New Year...New Blog...Come Join Me!!

I have decided to shift gears a bit and start a new blog called Darwinism's ...I hope you'll come join me!

Darwinism's is a blog showcasing my thoughts and feelings about this, that and the other! Sorry evolution or creation enthusiasts, this isn’t a site about Charles Darwin. My name happens to be Chad Darwin and Darwinism’s is a collection of my very own thoughts, experiences and concepts on various topics that interest me. Yes, I know this may sound vague right now, give me some time. This blog will be in constant evolution and will surely find its place in this world, much like me.

Just to clarify, check out the following definition of Darwinism to gain some perspective:

Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin The meaning of “Darwinism” has changed over time, and varies depending on who is using the term.

To set the record straight, I have no idea if I’m actually related to Charles Darwin. Although I’m a spiritual guy who believes in God…I also lean towards the theory of evolution as well (come on, you gotta admit it makes more sense and it doesn’t mean there isn’t a God). I also want to take advantage of the “evolution” connotation of my name because it really holds true to me. I hope to always evolve, always to remain teachable. OK, just had to get that out there in the open.

I hope you’ll come over and find what I have to say useful, funny and enlightening. I would like nothing more than to use my humor and passion to educate and entertain you. My dogs are sure to play a big roll as well (they are too darn insightful not to).

See you at Darwinisms.com !

PeRhaps...PR for the Soul

Perhaps: Used to express uncertainty or possibility; when one does not wish to be too definite or assertive in the expression of an opinion.

How many of you feel this way about your passion in life? Your true passion? Or do you feel this way about life in general? A bit indecisive, not knowing quite which path to take. Do you feel yourself teetering back and forth between happiness and sadness, joy and hate, hope and despair? Dramatic, huh? Well, we humans do tend to be dramatic. I don't think my dogs feel this way (or if they do, a tennis ball or treat changes everything immediately). If only life could be that simple.

The reality is, for many of us humans, it’s so much easier to be noncommittal. It’s what we’re used to. To make a true commitment to anything in life takes real guts, whether you know it or not. The challenge to race your buddy on the playground at age eight or to marry your sweetheart (for better or worse)…these commitments are one in the same. Sure the outcomes are much different, but the jumping off point, that decision to commit, it takes the same brain power. Do you have it in you to commit to being your best advocate? To expressing your true self to the world the way you were meant to? To sharing your vision with the world? To showing up in life? To remove fear from your mind and exude confidence?

I always though the coolest X-men power to have would be the power of “persuasion”…shocking coming from a PR guy, I know. Think about it, you could really have anything you want, but you’d have to be smart about it. Its not one of those go in and smash them up kind of powers, but no less powerful. I chose public relations as a career because I enjoy communicating with people, writing, solving problems and educating. PR does all of these things (and then some). I also believe each of us has a primary purpose to share our passions with the world, whatever those passions may be. Unfortunately, most of us get sidetracked...life is too short for that.

I have found myself with a bit more time on hands...and I plan to use it wisely. Writing is a passion of mine, most of it never leaves the many spiral bound notebooks perched here and there around my apartment. That will change. Why? How? I have identified my own worst critic: ME. Well, a part of me, his name is Bert (no I'm not schizophrenic, I just named my inner critic, ego, whatever you wanna call it). Bert deserves his own post, more on that later.

Maybe you can relate? Do you need of a little jumpstart in your life? A little self-promotion? I truly believe anyone can utilize public relations tools to help boost self-esteem, confidence, vitality, purpose, vision, clarity and compassion in their life. How can a person use PR to obtain these things? It’s fairly simple, anyone can become their very own publicist and change their life. I know, I hear you saying, “Oh I’m not good at talking about myself.” No kidding! Not many people are. Sure you know those ego driven people who boast about every little thing they do. Take some time to really look at this type of person, I’ll bet they lack more self-confidence than you do! Public relations is all about subtleties, you want people to perceive you in a positive light naturally, not because you screamed in their face, “LOOK HOW GREAT I AM!!” Nobody wants that. I know...I know...the Kardashians do exist, but you know its because of the train wreck appeal (don't get me wrong, I love these hookers as much as anyone...Khloe is my fav, but that's another blog post).

Stay tuned in if you want to learn more. Maybe this will become a book...maybe a series of blog posts...maybe a movie starring Gary Busey...who knows. The possibilities are endless! Regardless of the vehicle, you WILL learn how to use good ol fashioned PR to better your own life, just stick with me kid. Are you ready to take the plunge? PeRhaps?

If I were...a Vegetable?

Time for a fun writing exercise...take 5 minutes and write "If I were a vegetable, I would be a...."

No editing...write what comes to your mind....most important, have fun...GO!

Here is mine:

If I were a vegetable I would be a squash, a yellow squash because that is what I thought of just now. I like yellow, its a good color.

Squash is good raw, with dipping sauce. Its ok steamed too, with pepper.

What would my squash name be? Squashy is juts too obvious? Or is it? Let us see...

"Hello, is Squashy home?"..."Can Squashy come to the movies?"...."Meet our new head of accounts, Squashy...he's very creative!"...."Oh Squashy, you broke my heart you dumb son-of-a-bitch!!"..."You had enough yet Squashy? You gonna give up yet you ol rubber neck fool!"

Oh Squashy, you just take on the flavors of those around you, you got no real flavor of your own, your a mimic veg! Death to Squashy! Long live Zucci!! Zucchini -- Zucci?? Really? Oh give it up...you're banned from the vegetable patch

Book Review: The War of Art - Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Do you have at least one creative bone in your body? Are you human? The answer to both of these questions is most likely YES.

Were you 8 years old the last time you painted? Maybe you were 10 the last time you made a pot out of clay? Perhaps you were the star of the big play in high school, only to choose a business major in college because it was "safe"...whatever the case may be, if your feeling stuck and lacking creativity (yes we are all creative in some way)...I highly suggest you read (or listen to, as I did) "The War of Art - Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles" by Steven Pressfield.

Its a quick read/listen, I promise. He talks a lot about resistance. Resistance to our art...it seems just about anything can be a form of resistance, except us actually "doing" out art. Be it drawing, dancing, acting, writing or solving math equations...we must break through resistance...or at least learn to recognize resistance - knowing is half the battle!

One form of resistance I had was this blog. I didn't think (and still don't think) anyone wants to read this silly blog of mine, accept maybe my mom (hi mom)...but I write it anyway, because I enjoy it. I post a lot about my dogs, not only hear but also on Facebook and other sites. Why? Because I enjoy it. They give me great joy so I try to share that joy. Cheesy? Perhaps.

Similar to Julia Cameron's "The Artist Way" (another incredible book I'll write about later - Im in the middle of the course taught by Kelly Morgan here in L.A.), "War of Art" give you lots of practical advice on how to not only jump start your creative process, but to also add some structure to it. Being an artist takes work, his own experience proves that! I don't know if I could live through the kind of rejection he describes in the book...lots of it, until his novel, "The Legend of Bagger Vance" hit it big. He gives a few Tiger Woods analogies, so if your into gold, score.

Take a gander at his examples of Resistance...

RESISTANCE'S GREATEST HITS

The following is a list, in no particular order, of those activities, which most commonly elicit Resistance:

1) The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional.

2) The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise.

3) Any diet or health regimen.

4) Any program of spiritual advancement.

5) Any activity whose aim is tighter abdominals.

6) Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction.

7) Education of every kind.

8) Any act of political, moral or ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves.

9) The undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others.

10) Any act which entails commitment of the heart. The decision to get married, to have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship.

11) The taking of any principled stand in the face of potential reprisal.

In other words, any act which disdains short-term gratification in favor of long-term growth, health or integrity. Or, expressed another way, any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any act of these types will elicit Resistance.

Oh how true it is! Interested? Pick-up the book...you won't be disappointed.