This is the second in my series of stories this month by Alexander Technique teachers in my paid coaching program. Shawn Copeland is an Alexander Technique teacher and Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at the Department of Music in High Point University, North Carolina. And this is his story, told from the perspective of a musician seeking excellence…

***

Think! Move! Perform!

While in London this August, I was reminded of a ubiquitous retailers obsession the Brits have – 3 for 1 campaigns. Buy two books, get a third for free. Same with shirts, potato chips, hotel rooms, soft drinks – it's endless. What is this?

It's something that works.

I noticed it working in my Self at the airport as I was leaving for Japan. I was looking for a book to read on the 13 hour trip back home – I still prefer a book to a kindle – and I found several candidates. So I had to nail it down to one.

Or did I?

Angela’s Story

I was born a month premature in the North of England, December 18th 1968. My birth was traumatic. I was an emergency Caesarean section as a result of placenta previa and placental abruption. My mother and I were not expected to survive. Yet somehow we both did. My first weeks were in a Special Care Baby Unit, jaundiced and weak.

Hence I have a very immature MORO reflex! It all makes sense now.

Following bad advice almost cost me a lifetime friendship.

I am an advocate of using mentors, a seasoned professional you might say. I am also a mentor to others. But be careful who you pick, and be careful how you listen.

Pick your mentor because they have already done what you want to do, and because you intuitively feel that they know something you don't know.

However, once you pick a mentor and start listening, here's one lesson I have learnt with great pain: ensure you are congruent with whatever advice you act upon.

Congruent?

It was an accident.

We are in the elevator, and suddenly this unknown Japanese man starts speaking impeccable English. Yoshi is there too, our Alexander Yoga guru with his feet behind his head metaphorically, while we all start wondering “Why hasn’t BodyChance Alexander impinged on the yoga scene?”

Of course it is obvious.

Are you a celebrity?

Your dog thinks so; your cat isn’t so sure.

Your children – if they are pre-adolescent – definitely think you are.

Grace, at aged 10, shared with me the bitter disillusionment she went through “when I was young” the time I admitted I did not know the answer…

“But I thought you knew everything!” She was five at the time.

Once you are a celebrity, people confer upon you abilities you have not acquired. Because you are so successful at one thing you do, people believe you must know a lot about other things too.

Have you heard of a sales funnel?

I hadn’t until a few years ago, and I can’t believe I was ever in business without understanding this concept. Unbelievable. Yet I know there are hundreds, thousands - millions of people in fact - who are going about trying to build a small business without having any concept that resembles what a sales funnel is.

Is it true that 80%+ fail at building a small business? Yes, and it is not a surprise. Ignorance is the reason.

Tomorrow, on Saturday September 28th, Cathy Madden officially launches BodyChance’s first school in the United States.

Those participating are entering into the first of 3 x 2 year modules that are prerequisites before entering the 2nd stage of education. 2nd Stage education is where you educate your Self to be a teacher, with BodyChance’s support.

2nd Stage Teaching Practice

A year ago today I sat down to start a new adventure.

It all began in print, starting with this daily blog, based on the advice of my mentor and business coach Paul Lemberg. After hearing my story he remarked "Jeremy, if you have woken up crying every morning for a year, it's time for you to change something." He was talking about Japan, and my need to situate my life in an English-speaking environment.

"It's simple" he coached "Open more studios overseas."

However, for that you need partners.

Most famous Alexander Technique teachers seem to teach to within a few days or months of their death, and this is a good thing, as most of them don't have much of a retirement plan in place. Maybe it's time you did.

All the single teachers that I have met who work full-time run a hand to mouth cash business – the idea of savings, a nice car, overseas holidays, a mortgage and comprehensive health insurance all funded from your Alexander Technique teaching practice is a pipe dream for all but an elite kind of teacher.