When I’m in the batting cage, I know when my swing is in the sweet spot. When I’m writing a blog post or book chapter, I can tell when something else takes over and what I’m typing through my fingers is magic. And whatever you do, you know it too…
You know when you get locked in, and cross into the zone. You know when you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before. And you also know the opposite…
You know when it’s not quite there yet, but you settle because it’s good enough. And you know when you just phoned it in.
Everyone knows these things if they allow themselves to. Most do not. They operate slightly below this consciousness, settling for the standards of the masses. But people who do amazing things, people who right injustice, people who live an epic life – never settle for mediocrity.
No one “catches” them doing less than their best or has to admonish them to do more. They do that themselves.
They developed the character, to create the self-discipline.
Yes there are times they are frustrated. Yes there are times they want to quit. Yet there are times they don’t want to do something. But they do it anyway.
So what about you?
-RG
Reader interactions
56 Replies to “When the Magic Comes”
@MortgageMinute Thanks 4 getting the word out!
@Randy_Gage my pleasure
@MortgageMinute Thanks 4 getting the word out!
@Randy_Gage my pleasure
Randy I love your posts! I can imagine what you feel, when you write. I feel it in 3 areas, what I am doing… speaking with people, writing and designing. When I am doing these activities I am there! Is like time stop…
Each experiencing a different lesson. I just had to find my way. Decide. A major finding of this weekend for me was that in the past when I did something that did not seem meaningful, for example, that I was suddenly moved to a different corner of the world for a time, to have people around me a major impact. This weekend my sister in law told me, how much I had helped her when I traveled to the UAE and left her my car. Until then, her license was only in theory. I she wanted to work as a sales rep. at that time and could not manage … this was an opportunity to learn it. I have long punished for his “impulsive” ideas. Now I found out that they are the best. I see it now, even from the other side. Although at the beginning does not make sense and I feel that my heart stretches to something somewhere, it can have a major impact on the lives of people around.
All the best for you.. All the best for me.. All the best for all.. I am so grateful that I went on this journey… and met you, met all these amazing people… Finally found amazing life. God bless you. M.
Randy I love your posts! I can imagine what you feel, when you write. I feel it in 3 areas, what I am doing… speaking with people, writing and designing. When I am doing these activities I am there! Is like time stop…
Each experiencing a different lesson. I just had to find my way. Decide. A major finding of this weekend for me was that in the past when I did something that did not seem meaningful, for example, that I was suddenly moved to a different corner of the world for a time, to have people around me a major impact. This weekend my sister in law told me, how much I had helped her when I traveled to the UAE and left her my car. Until then, her license was only in theory. I she wanted to work as a sales rep. at that time and could not manage … this was an opportunity to learn it. I have long punished for his “impulsive” ideas. Now I found out that they are the best. I see it now, even from the other side. Although at the beginning does not make sense and I feel that my heart stretches to something somewhere, it can have a major impact on the lives of people around.
All the best for you.. All the best for me.. All the best for all.. I am so grateful that I went on this journey… and met you, met all these amazing people… Finally found amazing life. God bless you. M.
Randy, I thank you! You do every day hardly more than could. And this record – as an appeal of the big leader. I transfer it further, the command!
Randy, I thank you! You do every day hardly more than could. And this record – as an appeal of the big leader. I transfer it further, the command!
I read your post at the right time, when I feel that what I want is hard to get. But you remind me that I should be trying to do my best, to have the best!
Thanks again!
I read your post at the right time, when I feel that what I want is hard to get. But you remind me that I should be trying to do my best, to have the best!
Thanks again!
I abandoned my art for over 20 years before rediscovering my passion and skills . It is by no means a hobby or interest. It has become a way of life. I teach full time. I create whenever possible and am currently receiving my Masters of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, intending to teach at the University level. In my gut I know when something is successful or not ,but I am at times unable to pinpoint the source or solution that compromises that will make or break a satisfying work. Once, as an artist in residence at SVA in NYC, I anguished over a wall sized piece, only to stop and silently surrender to “it’s good enough.” A respected artist critiqued our works. Within seconds, looking over an 18 foot long painting, he addressed the two small areas that I was unable to resolve. I knew most people would never had noticed. His words of advice …”You are better than that.” I did know better. I could do better and felt exposed that I quit too soon. I spent an additional seven hours rectifying that work.It was worth it. But knowing when to surrender and recognize the “good enoughs” , or “less thans” as learning experiences is just as important. I think , as for most artists, there is no harsher critic than oneself. In my heart and in my head, the two things that matter most are my children and my art. When I fall short, it aches but inspires me to try, try again:)
@JudeHarzer Beau Jimenez, the son of my friend, the legendary Lisa Jimenez is attending Savannah College of Art & Design, so tell him hello for me! -RG
I abandoned my art for over 20 years before rediscovering my passion and skills . It is by no means a hobby or interest. It has become a way of life. I teach full time. I create whenever possible and am currently receiving my Masters of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, intending to teach at the University level. In my gut I know when something is successful or not ,but I am at times unable to pinpoint the source or solution that compromises that will make or break a satisfying work. Once, as an artist in residence at SVA in NYC, I anguished over a wall sized piece, only to stop and silently surrender to “it’s good enough.” A respected artist critiqued our works. Within seconds, looking over an 18 foot long painting, he addressed the two small areas that I was unable to resolve. I knew most people would never had noticed. His words of advice …”You are better than that.” I did know better. I could do better and felt exposed that I quit too soon. I spent an additional seven hours rectifying that work.It was worth it. But knowing when to surrender and recognize the “good enoughs” , or “less thans” as learning experiences is just as important. I think , as for most artists, there is no harsher critic than oneself. In my heart and in my head, the two things that matter most are my children and my art. When I fall short, it aches but inspires me to try, try again:)
I’m currently working on developing a better “do it anyway”
I’ve got a bad habit of not doing it [whatever it happens to be] when I don’t “feel like it”
I gotta get over that.
I’m currently working on developing a better “do it anyway”
I’ve got a bad habit of not doing it [whatever it happens to be] when I don’t “feel like it”
I gotta get over that.
True that Randy! I refuse to settle into a comfort zone on stage. The moment I fly on autopilot is the moment this is a job, not an art. It is the moment this becomes “just another speech” instead of an opportunity to allow something bigger than me to flow through me and change another life. And there is too much at stake to be complacent. And so today, thanks to your post, I remind myself to make the choice – the choice to step outside my comfort zone – the choice to put myself in this moment one hundred percent and be present – the choice to push myself until that something else takes over. Because when that something else takes over, it is a high like no other. And I truly feel like I’m flying. And even if the crash will hurt more from up here – I choose to fly. Thanks for the push.
True that Randy! I refuse to settle into a comfort zone on stage. The moment I fly on autopilot is the moment this is a job, not an art. It is the moment this becomes “just another speech” instead of an opportunity to allow something bigger than me to flow through me and change another life. And there is too much at stake to be complacent. And so today, thanks to your post, I remind myself to make the choice – the choice to step outside my comfort zone – the choice to put myself in this moment one hundred percent and be present – the choice to push myself until that something else takes over. Because when that something else takes over, it is a high like no other. And I truly feel like I’m flying. And even if the crash will hurt more from up here – I choose to fly. Thanks for the push.
@JudeHarzer Beau Jimenez, the son of my friend, the legendary Lisa Jimenez is attending Savannah College of Art & Design, so tell him hello for me! -RG
@duncanpaisley Thanks for the love!
@duncanpaisley Thanks for the love!
I agree! “IT” appears in a moment only after a period of dedicated, focused single mindedness without distractions, especially internal ones you carried into the ‘cage’ with you. Carving out disciplined time for practice, for dreaming, for education, for play, for everything is one way or you can go with the flow, operate like flotsam in time. One may be no better than the other, but do not complain about the results from either. The results will be different.
I agree! “IT” appears in a moment only after a period of dedicated, focused single mindedness without distractions, especially internal ones you carried into the ‘cage’ with you. Carving out disciplined time for practice, for dreaming, for education, for play, for everything is one way or you can go with the flow, operate like flotsam in time. One may be no better than the other, but do not complain about the results from either. The results will be different.
Magis can’t be without mastership. Mastership can’t be without discipline.
Love you, @Randy_Gage !!
This is essential Katerina…discipline, hard work, focus, persistence and showing up equates to magic!
Magis can’t be without mastership. Mastership can’t be without discipline.
Love you, @Randy_Gage !!
Randy,I know Lisa’s work. Unfortunately, I only reside at SCAD during the summer months doing a limited resdiency. I attend full time the remainder of the year online. I teach full time in New Jersey during the academic year. My dream is to paint full time. At 48 , I have only been painting seriously for 5 years but am confident I’ll make it happen:) I am on an educator’s scholarship. My own children , one ready to graduate from college and the other a freshman at UNC, are ready to fly. And so must I, to wherever that may be…as long as I am painting! Best, Jude
Randy,I know Lisa’s work. Unfortunately, I only reside at SCAD during the summer months doing a limited residency. I attend the remainder of the year online. I teach in New Jersey during the academic year. My dream is to paint and teach at the University levell. At 48 , I have only been painting seriously for 5 years but am confident I can make this happen:) I am on a partial educator’s scholarship. My own children , one ready to graduate from college and the other a freshman at UNC, are about to fly. And so must I, to wherever that may be…as long as I am painting! Best, Jude
Randy,I know Lisa’s work. Unfortunately, I only reside at SCAD during the summer months doing a limited residency. I attend the remainder of the year online. I teach in New Jersey during the academic year. My dream is to paint and teach at the University levell. At 48 , I have only been painting seriously for 5 years but am confident I can make this happen:) I am on a partial educator’s scholarship. My own children , one ready to graduate from college and the other a freshman at UNC, are about to fly. And so must I, to wherever that may be…as long as I am painting! Best, Jude
This is essential Katerina…discipline, hard work, focus, persistence and showing up equates to magic!
>But they do it anyway guess they or we have the flow in our blood 🙂
>But they do it anyway guess they or we have the flow in our blood 🙂
so true…so true…
so true…so true…
You know Randy, as always this is very timely.. We are in development of an amazing film project and lately one of the people we approached for assistance in networking turned defensive and began judging. So rather than be reactive, I decided its best to just keep pushing.. never stopping.. and maintaining the vision in order to achieve the goal. Like you’ve said before, there will always be the naysayers, those who live in their victim beliefs and those who simply lack vision. So the best thing we can do is to keep on keepin’ on..
Thanks!
@Jonathan1 Need some audio work or music?
You know Randy, as always this is very timely.. We are in development of an amazing film project and lately one of the people we approached for assistance in networking turned defensive and began judging. So rather than be reactive, I decided its best to just keep pushing.. never stopping.. and maintaining the vision in order to achieve the goal. Like you’ve said before, there will always be the naysayers, those who live in their victim beliefs and those who simply lack vision. So the best thing we can do is to keep on keepin’ on..
Thanks!
It’s scary as hell to push through, especially when your fears get in the way, or when you hit a wall.Gotta do it!
It’s scary as hell to push through, especially when your fears get in the way, or when you hit a wall.Gotta do it!
@Jonathan1 Need some audio work or music?
I love reality! Thanks Randy!
I love reality! Thanks Randy!
Randy where do I find out more about the photographic memory retention you spoke of in your Power Property Program? When you picked up a book from an audience member on Disc 4? That’s Awesome!
Randy where do I find out more about the photographic memory retention you spoke of in your Power Property Program? When you picked up a book from an audience member on Disc 4? That’s Awesome!
Hi Randy,
I know it when I’m in the flow. I’ll get sick if I take less than the best. Mediocrity is just not for me; I’ll be out of it soon. Thanks for the post.
Hi Randy,
I know it when I’m in the flow. I’ll get sick if I take less than the best. Mediocrity is just not for me; I’ll be out of it soon. Thanks for the post.
As always RG, thanks for the timely reminder, and great advice! I especially love (and am majorly working on!) “They developed the character to create the self discipline.”
Gettin’ there buddy, getti
As always RG, thanks for the timely reminder, and great advice! I especially love (and am majorly working on!) “They developed the character to create the self discipline.” Gettin’ there buddy, gettin’ there!
As always RG, thanks for the timely reminder, and great advice! I especially love (and am majorly working on!) “They developed the character to create the self discipline.” Gettin’ there buddy, gettin’ there!
It’s the infinite intelligence or higher power that works through us all in the moments of true creation.
Ouch that came out cheesy! 🙂
It’s the infinite intelligence or higher power that works through us all in the moments of true creation.
Ouch that came out cheesy! 🙂
Right on. I just had a client tell me that they wanted to do a production rehearsal in March in Chicago, for an event they want me to speak at in June with an audience of about 6,000 people. They said they it was to make sure that I gave the “best presentation of my life.” While I truly appreciate the rehearsal opportunity and am very happy to do it, I thought to myself, “But I strive to make EVERY ONE of my presentations – the best one of my life.” And then I thought, but do I REALLY? I mean REALLY? Did I strive to make the little local job here that I basically donated to a highschool group the BEST of my life? Yes, I designed a presentation just for them and shaped it to have more relevance so they could relate…but the BEST of my life? Maybe not so much. Thanks for making me think about this, Randy.
Right on. I just had a client tell me that they wanted to do a production rehearsal in March in Chicago, for an event they want me to speak at in June with an audience of about 6,000 people. They said they it was to make sure that I gave the “best presentation of my life.” While I truly appreciate the rehearsal opportunity and am very happy to do it, I thought to myself, “But I strive to make EVERY ONE of my presentations – the best one of my life.” And then I thought, but do I REALLY? I mean REALLY? Did I strive to make the little local job here that I basically donated to a highschool group the BEST of my life? Yes, I designed a presentation just for them and shaped it to have more relevance so they could relate…but the BEST of my life? Maybe not so much. Thanks for making me think about this, Randy.
Found It!
Found It!
It is great 🙂 you are the first, who ask this question 😀 sometimes we do a lots of common things before the perfect one :)))
It is great 🙂 you are the first, who ask this question 😀 sometimes we do a lots of common things before the perfect one :)))