Tag: mr fire

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:

Member BBB 2003 - 2011

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.

Member BBB 2003 - 2011

At Pat O’Bryan’s Unseminar #9, I not only revealed my seven-step secret system for using Hypnotic Marketing and Law of Attraction principles to attract dramatic success, but I gave everyone in the room a free copy of my latest book, Instant Manifestation.

My latest book!

But here’s the juicy part:

The book was published by Pat O’Bryan.

Now, I’ve been published in every way you can imagine, from self-published to print-on-demand to traditional publishing to e-books to, well, you name it. Several of my books are bestsellers. Many are translated into languages I didn’t know existed. There are publishers and agents knocking at my door, wanting my next book.

But I let my next book go to Pat.

When I first met Pat in 2003, he knew nothing about marketing, publishing, the Internet or much else in the business world. He was a successful but broke blues musician.

Pat is sharp. He learned fast, came out with his own products fast, built his own list fast, started his own brand fast, created his own seminars fast, and now started his own publishing company.

If you were wondering if people can actually learn the secrets of marketing and the Law of Attraction and apply them for real world results, Pat is living proof of it.

I’m proud of my latest book. But more than that, I’m a mentor who groomed a student, and that student transformed into my publisher. I’m proud of Pat.

Is life a grand adventure or what?

What are you doing with what you learn?

The “secret formula” I taught Pat is revealed at http://www.onlinewealthsecretcode.com

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – My new book, Instant Manifestation, will be released October 11. I’ll be hosting a free teleseminar that night to answer your questions. Find out more at http://www.instantmanifestationbook.com

Member BBB 2003 - 2011

Here’s an update on the Texas Wildfires situation that I asked you to help resolve in my last post:

The last I heard, the largest fires are mostly contained or stopped. The people I personally know in the Austin or Houston area have all returned home. And rain is expected by mid-next week.

All of your praying, meditating, visualizing and more, have all helped.

But we can’t stop now.

There are at least 1,500 people who lost their homes.

All of the fires are not out yet.

And we need more than a little rain.

To get an idea of the size of the fires, one fireman told a reporter that the fires are “beyond man.”

He was explaining that firefighters on the ground aren’t going to be able to stamp out or hose down fires so big that I could see them from the air on my plane ride home.

What do you do with fires this large?

Besides whatever the firefighters can think up, you also pray, visualize, intend and anything else you can do internally to bring peace to yourself and to the planet.

And to be clear, when I suggest that our inner world is creating our outer world, I’m asking you to look within and see where you may have “fires” burning within you.

Where have you maintained anger and/or a lack of forgiveness?

Even if you don’t think your inner state helps create the outer experience, wouldn’t you agree that finding inner peace would be good for you?

Again, please find love and peace within yourself, and release all anger and forgiveness issues.

When you hold on to anger and resentment, the energy system you burn up is your own.

It would be healthy for you to let the issues go, and it just might assist the planet in healing, too.

As I mentioned in my last post, do whatever meditation or technique you know to reach that inner place of serenity. Use ho’oponopono/Zero Limits or Tapping/EFT, or anything else you know of or can think of.

Meanwhile, we also still need to help others. Here are a few places to donate:

American Red Cross of Central Texas
http://www.centex.redcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=F9ZLZNZ3KD

Austin Pets Alive
http://www.austinpetsalive.org/

Capital Area Food Bank
http://www.austinfoodbank.org/

Austin Disaster Relief Network
http://www.adrntx.org/

Catholic Diocese of Austin
http://www.austindiocese.org/

I’m not affiliated with any of the above, and they are Austin, Texas based as that is near where I live. You can do your own Google search to find other places to help or donate.

Again, what we need is inner peace, especially in times of high stress.

The outer dangers and scares aren’t a call to fall into fear, but a door to experience faith.

Thank you for your help.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – What’s more important than serenity while taking action?

I love you.
I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.

Member BBB 2003 - 2011

A few days ago I sent an email to my mailing list requesting people hold the vision of safety for all those affected by the Texas wildfires. I pointed out that more than two dozen scientific studies proved when a group holds an intention in meditation, that intention tends to come to pass.

People from all over the world sat and prayed, or visualized, or intended and requested that the fires diminish.

What happened?

Almost instantly a friend who had been evacuated from his home due to the fires wrote to me saying the smokes seemed to clear, the power came back on, and he was told he could return home safely.

Friends of mine who were preparing to evacuate were told they were safe.

Then I looked at the news and saw that while the fires were still burning and there was no rain in sight, most of the larger fires around my area of Austin, Texas were either contained, put out, or greatly improved in containment.

That’s progress, but we’re not done.

At last count, there were 180 wildfires in Texas. The smoke from them could be seen from space.

This is a very real emergency, with over 1,400 people having lost their homes in my area alone, so I am sincerely asking you to help right now.

How can you help?

Two ways:

1. Go here and offer whatever you can:

http://in.gredients.com/2011/09/05/central-texas-wildfires-how-to-help/

2. Send love to the fires and see them burn out:

I know it seems bizarre, but we are at a point where trying the bizarre might be the wisest next step.

Send love to the fires…Visualize a steady rain coming down for several days in Texas…Pray and request help from your connection to All…

Most of all, be at peace.

These fires probably represent our own inner anger.

Life is an out-picturing of our internal state.

Your inner sense of well being will contribute to the well being and peace of the planet.

Do whatever meditation or technique you know to reach that inner place of serenity. Use ho’oponopono/Zero Limits or Tapping/EFT, or anything else you know of or can think of.

Inner peace is the answer to outer peace.

Here’s one way to achieve that inner state of serenity:

I love Neville (who I wrote about in my book, The Attractor Factor). You can “Nevillize” the end of the fires by going to the end result of rain falling and fires out.

Imagine that it’s now next week and you are telling a friend how the fires in Texas were really scary until the sky opened and the rains fell and the fires went out…

Really see the future right now.

Nevillize the end result of what you want.

Make that future vision so real that it feels like it already came to past.

Or, as Neville signed a book I own of his, “Assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled.”

As Neville said, “Think of the world as a sounding box, echoing and reflecting what you have assumed.”

In other words, assume the reality that the fires are over.

Please do that right now.

Thank you.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Please share this message as you see fit. Post it on Facebook, or Twitter, or elsewhere. As a group, we can make a difference. Let’s do this.

I love you.
I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.

Member BBB 2003 - 2011