Resorting to personal attacks, guess I struck a nerve. I'm not sure who you're trying to fool, but as you can see in the first quote I posted above, it is perfectly clear that you originally chose pool over being a life coach, and then changed your mind. There is no ambiguity in what you said. Sorry to be the cause of any cognitive dissonance.
Heart/Passion
- Thread starter Zphix
- Start date
Let me see if I can explain this. I'm motivated by the want to inspire and change lives, to give back using my "gift" as it's called. I doubt anybody becomes a pro simply because they want to play pro pool, I'd argue that they become pros because it's a tool serving a much higher motivator; for Shane it might be growth, or a need to prove he can overcome his deficits (like being semi-deaf) and pool is the tool he uses to do that.
What I'm saying is that I was thinking of using pool as the tool to inspire and change people and I still think I'll go that route. But, it's not my first choice to get there anymore. My underlying motivation and core didn't change, the tool I plan on using to get there fastest has.
My apologies on the personal attack as well. Things aren't as a surface level as they appear to be from the text.
Think about this, when you were growing up you wanted to be a lot of things. You had many many careers in mind. Could be a policeman, then an astronaut, then a racecar driver, etc. You should see that all of these "Careers" have a common theme among them and that gives you a clue as to what your core motivator/passion/heart is.
For me, coaching, martial arts, and pool aren't that different because they all satisfy my core passion. I can use any of them to reach people and inspire: think Anthony Robbins, Bruce Lee, and SVB. They all inspire people and there is no reason to think I can't do what any of these 3 guys did, but I can only focus on one, and I don't think pool is going to reach the most people and cause the most inspiration so it's taking the back seat for now. I will likely end up using all 3 of these in time to reach the most people.
Make sense?
P.S. My personal attack wasn't so much you as much as it is me and my inability to convey what I think and feel properly. It clearly causes a lot of problems because my points aren't adequately so that everybody understands them.
Kinda bothers me, and has for a while, that I have a hard time explaining my point. Reminds me of my AP History days....
I have found this thread fascinating. And I don't mean to pile on you, Zphix, but the above is a terrible example....
There is SO much chemistry in baking. The temperature and quantities of your raw ingredients, the manner in which you blend them, the temp of the oven, etc. Chemistry is exactly why butter, eggs, flour and sugar some times make cake and sometimes make cookies.
my $.02,
from a baker and a pool player.
There's a fairly huge difference between not adequately explaining yourself and saying the exact opposite of what you are now claiming. Again, it was very clear what you were saying in the first quote, there is only one way to interpret that.
You call that not adequately explaining yourself? It seems pretty clear to me.
My point still stands. Two days ago you were certain your heart was into playing pool, even it was just a means to inspire people. Now you have completely changed your mind, and decided life coaching is now the passion, or the "tool to inspire people".
EDIT: I won't bother delving into the other obvious holes in your explanation, but I sincerely hope you are just a troll.
EDIT: I won't bother delving into the other obvious holes in your explanation, but I sincerely hope you are just a troll.
You mean tips from a AA++ Pool martial life pro arts coach?
If I may suggest one thing. If your goal is to reach the most people and make the largest positive impact possible, public schools would be your best bet. Get your Masters degree in counselling psychology to supplement what you are already doing and get into the school system as a school counselor or guidance counselor. Even if you don't go to work at schools, I'd still suggest still getting a Masters or Doctorate for two reasons, knowledge from all perspectives is invaluable and credentials matter to prospective clients.
Yup, you're all right. Guess it's time for me to accept my fate and get started working at the gas station. Either that or commit seppuku. The latter doesn't seem like such a bad idea anymore.
If growing up means ending up like you guys then I sincerely don't want to. I'd rather die today than go through that shit.
I'm not arguing anymore. I'm not going to try to satisfy my Ego/Identity problem by trying to prove myself to you guys who have lost your compassion years ago. Enjoy the rest of your discussion amongst yourselves.
If growing up means ending up like you guys then I sincerely don't want to. I'd rather die today than go through that shit.
I'm not arguing anymore. I'm not going to try to satisfy my Ego/Identity problem by trying to prove myself to you guys who have lost your compassion years ago. Enjoy the rest of your discussion amongst yourselves.
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What does your mentor say about playing the victim and looking for sympathy? Toughen up kid!
Cut it out. You're young and zealous. You're supposed to be at your age. Life has a way of wearing idealism down that's all. As you get older you get more pragmatic.
Bro you started off this thread with super heart and passion, and now you're talking about suicide because of what a bunch of anonymous people said to you on an internet pool forum? You're supposed to be a life coach and you've now succumbed to the level of victims that would actually seek YOU out for help.
If you get this frustrated being on AzBilliards, then I suggest you stay off of it or don't post. You seem like a cool person to hang with and whatnot but don't have us feeling sorry for you now. Keep playing pool and try to improve like you said you wanted to, and stay away from here if you're having such negative thoughts.
If you get this frustrated being on AzBilliards, then I suggest you stay off of it or don't post. You seem like a cool person to hang with and whatnot but don't have us feeling sorry for you now. Keep playing pool and try to improve like you said you wanted to, and stay away from here if you're having such negative thoughts.
Hey guys, some of you have some fair points. But he doesn't need us to beat him into seeing things the way you do. Ultimately he won't because he's in a different stage in his life. Life can teach him whatever lessons he needs to learn and I'm sure he's capable of learning them. He doesn't need to be mocked.
Kid, I think this was a good experience. In trying to understand what evoked such a reaction in people I have to think it is the subtext to your mission statement.
The mission statement of "If you have the courage to leave your shackles behind, pursue your passion, and manifest your potential, you can be anything you want, even a pro pool player or a successful businessman...you don't have to settle or live the way everyone tells you to" is really a good one. In fact it's one that many of us subscribe to believe it or not.
On the other hand you're also talking to a lot of people that found that implementing those attitudes didn't cut through life like a hot knife through butter. Many of the members on this forum pursued pool with a passion as bright as the sun. It turns out that the pain caused from devoting your life to a game that is impossible to receive a payoff from with delusions that it would all be great if we just didn't give up faith...REFUSING defeat and soldiering on because why COULDN'T we be the best in the world...we can be if we believe and never give up! Etc. This attitude caused so much pain because it isn't quite true. Only a few can really be the best. And believe it or not there are HUNDREDS of people that gave their lives to the game and ended up in that Jeremy Jones, Gabe Owen, Mike Davis, Stevie Moore, so on and on and on speed. And then there were many more that ended up shy of that.
It's easy to assume we just didn't want it enough. To that all I can say is give your life to the game for 10 years, every day, all day, no matter how painful your life becomes...if you can beat me at the end of it I'd be impressed. And I'm short of those names I mentioned.
So I think that people were simply reacting to the notion that you can use a positive "I think I can" mantra, get to the top of the hill, and 'law of attract' yourself a life that most people died trying to get. I hope you see this.
Similarly life has many restrictions on life that don't allow people to simply follow their passion. Look at it this way- what if everyone's passion was to be a life coach? Can you see that this simply wouldn't be possible? The economics of it create more and more and more pressure to get done what NEEDS to get done. That is why artists and pool players are starving, while those that 'sell out' and get jobs are doing well. And that is why people get those jobs. They say 'I'll leave following passion for the 20 year olds, I'll sacrifice my passions to have the luxury of providing for a family with confidence'. And while at first it seems like sacrificing passions, it turns out that by doing what is needed of us is actually rewarding in ways that self gratification isn't. Truly life isn't about getting what you want, it is about wanting what you get. So it isn't that they don't know something you do, it's because they actually have learned something you haven't.
Agree or not this is the reason you're getting such a reaction, and this is something you might want to understand as you unroll your mission statement. There has to be a way you can inspire without diminishing other people's journey's and choices, and to respect that the lives people have chosen for themselves may be actually their best path.
Now, from there if you can be a cheerleader, coach, and guide for some of these folks, and to help be a sounding board to encourage them to break through obstacles that are bothering them...GREAT! That's awesome. And I do think there's a demand for this, and if you master the process I believe you have the heart to make a positive impact.
So to recap, AZ'ers, cut him some slack, he'll be fine, and accept the fact that every 20 year old thinks they'll do better than the last generation. It's not personal. Z, keep on your road and as always have a sense of humor and humility while you make great things happen.
Kid, I think this was a good experience. In trying to understand what evoked such a reaction in people I have to think it is the subtext to your mission statement.
The mission statement of "If you have the courage to leave your shackles behind, pursue your passion, and manifest your potential, you can be anything you want, even a pro pool player or a successful businessman...you don't have to settle or live the way everyone tells you to" is really a good one. In fact it's one that many of us subscribe to believe it or not.
On the other hand you're also talking to a lot of people that found that implementing those attitudes didn't cut through life like a hot knife through butter. Many of the members on this forum pursued pool with a passion as bright as the sun. It turns out that the pain caused from devoting your life to a game that is impossible to receive a payoff from with delusions that it would all be great if we just didn't give up faith...REFUSING defeat and soldiering on because why COULDN'T we be the best in the world...we can be if we believe and never give up! Etc. This attitude caused so much pain because it isn't quite true. Only a few can really be the best. And believe it or not there are HUNDREDS of people that gave their lives to the game and ended up in that Jeremy Jones, Gabe Owen, Mike Davis, Stevie Moore, so on and on and on speed. And then there were many more that ended up shy of that.
It's easy to assume we just didn't want it enough. To that all I can say is give your life to the game for 10 years, every day, all day, no matter how painful your life becomes...if you can beat me at the end of it I'd be impressed. And I'm short of those names I mentioned.
So I think that people were simply reacting to the notion that you can use a positive "I think I can" mantra, get to the top of the hill, and 'law of attract' yourself a life that most people died trying to get. I hope you see this.
Similarly life has many restrictions on life that don't allow people to simply follow their passion. Look at it this way- what if everyone's passion was to be a life coach? Can you see that this simply wouldn't be possible? The economics of it create more and more and more pressure to get done what NEEDS to get done. That is why artists and pool players are starving, while those that 'sell out' and get jobs are doing well. And that is why people get those jobs. They say 'I'll leave following passion for the 20 year olds, I'll sacrifice my passions to have the luxury of providing for a family with confidence'. And while at first it seems like sacrificing passions, it turns out that by doing what is needed of us is actually rewarding in ways that self gratification isn't. Truly life isn't about getting what you want, it is about wanting what you get. So it isn't that they don't know something you do, it's because they actually have learned something you haven't.
Agree or not this is the reason you're getting such a reaction, and this is something you might want to understand as you unroll your mission statement. There has to be a way you can inspire without diminishing other people's journey's and choices, and to respect that the lives people have chosen for themselves may be actually their best path.
Now, from there if you can be a cheerleader, coach, and guide for some of these folks, and to help be a sounding board to encourage them to break through obstacles that are bothering them...GREAT! That's awesome. And I do think there's a demand for this, and if you master the process I believe you have the heart to make a positive impact.
So to recap, AZ'ers, cut him some slack, he'll be fine, and accept the fact that every 20 year old thinks they'll do better than the last generation. It's not personal. Z, keep on your road and as always have a sense of humor and humility while you make great things happen.
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Tin Man,
You just blew me away with that post. You are a class act!
You just blew me away with that post. You are a class act!
Richard...You're right that my passion for the game is super strong, and has been since I was introduced to the game at age 18, by Jack White. Little did I know that 23 years later I would take over his national touring gig being a pool entertainer. That said, I did a lot of things between 18 and 40 that prepared me to do what I do now. Getting a college education was one of those things. I do love teaching, but it's the college gigs and corporate gigs that really drive the piggy bank...and I've been doing this for more than 20 years! Your desire and drive to play pro speed in a short amount of time are admirable, even if something of a pipe dream. Certainly follow your dream...but back it up with an educaton and a job that will provide a current life and a future life for yourself. :thumbup:
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Fantastic post! I could add a few things, but they've most
likely already been stated within this thread.
This is great advice. A degree can go a long way these
days and you can still be young, have fun, play pool,
karate, motivate people, etc. while getting your education.
By the time that happens you'll be older, more seasoned,
and ready to choose the path that is right for you going
forward.
Best of luck, Richard
seppuku cool do a video when you do it I want to watch
Can I sale you some Killer pre arrangements deals :thumbup:
Why bother imposing on you family to have to pay the expensive funeral costs when I can set you up with some major savings on your funeral expenses.
These deals are so good people are dying to get in on them.
And trust and believe I have never had one complaint :thumbup:
I can bag you tag you and get you right into oven in record time.
I will need you to fill out some paper work and get your signature first.
And hey If you want too be buried that cool to.
I know places where its legal to stack you guys up in one plot 3 or 4 caskets deep
Save you at least 500 smackers and I will even take in pool cues and cases as partial payments.
And we sale used caskets, only been used once, I promise
I can save you another 100 bucks if you can figure out how to do your self in with out bleeding all over the place .
The heavy duty body bags are getting expensive
If you drive to the funeral home and kill your self here during working hours I can save you another 450.00 bucks :dance:
And another 150 bucks if I don't have to clean you up and dress you out.
Just toss oops I mean place you in a casket and do a closed casket funeral.
Look I have already saved you a grand and your not even dead yet.
I had done a few funerals where I put a dead person on a motorcycle or a horse, we can stand you up and pose you in one of your Karate moves :tongue:
You would look great
I can do pictures of you and sell them to your family members and can even pose you with the knife you used to cut your own guts out.
Out west our motto is You plug em We plant em :thumbup:
Everyone is a future customer .
Can I sale you some Killer pre arrangements deals :thumbup:
Why bother imposing on you family to have to pay the expensive funeral costs when I can set you up with some major savings on your funeral expenses.
These deals are so good people are dying to get in on them.
And trust and believe I have never had one complaint :thumbup:
I can bag you tag you and get you right into oven in record time.
I will need you to fill out some paper work and get your signature first.
And hey If you want too be buried that cool to.
I know places where its legal to stack you guys up in one plot 3 or 4 caskets deep
Save you at least 500 smackers and I will even take in pool cues and cases as partial payments.
And we sale used caskets, only been used once, I promise
I can save you another 100 bucks if you can figure out how to do your self in with out bleeding all over the place .
The heavy duty body bags are getting expensive
If you drive to the funeral home and kill your self here during working hours I can save you another 450.00 bucks :dance:
And another 150 bucks if I don't have to clean you up and dress you out.
Just toss oops I mean place you in a casket and do a closed casket funeral.
Look I have already saved you a grand and your not even dead yet.
I had done a few funerals where I put a dead person on a motorcycle or a horse, we can stand you up and pose you in one of your Karate moves :tongue:
You would look great
I can do pictures of you and sell them to your family members and can even pose you with the knife you used to cut your own guts out.
Out west our motto is You plug em We plant em :thumbup:
Everyone is a future customer .
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He'a actually showing how immature he really is. From aspiring pro to failed life coach all in the span of a few days.
Zphix, if you're still watching, please take all the comments/critisisms with a grain of salt. This would be a most important life lesson. It's called taking the heat. I actually met you at Chris' billiards in Chicago at an AZ get together so I know your a nice guy. I was the big goof with braces on both hands, thinking you can shoot pool without the use of your hands! The best thing you have going for you is youth. Something I'm sure that all of us old timers would love to have back but can't. So chin up. You've learned life lesson #1. Taking the heat! HappyJack. Maplecap