Joe Vitale
Create or Die
Bob Bly inspired me to become a copywriter back in the late 1980s.
His books, such as The Copywriter’s Handbook, always informed me in a practical way. I began my business career as a copywriter in Houston because of him. He occasionally wrote me snail mail letters of encouragement. I stay in touch with him, too.
Today he is the author of 85 books.
Eight-five!
I remember he once said he felt like he hadn’t produced much – that was back when he had “only” written fifty books – because he knew Isaac Asimov had written or edited more than five hundred books.
Five hundred!
Boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
I’m running as fast as I can to catch up with Bly and Isimov.
Right now I have about fifty books out, am working on two books, editing an autobiography from my father, completing three music albums, working on new presentations for mega-talks I am giving this year around the world, developing a new process for faster attracting, practicing my saxophone, the guitar, and the synthophone, reading more books a week than most people do in a lifetime, and of course still maintaining my fitness program, writing these blog posts, handling social media, promoting my past projects (which is a giant catalog), helping my Miracles Coaches, and more. (And, of course, keeping my relationships alive and well.)
Some say I’m a “force of nature.”
Others say I should switch to decaf. 🙂
Why so much productivity?
What drives a man like Bob Bly or me? What drove Asimov?
An answer is in the new book, Create or Die: A Manifesto for Fearless Creators Everywhere, by Morgan Giddings, PhD.
"Create or Die"
Her basic premise is that unless you keep creating, you begin to die.
Literally.
Die.
Life is designed to urge you to create, to move forward, to constantly expand, grow, develop, change and challenge.
In fact, challenging yourself is one of the best ways to maintain the exuberance of life.
According to Dr. Giddings, you don’t have a real choice.
Yes, you can decide to “do nothing” but life itself, being the great creative force it is, will move you off your bed if it has to get others to move you and it out the door.
And yes, as Asimov proves, you can create and still die.
But real living comes from persistent creating.
It’s not about the end result – as that will change again in time – but about creating.
There isn’t a “finish line” or even a “perfect” solution.
There will always be something else to create. Another problem to solve.
Life is about creativity. Period.
All of the problems in your personal life – and on the planet – can be resolved with creativity.
Whether oil shortage or climate change or anything else you are worried about, there is an answer, and that answer will come from creativity.
New problems will occur, but that’s just the nature of life’s ever expansion.
And that’s an opportunity for more creativity.
The wise approach is to challenge yourself by choosing your creative projects.
Let your passion lead the way.
Let your enthusiasm for an idea burn bright in your life.
Bob Dylan is still creating, too. About 1,000 songs in this gigantic hefty book.
One of my favorite sections in Dr. Giddings’ book is where she reveals the formula for attracting money.
It goes like this:
1. Use your creativity to create something of great value.
2. Use your creativity to effectively communicate the value of your invention, product, or service to others (market it).
That’s it.
She says everything else is just “playing the lottery.”
She also points out that you need a clear idea of what you want money for, and you need to be clear of any limiting beliefs about money, in order to actually have her formula work.
I'm still creating music, too. This is album eleven.
She writes, “Though a surface-level desire for money exists, it gets distorted and watered down by all these other beliefs that are floating around contradicting it. The contradictory beliefs dilute the singular focus that’s necessary for the kind of creative action that leads to results.”
I’m not sure what Bob Bly would say, and the late Asimov is no longer talking or writing, but in my own case, I am driven by the need to communicate what I am excited about.
It’s not about money – it’s about passion.
Money becomes the pleasant side effect of creating value and sharing it with the world in creative ways.
I am driven to create by the impulse of creativity itself.
My hunch is that everyone has this impulse — yes, even you — but most people are pros at rationalizing why they shouldn’t create.
Excuses are easy.
Wimping out is easy.
Just coasting is easy.
The challenge – and the voltage of life itself – comes from creating.
Ray Bradbury, the legendary sci-fi writer who wrote classic books and unforgettable stories – who wrote every day of his life – once said in an interview:
“There’s an Egyptian myth I heard about years ago that when you die as an Egyptian and you go off to visit the gods the first question asked of you at the gates of heaven is ‘Did you have enthusiasm?’ And if you answer negatively you don’t get in. My response to everything in life that I really loved has been enthusiasm.”
You most likely have a desire to create something.
A book, song, movie, business, product.
I have no idea what your secret creative urge might be.
But you do.
Dr. Giddings is giving you a wake up call.
Either create – or die.
And ignore the skeptics, critics, and cynics.
Dr. Giddings writes, “Cynicism is rooted in fear…Worse, it’s toxic to creativity. To be creative, it’s essential to express yourself fully, from your own unique vantage point.”
Critics and the like are living in fear and building themselves up by tearing others down.
Ignore them and pursue your dream.
“Creativity is an inside game,” Dr. Giddings writes. “It’s never about pleasing external critics. It’s about producing something that you feel is great, and then connecting with the right audience who will like whatever it is that you produced.”
I’m sure Bly and Isimov would nod in agreement.
Before I dismiss class today, here’s a final thought to consider:
One of my favorite authors during my development as a writer was Jack London, who once wrote –
“I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out
in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom
of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.”
I agree.
Now, don’t you have something to create today?
Ao Akua,
Joe
PS – I didn’t want to write this post. I was tired, my eyes were blurry, I had other things to do. But the creative urge in me pushed from inside and said “Write this.” I obeyed. And guess what? I am not tired, my eyes are not blurry, and the other things I have to do are next. Follow your creativity. Live your dreams. Expect Miracles.
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Feel It Real
A secret to using the Law of Attraction to accelerate your results is to feel what you want to have, do, or be as already done.
Instead of seeing it off in the future, you feel it in your life right now.
In my books, such as The Attractor Factor, I called this technique a way to “Nevillize” your goal.
I coined the term (with the help of famed copywriter David Garfinkel) more than a decade ago, as a respectful nod to Neville Goddard, the mystical author of numerous books, about his innovative way to manifest.
Neville autograph
I love Neville. I have all of his books, and all of his audios. I have many autographed copies of his rare early editions. I have the original private lessons to a course he taught. I have all of his lectures transcribed in a twelve volume set of books.
Neville Goddard
I’ve written about him and talked about him, in public as well as private, on radio shows and at dinner parties.
And I even republished his first book, At Your Command, back in 2005, way before the movie The Secret.
Neville's first book
Obviously, I love the work of Neville Goddard. 🙂
It has greatly influenced me personally and professionally.
But here’s the best news of all —
I recently wrote a hypnotic song to communicate Neville’s core message.
It’s called “Feel It Real” and it will be on my forthcoming fifth singer-songwriter album, One More Day: Life Lessons in Hypnotic Song.
Self-Help Songs in 3 Minutes (or so)
The song is designed to teach you the Neville method – how to Nevillize – in about three minutes.
And to make the song as wonderful as I could, I brought in some of the best musicians on the planet, from Rock and Hall of Fame drummer Joe Vitale (yes, he has the same name as me), to bass man Glenn Fukunaga, to Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon, and producer Daniel Barrett.
AND I brought in Grammy nominated singer Ruthie Foster to add her soaring vocals.
Grammy nominated singer Ruthie Foster
The result is a song that is a joy to hear over and over again, that teaches you the Neville method, and that raises your vibration so you really can “Nevillize” your desires.
I’m proud and jubilant to bring you this new Hypnotic Song.
The song is loving homage to Neville, who (in 1969) said –
“Feel in depth, for what you feel deeply is more vital than what you think. Every day you can think about how wonderful it would be if – and never act. But if every day you would feel how wonderful it is now, it will become true.” – Neville
And –
“You must assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled until your assumption has all the sensory vividness of reality. You must imagine that you are already experiencing what you desire.” – Neville
My song “Feel It Real” reminds you of Neville’s message with these lyrics –
...the secret to life
is to feel it real
no need to wonder or worry
no need to visualize or delay
just feel what you want real
and feel it done today…
“Feel It Real,” along with nine other tracks, will be on the new album. I’m putting together a collectible, limited edition package, complete with audio CD containing all ten tracks, lyrics book with photos, which you can pr-eorder at an impressive discount right now by clicking right here.
Meanwhile, think of what you want, embody it as already completed, and “Feel It Real.”
Expect Miracles.
Ao Akua,
Joe
PS – Excerpts from the following books by Neville can be read online:
Awakened Imagination
Feeling is the Secret
Seedtime and Harvest
The Power of Awareness
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Six Years Later
I went to a party about six years ago and apparently said something that made a difference in one woman’s life. Through mutual friends, six years later, the below story came to me. I’m posting it here to remind you that you never know how what you say and do could influence another, and to also remind you to believe in yourself and go for your dreams. Here’s the story (used here with her permission):
After 13 Banks Turned Down My Loan I Could Still See the Fields Full of Crops
Six years ago I started a farm in Wimberley. I’d been swimming at Jacob’s Well for years and had baptized my son in the waters, so Wimberley was very special to us. It wasn’t until we moved here that I realized just HOW special! The moment I found our land I had “the goose bumps” so intensely that I knew God wanted me to buy it-even if it looked like the biggest mission impossible. I’ve just learned to follow His orders, no matter how crazy and impossible they appear! If you get the goose bumps you have to leap, but at the end of construction of our new home, the bank reneged on our loan and for the first time I could remember things with this mission just weren’t falling into place financially.
I could still see the field full of crops someday, hundreds of bees and chickens everywhere and a healthy happy son. God suggested this in the first place, so it was going to work out somehow, but as quiet as I got, thinking, listening, and waiting, I wasn’t getting anywhere with the Bank . I began to wonder if I’d just made a huge mistake. What the heck was I thinking? A man at our church was a mortgage broker, and he offered to help us find another bank. He went to 13 banks and they ALL turned down my loan. It was looking mighty grim. You can’t imagine the pressure I was feeling from the situation but mostly from my head! I’d started thinking I was a completely selfish idiot, but I never got mad at God. Somewhere there was either going to be a lesson or there was going to be a miracle…and that’s where Joe Vitale came in.
We’d been invited to a New Year’s Eve party at a cool new friend Elizabeth Lee’s. I dressed up but was so preoccupied with our “situation” that it was hard to relax. All over the party people were drinking and laughing, and all I could do was smile to hide the worries I was feeling. Then I noticed a guy across the room that looked like he might be interesting and didn’t look busy, so I went to introduce myself. As he started to say his name I realized I’d seen him in a movie, and he said, “Why yes, I was in the movie The Secret”, which I’d seen and LOVED! He invited me to sit and the rest is history to me.
He told me all about his recent trip to Romania and how he’d traveled all over the world. He so enjoyed meeting all the different types of people and cultures, recognizing the common thread in us all and guiding folks to dream and create bigger. What really struck me were this man’s eyes. When he spoke to me about my farm, the banks, and the crisis at hand he just kept asking me to really dig down deep and ask myself, “Who deserves this farm more than me? Who’s worked harder than anyone? Get a number in your head, the amount of money you need to keep the farm, and then stick with that. Just focus on that number and the fact that you’re worth it, you DESERVE it, and it will come to pass.” During that two hour conversation with Joe I went from feeling like a horrible loser to a worthy, hard-working woman who just might able to pull this off after all!
I remember he kept saying to search “somewhere in your DNA. You feel unworthy, and you’ve got to pull that up. Who else is worthier than YOU?” It was an amazing conversation that I will never ever forget. Two days later I walked confidently into a little bank in Dripping Springs, and they picked up my loan! I was thinking about my conversation with Joe the whole drive there – drumming up that good “deserving” vibe feeling, and it worked! Thank you, Joe, for teaching me how to dig deeper, to believe in myself, to focus and to bring in all possibilities. There’s no limit-except maybe sleep deprivation! Wish I’d had a tape recorder that night!
Kathleen Mooney
Owner of EIEIO Organic Farm www.eieiotx.com
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3-Minute Self-Help
I’m living my “bucket list” dream of being a musician by recording my fifth singer-songwriter album (my eleventh as a music artist).
The songs on this new album are apparently better than ever, as legendary musicians are saying the lyrics are “perfect” and “hypnotic” and “every song is a favorite.”
Drummer Joe Vitale
Drummer Joe Vitale – yes, he has the same name as me – who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has created over 200 albums, with over 50 being gold (and many platinum) records – asked me how I came up with the songs for this new album.
Playing a Versoul baritone guitar on the new album
Here’s what I told him:
1. Intention
I have an intention to turn one of my messages into a song. In other words, I have positive messages – the ones I spend entire books writing about – and I want to morph them into songs people want to hear.
2. Inspiration
I have a Cuban cigar (now legal) and relax. Anything could help, as long as it relaxes me, and lets my mind drift. This mind wandering is what allows me to receive a song to match my intention.
3. Implementation
I pick up an acoustic guitar — usually the one Tony Nobles made for Ray Wylie Hubbard that I later bought – and just ad lib a song. I let it be nonsense or sense. I try not to judge too early. I want the song to come to me, from the muse or my mind, or the dance of both.
4. Record
I then turn on the voice recorder on my iPhone and record what is coming. This may be an entire song, a few chords, lyrics, or other snippet. Doesn’t matter. I record it.
5. Revise
I then transcribe the song, so I have the words on paper for me to tweak or approve. I usually spend a lot of time bringing the message into rhyme and polished form. I’ve learned you can polish inspiration.
From there, it’s a matter of living with the songs and seeing if they take more refined shape and that I really like them.
After that, it’s time to get my band together – Daniel Barrett, drummer Joe Vitale, Glenn Fukunaga and Guitar Monk Mathew Dixon – and see how they can help me arrange the music to fit the message. (Sometimes I have guest artists, as well. Grammy nominated singer Ruthie Foster sings on my new album.)
The result is a Hypnotic Song.
And because they are generally three minutes long, the songs are like 3-minute self-help books.
My new album – the one we just completed recording – contains the best songs I’ve ever written so far.
From rock to jazz to poetry to sing-a-long, there’s something for everyone.
It’s called “One More Day: Life Lessons in Hypnotic Song.”
You can pre-order it at One More Day.
Coming Soon - "One More Day"
I’m sharing this with you today for a few reasons:
1. I want you to go for your dreams, too.
Whatever your secret positive desire, you deserve to experience it. You’ll never know if you don’t try. Do it. Now.
2. I want you to set intentions and trust that inspiration will come to you as a result.
While intentions can be limitations, they can also be directives. Use them as starting points to “call forth” something great.
3. I want you to be fearless.
Being a musician in my sixties is a wild jump for me, yet it is not only working, but working flawlessly. My music is well received, my songs and singing are getting better and better, and I’m having a blast. Had I not faced the early doubts and fears, I would have missed this incredible life.
Sing your song, dance your dance, live your life.
Pre-order the new album “One More Day: Life Lessons in Hypnotic Song” by clicking right here.
Expect Miracles!
Ao Akua,
Joe
PS – I posted this brief video on Facebook and 12,000 people viewed it there. It’s a sneak peek at a song off the new album, with me describing the depth of it, and how it moves me. See http://youtu.be/xiELqAr1Exk or you can see it on the album site right here.
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The Wattles Secret
Recently I found a one hundred year old copy of Wallace Wattles’ famous book, Financial Success Through Creative Thought, or, The Science of Getting Rich.
This 1915 leather bound edition of the book first privately published in 1910, is the one that inspired Rhonda Byrne to create her bestselling book and movie, The Secret.
1915 edition
While my computer took an hour to download new operating software, I reread Wattles’ book.
I’ve read it before, of course. But several things surprised me on this fresh reading.
Here are a few facts that jumped out:
- Wattles doesn’t talk about the “Law of Attraction” with that exact phrase, ever, but he certainly spells out that your thoughts will attract what you get. (The phrase “Law of Attraction” was made popular by William Walker Atkinson, in his 1906 book, Thought Vibration or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World. Wattles and Atkinson had the same publisher and probably knew each other.)
- Wattles doesn’t say anywhere that what you want will “magically” appear out of the air, just popping into reality before your eyes like some sort of magic trick. He explains that what you want will be attracted through natural means.
- Wattles actually stresses the need to take action to attract what you want. He has two chapters on the subject. He says “the failure to connect thought with personal action” is the biggest shipwreck in getting results.
I loved reading the book again because I could see clearly that many people who criticize or misunderstand the Law of Attraction have simply not read Wattles’ original text.
Or, if they did read his book, they glossed over all the parts they didn’t want to face, much like the many who watched the move The Secret and somehow fogged out when I appeared on screen and said you had to take action.
That’s the nature of unconscious limiting beliefs.
They filter reality so you only see what is a match to your beliefs.
Science of Getting Rich
Of course you have to take action.
Of course what you attract will come through natural means.
Of course it all begins with thought, which leads to behaviors, which leads to results.
Wattles is down to earth, very practical, and psychological in his approach.
He explains that you have to form an image of what you want to have, do, or be in your mind.
That image, held with faith and focus, will command the invisible elements of the world — the “stuff” that makes up everything, including you and me — to begin to form into your desired image. It will begin to unconsciously nudge yourself and other people to help you attract what you hold in mind.
You then have to work, with gratitude and holding your faith, in the direction of making it materialize, even if, at first, you can see no way to make it happen.
If I had to sum it up, I’d say that Wattles delivered a very simple, logical, and practical formula for attracting wealth. He’s not “woo woo” at all. He’s psychological rather than metaphysical, somehow knowing what psychologist William James declared –
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes” and —
“Act the part and you will become the part” and —
“Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inhabit.”
And something to think about from Wallace Wattles —
“The only service you can render God is to give expression to what he is trying to give the world, through you. The only service you can render God is to make the very most of yourself in order that God may live in you to the utmost of your possibilities.”
Wattles book is still in print, and copies of the original 1910 edition are available for free online. I urge you to find one and read it.
And then turn what you learn into action.
Wattles wrote – “The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself.”
Ao Akua,
Joe
PS — This free new e-book can help you, too: http://www.theabundanceproject.com/book1.php?linkid=428743
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