I thought I would do this blog first since I've started to learn more about myself. I'll put my first McClain Experience up soon, I promise. There's enough stories to go around there.
First, I'm learning that I AM 35 years old, even if most of my body and mind FEEL younger. My stubborn self has had no choice but to do this annoying thing called "recovery", and I've been relegated to stretching the past week. Took me totally off my challenge time, but I also can't be taking off six months either. Eh, I'm not TOO discouraged though. I still feel good. Doing three tennis matches in one day, then going back to P90 will do that. The body gives you warning signs for a reason.
Anyway, during my recovery time, I ran into Khan Academy and it's been an absolute blast. Twice before, I had thought about going back to school because of purely ego reasons(Graduating with a terrible GPA that you had to fight every inch for because it's all your fault will do that to you), but then I figured that ego wasn't going to pay financial aid, and I got lucky to pay off the first financial aid in the first place. While this is not the same, it satisfies my educational stuff that I want to cover and learn about, and it is my own pace anyway, which I have had to learn anyway. Highly recommended, by the way.
By the way, along with that, Monument Entertainment has had two major conference calls in the past two weeks with big players. I can't divulge all this right now, but we're making a lot of strides. My pet project, Be The Ladder, will still be financed, but we're also co-producers of another project, and we've optioned other scripts. That's all I can tell you at this point till we officially have things moving along and contracts signed, but things are about to blow up.
I'll leave this blog with a thought for all my readers...quit bitching and start switching. There are enough excuses in this world, but there are also just as many solutions. Quit taking the easier road.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
McClain Challenge - P90X - Day 1
Day 1 was a different breed of animal. Most mornings, I start out by waking up, reading the news and watching it, then getting a shower. Things definitely changed this morning.
At 5:30, I was wide awake and ready to go. I turned the TV off(I sleep with it at night, by the way) and got the first DVD in...and was hoping it would be legs, since I absolutely detest doing legs most of the time(my trainer can attest to that). It ended up being chest and back, which was fine. I figured plenty of push-ups, and pull-ups(which I have to substitute because A. I have no pull up bar put up, and B. I really really suck at them right now(which WILL change, I promise you).
So I put the disc in and the first thing on there is the requisite doctor's warning to avoid doing this unless you have a physician's approval, which I understand that Beachbody, and other companies have to do to protect themselves, but considering that this is P90X, something that only the very type A people will finish, I don't know how feasible this warning is overall. After the warning, there's Tony Horton, who is like Richard Simmons if Richard Simmons laid off the coffee in the mornings and motivated people with six packs. I was warned that he could be annoying from others, but he didn't bother me any, and I figured most of the others would just put their earbuds on anyway.
Before I go into the workout, I'll explain this. I do have myself a trainer, and trained throughout the summer, but it was a very rough time. I was broke most of the summer, so I wasn't eating properly. As anyone would know, food is fuel, and since I had little fuel in me, I had far more desire than I had gasoline(and to be fair, he is a great trainer...I just didn't tell him I wasn't eating till later). While my mobility, movement, and flexibility did improve...my strength was garbage and got a lot worse. By the end of the summer, I had to take a full break to get on a proper diet and let my body recover. No tennis, no workouts, nothing. This, and the tennis tournament, is my first physical activity in just under two months.
And boy, did I ever feel it. I fancied myself good at pushups over the years, but I didn't realize how off my form was, and I wasn't doing myself any good. Doing the new form, I felt it in a hurry, and had to stop quite a bit to catch my breath. Believe it or not, I actually found this to be a great improvement. Over the years, I used to force everything...play tough guy if you will...and my form would be way off. This time, I focused on quality and making sure to keep active. I know everything's going to come together. Patience is a virtue here.
For the people that don't know P90X(and P90X 2), it's a simple premise. Thirty straight days, take a week off. Second thirty days, take a week off. Then the final thirty is supposed to be the most intense experience you'll ever know(with the probably exception of Insanity). Most don't make it the first thirty, and if they do, they quit during the first one week period. This is why I say it is truly for the ones that want it bad enough. I've never sweat so much in my life, outside of my martial arts belt tests, and that was more flop sweat from nerves. Makes me want to try again with the trainer, and with the proper focus.
Besides the change of pace in the morning, the diet had to change also. I eat breakfast, but it's mostly cereal. While I don't cook enough(or rarely ever), I knew that I had to change what I put in me. My breakfast was an egg white omelet with a bowl of fruit, and my snack was a builder bar and water(It's unreal the energy level you have with a proper breakfast). Lunch was Chik-Fil-A, admittedly, but it was a cool wrap and fruit(yes, I love fruit) with a salad. Dinner was Salmon with a salad. I am going to speak with the trainer about my diet when we both have a free day to see what I can improve, but it felt good to eat real clean today.
(Shameless plug: My trainer's name is Sam Feldman, and you can find him on Twitter @ThaDudeFeldman)
That's about the gist of it. I have 89 days to go for this, and that'll go before I know it, so I'm not groaning at the length. I do know that these success stories have to have a before and after picture, and I'm no different. This is my before picture. Much work to be done, but I can't wait.
Next update in thirty days.
At 5:30, I was wide awake and ready to go. I turned the TV off(I sleep with it at night, by the way) and got the first DVD in...and was hoping it would be legs, since I absolutely detest doing legs most of the time(my trainer can attest to that). It ended up being chest and back, which was fine. I figured plenty of push-ups, and pull-ups(which I have to substitute because A. I have no pull up bar put up, and B. I really really suck at them right now(which WILL change, I promise you).
So I put the disc in and the first thing on there is the requisite doctor's warning to avoid doing this unless you have a physician's approval, which I understand that Beachbody, and other companies have to do to protect themselves, but considering that this is P90X, something that only the very type A people will finish, I don't know how feasible this warning is overall. After the warning, there's Tony Horton, who is like Richard Simmons if Richard Simmons laid off the coffee in the mornings and motivated people with six packs. I was warned that he could be annoying from others, but he didn't bother me any, and I figured most of the others would just put their earbuds on anyway.
Before I go into the workout, I'll explain this. I do have myself a trainer, and trained throughout the summer, but it was a very rough time. I was broke most of the summer, so I wasn't eating properly. As anyone would know, food is fuel, and since I had little fuel in me, I had far more desire than I had gasoline(and to be fair, he is a great trainer...I just didn't tell him I wasn't eating till later). While my mobility, movement, and flexibility did improve...my strength was garbage and got a lot worse. By the end of the summer, I had to take a full break to get on a proper diet and let my body recover. No tennis, no workouts, nothing. This, and the tennis tournament, is my first physical activity in just under two months.
And boy, did I ever feel it. I fancied myself good at pushups over the years, but I didn't realize how off my form was, and I wasn't doing myself any good. Doing the new form, I felt it in a hurry, and had to stop quite a bit to catch my breath. Believe it or not, I actually found this to be a great improvement. Over the years, I used to force everything...play tough guy if you will...and my form would be way off. This time, I focused on quality and making sure to keep active. I know everything's going to come together. Patience is a virtue here.
For the people that don't know P90X(and P90X 2), it's a simple premise. Thirty straight days, take a week off. Second thirty days, take a week off. Then the final thirty is supposed to be the most intense experience you'll ever know(with the probably exception of Insanity). Most don't make it the first thirty, and if they do, they quit during the first one week period. This is why I say it is truly for the ones that want it bad enough. I've never sweat so much in my life, outside of my martial arts belt tests, and that was more flop sweat from nerves. Makes me want to try again with the trainer, and with the proper focus.
Besides the change of pace in the morning, the diet had to change also. I eat breakfast, but it's mostly cereal. While I don't cook enough(or rarely ever), I knew that I had to change what I put in me. My breakfast was an egg white omelet with a bowl of fruit, and my snack was a builder bar and water(It's unreal the energy level you have with a proper breakfast). Lunch was Chik-Fil-A, admittedly, but it was a cool wrap and fruit(yes, I love fruit) with a salad. Dinner was Salmon with a salad. I am going to speak with the trainer about my diet when we both have a free day to see what I can improve, but it felt good to eat real clean today.
(Shameless plug: My trainer's name is Sam Feldman, and you can find him on Twitter @ThaDudeFeldman)
That's about the gist of it. I have 89 days to go for this, and that'll go before I know it, so I'm not groaning at the length. I do know that these success stories have to have a before and after picture, and I'm no different. This is my before picture. Much work to be done, but I can't wait.
Next update in thirty days.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
The McClain Experience and the McClain Challenge
Came up with a couple of ideas that I'm going to work with. Thought I'd let you know here.
First one is what I call the McClain Experience. This came about when I remembered the question that I was asked..."What is your obsession"? That was a hard question at first because I really really thought acting was my obsession at one time, but as time went on, I realthat I was looking at the money potential of such a rough business than the whole art of it in general. I witnessed every actor doing all the exercises, reading all the books, and doing all the things necessary without being guaranteed their career would make it...and I wasn't doing that. I may have improved over time, but not at a rate I really could have if I worked harder. In all honesty, I like the business end of producing more.
But even then, that answer is because I like making money, and I love the potential of that also. With that said, it's easy to say that money is my obsession.
That sounds bad, I know...but it's also a copout answer. EVERYONE wants to make more money, even the lazy ones. Why do you think lotteries exist?
But I did figure what my two obsessions were though.
Experiences and challenges.
And that's what I'm going to make my obsession. To me, and the rest of the world, even acting and film producing can be construed as an experience. Think about it for a second...your job that you put on your 1099 when you file your taxes is ACTOR. You are in charge of your own destiny, you can make an unbelievable living if the stars align right, and millions of people know who you are(which is a blessing and a curse). I absolutely love the world of film, but I don't want to be known for only that.
So now I'll explain what these two things are.
The McClain Experience is simple. I intend to go state by state, and eventually country by country, to truly experience what is in this world. It might be a concert, it might be a hike, it might be skydiving or ziplining, or it might be anything. At first, it'll just be a picture album, but eventually I'll make a show out of it. My first Experience is going to be the USTA southern championship in Alabama next Sunday.
The McClain Challenge came from the fact that I am absolutely obsessed with challenging myself in anything, whether it's a wimpy little game on Facebook, or going for a black belt like I did about ten years ago. I like doing things I'm not supposed to be able to do, and I like going after the impossible. That's what the McClain Challenge is going to be...going after what is impossible. At first they will be my challenges, but eventually I'd like to find others around that are doing the impossible. That'll be in time though.
So I have now found my calling. I can't wait to see how far it can go.
First one is what I call the McClain Experience. This came about when I remembered the question that I was asked..."What is your obsession"? That was a hard question at first because I really really thought acting was my obsession at one time, but as time went on, I realthat I was looking at the money potential of such a rough business than the whole art of it in general. I witnessed every actor doing all the exercises, reading all the books, and doing all the things necessary without being guaranteed their career would make it...and I wasn't doing that. I may have improved over time, but not at a rate I really could have if I worked harder. In all honesty, I like the business end of producing more.
But even then, that answer is because I like making money, and I love the potential of that also. With that said, it's easy to say that money is my obsession.
That sounds bad, I know...but it's also a copout answer. EVERYONE wants to make more money, even the lazy ones. Why do you think lotteries exist?
But I did figure what my two obsessions were though.
Experiences and challenges.
And that's what I'm going to make my obsession. To me, and the rest of the world, even acting and film producing can be construed as an experience. Think about it for a second...your job that you put on your 1099 when you file your taxes is ACTOR. You are in charge of your own destiny, you can make an unbelievable living if the stars align right, and millions of people know who you are(which is a blessing and a curse). I absolutely love the world of film, but I don't want to be known for only that.
So now I'll explain what these two things are.
The McClain Experience is simple. I intend to go state by state, and eventually country by country, to truly experience what is in this world. It might be a concert, it might be a hike, it might be skydiving or ziplining, or it might be anything. At first, it'll just be a picture album, but eventually I'll make a show out of it. My first Experience is going to be the USTA southern championship in Alabama next Sunday.
The McClain Challenge came from the fact that I am absolutely obsessed with challenging myself in anything, whether it's a wimpy little game on Facebook, or going for a black belt like I did about ten years ago. I like doing things I'm not supposed to be able to do, and I like going after the impossible. That's what the McClain Challenge is going to be...going after what is impossible. At first they will be my challenges, but eventually I'd like to find others around that are doing the impossible. That'll be in time though.
So I have now found my calling. I can't wait to see how far it can go.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
When it counts
Tonight, we saw a beautiful game. Dallas vs Denver. Tony Romo vs Peyton Manning. A defensive coordinator's nightmare even before the game started.
And when Denver won 51-48, the game lived up to the hype.
But the story(well at least MY story) was the Tony Romo interception in the last two minutes, in a pressure situation, again.
And again, and again.
AND AGAIN!
But this story isn't all about Tony Romo, although it could be. This has to do with the stuff between
your ears when pressure starts raining down on you.
I always have that question. What makes certain athletes choke in the biggest situations, and what makes some thrive?
Why does a Tony Romo, a guy with a million dollar arm, million dollar looks, and everything going for him...A guy who is as accurate as it comes, and is as good of an athlete as you get in that position...completely choke just about every pressure situation you could put in front of him? Give him a lead and he keeps it, put him ten points behind and he gets a TD, but a TD or FG behind with the game on the line and he gets nervous, antsy, and forces balls into bad places...most often getting picked off.
On the other hand, let's talk Tim Tebow for a second. A guy who really can't throw, who really doesn't grasp the position, and is basically playing pee wee football with all the running around, yet when the fourth quarter comes, and it's the last couple of minutes, he does not panic, he does not even sweat. He is famous for losing one game in college, apologizing to the fans for that, then telling them he will work harder than anyone you will ever see...and then goes out to run the table.
If we really want to use a sport as an example of the mental game, and the difference between the very best, and the minor leagues, it's tennis. The distance, talent-wise, between the top 10 and top 150 is really remote compared to other sports. But the mentality is like night and day, and consistency and momentum is the hardest to keep over a real long season. Think about this for a second. You have exactly a split second, if not less, to think about your next shot, and where you are going to place it, while also having to strategize your next four shots, and hoping your opponent hasn't read your moves. That's what the very best do.
Now imagine big ball basher guy. He has huge arms and four percent body fat. He can hit a beautiful ball, and impress the fans with his gorgeous shots. He is also 150 in the world and struggling to exist on the tour because the expenses can kill you if you aren't at the top. He goes to a grand slam qualifier hoping to qualify because a first round paycheck is about $30,000, and it gives him some leeway for a few months. Now imagine losing the first round of the qualifier? That's about 2-3 grand and you are back to square one.
How about two opponents who are in the final round of qualifiers, and they are in the final set, and it's a tiebreak? Just imagine the pressure to make a grand slam draw, and enough money to live? A lot blow it time and time again.
What can cure that? What can help? It's a hard answer, but maybe repetition will help. Or remembering what's truly important would help. Lee Trevino, the legendary golfer, once said that he hit every big putt in every big tournament because he remembered when an 18th hole putt meant the difference between his wife and child going hungry, and them having food for a week.
That being said, it's very easy to say money has taken the urgency out of the modern day athlete. True, it is easy to remember Larry Bird seemingly hitting every big shot with the game on the line, with rarely a miss...or Michael Jordan stepping on the throats of his opponents because he hated to lose. But we really can't say that because Kobe Bryant makes $30 million a year, with $60 million in endorsements, and he is a killer with the game on the line.
So if it's not money, what is it?
It's a subject I'm going to continue to investigate. All I know is that the good thing about being 35 is that I understand how much more important the mental side of life is than the physical. The physical is important, but the physical only gets you so far. Remember that only a third of Shaquille O'Neal's salary ever came from sports. The rest came from his charm, his charisma, and his mind. It's no different on the A-Team. B.A. Baracus might be cool and break some heads, but he's not planning out the missions, and that's what's important in the end.
Don't climb the ladder...BE the ladder
And when Denver won 51-48, the game lived up to the hype.
But the story(well at least MY story) was the Tony Romo interception in the last two minutes, in a pressure situation, again.
And again, and again.
AND AGAIN!
But this story isn't all about Tony Romo, although it could be. This has to do with the stuff between
your ears when pressure starts raining down on you.
I always have that question. What makes certain athletes choke in the biggest situations, and what makes some thrive?
Why does a Tony Romo, a guy with a million dollar arm, million dollar looks, and everything going for him...A guy who is as accurate as it comes, and is as good of an athlete as you get in that position...completely choke just about every pressure situation you could put in front of him? Give him a lead and he keeps it, put him ten points behind and he gets a TD, but a TD or FG behind with the game on the line and he gets nervous, antsy, and forces balls into bad places...most often getting picked off.
On the other hand, let's talk Tim Tebow for a second. A guy who really can't throw, who really doesn't grasp the position, and is basically playing pee wee football with all the running around, yet when the fourth quarter comes, and it's the last couple of minutes, he does not panic, he does not even sweat. He is famous for losing one game in college, apologizing to the fans for that, then telling them he will work harder than anyone you will ever see...and then goes out to run the table.
If we really want to use a sport as an example of the mental game, and the difference between the very best, and the minor leagues, it's tennis. The distance, talent-wise, between the top 10 and top 150 is really remote compared to other sports. But the mentality is like night and day, and consistency and momentum is the hardest to keep over a real long season. Think about this for a second. You have exactly a split second, if not less, to think about your next shot, and where you are going to place it, while also having to strategize your next four shots, and hoping your opponent hasn't read your moves. That's what the very best do.
Now imagine big ball basher guy. He has huge arms and four percent body fat. He can hit a beautiful ball, and impress the fans with his gorgeous shots. He is also 150 in the world and struggling to exist on the tour because the expenses can kill you if you aren't at the top. He goes to a grand slam qualifier hoping to qualify because a first round paycheck is about $30,000, and it gives him some leeway for a few months. Now imagine losing the first round of the qualifier? That's about 2-3 grand and you are back to square one.
How about two opponents who are in the final round of qualifiers, and they are in the final set, and it's a tiebreak? Just imagine the pressure to make a grand slam draw, and enough money to live? A lot blow it time and time again.
What can cure that? What can help? It's a hard answer, but maybe repetition will help. Or remembering what's truly important would help. Lee Trevino, the legendary golfer, once said that he hit every big putt in every big tournament because he remembered when an 18th hole putt meant the difference between his wife and child going hungry, and them having food for a week.
That being said, it's very easy to say money has taken the urgency out of the modern day athlete. True, it is easy to remember Larry Bird seemingly hitting every big shot with the game on the line, with rarely a miss...or Michael Jordan stepping on the throats of his opponents because he hated to lose. But we really can't say that because Kobe Bryant makes $30 million a year, with $60 million in endorsements, and he is a killer with the game on the line.
So if it's not money, what is it?
It's a subject I'm going to continue to investigate. All I know is that the good thing about being 35 is that I understand how much more important the mental side of life is than the physical. The physical is important, but the physical only gets you so far. Remember that only a third of Shaquille O'Neal's salary ever came from sports. The rest came from his charm, his charisma, and his mind. It's no different on the A-Team. B.A. Baracus might be cool and break some heads, but he's not planning out the missions, and that's what's important in the end.
Don't climb the ladder...BE the ladder
Friday, October 4, 2013
The toxicity of stupid
Seven years ago, a simple, low-budget movie came out. It was made for two million dollars, and created by the same guy who made Beavis and Butthead famous. Back then, it was obvious that few thought twice about the film, other than "this is stupid...it's a live action Beavis and Butthead". The film would end up grossing $480,000 in limited release and bomb at the box office.
Now this movie probably describes our society as we know it today.
The movie is called "Idiocracy", and the plot is simple. Average guy and prostitute join in a one year military experiment, are totally forgotten about, and wake up five hundred years later, only to find out the collective IQ of the world has dropped drastically. Watching this, you knew you were getting the usual Beavis and Butthead humor. #1 show is called "Ow, My Balls", #1 movie is called "Ass" where people watch a naked ass fart for ninety minutes, and crops are watered with Gatorade.
Of course, none of this is new. H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" first brought up the idea of a devolved society of humans way back in 1895. Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" brought up the idea of social engineering in 1931. The problem, though, was who was going to really pay attention? "The Time Machine" was set in 802,701 AD, and the characters are the Eloi, a society of childlike adults living in deteriorating buildings who lack discipline or curiosity. "Brave New World" is set in London in 632 AD, and everyone lives under a peaceful social structure because of a set of strict rules, and no one is allowed to think for themselves or be independent. If you think about that for a second, even the settings are incredibly science fiction in nature.
And so is "Idiocracy". It's set in the year 2500 also, and the characters are such caricatures that it looks no more realistic than "Baseketball".
But now it's all too real.
Barack Obama supporters were actually caught on video not knowing what party Barack Obama resides. All they know is that he's black, and he's the president.
The top shows on cable on Thursday were two reruns of "American Dad", two reruns of "Family Guy", "Children's Hospital", "SpongeBob Squarepants", and "Project Runway".
Despite the studies linking writing cursive with cognitive brain function, Common Core will not make writing cursive a standard in their "new education". Meanwhile, more and more kids will learn how to spell like crap through shorthand texts.
When honest American citizens took the citizenship test themselves, 1 in 3 didn't know who the Vice President was, 3 in 4 didn't know why we fought the Cold War, and 2 in 5 didn't know we fought in World War II. Even worse, we're 26th in the world in Math, and 19th in Science.
Nowhere does the stupid hurt worse than on Twitter. Reading things like "WE'RE IN MARTIAL LAW!!!" while they are typing this ON TWITTER, or "We have state run media" while Rush Limbaugh and FOX news are decidedly #1. Or you can listen to the everyday sports fan on sports radio who wants some manager or coach fired because their team lost a couple in a row.
Does anyone truly want to know how we can truly get this country back? Here's the truth...it's not the Democrats or Republicans holding 100% of the seats in the House, Senate, or both like either side wants to think. It's also not the "right kind" of president either. The president only holds so much power anyway.
The truth is that WE THE PEOPLE have to get this country back. We can't wait for the geniuses in the Capitol building to quit their biggest swinging dick contest, come to a compromise, and everything is hunky dory again, because it's not going to be. What it's going to take is parents getting involved in teaching their kids again, more people starting small businesses again so that our economic train can move, and most of all, people quit dreaming and start DOING things. Take chances, make mistakes, be independent, THINK for yourself, and have the guts to be who you are. Those were the people that built this country once, and those are the ones that are going to have to do it again.
I'm starting right now.
Who is with me?
Now this movie probably describes our society as we know it today.
The movie is called "Idiocracy", and the plot is simple. Average guy and prostitute join in a one year military experiment, are totally forgotten about, and wake up five hundred years later, only to find out the collective IQ of the world has dropped drastically. Watching this, you knew you were getting the usual Beavis and Butthead humor. #1 show is called "Ow, My Balls", #1 movie is called "Ass" where people watch a naked ass fart for ninety minutes, and crops are watered with Gatorade.
Of course, none of this is new. H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" first brought up the idea of a devolved society of humans way back in 1895. Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" brought up the idea of social engineering in 1931. The problem, though, was who was going to really pay attention? "The Time Machine" was set in 802,701 AD, and the characters are the Eloi, a society of childlike adults living in deteriorating buildings who lack discipline or curiosity. "Brave New World" is set in London in 632 AD, and everyone lives under a peaceful social structure because of a set of strict rules, and no one is allowed to think for themselves or be independent. If you think about that for a second, even the settings are incredibly science fiction in nature.
And so is "Idiocracy". It's set in the year 2500 also, and the characters are such caricatures that it looks no more realistic than "Baseketball".
But now it's all too real.
Barack Obama supporters were actually caught on video not knowing what party Barack Obama resides. All they know is that he's black, and he's the president.
The top shows on cable on Thursday were two reruns of "American Dad", two reruns of "Family Guy", "Children's Hospital", "SpongeBob Squarepants", and "Project Runway".
Despite the studies linking writing cursive with cognitive brain function, Common Core will not make writing cursive a standard in their "new education". Meanwhile, more and more kids will learn how to spell like crap through shorthand texts.
When honest American citizens took the citizenship test themselves, 1 in 3 didn't know who the Vice President was, 3 in 4 didn't know why we fought the Cold War, and 2 in 5 didn't know we fought in World War II. Even worse, we're 26th in the world in Math, and 19th in Science.
Nowhere does the stupid hurt worse than on Twitter. Reading things like "WE'RE IN MARTIAL LAW!!!" while they are typing this ON TWITTER, or "We have state run media" while Rush Limbaugh and FOX news are decidedly #1. Or you can listen to the everyday sports fan on sports radio who wants some manager or coach fired because their team lost a couple in a row.
Does anyone truly want to know how we can truly get this country back? Here's the truth...it's not the Democrats or Republicans holding 100% of the seats in the House, Senate, or both like either side wants to think. It's also not the "right kind" of president either. The president only holds so much power anyway.
The truth is that WE THE PEOPLE have to get this country back. We can't wait for the geniuses in the Capitol building to quit their biggest swinging dick contest, come to a compromise, and everything is hunky dory again, because it's not going to be. What it's going to take is parents getting involved in teaching their kids again, more people starting small businesses again so that our economic train can move, and most of all, people quit dreaming and start DOING things. Take chances, make mistakes, be independent, THINK for yourself, and have the guts to be who you are. Those were the people that built this country once, and those are the ones that are going to have to do it again.
I'm starting right now.
Who is with me?
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Now I understand who I am
On August 24th, I turned 35 years old.
That little sentence will be the last time that number, or any other one advanced by one year, even matters.
This blog is also the very last time I blog about my past. The next time I talk about my past, you'll read it in my future book. This blog is about Jake McClain, and nothing but the present and the future. That's not saying that my past was difficult, or a nightmare. In fact, I had an awesome childhood. The problem is that I allowed my past to run my present, which does nothing for the future.
Simply put, the issue was my father, and by nothing he did personally. He was a tremendous Dad by every stretch of the imagination. He might've been older(50 when I was born), but there was never a day where I thought he was old. He was the biggest reason why I never look at age as any sort of an obstacle.
The problem was twofold. Number one, he skewed my perception of what a man was, and number two, I never allowed my full potential to be exhibited while he was around, which I completely blame on myself.
First off, let's focus on number one. Think of a man who looked like young Harry Truman at 13 years old, a Hollywood star most of his youth, and aged ridiculously well with perfect silver hair and no wrinkles. Then while you do that, think of someone who was also a successful businessman, and already lived a full life by the time he was fifty. Finally, think of someone who once beat a twenty five year old in arm wrestling when he was fifty five, was climbing under and over dump trucks(contractor) when he was over 70, and kept defying logic when his body was failing him. Yup, that was him in a nutshell, and through all fault of my own, I never reached MY potential. Let me explain.
When the man like that is your hero, your instincts tell you that you follow everything he does. You follow him. He might be trying to raise you into a man, but your brain is fighting you off. You love watching him in action, and watching him dominate everything around him, but when you get to a certain age, it's supposed to be your time to shine and let the father revel in the memories. I didn't do that. I was way too happy to let him continue to let him be him and I stay in the background.
Mind you, that doesn't mean I wasn't aiming for my ambitions. Oh no, I've done quite a few things that gave me some life experiences and simultaneously scared my Mom half to death. I've fought in two MMA fights with one week of training(and lost both obviously), directed two movies, helped produce five, started a political trend that got me on FOX news with Neil Cavuto and six radio interviews, walked about a ten mile stretch of Calgary, Alberta by myself when I was 19(LONG story), done more than my share of out of the blue road trips, tried and failed at promoting pro wrestling, and started a blog with the intention of seeing how far I could bring my tennis game without realizing how bad my game was and causing great embarrassment(which DID wake me up and cause me to improve my game). I've done a lot, but in the end, there was always Dad, and when I would go back home or he'd come to town, I'd walk in the familiar position...proudly behind him.
When he was passing away, there were a few tears on my end as the event was happening(and losing it one night at work, but that's another story), but surprisingly I was pretty stoic. One side of my brain was going to miss this man, and the other side was telling me that I was FAR overdue to make my way in this world, and quit looking to the past. I remember my Mom telling me that the reason I never thought he was old was because he never acted it, and he always looked ahead, not behind. That would culminate in my brother and I looking at his old stuff when he was going home for the last time. He had a ton of accomplishments that he stowed away and never told me about. If you want to interject a little humor here, he refused to be Al Bundy...remembering Polk High, four touchdowns in a game, and being the hero ad nauseum. The best accomplishment was going to be the next one.
So that leads me here. I spent the last three years figuring out who I was after my hero passed on, and figuring out what I wanted to do. I did figure it out.
I'm going to live every single moment of my life to the absolute fullest.
I'm going to create my own stories and keep looking ahead.
I'm going to be a film producer. I might even act again if the stars align right.
I'm going to make a lot of money.
I'm going to be a great Dad and husband when that time comes(no big hurry right now)
I'm going to travel all over.
I intend to stay young as I get older.
I will BE The Ladder
And most of all, I will pass this on to my future generations to truly be independent, to live every minute, and know the world belongs to the young, so always stay young.
That's enough going back...let's go forward. Plenty of experiences left.
Don't climb the ladder...BE the ladder.
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