Work hard, right at the edge of your abilities, fast enough to make mistakes, but slow enough to notice and correct them. Do it often. Do it with the deliberate intention of making every training session and every rep better. Do this by focusing not on outcomes such as winning or losing but rather on small chunks of skill that can be developed on an ongoing basis.
-Dr. Eric Cobb, founder of Z Health
Background: Recently, TechCrunch featured an article about the playdeck they use at SCVNGR that outlines the mechanics of gameplay. The article cites at TED talk by game designer Jane McGonigal, which I talk about here. I was a little disappointed with McGonigal’s conclusion, because she basically offered up the solution as specially-themed video games to leverage the power of game mechanics, or “gameplay superpowers”, to do good in the real world and incite behavior change.
Jane McGonigal gives a fascinating talk about the “superpowers” cultivated by the game-playing masses (more than 500 million with another billion coming up in the next decade!). Obviously we all have the image of the gamer locked in his mother’s basement, endlessly pawing away at an electronic reward system, like a hamster. McGonigal’s takeaway is a little different though. She emphasizes the motivation, inspiration, and social purpose built into game play.
It’s the end of the year and it’s time to get out of old habits and mindsets. So, here’s my prediction for the best business model for independent fitness and wellness pros, for the next DECADE. Yeah, I think it’s going to take a few years to unfold, but the groundwork has been laid: No more brick-and-mortar businesses. Trust me, I know what it’s like to cut a $10,000 rent check each month.
I’m working strictly on a hunch here, but I think there’s a connection between the sentiment I tried to express here about not getting lost in the bells and whistles of technology, and this article about “hybrid businesses”. One Foot in the Virtual World, One Foot in the Real World According to the author, Glenn Kelman, a hybrid business has “one foot in the virtual world and one foot in the real world.
Over at TechCrunch, Stephen Martin lays out his thesis about an interesting turning point for entrepreneurs in this economic climate. I could quote the piece at length, but I think this part is especially important: These business mavericks live by a new dynamic of success — unique individual strengths, expertise and credibility — fueled by today’s cultural and technological changes. In this new dimension of business lies the secret to success in our transformed world of commerce.
If you’ve never read Kevin Kelly’s piece called 1,000 True Fans, I suggest you hop on that link and read it. When you come back, you can read some of my thoughts on the issue, but I probably won’t blow your mind the way Kelly will. Ok, are you back? Good. Here’s what I think stands out in his article for the aspiring “Movement Education Professional” (more on that term below).
Here’s a sneak peek at some online learning support I’m doing with a Tai Chi group in Farmington, Maine. I went up a couple weeks ago to teach an afternoon workshop and this was the practice set we did by the end. The workshop participants also have access to a private Q&A forum, so as they practice between now and the next live training, I can give them feedback. I’ll probably add some new videos as we go to answer any questions that come up.
Posts about code and work and some tai chi archives too