Michael Masterson wrote a wonderful book Ready-Fire-Aim, and it is a must read for anyone building a business. Long before I read his book though, I had discovered the advantages of this way of doing business.

I didn't cry when my mother died, and I have felt some guilt towards that.

Of course there was some sadness, but not the same heart-wrenching sobbing that accompanied the death of my father many years earlier…

It happens so often, but every time it is mysterious. Alexander mentioned it:

Directly you get them to the point where they are right, they won't go on -- there is no urge -- they don't want to go on. 
That means that all energy and accomplishment can only be used when it is accompanied by the wrong thing.

That statement has always puzzled me a little, and it happened today in class. She wanted to sing, was pushing down, so I got in the way of that. It's my job. She bought her legs into the picture, we even danced a little. And then:

Elliot was 5 years old and he loved plugs.

And cords, sockets, wires – anything that carried a current. I took him to the zoo – all day he kept inspecting the plumbing. Giraffes, elephants, lions – he wanted none of that. Just show me where the water taps are…

Fear is legitimate, but not smart.

There’s a book by Seth Godin called Linchpin which talks about the reptilian brain, and how fear in that area is hard to rationalize or understand. We all know it. The deep-bellied gnawing sensation that eats away confidence, vitality and life. I had it this morning for no specific reason. I could think of many reasons why I felt that, still do a little, but none of them add up to what I experience. I don’t have any “causally related” feeling that says “Oh that’s why.” It just is.

After I produced and launched this website with paid membership plans – on a free 3 month trial basis -  an acquaintance passed on an email she received from a fellow teacher – who had been following my blog - that complained that when “Jeremy asked for money” this was just “too much” and the writer was “completely turned off.” It fascinated me as a response.

Isn’t that a good description of you?

Many years ago, at the Sebel Townhouse Hotel in Kings Cross, I had the honour of meeting Sir Ralph Richardson (1902~1983). Many of you won’t know who he is, but along with John Gielgud and Lawrence Oliver, he was considered one of the great actors of his time. I think he was in Australia appearing in the Kingfisher, one of his final performances.

Hikikomori is a name they use in Japan for a person who won’t leave their home, who will not venture into the world. These people can spend years living at home, often in their bedroom, even refusing to speak. It is an epidemic problem in Japan that touches most people. I have known of several, both through my family connections and through BodyChance Japan.

For those of you that followed my series of emails on the planning of BCLA, I am happy to report that Brett started today working as the first BodyChance entrepreneur swinging his tongue in America. I flew in from Mullumbimby in Australia this morning, then drove down to San Diego today chatting with Brett about the new studio. We met up with others for a late night chat, and now I am finally a getting to my blog (although I already wrote another one to-day - see below).

I heard to-day that I was not to be invited to a meeting of teachers in LA next Sunday to talk about how they might support each other getting their Alexander Technique practices a little busier. On that day I am in LA, I am available and I (was) willing to attend.

I had heard about this meeting two weeks ago, and I believed I could help them with specific advice to their questions, so I rearranged my schedule in Japan – spending money to change the date on my Japanese return ticket – so I could be in LA for that Sunday meeting.