do it again because I have 2 chops, butter and the other half of that huge snowy mushroom still resting patiently in the fridge, waiting for my hunger to return whereupon I know they will, shmoo-like, offer themselves to me yet again, their hearts full of joy.
I never realized that food in France is excellent even when you cook it yourself. Even when you are a minimalist cook -- which is what I very generously call myself. But it is better than what I cook the same way back in New York. The French grow it differently, I'm sure of it. Or they say spells over it, handed down since the middle ages. It's not my imagination. Oh my. Maybe I'll go to sleep until I get hungry again.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
OKAY, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT HERE TONIGHT
I just spent many hours on this announcement and 2 minutes ago sent it off to my heroic techie. Hopefully it will be sent out to my whole mailing list. I hope so because this is new and I need some reactions -- I even like those 'Out of Office' responses because they react so quickly! (Don't be shy about leaving comments if you have a moment -- even if it's to point out a typo. It's nice to know someone's there.)
Hi All
I believe this is a launch. Never used that word for anything in the past, though I'm sure I've launched things before. But there's something unusual behind this launch and I want to say it out loud to you. I'm doing this particular launch because, plain and simple - I don't want to market anymore.
I don't want to market anymore. I want to do the work I love doing but I don't want to sell it anymore.
Now, I know a lot of people don't want to market anymore, and I know that you have to do it anyway. Most of the time. But I've been doing my work and marketing it for a very long time and now I want to stop. Before I announce to you the change I'm beginning as of right now, I first would like to do some more complaining.
I don't want to send out lots of newsletters and emails saying 'Come to my party,' I simply want to announce it. I'll be happy to tell you when I'm running Resistance classes or IdeaParties on conference calls and give you the dates & locations for the spring and fall Scanner and the WriteSpeak program -- and then stop right there. After that I want to write newsletters about other things, marvelous things that I discover and want to tell you about.
I don't want to promote any of the books or audios or kits I sell on geniuspress either (and you might have noticed that I never have done so).
What pops into my head is what John Cusack says in the wonderful 1989 movie, 'Say Anything,'
I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed -- or repair anything sold, bought or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
That makes me laugh every time I read it. But here's my point.
To my great surprise, I'm becoming an old lady. Now, please don't write to tell me I'm not really old and all that stuff. I know, I know. Like all old people who were born learners and observers to start with, I know I'm getting smarter every year, and like all old people who are paying attention, I understand clearly what 'time limits,' means. As a result, I have a very clear picture of what I want to do in the coming few years while I'm still sturdy and bossy, and that is to tell you everything I know.
This is not a pitch. This is what I've been thinking, and it won't let go of me. So consider it the first of my announcements and you're welcome to ignore it if you like. You'll know if it's right for you or not.
Now, since I've never tried very hard to accumulate Wealth and build Empires, I'll still need income. But I'd like to be paid for what I teach, not for my marketing skills.
So, I want to announce some subscription/membership programs that will give you such huge discounts you'll come on your own and I won't have to do all the difficult, time-consuming stuff that I really can't delegate.
I'm also going to teach a year-long Master Class. This is big. This is about me trying to make sure that the best of my work will continue to be out in the world even if I'm abducted by aliens. It's designed mostly for coaches (you'll be certified when you complete the course) but I really hope to see teachers, parents and talk show hosts in it, anyone who helps people and wants to learn how to do what I do.
How to do what I do. I used to think it wasn't exactly teachable, that all I could do was let you watch me do it. But now, happily enough, I know how to teach it. Now people can learn it and use it to help other people. That's what feels really right at this time in my life.
If that looks right for you too, maybe you should be at this Master Class. I'm going to teach the most important of all the techniques I've developed, as well as showing you how to get a little bit famous, like I am. :-)
Everything starts in January of 2010. (If you've already signed up for any of my programs in 2010, you can still subscribe and get your huge & massive discount on those programs.)
Okay, here's what it is and here's the fee for each choice. (No, I don't do up-sells and I won't make you read 20 pages and click 10 links to find out what everything costs.)
(Toe In The Water) Level I Club - $600
If you want to learn as much as you can about knocking down the walls of your resistance as well as getting dozens of great brains to help you come up with ideas and info but you'd like a little anonymity and time to decide if you want to go further, this is probably the right choice for you. At Level I you'll be able to attend (or get the recordings of) all my Resistance and IdeaParty teleclasses in 2010 for free. I'm planning to do at least 10 of them.
You'll also be able to head over to www.geniuspress.com and look at all the books, audios and kits and pick any or all of them (electronic or hard copy) for 50% of the price. (Incidentally, the prices haven't changed in years and I won't be slipping in there and raising them in advance, either.)
And if you'd like to halve the tariff for my new BigCheapWeekendWorkshop in NY in June (it's going to be terrific and I'm smiling as I think of it) you'll be able to do that, too.
Now, my math's not great but I figure you'll get at least $2000 dollars worth of goodies right there (and I expect to add more stuff -- like a CD of all my audio tips, for instance -- during the year). It's good stuff.
You'll get the most benefit (and make my life easier) if you sign up via Paypal before January 15. Ask everyone to give you cash for Xmas and you can probably make it work.
(Ready to Splash Around Big Time) Level II Club - $2400
If you'd like all the above but you really want to work with me face-to-face in a 5-day retreat in 2010, this is for you. At the same huge 50% discount you'll be able to attend one of the year's Scanner retreats (in some gorgeous locale). If you want to, you can sign up for the whole WriteSpeak program, too (which includes its own 5-day retreat). If you've ever wanted to be part of a really special community/support team, a retreat is where you'll find it. What happens after the retreats is as important as what happens during them. (Check out the testimonials on www.geniuspress.com for Scanner Retreats and the WriteSpeak program and you'll see what I mean.)
For the Ready to Splash Around Big Time Level II Club you really do have to get in before January 15 because the next WriteSpeak Pt I Teleworkshop is January 16 and it's the prerequisite for the rest of the program). Now, my math, if this makes any difference, says that you will not only save the $2000 value of the Toe in The Water Club, but in addition, up to $3500 if you take advantage of everything above. (I'll send you either audios or transcripts for anything you can't attend.)
If you've already signed up for the April Scanner Retreat in France, or the Jan, Feb WriteSpeak program in New York and you want to subscribe at this level, that's fine. I'll be happy to get someone to figure out the math and make it come out right.
(Taking the Veil) Coaching Certification Master Class - $8400
Well, I don't really know much about taking the veil except from the movies. It looked all gallant and romantic with Audrey Hepburn, and wonderfully evil and powerful in The Blues Brothers so I'm pretty convinced of my own total ignorance here and I guess that's not really what I mean.
What I do mean is this: if you're ready to make a serious commitment to becoming the best counselor/teacher/helper/coach you possibly can be, by accessing and developing your innate talents and learning how to do pretty much everything I do, if you want to be part of a tightly-knit, supportive and brilliant community, and if you'd also like to make a better-than-decent living at it, then this is the right choice for you.
Some of you have watched (or heard) me guide someone through a 'self correcting scenario,' for instance, or take someone back to the source of their resistance (and often the source of their parents' as well) and you've seen the light bulb go on as they finally understood the true picture of who they are and why they do what they do, and how to change it in a profound way.
If so, you might be one of the people who wanted to know what was happening: 'How did you do that?' 'Why did you say this at this time?' 'How did you know that was the wrong path, how did you see the right path?'
If that kind of thing matters to you, the Master Class is for you.
Showing dedicated, talented people how to help others by fully using their gifts and showing them how to do everything I've learned to do and showing them how to make a better-than-decent living so they'll want to keep doing it for years and years -- that's how I want to spend my remaining time on this planet.
So as of today I pronounce that I insofar as I am able, I shall no longer market anything and all my newsletters and blogs will be about wonderful stuff I love to write about.
REGARDING ALL THE MANY DETAILS I'VE LEFT OUT:
I'm going to put up some pages on Genius Press to spell out all the many details of this big new thing, like how to be interviewed for the Master Class and nice lists of what you'll get such as the Master Class will get free admission to the BigCheapWeekendWorkshop in June and you'll all get advance notice of any events I schedule. That sort of thing. I'll also explain that I won't be doing swaps or payments because they're too hard to keep track of, and how there's room for everyone in the Level I Club, but room for not so many people in the Level II Club and room for very few in the Master Class.
(Which is why I'm going to close admission as soon as I've hit the right numbers so I wouldn't stall about this too long.)
And there's got to be a whole lot more I need to explain.
But it's been a long day figuring this out all this and I'll never in this world get the extra information up on the website for at least few more days.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:
* You can say 'I know all I need to know, Count me in,' and go into Paypal and send a payment to my email address (if you don't have it, just hit reply to this announcement and me ask for it. I'll enjoy getting that kind of request.)
or
* You can hit reply and ask me questions, which I'd actually welcome because I know for sure I haven't worked out every detail and your bewilderment will make me aware of what's needed. As anyone in my WriteSpeak class will tell you, questions are very fine things.
I want you to use your talents and fulfill your dreams. I want that a lot. I think that's a good thing that I can do for you and for the world.
Okay, that's what I wanted to tell you.
Barbara
To help you plan, here are the dates I know about so far:
The WriteSpeak Part I Teleworkshop: January 16, 2010, from 11 am to 5 pm (or so).
(I may schedule a second Teleworkshop before the retreat. Watch this space.)
The WriteSpeak Part II Retreat: February 12 - 17, 2010 in New York City.
The Scanner Retreat: April 6 - 11, 2010 in a medieval village in France
Another Scanner Retreat in Europe in the fall, when the weather cools down.
The Big Cheap Weekend Workshop, probably June 25-27, 2010 in New York City.
Okay, now you know everything I know.
Hi All
I believe this is a launch. Never used that word for anything in the past, though I'm sure I've launched things before. But there's something unusual behind this launch and I want to say it out loud to you. I'm doing this particular launch because, plain and simple - I don't want to market anymore.
I don't want to market anymore. I want to do the work I love doing but I don't want to sell it anymore.
Now, I know a lot of people don't want to market anymore, and I know that you have to do it anyway. Most of the time. But I've been doing my work and marketing it for a very long time and now I want to stop. Before I announce to you the change I'm beginning as of right now, I first would like to do some more complaining.
I don't want to send out lots of newsletters and emails saying 'Come to my party,' I simply want to announce it. I'll be happy to tell you when I'm running Resistance classes or IdeaParties on conference calls and give you the dates & locations for the spring and fall Scanner and the WriteSpeak program -- and then stop right there. After that I want to write newsletters about other things, marvelous things that I discover and want to tell you about.
I don't want to promote any of the books or audios or kits I sell on geniuspress either (and you might have noticed that I never have done so).
What pops into my head is what John Cusack says in the wonderful 1989 movie, 'Say Anything,'
I don't want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought or processed -- or repair anything sold, bought or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
That makes me laugh every time I read it. But here's my point.
To my great surprise, I'm becoming an old lady. Now, please don't write to tell me I'm not really old and all that stuff. I know, I know. Like all old people who were born learners and observers to start with, I know I'm getting smarter every year, and like all old people who are paying attention, I understand clearly what 'time limits,' means. As a result, I have a very clear picture of what I want to do in the coming few years while I'm still sturdy and bossy, and that is to tell you everything I know.
This is not a pitch. This is what I've been thinking, and it won't let go of me. So consider it the first of my announcements and you're welcome to ignore it if you like. You'll know if it's right for you or not.
Now, since I've never tried very hard to accumulate Wealth and build Empires, I'll still need income. But I'd like to be paid for what I teach, not for my marketing skills.
So, I want to announce some subscription/membership programs that will give you such huge discounts you'll come on your own and I won't have to do all the difficult, time-consuming stuff that I really can't delegate.
I'm also going to teach a year-long Master Class. This is big. This is about me trying to make sure that the best of my work will continue to be out in the world even if I'm abducted by aliens. It's designed mostly for coaches (you'll be certified when you complete the course) but I really hope to see teachers, parents and talk show hosts in it, anyone who helps people and wants to learn how to do what I do.
How to do what I do. I used to think it wasn't exactly teachable, that all I could do was let you watch me do it. But now, happily enough, I know how to teach it. Now people can learn it and use it to help other people. That's what feels really right at this time in my life.
If that looks right for you too, maybe you should be at this Master Class. I'm going to teach the most important of all the techniques I've developed, as well as showing you how to get a little bit famous, like I am. :-)
Everything starts in January of 2010. (If you've already signed up for any of my programs in 2010, you can still subscribe and get your huge & massive discount on those programs.)
Okay, here's what it is and here's the fee for each choice. (No, I don't do up-sells and I won't make you read 20 pages and click 10 links to find out what everything costs.)
(Toe In The Water) Level I Club - $600
If you want to learn as much as you can about knocking down the walls of your resistance as well as getting dozens of great brains to help you come up with ideas and info but you'd like a little anonymity and time to decide if you want to go further, this is probably the right choice for you. At Level I you'll be able to attend (or get the recordings of) all my Resistance and IdeaParty teleclasses in 2010 for free. I'm planning to do at least 10 of them.
You'll also be able to head over to www.geniuspress.com and look at all the books, audios and kits and pick any or all of them (electronic or hard copy) for 50% of the price. (Incidentally, the prices haven't changed in years and I won't be slipping in there and raising them in advance, either.)
And if you'd like to halve the tariff for my new BigCheapWeekendWorkshop in NY in June (it's going to be terrific and I'm smiling as I think of it) you'll be able to do that, too.
Now, my math's not great but I figure you'll get at least $2000 dollars worth of goodies right there (and I expect to add more stuff -- like a CD of all my audio tips, for instance -- during the year). It's good stuff.
You'll get the most benefit (and make my life easier) if you sign up via Paypal before January 15. Ask everyone to give you cash for Xmas and you can probably make it work.
(Ready to Splash Around Big Time) Level II Club - $2400
If you'd like all the above but you really want to work with me face-to-face in a 5-day retreat in 2010, this is for you. At the same huge 50% discount you'll be able to attend one of the year's Scanner retreats (in some gorgeous locale). If you want to, you can sign up for the whole WriteSpeak program, too (which includes its own 5-day retreat). If you've ever wanted to be part of a really special community/support team, a retreat is where you'll find it. What happens after the retreats is as important as what happens during them. (Check out the testimonials on www.geniuspress.com for Scanner Retreats and the WriteSpeak program and you'll see what I mean.)
For the Ready to Splash Around Big Time Level II Club you really do have to get in before January 15 because the next WriteSpeak Pt I Teleworkshop is January 16 and it's the prerequisite for the rest of the program). Now, my math, if this makes any difference, says that you will not only save the $2000 value of the Toe in The Water Club, but in addition, up to $3500 if you take advantage of everything above. (I'll send you either audios or transcripts for anything you can't attend.)
If you've already signed up for the April Scanner Retreat in France, or the Jan, Feb WriteSpeak program in New York and you want to subscribe at this level, that's fine. I'll be happy to get someone to figure out the math and make it come out right.
(Taking the Veil) Coaching Certification Master Class - $8400
Well, I don't really know much about taking the veil except from the movies. It looked all gallant and romantic with Audrey Hepburn, and wonderfully evil and powerful in The Blues Brothers so I'm pretty convinced of my own total ignorance here and I guess that's not really what I mean.
What I do mean is this: if you're ready to make a serious commitment to becoming the best counselor/teacher/helper/coach you possibly can be, by accessing and developing your innate talents and learning how to do pretty much everything I do, if you want to be part of a tightly-knit, supportive and brilliant community, and if you'd also like to make a better-than-decent living at it, then this is the right choice for you.
Some of you have watched (or heard) me guide someone through a 'self correcting scenario,' for instance, or take someone back to the source of their resistance (and often the source of their parents' as well) and you've seen the light bulb go on as they finally understood the true picture of who they are and why they do what they do, and how to change it in a profound way.
If so, you might be one of the people who wanted to know what was happening: 'How did you do that?' 'Why did you say this at this time?' 'How did you know that was the wrong path, how did you see the right path?'
If that kind of thing matters to you, the Master Class is for you.
Showing dedicated, talented people how to help others by fully using their gifts and showing them how to do everything I've learned to do and showing them how to make a better-than-decent living so they'll want to keep doing it for years and years -- that's how I want to spend my remaining time on this planet.
So as of today I pronounce that I insofar as I am able, I shall no longer market anything and all my newsletters and blogs will be about wonderful stuff I love to write about.
REGARDING ALL THE MANY DETAILS I'VE LEFT OUT:
I'm going to put up some pages on Genius Press to spell out all the many details of this big new thing, like how to be interviewed for the Master Class and nice lists of what you'll get such as the Master Class will get free admission to the BigCheapWeekendWorkshop in June and you'll all get advance notice of any events I schedule. That sort of thing. I'll also explain that I won't be doing swaps or payments because they're too hard to keep track of, and how there's room for everyone in the Level I Club, but room for not so many people in the Level II Club and room for very few in the Master Class.
(Which is why I'm going to close admission as soon as I've hit the right numbers so I wouldn't stall about this too long.)
And there's got to be a whole lot more I need to explain.
But it's been a long day figuring this out all this and I'll never in this world get the extra information up on the website for at least few more days.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW:
* You can say 'I know all I need to know, Count me in,' and go into Paypal and send a payment to my email address (if you don't have it, just hit reply to this announcement and me ask for it. I'll enjoy getting that kind of request.)
or
* You can hit reply and ask me questions, which I'd actually welcome because I know for sure I haven't worked out every detail and your bewilderment will make me aware of what's needed. As anyone in my WriteSpeak class will tell you, questions are very fine things.
I want you to use your talents and fulfill your dreams. I want that a lot. I think that's a good thing that I can do for you and for the world.
Okay, that's what I wanted to tell you.
Barbara
To help you plan, here are the dates I know about so far:
The WriteSpeak Part I Teleworkshop: January 16, 2010, from 11 am to 5 pm (or so).
(I may schedule a second Teleworkshop before the retreat. Watch this space.)
The WriteSpeak Part II Retreat: February 12 - 17, 2010 in New York City.
The Scanner Retreat: April 6 - 11, 2010 in a medieval village in France
Another Scanner Retreat in Europe in the fall, when the weather cools down.
The Big Cheap Weekend Workshop, probably June 25-27, 2010 in New York City.
Okay, now you know everything I know.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
BLUES MUSICIAN & WHY I LOVE MY JOB
Just got a letter from someone I had a session with a number of years ago. He worked in the Post Office (which was safe, but boring) and he loved the blues. He played blues when he could, and I think he even had a student or two at the time, but his dream was to find and record the remaining blues musicians, legendary to those who were knowledgeable, in the deep south, and he had no idea how to do it. "I'm not a famous musician, I don't have any money, how could I get there, and why would any of them let me into their homes?"
A few months later he was in his car, his recording equipment in the trunk, heading for the homes of some elderly blues musicians. He had money for gas, sandwiches and batteries, nothing extra. But these elderly musicians could see he was sincere and welcomed him. He recorded them. There's a lot more to that story (and I'll invite him to tell us about it one of these days -- and correct my memory if I've erred -- I can't find him anywhere in the book he mentions) but that trip changed his life.
Today he wrote me some wonderful letters. I think you might want to read them if you've got voices (internal or external) telling you that your dream is impossible:
Hi Barbara,
I don't know if you remember me, but you mentioned a bit of my story in your book 'It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now.' I'm the mailman (well, I was) that taught blues guitar in a music store in my spare time.
Well, I'm very happy to say that it's been 5 years now since I left the Post Office and I am now living my life long dream of performing and teaching music full time... and quite successfully at that!
I want to thank you for your books, tapes and for meeting with me in your studio for a one on one session. It all helped tremendously.
Thanks again!!!
TW
Nice. So I answered:
On Dec 9, 2009, at 12:33 PM, Barbara Sher wrote:
Of course I remember you, Toby. This is wonderful news! Thank you for thinking of me. You've made me very happy.
Tell me more. What are you doing and where?
Barbara
And here's his answer:
Hi Barbara,
First off... I'm very happy and fulfilled. I got back 7 weeks ago from my 9th tour of the U.K where I have a load of fans. I also have a wonderful agent here in the U.S. (not very many people in the acoustic music business are lucky enough to have one) and she's a pleasure to work with. We've been together now for 4 years... she has over 24 years of experience in the business so I'm working fairly steady. I'm now based in Denviille NJ and gig along the eastern seaboard... from Maryland where my agent is based to Boston. Most of the places I now play are real nice listening rooms... concerts as opposed to bars. Sometimes the shows are held in theaters... other times in churches.
Schools are also wonderful places to perform in... I do a special show for 5th to 8th graders which encompasses how the blues reflected the Great Migration of African Americans in America. Believe it or not... Carnegie Hall contacted me one year and had me perform over 40 of these shows in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and Jersey City.
I have 9 CD's out now and I've been featured in all kinds of publications.. including the NY Times and the London Sunday Times... whoo boy!!!
I'm also teaching... I do that out of my home now but many times I give workshops on the road. For the last 5 years I've been very, very fortunate to have been teaching at quite a prestigious guitar camp in Ohio... the Fur Peace Ranch. It's run by the guitar player who used to be in the rock band Jefferson Airplane... Jorma Kaukonen. He's considered a real 'guitar god' among thousands of fans but it's kind of cool that he thinks I'm an incredible player as well.
I decided to leave the Post Office 5 years ago as I was earning more with music than with them. But the money wasn't the real issue. I needed to do something that spoke to me... I needed to honor my gift. Many, many times when I see a mail truck go by I remember how fortunate I am to have made that decision. My own mailman frequently laments how worse the job has gotten over the last few years. My goodness.
I'm also married... VERY happily to a wonderful woman named C. She just retired from teaching chorus in high school and she's a gifted musician... playing piano, harp, upright bass and mountain dulcimer. She says that she's always wanted a musician to travel with and we just couldn't be happier. She now is an accompanist to major choral group here in NJ... as well as doing work for plays and other productions in the area. Best of all, she loves helping me with all the paperwork (how lucky am I?) and loves going on the road with me. She's a fellow 'road warrior' and loves traveling as much as I do.
I've told her many times about how much you've inspired me and what kind of a woman you are. One of these days it would be great to have her meet you.
So, there you have it Barbara. Your words, in books, audio tapes and of course in person have helped me become the person I was meant to be. I really love you for it.
Always Lookin' Forward,
Toby Walker
http://www.littletobywalker.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/tobywalker123
http://www.myspace.com/tobyblues
United States and Canadian Representation:
McShane Glover, Noteworthy Productions, Annapolis, MD
410 268 8232
http://www.mcnote.com
email - mcshane@mcnote.com
U.K representation:
John Adams john.adams@mail.com
Basingstoke, England
Cell: 07702 554 989
Office: 01256 461 224
Radio Promotion:
Lisa Grey
Blue River Promotions
Tel: 914-762-2976
lgrey@optonline.net
Toby Walker uses:
Huss and Dalton Guitars - http://www.hussanddalton.com/
National Reso-Phonic Guitars - http://www.nationalguitars.com/
D'Addario Strings - http://www.daddario.com
Rocky Mountain Slides - http://www.rockymountainslides.com/
Ultrasound Amplifiers - http://www.ultrasoundamps.com/
'Nough said. I think you can see why I love my job. It's also why I'm giving a leg up to all my WriteSpeak students and grads (some of whom are already getting letters like this themselves!). When you love what you do, and when you can do some good in the world, you've got a pretty good life. And you're doing the right thing. Good feeling.
A few months later he was in his car, his recording equipment in the trunk, heading for the homes of some elderly blues musicians. He had money for gas, sandwiches and batteries, nothing extra. But these elderly musicians could see he was sincere and welcomed him. He recorded them. There's a lot more to that story (and I'll invite him to tell us about it one of these days -- and correct my memory if I've erred -- I can't find him anywhere in the book he mentions) but that trip changed his life.
Today he wrote me some wonderful letters. I think you might want to read them if you've got voices (internal or external) telling you that your dream is impossible:
Hi Barbara,
I don't know if you remember me, but you mentioned a bit of my story in your book 'It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now.' I'm the mailman (well, I was) that taught blues guitar in a music store in my spare time.
Well, I'm very happy to say that it's been 5 years now since I left the Post Office and I am now living my life long dream of performing and teaching music full time... and quite successfully at that!
I want to thank you for your books, tapes and for meeting with me in your studio for a one on one session. It all helped tremendously.
Thanks again!!!
TW
Nice. So I answered:
On Dec 9, 2009, at 12:33 PM, Barbara Sher wrote:
Of course I remember you, Toby. This is wonderful news! Thank you for thinking of me. You've made me very happy.
Tell me more. What are you doing and where?
Barbara
And here's his answer:
Hi Barbara,
First off... I'm very happy and fulfilled. I got back 7 weeks ago from my 9th tour of the U.K where I have a load of fans. I also have a wonderful agent here in the U.S. (not very many people in the acoustic music business are lucky enough to have one) and she's a pleasure to work with. We've been together now for 4 years... she has over 24 years of experience in the business so I'm working fairly steady. I'm now based in Denviille NJ and gig along the eastern seaboard... from Maryland where my agent is based to Boston. Most of the places I now play are real nice listening rooms... concerts as opposed to bars. Sometimes the shows are held in theaters... other times in churches.
Schools are also wonderful places to perform in... I do a special show for 5th to 8th graders which encompasses how the blues reflected the Great Migration of African Americans in America. Believe it or not... Carnegie Hall contacted me one year and had me perform over 40 of these shows in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and Jersey City.
I have 9 CD's out now and I've been featured in all kinds of publications.. including the NY Times and the London Sunday Times... whoo boy!!!
I'm also teaching... I do that out of my home now but many times I give workshops on the road. For the last 5 years I've been very, very fortunate to have been teaching at quite a prestigious guitar camp in Ohio... the Fur Peace Ranch. It's run by the guitar player who used to be in the rock band Jefferson Airplane... Jorma Kaukonen. He's considered a real 'guitar god' among thousands of fans but it's kind of cool that he thinks I'm an incredible player as well.
I decided to leave the Post Office 5 years ago as I was earning more with music than with them. But the money wasn't the real issue. I needed to do something that spoke to me... I needed to honor my gift. Many, many times when I see a mail truck go by I remember how fortunate I am to have made that decision. My own mailman frequently laments how worse the job has gotten over the last few years. My goodness.
I'm also married... VERY happily to a wonderful woman named C. She just retired from teaching chorus in high school and she's a gifted musician... playing piano, harp, upright bass and mountain dulcimer. She says that she's always wanted a musician to travel with and we just couldn't be happier. She now is an accompanist to major choral group here in NJ... as well as doing work for plays and other productions in the area. Best of all, she loves helping me with all the paperwork (how lucky am I?) and loves going on the road with me. She's a fellow 'road warrior' and loves traveling as much as I do.
I've told her many times about how much you've inspired me and what kind of a woman you are. One of these days it would be great to have her meet you.
So, there you have it Barbara. Your words, in books, audio tapes and of course in person have helped me become the person I was meant to be. I really love you for it.
Always Lookin' Forward,
Toby Walker
http://www.littletobywalker.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/tobywalker123
http://www.myspace.com/tobyblues
United States and Canadian Representation:
McShane Glover, Noteworthy Productions, Annapolis, MD
410 268 8232
http://www.mcnote.com
email - mcshane@mcnote.com
U.K representation:
John Adams john.adams@mail.com
Basingstoke, England
Cell: 07702 554 989
Office: 01256 461 224
Radio Promotion:
Lisa Grey
Blue River Promotions
Tel: 914-762-2976
lgrey@optonline.net
Toby Walker uses:
Huss and Dalton Guitars - http://www.hussanddalton.com/
National Reso-Phonic Guitars - http://www.nationalguitars.com/
D'Addario Strings - http://www.daddario.com
Rocky Mountain Slides - http://www.rockymountainslides.com/
Ultrasound Amplifiers - http://www.ultrasoundamps.com/
'Nough said. I think you can see why I love my job. It's also why I'm giving a leg up to all my WriteSpeak students and grads (some of whom are already getting letters like this themselves!). When you love what you do, and when you can do some good in the world, you've got a pretty good life. And you're doing the right thing. Good feeling.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
In case you're not on my mailing list..
Barbara Sher's Newsletter
Hi All!
The first part of this newsletter is about going places. The second is about coming home. Not about me coming home. Maybe about you coming home.
GOING PLACES
I'm getting ready to head out for the French Pyrenees, to meet my son and his family for Christmas and New Year's. While still jetlagged, I fully expect to be dodging my very dangerous 6 year-old, snowball-shooting grandson's missiles. (You'd think my son would protect me since it's his kid and all, but he just keeps laughing and taking movies.)
When I finally haul my carcass off the battlefield I'll grab a nap and then pick up my ongoing project of shifting a whole lot of my work to Europe. I'm setting up even more speaking gigs for myself -- I'm thinking Sweden, maybe Estonia, you know?
You can see the ones I'm already doing. I'm doing that partly for my 'half-the-year in the E.U.' plan for 2010, and partly, as always, to stay one step ahead of my WriteSpeak students (more about that in COMING HOME, below).
What started as a good excuse to spend more time with my overseas family has turned into something much bigger.
TWITTER GLOBAL NEW YEAR'S IDEA PARTY
The more I see my mission as saving as many geniuses as I can in my lifetime and making the world a better place by freeing up all that genius, the more I realize that none of it would be possible without the internet.
The Twitter Idea Party
So, when I get to my hotel and dust off the snow, as New Year's Eve approaches, I'm going to do another round of the Global Idea Party, like we did last March. I don't know who'll be joining me, but I'll be there (and I'll need you to join me, at least part of the time) and together we'll be heading through every time zone to ring in the new year by helping people make their dreams come true.
It won't combine with conference calling this time, because I won't have the crew working with me as I did last time. (They kind of threatened my life if I made them stay up all night again.) You can see the story at the Wishcraft 30th birthday celebration site. (Remind me to put a clip up on YouTube from my 'Idea Party Pledge Special' before December 31st, just to get you warmed up.)
SINCE I'LL BE IN FRANCE ANYWAY...
Whilst in France, we're also visiting the site for my next Scanner Retreat in April. It's an immaculate inn set in a medieval stone village that overlooks the Languedoc countryside. We found the place quite by accident, (here's that jolly story:) but we knew this was the right place as soon as we saw it. It can't be very well known yet because we've gotten a great group rate in fabulous rooms with breakfasts and gourmet dinners. It's kind of like a wonderful dream. And you'll be surrounded by Scanners, possibly the first time you'll be among people who understand who you are (read: who don't think you're flaky).
So, here's to the world. See as much of it as you can, because you never know which dreams you'll uncover. And make sure you get all the help you need to make them come true. I'll be here, so join the party, come to a Scanner Retreat and find your tribe! When you win, it's good for all of us!
And now...
COMING HOME
When I get back to New York I won't be lounging about either. January 16 will be the next (and only, for a long while) Part I Telephone Workshop for the WriteSpeak program. That's where you find out what your message is - or you begin to. Read on and you'll see what I'm talking about.
The teleworkshop is the prerequisite for WriteSpeak Part II, which is the Retreat on Feb 12-17, so if you haven't already taken it, you'd best sign up. If you want to come to the WriteSpeak retreat in New York in February, that is.
I know I ran a WriteSpeak retreat less than a month ago. I didn't plan to have another for a year or so. But there's a story here, too.
A few days before last November's retreat began, three of the nicest, smartest attendees had to drop out. They were very unhappy about that, but one had pneumonia (she was going to come anyway, but I swore I'd do everything in my power to hold a February retreat for her, so she stayed in bed. She is now fully recovered and holding me to my promise!). Two others were told subtly by their bosses that if they missed that particular Monday or Tuesday (whatever), they might not need to come back to work at all, ever. Choke. Naturally, I promised them I'd have a retreat in February, too.
So don't make a liar out of me. Help me find some wonderful people who know they should be writing and speaking but didn't know they could. Just show them the letters I got tonight from the grads of November's retreat. I can hardly read them without beaming and getting a tear in my eye, and that's not a figure of speech. I guess I'll just let them write the rest of this newsletter.
Barbara Sher's WriteSpeak Retreat was incredible. I'm not a coach, or a writer, and I thought I would be out of place. But this was just the place for me, because I want to be a speaker. I've always known that someday, some way, I would be a speaker - but I had no idea where or how to start. Barbara's retreat gave me exactly what I needed to get started. In addition to Barbara's help and inspiration, the support and camaraderie of all the wonderful people who participated is an amazing and powerful thing. Whatever you have to do to get there, do it! It is the best thing you can do for yourself.
And another:
Attending Barbara Sher's WriteSpeak retreat was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was completely unclear about what my message was before attending - and completely clear and energized about it afterwards. It was fun, casual (I wore my pajamas) and extremely informative. I made new friends - and after 5 years of procrastinating, I finally started blogging. This was unlike any other workshop I've ever attended. Nothing held back, all questions answered and no upsells. It's chatting with Barbara in a living room. We drank coffee, we ate home-made biscuits and we laughed like crazy. If you're thinking about attending, don't hesitate. Sign up now. You'll love it.
and her man, Joe (I love the way that sounds) said:
It's OK for boys to come, too.
They're both hot as pistols and oh-so-ready for me to begin Part III. Take a look at their wonderful blogs and you'll see what I mean:
Patty's blog
Joe's blog
Here's the only other 'testimonial' I'll ask you to read. It's not short, but I don't want to cut a word of it. You'll see why:
Barbara, and the retreat she made, handed me my life's work. I seriously do not know how to thank her.
Coming to the WS retreat had no less a result than leading me nose-first right to my Thing. The Thing I have been looking for practically my entire adult life. My Thing, my Mission From God, you get the idea. And now that I've figured out the Thing, it answers so many questions I've always had about my whole reason for being.
I think it was two things that clinched it: first, the exercise of speaking to my Orphan. This pointed me right at what I would say to someone who reminded me of me. And me saying to Barbara after the exercise that there was something I was avoiding telling my orphan, because I didn't want to freak her out. And Barbara saying "That thing you didn't want to tell her? That was your message." At the time I didn't get it, but over the course of the retreat I came to see how exactly right this was.
The other was Barbara saying that there's something that every one of us has already spent the 'Malcolm Gladwell Required 10,000 hours' becoming an expert on. I understood, in the intellect, that my mission was somehow about helping my orphan, in all her guises. But I didn't really get this until lying in bed one night at the retreat, trying to stay awake and do my homework, and realizing: THIS is what I'm an expert on. This stuff is what I think about, what I write about, what I'm obsessed with. This is the mission. What I never got before was that my obsession with constructing my self would be the basis of my vocation. That my mission could be the result and the healing of this formative wound, made manifest. And that healing myself would be a natural by-product of helping others who remind me of me.
To sum up: the retreat helped me discover my Mission, which I knew was somewhere, but which I had struggled long and hard to find. I didn't know this would happen. I thought I was coming to learn about writing and speaking as a career, and that I would figure out what sort of thing I might be writing and speaking about later. I did not expect that I would leave the retreat having found my life's purpose. What I ended up with is the biggest, most valuable gift I have ever gotten from any kind of education in my whole life.
All this "mission" business aside - I would go anywhere to sit at Barbara's feet and soak up her smartness and laugh at her jokes. Because she is so funny and so real and so perceptive about what people need that just being in her presence is an education. I love her, and kind of want to marry her (Barbara, you should know that I make the best, most protein-y breakfasts in the world). But since she is unlikely to agree to this, I am happy to have her as the chairperson of my High Council of Jedi Knights, and unreservedly, strongly recommend that anyone who has a chance to study with her do it!
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BY 'COMING HOME.' I DIDN'T MEAN ME, I MEANT YOU.
Nothing more to say. That's all you need to know to make up your mind to be there, or to uncork the mission of some stuck genius you value, who ought to be telling the world what he worked so hard to learn in life. That's an obligation you/they have. It's my most welcome obligation to show you how to do it.
With warmest, highest regard,
Barbara Sher
PS: here's your audio tip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WRITESPEAK PART I - TELEWORKSHOP JANUARY 16, 2010
WRITESPEAK PART II - 6-DAY RETREAT IN NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY 12 - 17
SCANNER 6-DAY RETREAT IN FRANCE, APRIL 6 - 11, 2010
Hi All!
The first part of this newsletter is about going places. The second is about coming home. Not about me coming home. Maybe about you coming home.
GOING PLACES
I'm getting ready to head out for the French Pyrenees, to meet my son and his family for Christmas and New Year's. While still jetlagged, I fully expect to be dodging my very dangerous 6 year-old, snowball-shooting grandson's missiles. (You'd think my son would protect me since it's his kid and all, but he just keeps laughing and taking movies.)
When I finally haul my carcass off the battlefield I'll grab a nap and then pick up my ongoing project of shifting a whole lot of my work to Europe. I'm setting up even more speaking gigs for myself -- I'm thinking Sweden, maybe Estonia, you know?
You can see the ones I'm already doing. I'm doing that partly for my 'half-the-year in the E.U.' plan for 2010, and partly, as always, to stay one step ahead of my WriteSpeak students (more about that in COMING HOME, below).
What started as a good excuse to spend more time with my overseas family has turned into something much bigger.
TWITTER GLOBAL NEW YEAR'S IDEA PARTY
The more I see my mission as saving as many geniuses as I can in my lifetime and making the world a better place by freeing up all that genius, the more I realize that none of it would be possible without the internet.
The Twitter Idea Party
So, when I get to my hotel and dust off the snow, as New Year's Eve approaches, I'm going to do another round of the Global Idea Party, like we did last March. I don't know who'll be joining me, but I'll be there (and I'll need you to join me, at least part of the time) and together we'll be heading through every time zone to ring in the new year by helping people make their dreams come true.
It won't combine with conference calling this time, because I won't have the crew working with me as I did last time. (They kind of threatened my life if I made them stay up all night again.) You can see the story at the Wishcraft 30th birthday celebration site. (Remind me to put a clip up on YouTube from my 'Idea Party Pledge Special' before December 31st, just to get you warmed up.)
SINCE I'LL BE IN FRANCE ANYWAY...
Whilst in France, we're also visiting the site for my next Scanner Retreat in April. It's an immaculate inn set in a medieval stone village that overlooks the Languedoc countryside. We found the place quite by accident, (here's that jolly story:
So, here's to the world. See as much of it as you can, because you never know which dreams you'll uncover. And make sure you get all the help you need to make them come true. I'll be here, so join the party, come to a Scanner Retreat and find your tribe! When you win, it's good for all of us!
And now...
COMING HOME
When I get back to New York I won't be lounging about either. January 16 will be the next (and only, for a long while) Part I Telephone Workshop for the WriteSpeak program. That's where you find out what your message is - or you begin to. Read on and you'll see what I'm talking about.
The teleworkshop is the prerequisite for WriteSpeak Part II, which is the Retreat on Feb 12-17, so if you haven't already taken it, you'd best sign up. If you want to come to the WriteSpeak retreat in New York in February, that is.
I know I ran a WriteSpeak retreat less than a month ago. I didn't plan to have another for a year or so. But there's a story here, too.
A few days before last November's retreat began, three of the nicest, smartest attendees had to drop out. They were very unhappy about that, but one had pneumonia (she was going to come anyway, but I swore I'd do everything in my power to hold a February retreat for her, so she stayed in bed. She is now fully recovered and holding me to my promise!). Two others were told subtly by their bosses that if they missed that particular Monday or Tuesday (whatever), they might not need to come back to work at all, ever. Choke. Naturally, I promised them I'd have a retreat in February, too.
So don't make a liar out of me. Help me find some wonderful people who know they should be writing and speaking but didn't know they could. Just show them the letters I got tonight from the grads of November's retreat. I can hardly read them without beaming and getting a tear in my eye, and that's not a figure of speech. I guess I'll just let them write the rest of this newsletter.
Barbara Sher's WriteSpeak Retreat was incredible. I'm not a coach, or a writer, and I thought I would be out of place. But this was just the place for me, because I want to be a speaker. I've always known that someday, some way, I would be a speaker - but I had no idea where or how to start. Barbara's retreat gave me exactly what I needed to get started. In addition to Barbara's help and inspiration, the support and camaraderie of all the wonderful people who participated is an amazing and powerful thing. Whatever you have to do to get there, do it! It is the best thing you can do for yourself.
And another:
Attending Barbara Sher's WriteSpeak retreat was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was completely unclear about what my message was before attending - and completely clear and energized about it afterwards. It was fun, casual (I wore my pajamas) and extremely informative. I made new friends - and after 5 years of procrastinating, I finally started blogging. This was unlike any other workshop I've ever attended. Nothing held back, all questions answered and no upsells. It's chatting with Barbara in a living room. We drank coffee, we ate home-made biscuits and we laughed like crazy. If you're thinking about attending, don't hesitate. Sign up now. You'll love it.
and her man, Joe (I love the way that sounds) said:
It's OK for boys to come, too.
They're both hot as pistols and oh-so-ready for me to begin Part III. Take a look at their wonderful blogs and you'll see what I mean:
Patty's blog
Joe's blog
Here's the only other 'testimonial' I'll ask you to read. It's not short, but I don't want to cut a word of it. You'll see why:
Barbara, and the retreat she made, handed me my life's work. I seriously do not know how to thank her.
Coming to the WS retreat had no less a result than leading me nose-first right to my Thing. The Thing I have been looking for practically my entire adult life. My Thing, my Mission From God, you get the idea. And now that I've figured out the Thing, it answers so many questions I've always had about my whole reason for being.
I think it was two things that clinched it: first, the exercise of speaking to my Orphan. This pointed me right at what I would say to someone who reminded me of me. And me saying to Barbara after the exercise that there was something I was avoiding telling my orphan, because I didn't want to freak her out. And Barbara saying "That thing you didn't want to tell her? That was your message." At the time I didn't get it, but over the course of the retreat I came to see how exactly right this was.
The other was Barbara saying that there's something that every one of us has already spent the 'Malcolm Gladwell Required 10,000 hours' becoming an expert on. I understood, in the intellect, that my mission was somehow about helping my orphan, in all her guises. But I didn't really get this until lying in bed one night at the retreat, trying to stay awake and do my homework, and realizing: THIS is what I'm an expert on. This stuff is what I think about, what I write about, what I'm obsessed with. This is the mission. What I never got before was that my obsession with constructing my self would be the basis of my vocation. That my mission could be the result and the healing of this formative wound, made manifest. And that healing myself would be a natural by-product of helping others who remind me of me.
To sum up: the retreat helped me discover my Mission, which I knew was somewhere, but which I had struggled long and hard to find. I didn't know this would happen. I thought I was coming to learn about writing and speaking as a career, and that I would figure out what sort of thing I might be writing and speaking about later. I did not expect that I would leave the retreat having found my life's purpose. What I ended up with is the biggest, most valuable gift I have ever gotten from any kind of education in my whole life.
All this "mission" business aside - I would go anywhere to sit at Barbara's feet and soak up her smartness and laugh at her jokes. Because she is so funny and so real and so perceptive about what people need that just being in her presence is an education. I love her, and kind of want to marry her (Barbara, you should know that I make the best, most protein-y breakfasts in the world). But since she is unlikely to agree to this, I am happy to have her as the chairperson of my High Council of Jedi Knights, and unreservedly, strongly recommend that anyone who has a chance to study with her do it!
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BY 'COMING HOME.' I DIDN'T MEAN ME, I MEANT YOU.
Nothing more to say. That's all you need to know to make up your mind to be there, or to uncork the mission of some stuck genius you value, who ought to be telling the world what he worked so hard to learn in life. That's an obligation you/they have. It's my most welcome obligation to show you how to do it.
With warmest, highest regard,
Barbara Sher
PS: here's your audio tip.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WRITESPEAK PART I - TELEWORKSHOP JANUARY 16, 2010
WRITESPEAK PART II - 6-DAY RETREAT IN NEW YORK CITY, FEBRUARY 12 - 17
SCANNER 6-DAY RETREAT IN FRANCE, APRIL 6 - 11, 2010
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