If you've been following my current mini-series, you know I am up to REASON 3.

Reason 3?

There were 4 reasons at-the-time COO Carlos Ghosn gave for why Nissan was about to crash and burn in 1999. In one of the most spectacular corporate recoveries ever seen: within one year Nissan returned to profit after 6 years of losses; within a few years Nissan had vaulted into the positon of the most profitable car-maker in the world.

The breath-taking speed of this transformation was the essence of the 3rd reason Carlos wrote about:

Just 7 days ago, Carlos Ghosn stepped down as CEO of Nissan.

He had a remarkable run, from 1999 turning around an iconic company that was about to crash; then going on to produce a series of "zero-emission" electric cars for developing countries to protect our environment. He is doing good in the world.

In Japan they nicknamed him "7/11" in tribute to his prodigious working ethic.

One of the delights of my current life is working with a variety of teachers from all over the world. They often inspire my daily epistles - I swiped today's Subject line off a Texas gal just 10 minutes ago. (Thanks Julie, now put that gun away.)

Why do these teachers and students come?

Not to get rich. None of us are rich. Are you rich?

Perhaps we are philanthropists masquerading as professional teachers…

Here's what you've most likely already given:

I was in New York and it was the penultimate Christmas eve.

I was relaxing in Bill Walsh's Soho studio - site of many an interesting AT workshop - when I realized it was time to get to the airport.

I'd left it too late.

Miss this flight, and I'd lose out on a special Christmas with Michael, Lena, Rowan and his sweet son John-Michael (who later died) in California. It was a special invitation, and it turned out to be the last time I ever saw two of them.

Since I invited Pecs Minor to the party, man are "my guys" having fun or what?!

Don't know what I am talking about?

Pecs Minor is a muscle: one of "my guys" = Pectoralis Minor. Pecca for short.

Thanks to Don (not Burton, Weed, but the Burton started all this 40 years ago) I recently discovered my little Pecca.

My little Pecca is behaving in scurrilous manner, getting away with all kinds of mischief for a number of years now.

How's yours behaving?

Here's how you find that out…

***

Have you got $30,000 to spare?

Then maybe you can build this machine and start proving to folks that Alexander was really on to something.

Not for everyone, but Tim Cacciatore keeps plugging away, finding hard science to back up the fluffy claims people like me spread about.

Find out about his new machine here…

How do you feel when people cheer your work?

If you love that too much, you're in trouble.

Why?

Because what happens when they DON'T like your work?

:(

EXACTLY.

***

You need a replacement plan for your addiction to praise.

When you are standing in front of a group of people, your mouth dry, terror in your heart and wondering "Will they like me? Will I do well tonight?" that's when you pull out your replacement plan: a list of things you must do to meet your own standard.

When I first started my school in Japan, I once wanted to die.

Not suicide, but almost. Because something happened…

And I reacted badly to it.

I was washed away by a tsunami of emotions so brutal that, for a moment, I wanted to drown. I wanted to escape from a darkness so overwhelming, it took my breath away.

I was co-teaching a workshop in Kyoto, in 2001.

Christina Grönbech is not an Alexander teacher or trainee. (Her sister is)

However, she enjoys reading my Daily because (she writes) …

… it allows people like me to read even more about the experiences, interpretations and thoughts made by a very, very skilled AT-teacher. And I already really enjoy reading your mails so I welcome your initiative very much.

Not sure about the “very, very” (thank you) but otherwise -- > TRUE.

Talking about secrets.

Last night I “outed” my Self – I exposed my secret life. Did you?

It was invigorating, uplifting and liberating.

***

The day started with a trainee in tears in my ATSuccess class, sharing her secret fear. She admitted to being frightened of joining Facebook because “I might be attacked”. As she shared her ‘secret’ with us, she got freer.

“Secrets” will cause head/spinal dysfunction.