A Secret to Self-Help

What’s a key to self-help, self-improvement or self-development?

Meet Ace Pepper.

Ace is the most upbeat, revved up and amped up guy I know. He absolutely loves making amplifiers for musicians.

I’ve seen people in love with their work before – from plumbers to postal workers to electrical repair people — but Ace Pepper takes the passion award.

The man is plugged in. He lives to make amps and does for famous musicians. I met him at a guitar show I attended with Pat O’Bryan. I liked Ace’s energy and was curious to what made him so contagiously happy.

I didn’t see Ace for almost a year, though. When one of my amps started to whistle when it was supposed to hum, I thought of Ace. Pat and I went to see him, my old amp in tow.

Ace gave me an hour lesson in how amps are built.

It was exciting.

It was in-depth.

It was intense.

I didn’t understand any of it.

But the guy’s boyish enthusiasm for his work was riveting.

I ended up hiring Ace to make me the amp of all amps.

amp man ace pepper

I told Ace I wanted something so astonishing that Bruce Springsteen would hear the legend of it and contact me, wanting to buy it.

Now here’s where this gets interesting.

I don’t know how to use a professional amp.  Oh, I know how to plug a guitar cable into it and turn it on. But Ace’s amps have a dozen dials, multiple plug-in holes, and wires coming out of the back of it. He makes amps that would challenge Tesla. Having him build me a professional custom-made amp was asking him to build me a car I couldn’t drive.

Yet.

And that’s a secret to self improvement.

amp chassi

I told Ace I wanted him to build me an amp that I would “grow into.”

What I meant is this: I’ll learn how to use the amp once I have it. I’ll experiment, ask questions, make mistakes and grow. I’ll stretch myself into a comfortable fit.

This is true of virtually anything you want to learn.

amp mrfire

Set an intention and then start working/playing/learning to grow into it.

Same with singing.

I don’t sing.  Never used to, anyway. But I decided to do something huge and daring – not knowing exactly how I would accomplish it – and announced one day I would put on a one-man theatrical show called “Mr. Fire’s Wonder Show: An Evening of Magic, Music and Miracles.”

Talk about establishing a goal I’d need to grow into!

Singing?

Magic?

Miracles?

Well, the Law of Attraction kicked in and I started to attract the people and coaches I need to make that goal come true.

I stumbled into a vocal coach by the name of Guy Monroe. The guy is a-maz-ing. He’s also amped up about his work.

He took me under his wing, coached me with his vocal and verbal methods, and terrific upbeat energy, and I’m now singing Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Harry Chapin and more.

Recently I startled myself by singing Glen Hansard’s wonderful song, Falling Slowly, from the movie Once. I didn’t think I had a shot at getting close to the song, as it has such vocal extremes in it, from soft to shrill.

But Guy coached me, encouraged me, and I went for it.

I not only sang it, but I sang it pretty darn good.

Of course, I’m no Glen Hansard, but I’m an excellent Joe Vitale.

I’m proud of myself for daring something worthy and learning how to sing, accelerating my guitar playing, and getting an amp I have no idea how to use — yet.

Again, if you want to know a secret to self-help and self-improvement, re-read this post.

And then set a big, bold, daring goal for yourself, based on your passion.

It will help you “amp it up”.

Expect Miracles.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – You’ll notice that a key to growing fast and achieving your dreams with the Law of Attraction and more, is to have a coach. Listen to my interview with the Miracles Coach of 2009 by clicking right here. It’s another secret to self-improvement and self-help. Go for it!

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9 Comments

  1. March 14, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    Hello Joe,

    I love ONCE, it is a powerful and inspiring film.

    Thanks for sharing your journey. You show such a fine example of how we all have areas we can learn about and grow in.

    Blessings,
    Barry

  2. March 15, 2010 at 7:44 am

    Thanks for reminding me: I’d love to learn singing…….violin is my profession AND passion but singing is the next step. I wonder whether it’s possible to get the lessons online…I’ll go and find out NOW. Thanks!

  3. What a great post, Joe! 😀

    I just love the way you write about your new amp and compare learning to use it with selfgrowth! I belive we all have such amp insise of us, We just all need to learn how to use it properly…

    Greetings from Denmark,
    Claus

  4. What a great post, Joe! 😀

    I just love the way you write about your new amp and compare learning to use it with selfgrowth! I belive we all have such amp insise of us, We just all need to learn how to use it properly…

    Greetings from Denmark,
    Claus

  5. March 15, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    “…but I’m an excellent Joe Vitale”.

    Doe, you make a GREAT Joe Vitale. Thanks for being you!

  6. March 16, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Very nice post Joe. Just go for it! How often do we hold ourselves back out of fear, not sure of the outcome or not wanting to “look” foolish. Heck, life’s far too short to not go for our greatest desires.

    A visit to any assisted living facility will reveal many people who would love to be able to look foolish to feel the juice of life one more time.

  7. March 24, 2010 at 1:45 am

    Great post Joe!

    It reminds me of a concept that I picked up from Tom Peters several years ago…it was about becoming the best at something.
    Basically, he wrote that the secret was to make the decision that you were the best (only takes a split second) and then spend the rest of your time doing those things that someone who was the best would do.
    Amazing concept that I have believed and taught for years!

    Needless to say, I’m even more amped up after reading this!

    Thanks again
    Mike Shippey

  8. March 29, 2010 at 3:50 am

    Wow! Thanks for sharing such a good post. Definitely this information will help people in Self Esteem, Personality and Self Development. However, I used http://urbanmonkdiaries.wordpress.com/ for my Personality & self development. Hope it might help!

  9. May 2, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Hello Mr. Joe…
    I am Indonesian…
    I bought two of your books that you wrote together with Jo Han Mok and Jillian Coleman Wheeler… The books are already translated into Indonesian language. They are nice books…
    I love to read your articles….
    The article above is very nice to read…
    Thank you

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