You’ll hear a lot of positive thought writers saying you should
NOT watch television because almost everything you watch is
negative and it will make you that way too.
What is my take on the matter.
First, most television IS negative – if you choose to see it that
way. True, most of it offers very little value and detracts from
you playing an active role in life – but you can turn this around
if you view it to learn what not to do.
Second, some t.v. is fantastic. A number of programs for kids –
and adults – place you in a state of wonder and excitement to
learn new things. My daughter, Faith, has learned most of her
English watching this little girl named Dora and her brother
Diego. And the few times I’ve watched Sponge Bob with my
kids I’ve been amazed at the number of references to concepts
like the ‘power of your imagination’ – visualization, mental movie
theatres, and so on.
Third, the news is almost always something to avoid watching – unless
you’re a professional copywriter. In that case the news is positive
even when it’s negative.
Why.
Because it gives you ideas you can use to better market your
products and services. Talk about what everyone is thinking
about and you’ve entered the conversation in peoples’ minds.
True, your goal for today is probably not a worthwhile one
if it is nothing more than getting the latest scoop on Britney
Spears – but things are different when you’re an entrepreneur
looking for ideas.
Fourth, if you’re in the entertainment business, the info-
marketing business, the copy writing business – or anything like
that – then you CAN watch almost anything – even a horrible
movie – and get ideas you can use to improve your business.
But you’ve got to be looking for them.
Remember though, as you’re watching the so-called ‘idiot box’
you’re doing so for one reason and one reason only – to get
the fodder for what you need to write or say.
Because so much of society IS tuned into the the latest about
Rosie, Anna, Britney, Madonna, J. Lo, Janet, Michael Jackson,
O.J., Tonya Harding and so on – it’s an easy way to come up
with something to write or speak about that will pull the
average reader or listener in.
The above represents what I consider a ‘fair and balanced’ view
on the subject of television watching. The key questions to ask
yourself about your watching of t.v. are as follows:
1. Is what you’re watching inspiring you to become MORE than
you are right now. If so, you’re watching something useful.
My son gets mega excited watching NFL football. It’s kindled
a desire in him to learn more, be more and do more. The same
goes when he watches Animal Planet or Discovery or
the History channels.
2. Is the time you’re spending watching tee-vee leading you
closer to or further away from your goals.
3. How much more could you accomplish in life if you cut back
on the time you spend before the tee-vee.
What are my tee-vee habits.
Good question:
On MOST days I don’t watch a single minute. Not one. I have never
watched a single minute of The Sopranos – and when it comes to
most daytime or night time stars, I’ve never heard of them.
If you begin talking about your favorite shows, chances are I will
not have any clue as to what you are saying.
Well then, how do I come up with so many ideas for my writing.
Good question.
I get my ideas in 3 ways:
1. I pull them directly out of the ethers – stream-of-consciousness.
I never question what I’m writing. I don’t think about it. I just start
pounding the key board with my fingertips.
2. I read. I have found that the more I read the easier it is to come
up with ideas for my writing.
3. I observe everything around me, including every conversation I
have – even those with myself.
Last point: Our home has a big screen HDTV with 500 and some
channels.
The size of my library, however, makes the large black box seem
like a sheet of paper. If you were to offer me a few thousand bucks
for my t.v. – I’d sell it to you. If you offered me the same to borrow
a few books from my library, the answer would be ‘no.’
Jim Rohn is noted for saying you’ll know the direction someone
is heading in life by the size of his t.v. when compared to the
size of his library. I think he’s right.
I also think you’ll know the direction someone is going based
upon how much time he spends reading compared to time
spent watching t.v.
Something to think about, eh.
Matthew Furey
Zen Master of the Internet®
P.S. The best thing you can watch will always be the movies
you play in your imagination – in the Theatre of the Mind.
Those in my Fearless Success Coaching program know how
true this is. Be sure to become part of it today by going to