Tag: joe vitale

I’ve been struggling for months with writing this post about Napoleon Hill and his disturbing book about the devil, forbidden to be published by Hill or his family for generations.

It’s been years since I read a book that made me as uncomfortable as Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill. I thought it was just me until I talked to a friend who said she was having trouble completing the book. It was stirring up too much energy within her. We both agreed to finish reading it to find out what secret it held for us.

"Outwitting the Devil"

Napoleon Hill wrote Outwitting the Devil in 1938, just after publication of his all-time bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. This powerful tale has never been published before, considered too controversial by his family and friends. I can see why.

The book is Hill’s interview with the devil. And the devil admits to controlling people through everything from culture and education to religion.

The devil comes across as the most powerful persuasion expert of all time. He/she/it is working within the very medium that we’ve grown to respect as good. As a result, the devil programs us to believe in lack, limitation, scarcity and victimhood. Since we don’t see the devil’s hand at work in these mediums, we rarely question what we’re taught.

I found the book unnerving. The devil is working within religion to keep us controlled? I suspect it made all my childhood programming about the “bogeyman of spirituality” come to life.

It’s unsettling to realize people are programmed to feel they are victims by the culture itself, yet the culture is being programmed to think it’s in charge by this force Hill calls the devil.  It’s an entire cycle of vicious victimhood programming. And I didn’t like it.

I still haven’t finished the book.  It would be a disservice to you not to tell you about it, though. When so many people are struggling, and don’t know why, considering the limiting programming coming from the very culture we live in can help us break free.

Whether that programming is actually from a “devil” or not is something I’m not going to debate. But I do strongly believe that we are being brainwashed to think negative and expect the worst by a system that is already entranced in that mindset.

In Zero Limits terms, you can call the devil a “program.” A program is a kind of virus of the mind; a limiting belief that attracts matches to the program.

Devil or not, program or not, it’s not helping you.

It’s time to awaken and break free.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – Read Outwitting the Devil for the challenge, but balance it by reading The Attractor Factor, Zero Limits and of course Attract Money Now. And be sure to soothe your body and mind during or after reading those books with some healing music over at Blue Healer. For my next CD, called Strut!, I wrote a song about choice. You always have it. You can listen to the “devil” or you can listen to Spirit. Choose wisely.

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Here’s a secret video clip from inside the studio on October 7, recording my singer-songwriter music CD, called Strut!. That’s me with Daniel Barrett, the other Joe Vitale, and Glenn Fukunaga. Note how we are all truly moving to the music. The song (unedited and untouched as you hear it here) is called Today’s the Day. Enjoy!

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When I went into the recording studio on October 6th to record my first songs — original songs I wrote and was going to sing and play guitar to for the first time ever — I was nervous.

I was about to perform with two music legends: Glenn Fukunaga on bass (who just came off tour with Robert Plant) and the other Joe Vitale on drums (who’s played with virtually every rock star since Neil Young). I didn’t need any coffee that morning. I was already buzzing.

Neither Glenn or Joe had heard my music before. They didn’t know me, my songs, my style, my voice, my playing, or anything else. Joe met me the night before. Glenn met me at the studio. They loved the idea of creating music with positive messages. But we were all new to each other.

And this was my first time to sing and play with anyone.

The night before, I told the other Joe Vitale that I was nervous. He said,  “Nervous? That’s perfect! You don’t want to go in there feeling dead. You can use that energy.”

I realized he was right. My nervousness was excitement.  I also knew I needed all the help I could get. So I asked drummer Joe for advice. Since he has five decades worth of experience in the studio and on stage, I knew he’d offer something useful. He did.

Recording "Strut!" in studio

“I don’t know your songs, but you wrote them for a reason,” Joe began. “They stand for something you believe in. I say go in there and TESTIFY, man. There are popular singers who can’t sing, but we love their energy. I say let it rip and TESTIFY.”

That word “testify” stayed with me.

It meant passion and purpose and commitment and energy and a lot more. According to Merriam-Webster, “testify” means —

a : to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief : bear witness

b : to serve as evidence or proof to express a personal conviction.

I was going to bear witness that my songs are evidence of my personal conviction about life, choice, risk, Law of Attraction, and more.

I wrote the word “testify” down on a green index card and took it with me into the studio. I placed it on my music stand, right beside my sheet music and a photo of Johnny Cash, so I could see it. It became my code word for greatness.

What happened?

When we recorded the first tune, a song called Three Months, I ended it spontaneously singing out one of the longest sung single words. I wanted to sing the word, “Strut,” but I belted it out with full energy, raw power, and long distance breath control that even surprised me. The entire word lasted a roaring 15 seconds. That may be nothing for Stephen Tyler, but we’re talking about me.

I testified.

Daniel Barrett, who is producing my CD, later said that one word primal singing was a defining moment.

“When you hung on that word and let it rip, everyone knew you were committed to the project,” Daniel explained. “It was spine tingling. You communicated that you were going for it.”

I hadn’t thought about that moment as the defining moment, but I can see it now. I declared, with my action, that I was going to succeed.

So here’s what you might think about:

Are you giving it your all in whatever your project happens to be right now?

I mean, look at this with ruthless honestly.

Are you giving it your all?

Decades ago in Houston, when I taught writing and publishing classes, I used to tell the story of Henry Kissinger and an aide he assigned the task of writing a special report.

He wrote the report and placed it on Kissinger’s desk.

But the next morning the report was back on the aide’s desk with a note saying, “You can do better.”

The aide rewrote the report, and turned it in again.

But the next morning the report was back on his desk with yet another note from Kissinger saying, “You can do better.”

The aide at that point pulled out all the stops. He rewrote the report, added to it, polished it, and perfected it. He then hand delivered it to Kissinger and said, “Sir, this is the best I can do.”

Kissinger replied, “In that case, I’ll read it.”

Kissinger hadn’t read the earlier drafts because he knew most of us won’t do our best. We’ll do just enough to “get by.” Well, that’s not good enough. You need commitment to succeed.

When I went into the studio and — with no warm up or rehearsal or warning — belted out, “STRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!”, I showed my commitment to my album.

Are you fully committed to your success?

Are you ready to testify for what you believe in?

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — I know you’re curious. You can hear my 15 second unedited primal testify at http://www.youtube.com/joemrfire or by clicking on the below image:

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Following up on my last post about using the Law of Attraction to attract legendary rock and roll drummer Joe Vitale, I just completed the basic recording for my first singer-songwriter CD, Strut!, where I debut as the world’s first self-help singer-songwriter.

In the studio recording "Strut!"

Strut! features the other Joe Vitale, the world famous drummer who’s played with Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, John Fogerty, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Peter Frampton, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Beach Boys, Eagles, Ted Nugent, Peter Frampton, and more! For the first time ever, Joe Vitale meets Joe Vitale!

Strut! also features Glenn Fukunaga on bass. Glenn just completed a tour with legendary singer Robert Plant of Band of Joy and Led Zeppelin.

Strut! is being produced by Rubicon Artist Development, owned and operated by Daniel Barrett, lead singer of the award-winning band, Porterdavis.

Celebrating the recording of "Strut!"

Talk about doing what you love and having a blast!

My new book is out today!

Talk about Instant Manifestation!

When I needed a drummer, I instantly took a long shot and asked the other Joe Vitale. My recording dates just “happened” to be the ones he was available, as he was going on tour the very next day!

Having a clear intention, taking inspired action, and having support, will lead to the fulfillment of your dreams.

What are your dreams?

Ao Akua,

joe

PS — My first music CD, Blue Healer, is described right here.

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You haven’t lived until you’ve met your double.

I’ve been hearing about the other Joe Vitale since I was in college in the 1970s. He’s a legendary drummer who performed with everyone from Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, John Fogerty, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Beach Boys, Eagles and more.

Whew! What a list of rock and roll legends. Drummer Joe even wrote a recent autobiography:

The other Joe Vitale

I figured the drummer Joe Vitale was proof of a parallel universe. In this one, I’m an author. In the other one, he’s a drummer.  And never the twain shall meet.

Until yesterday.

As you probably know, I already have one music CD out: Blue Healer. It’s blues meets New Age music. It’s designed to help you relax and heal.

What you may not know is I’ve been working night and day to record my next CD, a rocking album of original songs, all written, played and sung by me. They are songs of inspiration, motivation and transformation. I’m calling myself the world’s first self-help singer-songwriter and the CD is called Strut!

My next CD!

It’s an enormous undertaking to jump into such a project. I put together my trifecta: Daniel Barrett, Mathew Dixon and Guy Monroe. These are my coaches for my music. They are incredible and I love them.

When it came time to actually record my new music, Daniel said I needed a drummer. I thought for a minute and told him, “Well, it’s probably a long shot as he plays with the greatest of the greats, but what if I ask the famous drummer Joe Vitale?”

Well, I did ask Joe.

And Joe said YES.

Turns out Joe has been hearing about me for a long time, too. He once emailed me that people often ask him for advice about life. He writes them saying, “I can advise you on what kind of drum sticks to get.”

Joe flew into Austin and I picked him up. We instantly connected. He’s a non-stop storyteller, generous with his time and expertise, and as loveable as a kitten. I instantly loved the guy.

Joe Vitale meets Joe Vitale

Over a light dinner before the first day of recording my new CD, I told Joe my purpose for the music:

“I love music but too much of it plants negative messages that we absorb without thinking. The Rolling Stones singing “You can’t always get what you want” is programming us to believe in scarcity. I want to record music that is as beloved as the classics, but instead plants positive messages in you.”

Joe loved the idea.

As I write this, we’re about to record day two of Strut!

Sit quietly and you might hear us rocking…

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – If you want to know more about Strut!, please click right here.

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