The challenge: Don't speak in future tense
2009-11-25
When I lived in Los Angeles, I noticed they have a strange speaking pattern.
Everyone speaks in future tense. (Or, more specifically, present-tense inaction, future-tense action.)
“This guy from EMI is interested and going to be presenting it to the VP.”
“We’re in talks to do a pilot for the fall.”
“I’m getting ready to work on some new material with a writer from Friends.”
Of course these are the things some people have to tell themselves to be hopeful when facing another day of challenges.
But of course nothing materializes. You never hear it mentioned again, and you politely don’t ask. (Surprising circumstances always foiled the certain event.)
I felt like wearing a t-shirt that says, “TELL ME WHEN IT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.”
So now when I hear a future-tense sentence, my ears shut down. I’ll say “cool!” and hope it helps, but I don’t believe a word.
Try noticing this in yourself and others for a week. Are you speaking more in future tense or present tense? Are they?
Remember that announcing your plans makes them less likely to happen.
I totally agree.. I feel like I do this when I talk about the "next" album. Being present is something I have really tried to do in my life and in conversation.
That's interesting. I stopped telling people what I was planning a while back, just because it took the pressure off me to do it the way I had described it, and let me change it to fit circumstances - much healthier!
Great point and reminder to be present.
its a way of saying, hey i've got nothing going on at the moment, but blah blah blah.
nice one , man
Nice post, and great observation! I especially like your writing style, it's simple and short, time and again. I guess speaking in the future tense is all about the triumph of hope over experience. A bit too much hope perhaps!
I'm planning on remembering this...
I've noticed it. When people ask what I'm up to, I work on speaking about what I'm actually doing. Sometimes what I'm doing takes a really long time.
But being in Los Angeles, I understand what you're saying. I hear it all the time as well.
Even better is speaking about it after the fact. However, I often find that people don't believe it when you tell them something already was done or happened. Isn't that odd?
You're talking about me, right? ;)
DEEP!! I learned that a while ago and its so true man. For some reason, by saying something about what you're doing prematurely, as a result - it DOESN'T HAPPEN!! Your commentary is certainly reinforcement!! One question though Derek:
When's your book coming out? (You can speak in the future tense for the sake of all of us who wanna know!!)...
I'd wear a shirt that said "Tell me when it's actually happening." There's your next business opportunity!
Why do you suppose announcing your plans makes them less likely to happen?...I have experienced this but it certainly is curious...it's as though you are embarrassed that you don't have anything concrete going...but why would you feel you have to have something going on to be "validated" by someone else?...or maybe you think you should be doing something that you are not doing? What do you think?
What about the power of intention? I feel you on the tshirt, but spinning wheels is fun... Imagining the future with another person is one of the things I love to do, even if it doesn't all come to fruition. And hey... things do happen in LA.
Ha! This has bitten me in the ass so many times. Thanks for the reminder!
I absolutely agree. I have caught myself doing that... especially talking to family-My mom catches it immediately. She basically wears the “TELL ME WHEN IT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.” slogan on her forehead
It's good though. It makes me want to be more aggressive in getting what I want.
Interesting perspective. Not sure that it holds for everyone.
In my experience, letting folks know that I'm planning to do something is one of the best motivators towards actually do it.
If I haven't told anyone and it's just in my head, no harm in letting it slide. But if I have told someone, it'd make me look bad if I didn't actually follow through. So then I do it.
I'm gonna read this blogpost later after my development meeting with this guy who knows this guy...
haha I love it, I had just re-read "Announcing your plans" yesterday, and your recent article about defining the walkways put the finger right in the middle of things.
I always feel very "un-American" about going at it without a detailed Master Plan, but I find that you never know how the outside world is going to react to your grand scheme, so if your plan is set in stone and put you head down and work work work, you may be hitting your head against the wall more often than if you keep your head up and see what the best way to proceed with your overall vision is. The world is changing all around us, so it's reasonable that you may not see clearly marked paths in front of you!
I am happy to say that I submitted my new CD to the label/distributor (Zoho Music/Allegro) YESTERDAY, after months of "living in the future" just as you describe in your article.
thanks for the inspiration Derek
Nice one Derek. This bugs me too, like when people say "I'm trying to...." and never do it.
So true! It's hard to define the difference between "planning" and "hoping" especially in the entertainment business that really is such a razor's edge. The slightest thing can tip the balance...including talking about something too much before it's been decided!!
Derek, We all live on hopes and dreams. This is especially true for us artist types. It is more than wishful thinking. It is the thing that keeps us going.
The song I am writing will go double platinum. The movie treatment I am working on will be picked up by the majors and star Brad Pitt. I will have a sustainable career.
I used to joke that if I were to randomly stop people on the street in Studio City and ask them how their script was coming, 25% would tell me how they are pitching it to the majors, 25% would tell me it is in rewrite, 25% would tell me they were stuck on the second act, and the rest would tell me, they are not from here and do I know any actors.
We live in the world of perceived reality and in that perceived reality, we are taking that meeting with Clive Davis or Irv Azoff. If it doesn't happen. We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and try again.
That is the most important thing. We keep on trying.
There's another term for "Future tense speaking". In New York City, we call it "B.S." ;)
So when speaking in future tense, I always use this phrase before it, "Lord willing". It tells whoever you're speaking to that it is God who holds the future of all and not you.
That's why fish are the most successful of all animals in the planet. They keep their mouth blup...
Question: is saying your plans in present help it happen (the secret) or being a fish is allowing your thoughts most power? Which one you advocate Derek?
Since you mention it, Derek, I find myself doing this from time to time. In most cases the future goal doesn't happen (especially when verbal), but isn't the journey towards it the thing that gives us hope and a little adventure?
Derek writes: "Everyone speaks in future tense. (Or, more specifically, present-tense inaction, future-tense action.)"
A businessman arriving in Boston decided to go find a good seafood restaurant. Getting into a taxi, he asked the cab driver, "Do you know where a guy can get scrod around here?" "Sure," said the cabdriver. "I know a few places... but I've never heard someone use the third-person pluperfect indicative."
your not the customer but you could be
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good point here and I totally agree with it, however it's a lot easier said than done. In the music/entertainment business the self-promotion/BS factor is so high that if you don't join in the BS club you will suffer the consequences which is that no one will think you are doing anything! Don't forget that for every self absorbed, BS talking idiot, there is another one who will gladly listen and believe the BS (then be happy to share their BS)!
I like this but I've also heard that if you announce to people that you're going to do something rather than keep it to yourself, you're more apt to follow through because you told so many people about it!
guilty . u r rite announce you're plans , shoot yourself in the foot . karma .
Personally, I think it's more about finding the balance between the two.
Knowing what's ahead can sometimes signal you need to make a detour.
Absolutely Derek. The same goes for personal transformation work - so many people use future tense even there; "By December I will have a record deal". "This summer, my band will have a number 1 record on the radio".
And then they wonder why it never happens.
Heh, shades of Neuro Linguistic Programming in this one. When I have spoken of intentions of doing something, I have found that people are shocked when I come across with the completed work at or before the time I had said I would have it done. People seem to be able to sit around talking about what they polan to embark on for years without taking any steps towards making it happen. Baffling.
I agree a bit with Brian Zisk, as i thought saying i would do something would make me more accountable to others to actually do it! But, turns out Derek's philosphy won over as i never did do those things (lose weight, make a new CD) ha ha! And then actually felt MORE guilty about it because i told people....
So i did stop doing the future tense talking for just that reason!
Some of us have to learn things the hard way i guess.
I used to be guilty of this, but I realized that it was making me feel very bad when I had to offer your piece's well-characterized lame explanations later on. Now, if I have an actual gig scheduled, I let it be known, with pride and substantial details if appropriate. If not, since I'm always working on a new song or two or three, I just say I'm writing or arranging stuff for my latest project. End of story.
Aw, let the poor folks wish a little, D! They have to eat so much crap in that industry, even a tiny bit of sugary hope must help get some of that taste off their tongues!
I agree. But sometimes the optimism of thinking things are happening (when they're not) will prevent someone from actually making something real-and-certain happen. -- Derek
Derek,
Of course you have to announce upcoming gigs. -- Derek
I love your mini-articles. I share them all the time with family and friends.
However, I feel conflicted about this article. On one hand I totally agree that people talk a lot about how busy and important they are about to be... but... what about musicians? We are always booking things in the future. Should we not tell anyone about it until it's the day of the event? Sure things get cancelled but does that mean that we are fakes? I am a professional drummer (ie- make my living solely as a drummer) and the news section of my website has a mixture of upcoming events and things I already did (things which happened so last minute that I didn't have time to post it prior to the event). Sometimes things do get cancelled and I have to remove them from my website. But I don't feel dishonest for posting it. Maybe I should???
I'm not sure what to take away from this article of yours.
Regardless, keep writing, Derek. I like being challenged to think in new ways.
-Doyle
You can always add “within reason” to the end of every lesson.
I love this - I try to speak in present tense even when there's nothing concrete to speak of...it puts me in the now rather than in some nebulous future happening...thanks for sharing.
People try to talk about what they're "gonna" do to get the "prestige" of doing something or being solidly connected with something big without it ever actually having to materialise. I live in Charlotte NC and here the California disease seems to be in full force. People are well know for their supposed happenings and connections. One can get famous around here for have some mildly credible connection way before blood sweat and tears of hard work will penetrate the masses. It's like sitting at the back of a line of traffic and watching others drive all the way to the front before cutting in. They seem to get places faster, and no one says anything about the BS claims that never come to fruition. Maybe instead of ignoring them Derek and everyone else, we should be calling them on the BS and make them feel stupid. (which is, I suppose, what this article is trying to do)
"Yeah, so how'd that thing with the friends writer go? Oh, didn't happen... sounds like a trend with you... Let me know when you do actually have something going."
I plan on taking this advice in a week or so. ;-) ...and what great advice it is!!
Some call it procrastinating but I call it future thoughts and usually keep them to myself until they actually happen...Good one Derek.
Good one.
I actually don't agree with this. I think announcing things puts out the energy, but DETAILING it can kill it. I've told people about new projects, and I usually pull through on them. My latest CD is a great example. I talked a bit about it, got some feedback, made it and folks like it.
I think it depends on how much bull shit you have too.; I'm not one for BS- I find the truth more interesting....then again, there's the wonderful thought 'nothing is ever written in stone".
I also feel, it depends what you are comfortable with. Small details are cool. Large ones seem to deplete the energy. Wisdom.
Some people will use others as a sounding board, just to hear it for themselves.Others are trying to get credit and accolades before they have done anything. I'm a fairly firm believer that making an announcement guaranties doom to the project. People think I'm not sharing the moment, when I am quiet about projects, I just don't want to be the boob who has this big announcement again and doesn't come through.
Here is a but, a BIG BUT, everyone is different, some feel obligated once they announce and are driven by that contagious energy. THEY SHOULD ANNOUNCE, THEY HAVE TO ANNOUNCE or their energy for the project just withers.
Know yourself kw
Actually, the "scrod" joke's punchline, as commonly told above, repeated by me, is wrong. Linguists argue it should be "passive pluperfect subjunctive."
DUDE ! I FEEL YOU ON THAT NOTE! THAT WHY YOU MAKE YOUR ON WAY!
Sometimes I find it helps to begin talking about a project, it's a step toward making it real - if I tell people I'm going to do it, it's a spur to make it happen.
This to me is a sometimes. My pattern is if I say I'd like to do...blah, blah. It means it a problem I'm working on in my head and it may or may not happen.
If I say I'm going to do something. It means I mostly have it worked out how I'm going to do it. And it is very likely to happen.
If I say I am doing something. It means I'm in the middle of doing it.
For instance: I am going to shoot a video for the single I am going to promote off my new album. I am currently raising funds for said video at www.grooveduke.net I am currently recording the rest of my album with funds raised at that same address.
All things I am working on and I will certainly accomplish. But they have to happen in the correct order. And I have to announce it in order to make it happen.
At the beginning of the year I said to some friends I'd like to make an album. It took me a while to figure out how I was going to make it happen. During that time while I was figuring out how to make it happen, there was never any doubt in my mind that I would eventually figure out how to do it.
So don't you think it is more a matter of being honest with yourself?
The topic Derek brings up indicates how much our manners of speaking are shaped by our habits and social environments. Those of us who often write non-journalistic tomes sometimes have to be reminded by our editors to use active voice as much as possible when writing articles for the weekly tabloid.
Presently I have a publishing deal.Presently my cd is being sold in Best Buy Stores.Presently I have a Music Library deal and an Indie Record label deal.I plan for tomorrow but live today. All my future success is found in today,presently.
I am hoping to start implementing this logic after the holiday or maybe before Christmas. Definitely by New Years or Easter.
But seriously, sometimes it is just better to be thankful for the day. Tomorrow just may not come at all so why not enjoy now and put your faith in the present.
Does Macys tell Gimbals?
I do agree with some of you when it comes to promoting a future release or a planned up coming tour.. As far as negotiations of business plans concerning hyperthethical possibilites, I agree with you for one simple reason, Why put your business on the street? It should be kept secrete. Let me also point out, if you have come up with a great idea, don''t tell anyone unless you have them sign an NDA. Unless of course you want you idea stollen.
This is very true of L.A.. It reminds me of the classic Recycler Ad - Seeking "insert instrumentalist here": Lock out studio, label interest, no flakes. I've read that ad from different bands so many times....
I totally agree. Thanks Derek, I ll get back to you when my single "Die besten Jahre" is # 1 in Charts.
;-)
Greetings from Leverkusen
Art
I second that, I'd totally wear a T-shirt that says "tell me when it's actually happening!"
Ha!!! Frank Messina beat me to it- that's the bs detector going off
I live in LA yet practice the under appreciated art of non-exaggeration. I do understand the consequences- not hyping the not-yet-latest-thing-I'm-not-involved-in-yet-hope-works-out-thing leaves me a dull boy (possibly).
My solution is being enthusiastic about what is actually HAPPENING- even if it's a string of small gigs for little bread!
We are currently in contact with Sony to produce a miniseries based on my life story.
That means I keep calling them, they keep laughing and hanging up!
If you have ever been involved in a business startup , you know that you need a well thought out business plan on paper. You need projected income and growth over the next several years or even a decade or to, preferably with an exit strategy.To be taken seriously by investors and bankers this should all be in a nice little package. Talk about speaking in the future tense!
A man with no vision or dream will never make it happen! If Sam Walton would have thought in the present tense there would be no Wall Mart! lol
Big Ran Feuers
www.bigranfeuers.com
www.myspace.com/bigranfeuers
I going to do something about this in the winter
i agree!! friends would often aske me" where ar you playing next" or "what music are you working on" and i would always feel obligated to say something. now, i just say, i'll keep you posted, and that usually means i tell them where they can hear my songs on the radio or when an article will be in the paper. it takes the pressure off to just do something for the sake of doing something and i don't feel forced, like " i need to do something right now"!! very liberating and i'm not pulled around emotionally or anxious and it works. i like results. i don't like talking about what i am going to do..i just like getting it done. and THEN invite people into my world to share it, being fans, friends, press, etc...
it almost becomes like "no big deal, this is who i am an what i'm doing...thanks for being a part of it " and i stay in control of myself...
derek your articles are always right on!!
happy thanksgiving!!
Happy Thanksgiving Future tense
A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The
parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.
Every word out of the bird's' mouth was rude, obnoxious, and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything
else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.
Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.
The parrot yelled back and cursed him. John shook the parrot, and the parrot got more angry and even more rude.
John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird
and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and
actions. I am sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable
behavior."
John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.
As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very, very softly: "May I ask what the turkey did?"
Derek, first, many thanks for being you. You have given all of us much insight through which we can all learn. I am a simple singer who continues to do it "my way", tempered with "your way."
As an artist, you are always asked about "what's next." It is just what people do...they want more. So, I am sometimes annoyed and sometimes elated when I am asked and try to make an accurate accounting of what I am up to, even if it is not exciting or productive. I don't think it matters that much. If I were bragging about something that would be different. Still Derek, in Hollywood, writers are constantly taking meetings and working with people all the time. Sometimes it's just to see what happens and if they might come up with a good creative idea and "Taking Meetings" is a reality of their lives. Most times, nothing comes from it but it is still enough to be taking action in your life and career. Actors audition everyday - if you ask them - they will tell you "I was on hold for a McDonalds Commercial or for a role in the new Bourne movie" ....and later.... "but I was released." They are taking action everyday to work creatively and what they just did or may do is a big part of that. So, if you only want to know about things or work that is actually happening, I feel as if you are denying the creative practice of auditioning, taking creative action and believing in a future that the universe will recognize and reward because of these actions. Man...I just really rambled huh!
When meditating we think and speak (guided meditations) in the present tense only. The reasons are future tense is a dream or plan. The past tense is dreaming of a different time and the mind won't help unless it's an on going activity.
It's mostly about the mind/brain and how it prioritizes. Things that need doing now it works on, other time period activities are a low priority.It's a survival thing, You have to convince your Brain/mind that you are serious about something and that's why you are working on it now. That's also why when we are planing something we have to put a date on the milestones or the brain doesn't really work it.
Awesome! Stay in the NOW
After announcing my plans to quit smoking cigarettes many times and failing, I quietly quit without announcement. That was 18 years ago. Derek, thanks for reminding me of this wisdom! Sometimes, we have to re-learn some old lessons!
Quite frankly, this attitude seems a bit too narrow. I must admit I've spent very little time in the city of lost angels, and will continue to make that a priority in my life. But where I live, and work, and dream, there seem to be plenty of folks who make a projection and then actually make it happen. Perhaps they are rarer than hen's teeth, and maybe that is why I live here. Perhaps in a small community, one learns to speak judiciously, as people will remember what you say, and you will run into those folks frequently--and they may even offer to help you in your endeavor.
The problem with this, avoiding speaking in future tense, is that I find people are ALWAYS asking me about my future plans.
I wish everyone talked only in present tense, but it's not at all my experience when speaking to most folks.
IT'S DIFFICULT ... When I am planning a project and then when I am in the middle of one There
is no way I can keep from talking about it. . especially when I am
excited about what I'm doing.
It isn't easy but...........
I discuss my projects only with people who are interested or part
of the project.
Frances
ha thats sooo true.... I noticed that too here since I've lived in the US (california) for the past year...
just saying... or more positively ... if you teach... you are a teacher, if you sing, you are a singer etc.
thats what I feel like telling people who tell me all the great things they are 'gonna do'... 'one day' etc... so keep things IN the pipe line until it is actually happening then you can brag about it ... till then.... its not 'real' and therefore probably not something you should be talking about to make others think you are cooler than you really are 
and it waters down actually reality doesnt it... like people become almost blaze about things that are 'actually happening'... when really that is frickin' amazing! 
I've always said... you are what you are doing at the time... if you havnt played or sung or written a song in 5 years can you really call yourself a singer songwriter?
future tense is not 'real'
you dear derek are so my favourite writer right now...
yay, while i was scrolling down i was waiting for someone to mention meditation. thanks, frank!
also, i think what some of us are confusing is making plans, and talking about them in future tense, and never getting started on them. and setting goals, and working towards them now. big difference.
great food for thought. thanks!
I agree. I tend to look at it this way. We process 3 types of information daily. Data, Method and Narrative. Most people live in the Narrative. They tell you what they are doing, why they are doing it and How great it is to be doing it. Half the time you have zoned out because the "Narrative" doesn't matter to you. You might have been interested right off the bat in the information but the narrative failed to deliver. The Method is about the "How". Pretty simple, this is where they tell you step by step how they are working out, directing the play, writing the book or building the bridge. The Data is what thrills me. The Data are the facts. This is where you get me, where you keep me and where you "Had me at hello". If I am captivated by the Data I will learn the method and want to hear the narrative or most likely build my own narrative based on my experience. Get them with the Data, explain the Method and the Narrative won't matter.
Good One.
The Future is Now.
Cool concept, I must go digest and meditate on this, NOW.
I am now here doing.
Derek,
Just had this very same conversation with one of my staff memebers yesterday, who finds it very easy,speaking in future-tense, that almost all of the time,don't produces the rabbit from the hat.....
I think skreened.com could make the t-shirts
Hi Derek,
I get what you're saying about Future Speak, but I think it is equally important to talk about what you do... You never know when someone can help you pull off your dream. I think the key is being "True To Yourself".
I talk to a lot of people who have no intentions to do what the talk about. And if someone offered to help them, the often find 1001 excuses why they can't do it now... The have to wait for the future... Now that's a waste...
I try to build a little scope into my dreams... They are adjustable...
Happy Thanksgiving... Dennis
www.pristinestudios.com
I stopped telling people about my Creative plans along time ago.
Apathy is the Major Problem in this Selfish Society!
Garret Somers
Having spent most of my adult life in Los Angeles, I probably am guilty of this as well. I do notice that LA is 99% talk and have made it my goal to always DO the things I SAY I'm going to do.
This inspires me to just DO and never SAY anything.
Y'know I really can idnetify with this...I got this letter once from Hunter S. Thompson which suggested that we "abandon all hope, flee to Senegal and turn queer"... and since then I find myself waiting on that special moment which I just KNOW is coming when that horrible man at the state department OKs my new passport and I can experience that loathsome, lonesome and physically pedantic sensation of having a real man pussy...but then agian...I'm so glad Derek has assured us all that these things will NEVER EVER HAPPEN!!! Because...as we all must surely know...Truth is indeed stranger than man pussy which is of course the vilest form of fiction...
As Lou Reed once said..."I ...LOVE...WOMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hunter Thompson...rip!
People tend to "live in the past" or "live in the future" because it it much easier than dealing with the real and difficult issues at hand that exist in the present. It is a handy avoidance tactic.
The only way to get things done is to work on them right now.
Here are some simple lyrics I wrote on the topic of "living in the present".
If you have a good "today",
You should have a good tomorrow,
And your yesterdays
Will always be OK.
Also..this is another article on the subject that I agree with.
http://www.lifereboot.com/2007/dont-live-in-your-future/
Man, You have some deep folks on your list, most people are allways trying to impress you, and it helps there ego, and makes them feel special, I really try to live in the now, But find myself drifting into the moment ahead, I learned a long time ago not to tell people about your plans, and allways said be a doer not a talker, what do I know, I am just an old beat nick
My home growing up was like that. My Dad always talked about what he was going to do. Then I spent a vacation at my cousin's house. One morning at breakfast my uncle talked about how he was going to build a tree house. Then right after breakfast, we did it - we actually built the tree house! It was one of those days that changed my life.
Remember that announcing your plans makes them less likely to happen
music being derek
that's just plain bullshit.
if i didn't announce my plans to produce the lehigh valley music conference then i wouldn't have
sponsors, directors for the urban panels & showcases and a great venue for hq.
www.bananafactory.org
and i told my lover than i was going to break our 12 orgasm record (hers) for the night---and with a lot of love & sweet effort.
13.
not bad for an older polish/welsh guy.
when you announce your "plans" then others with that same music in them will join you.
bright musical ways
ian the being
Yes, Derek there's no doubt it would be better for folks to stay in the present tense, or maybe we should say present untense, because if we're fortune telling we're more likely to be tense, and unrelaxed. Great observation on your part, and probably more true in certain regions than others. Let's all just try to be in the present moment, because in reality that's really all we got anyway. The past is gone, and the future isn't here yet, and none of us have crystal balls. Thank God we don't. I'd rather be like my loyal dog, and be right here. Thanks, Derek. Happy Thanksgiving, Clay Wilson
Wow-That makes alot of sense,I wish I would have opened your E-mail up an Hour ago before I sent off an E-mail to my Publisher about my New CD Plans ?
~R STAVELY COUNTRY~
This is a great one Derek. I sure do appreciate it. Happy Thanksgiving to you my friend!
Wow, Derek! And here my wife and I thought we were the only ones who noticed this phenomenon! Bravo!
being in the present is a gift and so is the future.
We all need hope, its important to talk about what we would like to do and do it.
Well, I agree and disagree at the same time. You might plan something, and depending on the person, release it or not.
Not bad to fix goals in order to go ahead. The most important is the result. Do something. Let some time pass then be and learn how to be confident with some people...
this is very good advice. I live in LA and even the waiters do it. they say "the soup is going to be a roasted potato and pulled duck puree", "the fish is going to be a charred char with grilled salmon cheek" etc...
Let's say I finished a project and have started a new one. I meet a friend and we exchange pleasantries.
He asks, "So how's business? What's new, what's going?
Instead of saying "nothing" because I don't want to speak in the future tense...well, the truth is I *am* working on something. I say, "I'm working on a project that involves..." and tell him the details.
It's the truth and we're having a conversation.
Now if I *didn't* have any projects I was working on and I say, "Yeah, I have a few things that look promising with some famous people" then I think that would be blah, blah, blah.
But I always have some project on the front AND back burner and when someone seems interested in finding out what I'm up to, I don't feel it inappropriate to say I have some things going on and go into as much detail as I want to.
On the other side of the coin, I personally don't like speaking in the past tense e.g. "I just finished this project awhile ago that I'm not working on anymore and has been long gone and is neither on the front or back burner."
That baby has been put to bed and is no longer fodder for conversation in my book. You're tootin' your old horn.
I like speaking on what I'm currently doing for people who are interested.
Am I the king of denial?
Does this mean Muckwork is ready?
Ohhh man... that is so true.
Every time I speak in future I feel a bit weird ..
It is almost as if you are denying the event from ever happening.
I rather talk in today terms ( I don't allways do... but hey.. I can try )
Derek, I still live in Shanghai, and I'm speaking from the future (literally across the date line) Happy Thanksgiving!
I haven't lived in LA so I can only imagine the culture of speaking you wrote about. Personally speaking I do not need to 'announce my plans' so much as that I actually do need to talk with people who could help me with them.
The future is coming so we might as well get as well prepared as we can. I even have to dream a little. Without that I have no momentum.
In Texas we call that "fixin' too". Right now, I'm "fixin to cook some wild turkey and watch some football. I'm fixin to finish my new cd then I'm fixin to take a nap. Now I'm fixin to say Adios. Dale
I had a friend once say to me "tell me what you're doing, not what you're gonna do". I have done my best to live by this ever since then - 32 years ago now. It was shocking to be told that, but I'm grateful he said it.
Wow , Thanks for the tip I realize, I have been very bad with this. You make a lot of sence I looked back in my own life and know that you are right. I am now making changes in the way I speek. thank you
Very insightful point. My experience has been that "future talk" is a great internal tool to envision a possible outcome of our current work. It serves me best when I use it as a personal prayer...a hope for how things may unfold. Speaking these things to impress or mislead is a dangerous trap; it tends to completely defuse the magical aspect of things that are, as of this moment, unknown.
You're right. I've spent more time telling people about the new CD than I've spent recording!!!! Excuse me while I record...right now!
So true. I think we all have that much enthusiasm about what we are doing that we get impatient and jump ahead of ourselves. It's a hard lesson to learn but the older we get the wiser we become!!
Awww. geez. Thanks for bringing this up so soon after something like that happened to me.
Film maker with big people wants to have us score upcoming film. Told mom about it.
Now they don't have the budget for us.
What do I say now? Hehe.
Lesson learned.
Yes, I agree and have been guilty of the same at times. I have been trying to just keep my mouth shut but for me it is such a task. It seems most times once we share with the world what we are in the midst of accomplishing suddenly all positive motion on the project stops. As for you my friend, your ears are closing quicker because you are getting older, you've heard it all before, and well let's face it your mind is juggling so much it's easier just to nod and smile and say, "Cool".
surely what u are doing now is part of your future too? i say i'm enjoying working on my new album and that's enough for me - enjoying the journey cos the outcome cannot be guaranteed. Altho i do feel this o my, what if i don't finish all these tracks cos i put the word out that album is on its way in the hope of building interest/anticipation...i suspect those feelings would be there even if i could keep shtum...
There is also something to be said about the power of intent...and how speaking things out to the universe helps them materialize...like a Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich kind of idea. But I do agree with you that you don't have to speak them to other people, you can have internal intentions and manifest those, but I think what you are talking about is more of an ego thing...to try to make people around you think you are the big shit.
I agree with the LA mentality, Everyone has a project they're
" expecting "
Living in the moment has so many advantages, For the most part, You tend to stay optimistic and alert.
I was horrible at that very thing when I was younger and people got bored with my bullshit, Shhhhh..
Get to work.
With both glance to the horizon and back to the past, it’s one step at a time - taken with the self assurance that another step will follow. If not - I topple over.
Just changed the guitar strings in preparation for a small part in a concert three days hence.......you’ve got to look ahead.
When my daughter was younger, she and her friends would encourage me every week to come and play at the local blues night.
For months I procrastinated - basically out of fear of the ‘big unknown’. Their requests did have an incremental effect inasmuch as I would kick myself for a week until the next “Maybe next week.”
It was ultimately a combination of everything BUT confidence which finally prompted me to go.
There is a use for future tense even if it’s a roundabout way of getting up and doing it - whatever the ‘it’ might be.
I like your ‘prompts’ Derek.
Cheers everyone
Great observation! I'm going to re-tweet this, and then I'm going to post it to my Facebook status, and then I'm going to link to this on my website.
Ta!
I guess it depends on your ethics. Sometimes I announce my intent to make sure I actually go through with something. I don't say it unless I mean it. I'm not from L.A.
The subconscious mind does not understand pastor future.any affirmation must be made as though it is happening right now to be effective.
Love. B
its good your wright me agan
iam still working on what iam doing, see how that works
i know what you mean it takes time for anything to grow.
Spot on Derek.
Derek,
Thanks for writing what you write.
There is a wonderful William Blake quote, it always keeps me in check-
"Better murder an infant in its cradle than nurse an unacted desire."
Regards,
Tobias
I really love the comments and good-humoured responses which follow your blog postings, Derek!
Me, I find myself outlining specifics of projects when I'm "talking" with someone (whether in person or in an email). Using other people as a sounding board really works for me, although I'm pretty good about letting them know if this is a "set-in-concrete" project that's definitely going to be happening, or something that I'd "like" to see come to fruition.
I never quite know what's going to come off of my fingertips when I'm writing like this, so I treasure every scrap. Sometimes some really great ideas come up to help shore up the entire project. BUT if they haven't been written down, I'll probably lose them. Like dreams...I can have a great dream, but if I don't jot down the concept immediately upon waking, it gets lost in the ether.
But, I'm also not in a position to be the recipient of other people's concepts and ideas. I attended one seminar once which was trying to encourage local filmmakers. One of the speakers made it very plain that the first thing he asks filmmaker wanna-bees is "Have you produced anything, yet?" If the answer is negative, he tells them to go away until they've actually created something to show him. It doesn't have to be technically great, but just the action involved in having "produced" is invaluable. It shows that you know how to start at the beginning of an idea and follow through on the project until it's done.
So, ultimately, you have to know yourself. If talking about a project helps stimulate action on that project; great. If talking about a project somehow satisfies you mentally so that you never end up actually doing it, then whoopsie, learn to keep your mouth shut until it's a done deal. But when you meet someone who's actually conceptualized something AND followed through on it, be impressed and let it show. They are VERY worthy of your respect. Even if it's not how you would have chosen to spend your time and energy, they HAVE produced and thus can understand what goes into other people's projects.
Derek, I have heard this before from creative, wise people I respect. You are in good company.
TODAY...................IS ONLY YESTERDAY'S TOMORROW
Yeah, this is maybe a lesson one needs to learn really well: how to continuously create future in present time? Can be very tricky.
When I was in different dance groups and we got to hear about the exciting upcoming tours, we had a saying: it is only true when we are already sitting on the airplane or coach, on the way back...
So I can completely agree with the viewpoint of "Tell me when it's done".
This is the perfectly legitimate view of an executive, a product officer type of person who is interested to see the dones. And without such an attitude, not many things would be ever accomplished.
On the other hand, there is the thing about keeping the eye on one's goals, purposes. Without constantly looking into the future, envisioning the scenes we've put up, creating the dreams, it is impossible to make them come true - that's the fundamental part of any artist's job.
The difficult part is to find the borderline of when, how and to whom to talk about it: if you are surrounded with like minded people, working together with others in a really good team, then talking about it will help the project go forward, because the intention, the positive vibes etc of the people add up, they come up with ideas of how to realize it, but if you or your project is not 100% supported by somebody who hears you talking about what you're going to do, bad things can happen to your plans.
And although I don't perfectly master all the present and future tenses in English (in Hungarian, we have quite a different concept and usage of the language), I am sure that using the right one is important for the mechanics of how things are becoming a reality.
I had really big problems with finding this fine balance, because I can get very enthusiastic about things and wanna share it with everybody, just so that I find myself flat on my face, not much later...
Now I am more conscious about what to share about my future plans and to whom, and in the meantime I do more to make my dreams come true.
But I can certainly share this with you Derek: if you tell me how do I make a nice avatar here for myself, I am certainly going to create one next time
dude your like a ray of sunshine with mystical magical lessons flowing from an enchanted forest filled with little gnomes that know the ways of the universe.
Wow, almost everything I say is in the future tense. I'm going to have to watch that (there I go again)
So you are saying that although speaking about the future helps my mental attitude to stay the course, it actually curbs my chances of executing?
Ryan
yes but replacing "if" with "when" is a great thing isn't it?
Yeah, bunch of dreamers.
I find every time you tell someone your goals,aspirations or dreams your just letting the steam out of your engine!
You said a mouth full of wisdom. Much appreciated and taken like medicine.
Quantum Thought
It is not only what you are prepared to observe, it is what you think it is.
Szia, Andi!
You speak sooth!
Artists dream a future. That's their job!
You do it well!
Love, Diz
Thanks Diz
And your site didn't show up, here it is again: http://www.myspace.com/dizheller
Wow! Something I disagree with. Not the entire post but certainly the closing line. I'm having 2 readings of my new musical comedy "Cafe Lysistrata" I had to plan it, and announce those plans -- first to get actors and musicians to participate on the performance end, and then again to get an audience.
To make something happen, I must announce it.
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving, Derek! If you're in Manhattan December 7 or 14, please come see what I'm talking about.
You know, this habit comes from going to networking events or parties. I remember when I first joined NARAS, Seattle branch, nobody knew me, and know one one paid attention to me if I told them I was in the process of writing an album or beginning something. People then just look at you blankly and then look past you. Pretty soon I realized the people who got more conversation and information out of others were the folks who spoke in future tense about their projects. "I'm working on this, but our plans are in the works for..." I tried it once and got some people's attention who then wanted to share their experience because maybe I would tell them something. That's the game. I'm not very good at it, but the feeling of being entirely alone in a networking crowd forced me to do the survival thing. How else was I to learn if no one would talk to me? With experience, this does not bother me anymore, but starting out...
Hello, Derek:
Hollywood is a field of dreams, with the idea that, "if you build it, they will come."
So, for example, if you tell people you are a music producer, the concept is that somehow, in the telling of the story, that will make you into one someday.
But my favorite joke is this:
"To his mother, he is a music producer....
To his girlfriend, he is a music producer....
But to a music producer, he is NO music producer."
I choose to live in the fruition of my dreams, and I rarely tell anybody what I plan to do, nor do I seek their approval; instead, I do what MUST be done, in the manner I believe to be most compelling, and I refuse to bow down to whore-masters and politically correct fascists who demand the abandonment of personal ideals for the sake of "success." When you lose your integrity, the resultant loss of heart reflects itself in the music. Naturally, in adopting this approach to life, you gain many hateful enemies, since professional whores cannot tolerate those who take any kind of moral stance, and to reiterate...who do what they feel MUST be done.
So, for example, if you dislike SUV's, believe they contribute to environmental damage and an ultimate oil crisis, yet your
"handlers" convince you to do an SUV commercial to make a powerful advertiser happy, then in going against your principles, you are burying yourself alive......Bob Dylan, are you listening???
The often decadent banality and cookie-cutter nature of contemporary pop/rock is predicated upon its subservience to profiteering advertisers who control the entire music biz today and insist that it be subservient to the demands of monopolies and oligopolies who control the nation.
Despite the marvels of technological innovations, we live in a very Dark Age in which rampant flagrant corruption has overtaken the Establishment and, if you wait passively hoping the other guy will do something about it, then you will awake one day to find that it is too late to do anything.
When Wall Street looted the nation's Treasury last year, for purposes of protecting entrenched Wall Street elites and paying them massive bonuses, at that time, ideally, students should have taken to the streets and shut down the trading exchanges. The students fantasized about taking action, yet never did. Then, almost a year later, as massive tuition hikes spread across the land, the inevitable result of an educational system bankrupted by Wall Street larceny, it took a direct hit against student wallets to inspire them finally to take to the streets.
Fantasies about future actions, placed upon internet message boards, are not enough...DOING something tangible is the absolute and urgent imperative, not merely in the creation of music but in all societal issues.
I hear what your are saying, but at times when I verbally commit to do something in the future to friends and family, it helps me stay focused and accountable to my vision. I tell them only the plans that I can control the outcome. Constant visualization of the positive outcome also helps.
When my brother, an inner city Chicago guy took his band to LA, he learned what you are talking about. People used to respond with so much surprise when I paid them back what I had borrowed from them here on the West Coast. They also would say to me that I was unique that I would actually accomplish the CDs or the tours that I said I was doing! I felt a little bit insulted by this. The people who are from the Midwest tend to be more "salt of the Earth types" and I tend to believe them when they say they're working on something and, sometimes, I find a way to pitch in to help midwife it to the world. I get what you're saying about being in the present and all; that's usually the best way to be, but, being a community-minded person, I get so much reward from collaboration with others and that usually involves some pre-arranging. As long as people allow for the human traits
foibles without pressure or guilt, then it can be so much fun!
this is an interesting little article. I do web design and it is important I use proper English when writing content. Thanks for the tip.
LA is the operative word here =) Folks tend to wear their dreams and future plans on their sleeves, only a percentage of it materializes and can see where hearing folks talking all the hype and promo talk can be exhausting, crying wolf till you become numb to it all.
It may be more about who you share your future plans and dreams with; if it's your close collaborators, verbalizing your plans to them could spark ideas where they can jump in and collaborate with you. I find if I start talking about an idea with my trusted folks, they jump in and help build or provide road maps from their experience..so it's not all a bad thing as I see it. There's the planning, and then the action to make it happen. Keeping all this closer to the chest and then announcing it when it's done is a safer way to go.
Countless times I hear, oh my song is gonna be in this big movie da da da, and the film comes out, where was your song? Well, it didn't make it. It's not in the film until the film is released and you're song is there..until then it's all "temp."
Thanks for sharing this Derek, LA is always in need of a good reality check =) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Love,
Manda
TerribleTim has been experiencing a taste of success in the last year.
What I do is make indications that it has already happened,I will proclaim that it has already been written in the book of TerribleTim prophecy. Spread love. Support TerribleTim culture.
Guilty as charged!
I know I am certainly guilty of this too, but isn't this what you are doing when you talk about Muckwork?
My wife sometimes says, "What are you going to do tomorrow?"
My usual reply is "Whatever needs doing". I have just retired after 40 years of FT employment and it's been a challenge to make that shift in thinking. For the first year, i felt i had to structure and plan everything ahead...and have something tangible to show for my efforts at the end of every day. Slowly, i am realizing it's ok to read a book or to sit for an hour in the middle of the day and play my guitar and that i don't need to feel guilty about it.
Here's the ultimate in future tense:
Man talking on the phone at a party in the movie Annie Hall, "Right now it's only a notion, but I think I can get money to make it into a concept, and later turn it into an idea."
I totally DISagree. Granted, you've got to be aware that there are pie-in-the-sky plans that will never materialize... But hell. Once the songs are written, the band tight, the set list established, and the venue booked, it'd be foolish NOT to start talking about the upcoming event. Our best days are in the future. They have to be, or what's to point of going on?
Also known as "pissing it away."
Years ago, I mentioned that my band was working on a new album. Worst mistake I made! Everyone kept asking me when it would be done over and over again. It added more pressure to the situation and took away from the end result. Now, I don't mention it until we are just about done with the mixing.
Down here we say "fixin to". Right now I'm fixin to smoke a wild turkey. Later I'll be fixin to smoke something else. Now I'm fixin' to say Adios ....dale
and then I'm fixin to repeat myself.
Napoleon Hill said, “Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.”
"Results have a way of informing the world". In his book "Silent Power" Stuart Wilde makes an eloquent case for keeping your near future plans intensely private as a discipline to cultivate as you raise your energy level. I strive to speak in present active to eliminate boasting and increase my humility.
I couldn't agree with you more. We hear too much about plans and none of the action that will take us there, from everything concerning recovering from the Global Recession to saving the environment. It's a terrible trap to fall into, as well. Very well put, sir.
I love reading what you write Derek. I suppose the reason I don't hear people speaking in future tense is because I live in KY. Here people talk about the kids, the grand kids, and the great grand kids. I don't have kids, so I don't talk much.
Great subject as we constantly need to be reminded about these things.
Really True.
Live for the present - talk the present.
Future is never certain - god only knows what will happen when.
If Present is not taken care & not handled properly and not lived in present - whatever the hell/heaven future is going to bring - you may not exists to see it and it may be too too too late.
Dash
I like yer concept about not sharing future plans, and how blabbing about those plans just take the air out the sails. Talking about the future is so mind deadening...My strategy is.. I just write, and one day, maybe, someone will find my stuff but honestly..who cares? I write for myself, cause the process of writing is fun.
"the exception that proves the rule"
action, yes And...
may we all die with no money in the bank as a double insult 2 our humanity... so i propose 2 never again seek another dollar as life is too precious... uh oh there i go talking again... ssshhhhhhhhh!!! much better, lol
I clean an office building every Monday-Friday. Once in a while, I will ask this guy at work a question or two about how to pitch a proposal or submit writing material. He spoke very simple words one day and said: "Deeds Not Words". My problem (if it is), is that I like to talk about it as if it is going to happen. Even if it doesn't, it feels good to think as if it is???? But.... I have quit talking about my music to people and have noticed that I am asked more about it instead of telling about it? Something to think about A........
YESSSSSSSS . . . stealth mode until the dream weaving is a reality . . .
Good advice. Well taken...if you have a history of lying. So, I humbly disagree. I speak in the future tense only when I KNOW it's going to materialize. I believe future tense can be vital and very effective from people who have shown a HISTORY of results. Smart people make note of the actual person stating such things. I like to give a "heads-up" as to what's coming, along with having current projects actually happening. You shouldn't just do away with future tense phrasing altogether. That's far too absolute. There are no absolutes. Use it sparingly, of course. People whom know you, know you can back up what you say.
hmm... so true!! never announce any plans!!!
Shit,
You caught me!
I have no future . . .
I was just perpetrating its manifestation.
. . . Fuck it, I'm GOING to change!
''tomorrow is promised to no one.''
L A M M Y aka Mr. True????
Exactly ..this is it ..in this moment, the ends are the means. Religious people have difficulty with this concept tho..
It's all about unfulfilled dreams that we all have and are trying to keep alive!!...we all want it to happen but never quite get there!!...it's like expressing a wish list out loud!!...we should just keep working at it until it actualy happens but we get over enthusiastic and expose it as if it was happening for real!!...keep's the dream alive but also keep's us away from actualy making it happen!!...human contradiction!!...a reminder to do small steps to reach biger goals one step at a time!!...
the future is NOW!
It's like a chinese philosphy; don`t talk about your dreams. I think to dreams in, or for a other world is okay but talking about this burst the balloons. I'am a good example of this wrong even suggestion :-(
Right, that's it - zipped lip from now on for me. Future plans? Don't have any.... Future projects? Nothing doing..... Nice ;)
I'll buy that T-shirt. Where can I get one?
Didn't you ever run into someone that consistently, always did what they said they were going to do?
-- Derek
Good question! Even I don't. I change my mind a lot.
Only hope they all follow your GOOD example! BUT you can't blame us for being like this, Derek, after all the news channels have been doing it for years. TV news particularly is more about what WILL happen than what HAS happened
Hey Derek,
DON'T TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW PROJECT(muck work)!!
I understand the concept, that telling what you are going to do satisfies you enough, but like Bruce Lee said, being a master requires to break your rules when necessary.
I think you should tell people, but knowing that it could backfire, and how. Some people is going to help you on your way.
So my advice to you in exchange to yours: Know when to break your own rules.:-D
Derek? "O"
I'm not saying a word.
Danny.
I agree to a certain extent with this article...I do realize that mentioning plans create some sort of pressure on the person who's going to create it, but at the same time it's a driving power if you're the kind of person who is good at planning things ahead and then putting it into action. I am personally, talking about my plans to my friends only if I have already figured it out in my head and if I know how to do it. Sometimes things may take time, but talking about it gives me motivation to do it even faster, it's like the power of dreaming, for me
But you should not of course talk about every single thing you're thinking about doing in life, that'd make you look bad and 'unprofessional' if you can't fulfill it later...
Murphy's Law + future tense = JINX!
It's the sole reason i like to keep my trap shut and let people hear things as they unfold.Jealousy's come into play when something goes right and negative feedback can be damaging to people's ego.Till it actually happens,--it just remains a plan.
Hi Derek, I was fortunate in seeing Joan Baez on her very recent UK 'Day After Tomorrow' tour.
That's pretty good for being in the present time!
Dennis Derby
Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never be mine.Lord help me today, show me the way, one day at a time. I agree Derek!
Never, especially if you do art for a living, give your service as an artist away for free. If they can't pay dollars, they can trade something for it, or give you their service in return.
Funny, but I noticed that with my American co-writers, but not with any of my Canadian co-writers. Maybe Americans are more optimistic than Canadians??? Or maybe Canadians see the writing on the wall, and Americans choose not to look at the wall. I don't know what is better...
I am glad you wrote this. Thank You. I have been trying to explain to my wife the importance of just doing rather than talking. You were able to get across what I could not.
Thanks again.
If projecting beyond the present makes people feel powerless because they have succumbed to an illusion, perhaps people who talk in the future have actually given up on it as a result of having felt powerless once too often. If they had known how to sit down with their ideas and say, "What can I do NOW to bring that goal/dream closer?", would they be asking "What's next?(right NOW)"- on the menu etc., instead of trying to talk themselves into the future. I find that Pavlina off the book list is the perfect antidote to thinking in the future or floundering in the present because he pretty much says to ask what's next(action), to take an idea, and use self-discipline and courage to run it to earth. It definitely makes for a more demanding person though. I'm definitely perplexing/annoying people who are not used to me being so jealous of my time.
Okay, what's the difference between saying plans out loud and writing them down and repeating them? I do not disagree I just want to know. Remembering writing down goals I had after hearing Tony Roberts and Zig Zigler. Some of those goals came true, because I learned not to tell the goal haters.(smile)
Thanks Derek
I agree... and disagree. I agree, because good ideas can be stolen, and sometimes dispersing your ideas prematurely weakens them. Some people feel satisfied because they have spoken an idea-- and that feeling weakens the impetus to actually DO it.
However-- I disagree, in that I believe that by speaking of projects and plans, I am putting the energy into the world and starting the wheels spinning so that God will open the doors to make the projects possible. If I keep silent about it all, then how can the world know I need it to step up and pave the way to make it possible? God can arrange the world according to our thoughts, words and actions.
BE WHAT YOU DO, TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
When speaking about the future I speak of my intentions. I know that my friends are supporting my intentions with me so it does not lower the possibility of them happening, it increases that possibility. I say things like "I intend to have my office completely organized on or before 12/31/09." That's a goal that I've set and when I say it to the folks I work with they usually will hold that intention with me so that I am supported in having what I want occur. I agree that speaking of things that are in negotiation in a sloppy way are probably hiding a fear that the outcome will be different than I intend. Once I've noticed that I have a negative thought running I make the effort to change that thought to what I want to have happen and then 'at least' I'm putting my mental energy toward what I want rather than toward what I don't want. It's using my own mind to increase success for myself rather than just "hoping" things will turn out ok. Happy Thanksgiving!
I find that people who actually do accomplish things tend to let their achievements speak for themselves while those who don't tend to act like talking about something is an achievement in it itself. I just roll my eyes (inwardly) and try not to allow their delusions to distract me from the ACTUAL work I'm doing. In short, talking does NOT equal doing.
Hey we have expression in my hometown that sums up what your writing about we say your talkin through holeB-)
We have the same problem in Brazil, but instead of "future-tense" we call it "Gerúndio".
All of our politicians speak have this practice, I'm not really sure why (irony mode: on).
Yes,I hear you,i am more with Brian Zisk on this,its almost like a reinforcement with someone else,
and usually it does work out right anyway,just not EXACTLY how you plan
(all comes out in the wash)
Wow GREAT points...so much of our lives are based on "preparing" in one way or another for some upcoming event...One set of profound lyrics (in my book anyway) was written many years ago by John Lennon that seems to constantly apply was in a simple song he wrote about the birth of his son called "Beautiful Boy." The lyrics are "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." ...man it is so true...so true...perhaps trying to live more in the moment (when you can)...might allow things to be better expedited...perhaps
...
Very Best Regards,
George
I think Derek has articulated a similar theory before, but it is worth re-iterating; I certainly find that just doing stuff tends to get stuff done with much less fuss - you get to the same place, but in a much more human fashion!
there's nothing like the present.
Derek:
This is one of the hardest lessons to learn. We are constantly trying to instill this in our consultations and with our artists. There are many reasons not to do it. Thanks for the insight. Well-stated.
I've told people this for years. When I said I wanted to do something, or I was going to do something, more than often than not it never happened. When I told people, "I am doing this," regardless of how embryonic the plan was, it came to fruition.
This applies not only to projects and jobs, but also for leaving bad situations, or making other life changes.
I've always felt uncomfortable talking about any future plans in case they don't come off or I've simply changed my mind.For me,it's much easier to talk about the things I'm actually doing at that point in the time.
Great read Derek. On the surface it seems to go against some commercial advertising and promotional values. But then, these are values of futurism based upon what is in the making or what has been finished but unreleased. Talking future is important to Your master mind group(s), they should always be in the know. Any other talking should be reserved between the mouth and the brain of the visionary.
I'm in talks to plan a meeting with myself to flesh out future plans for a comment to this post.
Yes, I've known about this concept indeed. It's just spreading the positive karma of the event that you have envisioned too thin before it can materialize. Keep those molecules together...Once it comes to fruition, you won't need to speak about it. It should then speak for itself.
Aye...to repeat that famous quote:
"when all is said and done, often more is said than done"
Good one! Never heard that. Thanks! -- Derek
I'm on tour. Come see me tomorrow night at Gypsy Den in Santa Ana.
Oh, and I just ate two pieces of really good pie.
Yes indeed tell me when it is actually going down. A pit fall of always living out past the present, you miss what the moment has to offer. Well at least that has been my exp.
Thanks!
Chris...
Great article. I learned this lesson a while back...not because I embarassed myself, but because I got sick of hearing people talk about what was GOING to happen for their band as they flipped burgers year after year. Do it...then talk.
Be here now.
Interestingly, this is sort of what these social media things have pushed for, whether intentionally or not. Facebook's status update asks "What's on your mind?" – but it used to ask "What are you doing?" Twitter: "What's happening?"
With thoughtfulness, it is still possible to share upcoming news and event announcements in present tense language:
Melissa Axel is ...
* inviting you to join her for a lovely evening of music at VENUE in CITY on DAY and TIME
* setting up a new bandcamp site to give away the silly song "Sleigh Ride In Bora Bora" for free online this holiday season
* exploring studios and connecting with some producers to see what feels right for doing some more recording
* applying the concept this article puts forth
To the ear no sweeter sound,
People like to hear themselves talk.
Ok.....I'd doing everything right now....ha.
ya dude... your right.
I totally agree that announcing your plans makes them less likely to happen and when you do tell of an accomplishment that actually occurred it had a powerful sweet flavor to it.
Just yesterday, at Thanksgiving dinner I was asked what was new and I told people about my licensing deal in Asia and other accomplishments. My aunt said "But I never heard about that". I told her I don't like to talk about things before they get done.
Derek, always wishing you the best of the best,
Ondine
For the most part, I tend to agree that indeed speaking in "present
-
tenses"-(wasn't that the lyric of
a nice pop song a ways back to?-
is a good idea and makes sense.
However I concur with the folks above who also say that when you're
talking the music "biz", some B.S.-
tends to be happening still these days and sometimes can get your foot through the door I've found!-(sigh). Therefore, I don't put down the concept of talking in future tense too much; it can ironically help sometimes- as sad as I suppose that is if looking at it from the "honesty is the best policy" angle.
A good concept for discussion
though!.. so thanks Mr. Derek!
You get so many comments; this might have already been said.
I talk about the future plans I am making for myself to keep myself from chickening out on following through with them. Also, I find this is a way of collecting advice and information. For example, I am *planning* on touring Europe next spring. I need advice and contacts and help if I am going to make it happen.
If it is a plan that hinges on someone else's good grace, or a complicated series of events that I have no control over, my lips are tight until it is actually happening.
Also, I have noticed that you are already putting your intention out there for Muckwork. That is something you are *planning* (and probably doing) but we can't see it yet.
I always thought it would help me stay focused and accountable when I announce my plans but after reading your previous blog about this and looking at my results I realized I must have thought I accomplished it but never did or it took me way longer. I still find it hard not to say what I'm up to but it feels so great when I actually deliver the goods. Thanks again for the reminder.
xoxo
JVB
LOVE IT!
This is the opposite phenomenon: Speaking positively about the past. After a good gig last night I was talking to the club owner. I found myself verbally wandering down the same dusty path, about to say how tough the last year has been, but then I switched onto a new trail and said "...but we've had some successes, opening for [big name] and playing [big festivals]." Instead of shutting down the conversation with the usual sympathy and "things'll get better" he got even more interested as it happens that the big name we'd opened for was a frequent act at his new club. Anyway, thought I'd share...
Thanks as always for the inspiration!
I guess that is a form of speaking of things as they are...
Reff:
http://www.speakfaith.com/
Opps: "As tho They Are"
Thanks, Derek, for this post. I would say I am conflicted, but instead I will offer that as a performance artist who enjoys collaboration and works in higher ed, I am FORCED to speak future tense quite a bit: to get the team together, to get the script handled, to get the venue, to get the funding, to get the audience, to get the review, to get the Committee on Academic Personnel off my backside. When I do swoop into a project/assignment and just do it, I rarely have enough of an audience for it to 'count' enough at the job, or, if it is on campus, it manages to get screwed up because there was no future-tense speaking phase and people were caught off-guard at the speed of implementation.
I do not like speaking future tense; I much prefer to 'iterate'. This is difficult in group situations since people often have different levels of comfort with the unknown. Even planning is often too active for some folks. Nebulous talk let's folk off the hook when they do not come through with their part of the draft.
I have a very large project in development. I had a venue through a commission. Had written 4 grants, got not a one AND then the venue had their budget cut when the economy collapsed. In order to make the evening happen, I had to get agreements from a number of artists in various disciplines to hold some time for me based on the dates the venue gave. It was nerve wracking asking them all. I even distributed a script! Was I BSing about the event? No. Am I still working on it? Very little. I HAD to move on, but that particular iteration has taught me how to better interface with large organizations.
I actively work to avoid using "trying to" and "will be ..." That has come to mean that I am self-funding my work and not reporting that I am working. Though it annoys me to be called a slacker by my colleagues not in the Arts, I find that I have more time to implement and develop a show/article/script.
I would like to know your thoughts on grants and future speak as well as collaborative work that requires a of planning.
Thanks again for the thought-provoking post.
Thank you Derek! I think you're right. It isn't very humble to talk about the future like we can control it, I've been guilty of this... But I don't think it's wrong to dream..ships have to sail some-where...
Rachel
Being a Nashville singer/songwriter I can easily relate to this informative article. This strange speaking custom is not only exclusive to the LA area...it's also alive and well in Nashville! I try to catch myself when I speak in the future tense about my present plans...things definitely change day-to-day in this business and in Nashville, and in LA, also...the wheels turn slow...more often than not the original plan has to be altered or sometimes thrown out altogether!
funny...I am a realist. I make choices based on what I can make happen. I am looked down upon by people who want to plan that dream vacation, buy that amazing sport car I won't condsider it until I can manage and afford it - basically work for it. Does that mean I am not fun...no...simply I am not totally in debt to fun.
I love living in the moment and making the moment happen.
Thank you fro sharing your wisdom,Derek
Bless you
I still do this some, but lately I do find myself speaking more and more in present tense about projects. Or, just posting something after it's done.
This goes great with the article you referenced at the end. Since that one I'm not talking about plans so much (still slip occasionally), but actually finishing stuff.
I learned not to talk about future plans unless they really are set in stone. Future tense speak is prominent in the entertainment industry, where things happen or don't, all because its just business! Heck, I even noticed this in the film classes I took in college. My classmates and I would say we're working on a mystery short film, but a few days later we'd change it to a romantic comedy. In some cases students would say a lot about the movies they're working on, only to not be able to film them by the end of the semester.
I have made a change because of this article.
I have plans in the works that I am not going to talk about with people until they are actually happening. Thank you for helping me to be a better person.
I too have noticed the phenomena of announced intentions failing to materialize. It's almost as if you are jinxing your own efforts by talking about them. I have a long list of past endeavors that did not come to be after I had told someone about them. So I am currently not talking about any efforts until they are actually in motion. I'd love to tell you what I'm up to now--but I can't!
This is a pretty interesting point.
Intentions versus actions. The world doesn't care what my intentions are, I'm judged by my actions. Period.
The difference in my life today (as opposed to years as a practicing alcoholic) is I follow through. I don't make commitments or promises I'm not sure I can keep.
I would say sometimes however that by announcing my plans does make them happen. Hmmmm... at least that's what people tell me; that I always do what I say I'm going to do (project wise). Although... maybe that's because I only verbalize it once I've decided I'm going to do it.
In small circles you tend to know who means what they say. I'm big on saying "cool, cool" also. Everyone is going to change the world, few actually do.
Announcing your plans doesn't make them less likely to happen. It's corollary, not causative. People who don't accomplish things talk about it. People who do are too busy to talk.
I'll definitely remember the advice in this article.
Aw, darnit.
I've had good experiences with announcing my intentions. For me, they hold me publicly accountable and are a motivation to follow-through. I made a film in the year after finishing undergrad, and that was what helped me do it. All my friends and others expected it to happen, and so I had to do it. I would even schedule shoots without having finished my script. Anything to make sure I didn't find reasons not to do it.
This point is such a relief to practice. After years of saying I was going to write a book, I started it and I finished it. It took two years and I am now revising and am seeking publication. You only have to do a little each day of something to make it happen, but you have to start and live in the present of doing rather than the future of wishing! good luck!
Wow, what an awesome challenge!
I find this so true. I actually made a conclusion months ago when I realized I was doing something similar.
I said to myself, instead of always saying "I will" say "I am."
It's so much more empowering!
This is unfortunate advice for anyone who works in development. Excepting those who actually and eventually get something made.
I accept this challenge Derek! I think we all advertise what we are going to do. "Well just do it already then"
Right? This article requires a little self-assessment from all of us.
Social media can be a great tool, but often it becomes a venue to do more of the "saying" rather than "doing". This article is a reminder to be careful and do something with THIS moment. God even tells us that tommorow isn't promised to any of us.