Friday story! Sisyphus vs. the Dreammobile

by Sinclair, Saturday August 7, 2010

Hi.

Why yes, I am posting this on a Friday evening hoping I can just get over being a video virgin without anyone noticing.

This is  what I think about in the middle of the night – less like a mini-class, more like having a cup of tea with me while everyone else in the house is sacked out, even the puppy.

Lemme know what you think by commenting below, and share your own version of being unstoppable.  Enjoy!

(Thanks to Elizabeth Potts-Weinstein for her great video tutorials.)

Yeah – that’s me in my jammies and glasses with no hairbrush.  That’s what you get at 3:30 am.

Share your version of unstoppability, and any questions you have.  I’m not accepting any new clients right now, but you can see the package here if you’re curious.

Mwah*

Related posts:

  1. Friday Story: embarrassment and 2.1 cool things
  2. Friday (bedtime) story!
  3. Friday Story: When you all you lack is oomph.
  4. Friday Story: Do you know how to individualize?
  5. Leaving the story behind
previous post: Don’t wait for the fork. | next post: Fresh start Monday: in the cathedral
  • Jess

    1. Do not publish anything you expect to go unnoticed, because I stalk you. In the “I love everything you do” way, not the creepy way.
    2. This is awesome. I really, really needed to hear this right now, I’m so ready to feel unstoppable again. It has been a long time. Too long.
    3. I’m going to cop to it – I’m doing the collapse at the bottom of the mountain thing right now, absolutely. Thanks for pointing out how unhelpful that is, and reminding me I have other choices!

  • Jess

    1. Do not publish anything you expect to go unnoticed, because I stalk you. In the “I love everything you do” way, not the creepy way.
    2. This is awesome. I really, really needed to hear this right now, I’m so ready to feel unstoppable again. It has been a long time. Too long.
    3. I’m going to cop to it – I’m doing the collapse at the bottom of the mountain thing right now, absolutely. Thanks for pointing out how unhelpful that is, and reminding me I have other choices!

  • Susan

    This is so great, and you did it like a dance. You must be a lot of fun to lead a retreat – please let me know the next time you do one!
    – Susan Doyle

  • Susan

    This is so great, and you did it like a dance. You must be a lot of fun to lead a retreat – please let me know the next time you do one!
    – Susan Doyle

  • Chris

    Hi there,
    it seems that I have already been beaten to the punch for the honor of being the first to comment.
    thank you. this is a great metphor/analogy, one that’s I’ll remember and use. I have to ask – if this is you in the middle of the night, what are you like during the day? ;)

  • Chris

    Hi there,
    it seems that I have already been beaten to the punch for the honor of being the first to comment.
    thank you. this is a great metphor/analogy, one that’s I’ll remember and use. I have to ask – if this is you in the middle of the night, what are you like during the day? ;)

  • http://topsy.com/selfactivator.com/2010/08/07/sisyphus-vs-dreammobile/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention Friday story! Sisyphus vs. the Dreammobile — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by skaja wills, Sinclair. Sinclair said: your dose of mischief from me – my first video! in which I definitely pretend mountain climb, & my hand becomes a puppet. http://ow.ly/2mlha [...]

  • http://prolificmind.com James

    Great metaphor – I like to think that when you make the decision to find a better way, you are just sidestepping the boulder, then sitting back to watch it roll right off the cliff, like some kind of comical Roadrunner vs Wile E. Coyote situation (with us being the Roadrunner of course, who always wins)

    Hmmm, there’s definitely something to be said for the weird creativity you get during a bout of midnight-delirium :)

    P.S: I’d love the next video to be ‘Sinclair on Sinclair’, where you teach us how you can be so ridiculously articulate all the time.

  • http://prolificmind.com James

    Great metaphor – I like to think that when you make the decision to find a better way, you are just sidestepping the boulder, then sitting back to watch it roll right off the cliff, like some kind of comical Roadrunner vs Wile E. Coyote situation (with us being the Roadrunner of course, who always wins)

    Hmmm, there’s definitely something to be said for the weird creativity you get during a bout of midnight-delirium :)

    P.S: I’d love the next video to be ‘Sinclair on Sinclair’, where you teach us how you can be so ridiculously articulate all the time.
    James´s last [type] ..Kick-Ass Question 3

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    I love this to bits and pieces! There is no top of the mountain! Because there is always, ALWAYS another mountain. Instead, I have a supportive, relax-into my awesomeness thing that *moves with me* like a sexy retro hovercraft. Bliss.

    And how dare you be so fresh-faced and wise at 3:30am. You’re making the rest of us look like we’re not working hard enough, or something. Now I’m off to crawl under my boulder-blanky and get some sleep.

    Definitely more video please. x

  • http://www.singyourtruth.com Natalie Peluso

    I love this to bits and pieces! There is no top of the mountain! Because there is always, ALWAYS another mountain. Instead, I have a supportive, relax-into my awesomeness thing that *moves with me* like a sexy retro hovercraft. Bliss.

    And how dare you be so fresh-faced and wise at 3:30am. You’re making the rest of us look like we’re not working hard enough, or something. Now I’m off to crawl under my boulder-blanky and get some sleep.

    Definitely more video please. x
    Natalie Peluso´s last [type] ..By- Natalie Peluso

  • Mike Korner

    I think you should do more videos Sinclair. Excellent job!

  • Mike Korner

    I think you should do more videos Sinclair. Excellent job!

  • http://real-url.org/twitted.php?id=20572923966 Twitted by selfactivator

    [...] This post was Twitted by selfactivator [...]

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Thanks Mike. Much appreciated!

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Thanks Mike. Much appreciated!

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    @ Chris – Thanks for coming by! Glad you found it useful. :)

    @ James – Love your version of the metaphor – isn’t it nice to have fun with this big stuff, and not take it too seriously? And yeah, I think a lot of people get creative in the middle of the night – something about the rest of their world being asleep that leaves more room for thinking.
    You’re too kind – you can’t see all of the times I trail off and stare into nothing as I run out of words. Thank God for the editing button! ;)

    xo
    Sinclair

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    @ Chris – Thanks for coming by! Glad you found it useful. :)

    @ James – Love your version of the metaphor – isn’t it nice to have fun with this big stuff, and not take it too seriously? And yeah, I think a lot of people get creative in the middle of the night – something about the rest of their world being asleep that leaves more room for thinking.
    You’re too kind – you can’t see all of the times I trail off and stare into nothing as I run out of words. Thank God for the editing button! ;)

    xo
    Sinclair

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Ms. Natalie,
    Thank you darling. So you and I have matching hovercrafts now – wicked. I’ll send you a teddy bear and a blankey if you promise not to sleep with your boulder! We want you to dream big dreams right now. ;)
    xoxo
    S

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    Ms. Natalie,
    Thank you darling. So you and I have matching hovercrafts now – wicked. I’ll send you a teddy bear and a blankey if you promise not to sleep with your boulder! We want you to dream big dreams right now. ;)
    xoxo
    S

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    @Jess –
    Yeah, the collapse thing is very common. The great news is, you can get out of it fairly quickly. Simply remembering that we have other options is a great start, and keep your approach soft, “it’ll be nice when I don’t feel this way anymore,” leads to more resourcefulness naturally.
    So glad you’re getting a lot out the blog!

    @Susan – thanks! I won’t be opening up any of my live workshops to my internet peoples until Spring 2011 – but I’ll definitely keep you posted.

  • http://selfactivator.com Sinclair

    @Jess –
    Yeah, the collapse thing is very common. The great news is, you can get out of it fairly quickly. Simply remembering that we have other options is a great start, and keep your approach soft, “it’ll be nice when I don’t feel this way anymore,” leads to more resourcefulness naturally.
    So glad you’re getting a lot out the blog!

    @Susan – thanks! I won’t be opening up any of my live workshops to my internet peoples until Spring 2011 – but I’ll definitely keep you posted.

  • http://weappreciatepeople.wordpress.com/ Lisa Gillispie

    Oh, oh, ohhhh there were so many things I absolutely love about this – firstly it’s so fun to see you live and in all your 3am glory! Here’s to many, many more 3am chats.

    Love the dream mobile analogy – love it, love it, LOVE IT!!

    And oh gawd, the whole Sisyphus analogy. As an entrepreneur-formerly-known-as-Sisyphus, it’s fascinating to me how much juice there is in that role because we are trying so. damn. hard. and how dare anyone criticize us when we’re in that role because can’t they see we’re working so. damn. hard?? So hard in fact that the damn rock just rolled over us, one. more. time. All should bow before us and our endless pushing.

    But the river piece, oh what fun that is! Flowing through a canyon that’s already been created for us and our gifts and whee, away we go! And best of all we can enjoy it NOW, not at the top of the hill.

    So what’s my version of unstoppable…. being so committed to sharing my gift and to being my whole full self that of COURSE I get to play with the very best, most fun people.

    Question – What’s the balance between always having your foot on the gas pedal and collapsing into rest? I’m guessing there’s an ebb and a flow to things, but I’m relearning that now that rest doesn’t equal being plowed over by a boulder. Although tonight I’ve pulled out my knitting for the first time in eons so maybe I do know more about that….

    On that note, I shall complete the longest blog comment ever. So damn glad we get to work together!!

  • http://weappreciatepeople.wordpress.com/ Lisa Gillispie

    Oh, oh, ohhhh there were so many things I absolutely love about this – firstly it’s so fun to see you live and in all your 3am glory! Here’s to many, many more 3am chats.

    Love the dream mobile analogy – love it, love it, LOVE IT!!

    And oh gawd, the whole Sisyphus analogy. As an entrepreneur-formerly-known-as-Sisyphus, it’s fascinating to me how much juice there is in that role because we are trying so. damn. hard. and how dare anyone criticize us when we’re in that role because can’t they see we’re working so. damn. hard?? So hard in fact that the damn rock just rolled over us, one. more. time. All should bow before us and our endless pushing.

    But the river piece, oh what fun that is! Flowing through a canyon that’s already been created for us and our gifts and whee, away we go! And best of all we can enjoy it NOW, not at the top of the hill.

    So what’s my version of unstoppable…. being so committed to sharing my gift and to being my whole full self that of COURSE I get to play with the very best, most fun people.

    Question – What’s the balance between always having your foot on the gas pedal and collapsing into rest? I’m guessing there’s an ebb and a flow to things, but I’m relearning that now that rest doesn’t equal being plowed over by a boulder. Although tonight I’ve pulled out my knitting for the first time in eons so maybe I do know more about that….

    On that note, I shall complete the longest blog comment ever. So damn glad we get to work together!!
    Lisa Gillispie´s last [type] ..Welcome to the World

  • http://lindaeaves.com Linda Eaves

    Sinclair thank you. I love when 3am comes and gifts us with things.
    Right now I’m water in all its forms. Sometimes a slow majestic glacier with imperceptible movement, just there…then things get hot and I start melting and floating, and might even turn into steam to sizzle and pop. Then back to ice. Cyclical and I am loving it. Always there and playing, being playful, enjoying people, enjoying being me. Reading some Barbara Sher right now. Enjoying learning and…just being.
    Field of possibility – when you said it I could see it clear as day.

  • http://lindaeaves.com Linda Eaves

    Sinclair thank you. I love when 3am comes and gifts us with things.
    Right now I’m water in all its forms. Sometimes a slow majestic glacier with imperceptible movement, just there…then things get hot and I start melting and floating, and might even turn into steam to sizzle and pop. Then back to ice. Cyclical and I am loving it. Always there and playing, being playful, enjoying people, enjoying being me. Reading some Barbara Sher right now. Enjoying learning and…just being.
    Field of possibility – when you said it I could see it clear as day.
    Linda Eaves´s last [type] ..3am Newsflash

  • http://rawfoodswitch.com Nathalie Lussier

    Ooh this is such an awesome analogy. You’re so right – I’ve seen myself push that boulder up, then let it slide back down and just repeat the same action with no results. I’ve been practicing this third way you mention… though you make it sound so delicious. :) I think your analogy just cleared up a lot of mental “blah” in my mind about making progress on projects.

    Muah! Loved seeing you live on video, make more please. :)

  • http://rawfoodswitch.com Nathalie Lussier

    Ooh this is such an awesome analogy. You’re so right – I’ve seen myself push that boulder up, then let it slide back down and just repeat the same action with no results. I’ve been practicing this third way you mention… though you make it sound so delicious. :) I think your analogy just cleared up a lot of mental “blah” in my mind about making progress on projects.

    Muah! Loved seeing you live on video, make more please. :)
    Nathalie Lussier´s last [type] ..11 Reasons Why Juicing is Amazing for You

  • http://www.antemortemarts.com Amy Crook

    I have for you… my Dreammobile.
    http://antemortemarts.com/files/amys_dreammobile.jpg

    *g*

  • http://www.antemortemarts.com Amy Crook

    I have for you… my Dreammobile.
    http://antemortemarts.com/files/amys_dreammobile.jpg

    *g*
    Amy Crook´s last [type] ..Mystic Cave

  • http://BeAwesomeOnline.com Catherine Caine

    You magnificent darling! That was even better than I thought it would be. Mwah.

    I have the occasional moment when I’m cruising in my Dream-mobile (which looks a lot like the Mystery Machine after some serious swankifying) when I swerve and panic because it feels WEIRD without that boulder. Like I might float away or fade without its comforting solidity.

    It doesn’t take very long to remind myself that the boulder is in the past. It was my friend that strengthened my ankles and willpower, and now I don’t need to carry it any more.

    I wonder if this feeling ever goes away?

  • http://BeAwesomeOnline.com Catherine Caine

    You magnificent darling! That was even better than I thought it would be. Mwah.

    I have the occasional moment when I’m cruising in my Dream-mobile (which looks a lot like the Mystery Machine after some serious swankifying) when I swerve and panic because it feels WEIRD without that boulder. Like I might float away or fade without its comforting solidity.

    It doesn’t take very long to remind myself that the boulder is in the past. It was my friend that strengthened my ankles and willpower, and now I don’t need to carry it any more.

    I wonder if this feeling ever goes away?
    Catherine Caine´s last [type] ..Review- Blogger Beats

  • David

    Great Vlog! Definately does not feel like this was your first time. Love that you brought in the sisyphean analogy! Unfortunately my question is a little more mundane – I get into the “ON” position fairly often, but at the same time there are some days where I feel like I have defeated myself by not fully committing and getting in the zone – reading articles, blogs, etc…. all of which keeps me from getting in the zone, especially when the work that I want to do doesn’t feel partiularly urgent. I sit at my desk with a full list of meaningful things to work on, and then 3 hours later I’m still feeling uninspired and not fully awake, regardless of how much caffeine I’ve imbibed. How do you construct your mornings to break through the kind of comfortable laziness that hits us sometimes?

    Thanks, and again, great post!

  • David

    Great Vlog! Definately does not feel like this was your first time. Love that you brought in the sisyphean analogy! Unfortunately my question is a little more mundane – I get into the “ON” position fairly often, but at the same time there are some days where I feel like I have defeated myself by not fully committing and getting in the zone – reading articles, blogs, etc…. all of which keeps me from getting in the zone, especially when the work that I want to do doesn’t feel partiularly urgent. I sit at my desk with a full list of meaningful things to work on, and then 3 hours later I’m still feeling uninspired and not fully awake, regardless of how much caffeine I’ve imbibed. How do you construct your mornings to break through the kind of comfortable laziness that hits us sometimes?

    Thanks, and again, great post!

  • http://www.nettleteadesign.com/blog Amy Martin

    Brilliant.

    How many hours of sleep do you average a night? :)

    I feel like you’ve opened up a whole new way of seeing ‘hard work.’ Gratitude from the bottom of my heart!

    Amy

  • http://www.nettleteadesign.com/blog Amy Martin

    Brilliant.

    How many hours of sleep do you average a night? :)

    I feel like you’ve opened up a whole new way of seeing ‘hard work.’ Gratitude from the bottom of my heart!

    Amy
    Amy Martin´s last [type] ..Don’t Let Your Website Be Like Barbie – All Style And No Substance

  • Barry

    So love the video! Keep that up please! And an inspired analogy – perfect for what I have been doing last coupla days. Now organizing for unstoppability!!!!
    Mwah* to you too!

  • Barry

    So love the video! Keep that up please! And an inspired analogy – perfect for what I have been doing last coupla days. Now organizing for unstoppability!!!!
    Mwah* to you too!

  • http://encoreceramics.com Debbie

    Great visual!
    I was just about to start a big project for my business…..I could see the boulder waiting for my push…..instead I’ve whipped out the dream machine….it kicked it’s ass right out of the way……my creative mind is cookin’……can’t wait to see what I do with it!
    Love ya! Keep ‘em coming! Damn you are good!
    xox
    Debbie (m.o.m.)

  • http://encoreceramics.com Debbie

    Great visual!
    I was just about to start a big project for my business…..I could see the boulder waiting for my push…..instead I’ve whipped out the dream machine….it kicked it’s ass right out of the way……my creative mind is cookin’……can’t wait to see what I do with it!
    Love ya! Keep ‘em coming! Damn you are good!
    xox
    Debbie (m.o.m.)