The Tao of Ed

[PaulS]

I was just reading the comments on the blog for the Day 2 post (Day 2 Is About Getting Ideas) and I think they warrant some discussion. Some discussion had arisen around the idea that the podcasts were full of "so much idle talk" and "chit chatting", and some of the discussion ran counter to that suggesting. Also, some people brought up the idea that summaries of the podcasts should be posted, but let me come back to that.

The title of this thread was something I came up with half jokingly. First it was going to be "The Zen of Ed", but I was pretty sure that I wasn't using the word correctly. So I looked up "Tao" on Wikipedia and I was amazed to find that it really described what the whole Ed Experience (didn't they play outdoor rock festivals in the late 1960's?) is about:
"often translated as ‘Way’ or 'Path'"
and
"fulfillment in life cannot be attained by forcing one's own destiny; instead, one must be receptive to the path laid for them by nature and circumstance, which will themselves provide what is necessary"

That's really the essence of what Ed's tutelage is about. The technical underpinnings of what Ed teaches are very sound, they always are. Much of that is supported by Dan, Rob and others. But part of studying under Ed is the journey, and if you strip the Yin of what people describe as idle talk, or time killing chatter from the Yang of the technical material, it's just not as robust an experience.

I've heard Ed describe it as something akin to Judo (which I happen to study) where your opponent charges, you gracefully use your force to guide their force, pushing them in the direction that you wanted them to go, which was really just a very particular spot along the path they were moving on under their own force anyway.

My point (and I swear I do have one) is that you can't just strip out the technical bits and expect them to work as gracefully or as well. As cliche as it is going to sound, you have to do the "wax on, wax off" part of the process if you want to be able to "sweep the leg, Johnny" later.

So my advice (and please, other people who have done The Challenge, weigh in on this) to those among you who are wondering where the beef is:

Let go, Let Ed

About content summaries, in past challenges these were produced by lovely and talented participants, and I would expect that to happen again this year.
But if you limit your study just to those, it will be like just reading the Cliff's Notes, you might get through the test, but you won't really attain a mastery of the material.

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong,
-PS

[jwvanderbeck]

I agree 100%

[PeteWailes]

For more information on the Tao, read the excellent web comic No Need For Bushido, which rocks.

And on the topic of comics that rock, read SinFest too.

[Caro]

Originally Posted by PaulS

Let go, Let Ed

-PS

Profound post Paul!

We all have our own unique styles and that will appeal to some people and not to others - the saying 'you can't please everyone all of the time' is true.

And we all buy into certain qualities more than others - and that differs from person to person.

The key is to be true to who you are.

That is what I LOVE about Ed & Dan and other members I am privileged to know here. They're real & they're themselves and they share that with us.

What intrigues me is that those that criticize others and want them to 'change' to appease them - are the ones that often in their own self talk feel they are not good enough within and feel a pressure to change or a rebelliousness not to.

We're all different - and when we come to accept ourselves for who we are - we find it easier to accept others for who they are - and either choose to engage with that, or not.

As Ghandi says: "Be the Change You Want To See In The World" as opposed to expecting everyone/thing to change for you.

If Ed's or Dan's style is not for you - then find an environment that matches the approach you want to see in action - that is a WIN WIN result for all concerned.

OK - back to some more frivolous thoughts...

Caro

[travel2007]

Paul,

Thank you for that post as I was feeling quite defensive myself about those comments! I mean, Ed and Dan have done this for FREE, teaching thousands of people with thousands of different skill levels... that in itself is amazing.

But the fact that people feel that they have the right to criticize them is really, really irritating. I think that Ed and Dan are above ridiculous comments like this, but it does make you realize that some people just don't get it.

And I agree with you that Ed's way is actually very calming to me and allows me to slowly move forward on this path. I am too overwhelmed and intimidated to learn by those who "cut to it" and only show the Cliff note version!

Thank you for your intelligent post!

Anya

[REcoach]

I'm trying to remember? Did we "30DC first-timers" complain in these ways last year? If we had, would there be a 30DC III?

Haven't been in a training situation with Dan, though I followed his self-challenge (yup, that one with the thong); but I don't remember feeling the need to tell Ed what to give me and how I'd like it served up. Whenever we wrote a post saying "I'm having trouble with this"--trust me--experienced angels flew into the forum with help! And they have here, as well.

Nothing[/U] Ed has said in the podcasts and videos is unimportant (well, maybe just that sentence about someone having phones ringing). He gives us insight into the way he looks at this business, how he thinks, what he has learned that's important and how an experienced mind analyzes and forms a viable business--as well as the steps we need to take. We can't get that from a list of tasks to check off.

I'm coming out of a program that supposedly gave me the steps (list of tasks to check off). It was the biggest disappointment I've experienced with online marketing, and I'm far from alone in those feelings. The chance to listen to Ed--even if he was talking to himself about how he does this busines--is priceless. But, oh yeah, that's right, it's FREE!!!

Keep it comin' Ed. We appreciate it!

[nello]

One of the problems of the challenge (not only of the challenge but very much in a general sense) is that there is a great number of first-timers.

Per se is good as there is plenty of people who have genuine interest in starting their business.

But to me this can also become a problem: as it happens with niches, when they become "too big", you have problems to get your message across as people in all the "web 2.0 organized chaos" tend to form their ideas on peer-based information jumping the gun based on all the stuff that's available to them.

Blogs are good - forums are good - but also too much of a good thing car harm.

And this is, in my view, one of the signs of weakness of Web 2.0 and it frustrates me... wait to see lot more confusion when people start blogging about the challenge...

For those who wonder what is my "problem", this is that I started IM in 1997 with Corey Rudl (and we were paying lots of money...) and because we were a small group of people, we were listening to him first.

I find ungenerous some comments, again, due to information overload (I am also guilty to create that...) so, people, please

LISTEN TO ED FIRST

as you came here to take part to this challenge because you wanted to learn from him - on top of that he is doing it for FREE - for goodness sake!!!

All the rest, including forums and blogs... leave it aside to help you and support in case of doubts of to integrate what Ed says.

[mindykoch]

I SO AGREE. I completely agree with the original post in this thread.

Come on guys!! Don't sweat the small stuff like whether the podcasts are downloading in iTunes correctly or if phones are ringing in the background or if Ed is too conversational... this challenge isn't about iTune's ability to format our podcasts or about whether Ed's videos are filmed by a movie director... this challenge is about OUR SUCCESS! And WE CAN SUCCEED with what Ed is giving us!

SERIOUSLY... those of you who are new to Internet Marketing have NO IDEA how much other Internet Marketers would be charging you for the information you have received in the pre-season alone. I can see them charging you at least $77 - $297 for just the pre-season training alone.

And offering you NO support.

By the time you are done here... you will have received the equivalent to a couple thousand OR MORE worth of information, coaching, and training. FOR FREE.

I know you don't believe that. BUT IT IS SO TRUE.

All I can say is "BE ONE WITH THE CHALLENGE... BE ONE WITH THE ED"

[Sheri]

Originally Posted by PaulS

I was just reading the comments on the blog for the Day 2 post (Day 2 Is About Getting Ideas) and I think they warrant some discussion. Some discussion had arisen around the idea that the podcasts were full of "so much idle talk" and "chit chatting", and some of the discussion ran counter to that suggesting. Also, some people brought up the idea that summaries of the podcasts should be posted, but let me come back to that.

The title of this thread was something I came up with half jokingly. First it was going to be "The Zen of Ed", but I was pretty sure that I wasn't using the word correctly. So I looked up "Tao" on Wikipedia and I was amazed to find that it really described what the whole Ed Experience (didn't they play outdoor rock festivals in the late 1960's?) is about:
"often translated as ‘Way’ or 'Path'"
and
"fulfillment in life cannot be attained by forcing one's own destiny; instead, one must be receptive to the path laid for them by nature and circumstance, which will themselves provide what is necessary"

That's really the essence of what Ed's tutelage is about. The technical underpinnings of what Ed teaches are very sound, they always are. Much of that is supported by Dan, Rob and others. But part of studying under Ed is the journey, and if you strip the Yin of what people describe as idle talk, or time killing chatter from the Yang of the technical material, it's just not as robust an experience.

I've heard Ed describe it as something akin to Judo (which I happen to study) where your opponent charges, you gracefully use your force to guide their force, pushing them in the direction that you wanted them to go, which was really just a very particular spot along the path they were moving on under their own force anyway.

My point (and I swear I do have one) is that you can't just strip out the technical bits and expect them to work as gracefully or as well. As cliche as it is going to sound, you have to do the "wax on, wax off" part of the process if you want to be able to "sweep the leg, Johnny" later.

So my advice (and please, other people who have done The Challenge, weigh in on this) to those among you who are wondering where the beef is:

Let go, Let Ed

About content summaries, in past challenges these were produced by lovely and talented participants, and I would expect that to happen again this year.
But if you limit your study just to those, it will be like just reading the Cliff's Notes, you might get through the test, but you won't really attain a mastery of the material.

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong,
-PS

Very nicely said

[raymond]

Wow! What a long cool elaboration on Tao?

Fantastic!