Landmark Advanced Course (Video)
I’m really excited to present my very first VideoCast via YouTube. I have recently dumped by Dell Laptop for a Macbook Pro, which has a built in iSight camera and enough capacity to handle movie making. It also has a neat integration with YouTube for 1-click uploads.
This video is a quick look at one thing I got out of the Landmark Advanced Course which I took this weekend. That one thing is me discovering my act. An act, in the distinctions of the Landmark Education, is who we are being in the face of failure. Not our personal failure, but what perceive as a failure on someone else’s part.
The act that I have discovered myself to have is ‘you aren’t going to pull one over one me’. This means you aren’t going to take advantage of me, con me, or get away with anything. It’s not a rational reaction, but one that I have been traveling with since I was a child. I can’t even think of the first situation where it occurred but it was surely something silly.
I have seen my act in action with family, friends, people I love, as well as people I have just recently met. A good example of how the act works for me is if people are late. I have a pet peeve with being on time, so if someone is late I find myself frustrated, pissed off, or annoyed.
The impact of me being frustrated, pissed off, or annoyed is simple - I’m not happy. Remember how we defined happiness after completing the happiness project?
“Happiness is being the creator of your experience, choosing to take pleasure in what you have, right now, regardless of the circumstances, while being the best you that you can be.”
~Alex Shalman
The choosing to take pleasure in what you have part is not happening when I am choosing to be annoyed. They are in direct conflict with each other. More specifically me being my act is directly conflicting with happiness. My act is just that, an act, and it isn’t who I really am. I am committed to being really awesome with people, so I am glad I have made this distinction and have got a way to blast it.
Since this is my first video, I would appreciate some constructive criticism, so let me know in the comments below. (oh and I know the video shows a really funny face on the cover, but it picked in randomly from the middle, and well… it’s funny!)
Posted by Alex Shalman in Personal Development, Videos | June 13, 2008 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Print | 11 comments
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I’m impressed by the quality of the audio and video churned out by your mbp. I think I might have to ebay my thinkpad. More on point though, the video was raw and honest. It feels genuine and not like a pitch. I don’t feel like you’re trying to pull one over on me
Thanks Tom. Yes, I wasn’t trying to sell anything, just relaying my experience. I’m glad you like the quality, there will be more to come.
Thanks for the video Alex. You made me go back to my advance days. What’s your possibility? If you do get a chance, do SELP as well. It’s empowering.
Possibility is transformation for the world. I’m schedule to begin SELP on July 19th and can’t wait to meet up with the friends I have made, it’s going to be great. I’m not sure which project I will have yet, but I’m thinking that I want it to be online, I like this medium.
Nice video, very nice telling us of your experience. You need some more of these. Im trying to add some video blogs to my blog.
Like the video Alex. Keep um coming! Just a little technical note: think about the lighting when you’re recording. Your face is a little dark in this video which results in bad visibility of your facial expressions.
Got it. I’ll make sure the next one is well lit and make several other adjustments. I’ll be a pro at this before the end of the summer
Good one … not that bad as it was ur first video u stated … and not that dark but it wud b better if u use some light in next shoot
i havn’t tried making video anytime … but after having a look at ur video will make shoot one soon
Yes, definitely go through with it and make a video. It’s a great experience!
Well, your video was good for one of your first videos. I am not sure about lighting and such and therefore will not try to give advice on that since I could do no better than this, but I can speak on the act of speaking itself. One area that I might suggest some practice is in the use of voice inflection. Although, I understand that this kind of blog is seeking to be real and not a show - I know that you lost me because you did not change the tone of your voice. Even in general conversation I believe that it is important to have voice inflections although in a blog such as this the level of those inflections will be dwarfed in comparison to a public speaking engagement. This is hard to illustrate in words, but I might suggest noticing people in conversations over dinner or at a party. Those that are truly engaged in the conversation normally do more than just sit and speak in the same tone, but they become more animated, although again less than what might happen on a stage.
thank you very much