Anything But Ordinary
The Power of Example
by Michael McCleary

One of the interesting things about writing a regular column is the difficulty sometimes in finding that perfect, resonant topic for the time.  At least for me, when writing, I want to deliver a timely and relevant article to the audience, while at the same time I need to find some inspiration when sharing my thoughts.  What I’m finding with this column (in which I had the same experience writing last month’s column) is that the greatest sources of inspiration often come from those around us.

Last month I was inspired, and I based the column around the comments a friend had passed on to me about having been motivated after he listened to the recording of one of my teleclasses.  Today, I was having a conversation with a good friend of mine (who is also my health and wellness coach) and she made a comment about my recent health success.  You see, I have done a pretty good job in the past few months of changing my eating habits, but when it came time to go to the gym, that was an area that had become a problem for me to accomplish.  This past week I’ve become a regular at the gym and my coach wondered what had brought about the change.  I shared a story with her about the message a motivational speaker I know from California left me last week. 

I went on to share with her that when I received the voicemail from him, the message he left hit me very hard.  It was a direct challenge to my lack of exercise and I don’t know if he even knew it at the time!  He had called me from the hotel he was staying at and left the following message, “…I’m in a real creative zone, I’m working out right now, if you can hear the heavy breathing…Afterward, I’m going to get back into my zone.” 

I was stunned by the timing and felt immediately challenged and convicted.  You see, his schedule I’m sure rivals or exceeds mine in the demand for his time, yet he was still making the time for a workout.  I had been reasoning for some time that my schedule was too crazy to fit in a workout right now.  It was apparent to me that the time issue was just an excuse.

After sharing the story my coach said to me, “you kind of look at him like a mentor don’t you?” 

Instantly, the realization that I had found a mentor really clicked for me.  My friend from California’s name is Kevin, and although I haven’t known him for more than a couple of weeks, we have had some great conversations.  He is very successful, and he is living testimony of the merit of pursuing your dreams and passions. 

So I said to her, “Yes you are right, I really do look up to him as a mentor and teacher.” 

When he left “the message”, it was like a direct challenge had been sent out from across the country, and being who I am, I couldn’t back down from that challenge.  I was tickled to call him later after my second workout in four days and leave the following message in his voicemail box, “Hey Kevin, it’s Mike, just wanted to give you a call after just finishing up my workout…” Let me tell you, it felt really, really good.

You may ask what it is that I’m trying to share with you.  What I’m trying to share is that we all live our lives, whether we realize it or not, to a great extent as a function of the power of example.  A great deal of our life is built upon what we learn both consciously and unconsciously from others.  Whether it is a teacher, a friend, a grandparent, a minister, a co-worker or boss, a favorite author or most importantly our parents, our life is greatly influenced of the good and bad examples that have played out around us.  As American author Henry Miller once wrote, “Example moves the world more than doctrine. The great exemplars are the poets of action, and it makes little difference whether they be forces for good or forces for evil.”

I share these thoughts with you because lately I have had a number of mentors, teachers and friends, people I really look up to, give me sincere confidence and encouragement about what I’m doing with the TV series and everything that goes along with it.  The latest positive comments from the many people I know and that I’m close to has made a tremendous positive impact on me.  It has provided me with the momentum to push ahead with the project.  I recently received some touching comments from my older brother, on how proud he was of me.  I don’t know of anything that could have made me feel any better about who I am or what I’m doing than what he said.

I bring up these little stories to provide a different way of thinking.  I hope to encourage you to think about your life and what it is you are doing with it.  Most importantly are you being a good example for our friends and family?  Are you being the example you need to be for our children?  Am I for that matter?  These are hard questions to ask and to think about because we have to challenge the status quo of our lives. 

The first thought I often have with such a question is, “Yes of course I’m a great example!”  When I look deeper, though, the thought then becomes, “Am I really?”  As human beings we rarely want to think poorly of ourselves.  If you can, take a few moments to look deep into your heart and soul, and really think about that question, “Am I a good example?”  What is the real answer? 

Hopefully the answer you get back is, “Yes, I am a good example.”  My answer in some areas was and still is, “No, there are some things I still need to work on.”  A perfect example of this was my commitment to exercise.  I was a terrible example to my children and family in that area of my life!  If you, like me, also have some no answers, then you have recognized that some areas of your life could use some improvement.  If so, will you then pledge with me today to begin to make those overdue life changes? 

Michael McCleary is the co-founder and CEO of Beacon Media, LLC a video production, web design and new media company located in Bay Port, Michigan.  He is also the creator and executive producer of the new TV series, Anything But Ordinary, coming to PBS and online in the summer of 2006.  To find out more about Michael and his projects you can visit his website at www.beaconmediaonline.com, his blog at www.blogitorium.com/anythingbutordinary, by stopping by his biweekly Vision teleclass at www.beaconmediaonline.com/teleclass.htm, or look for his audio podcast on iTunes (www.itunes.com) by searching under the title “Anything But Ordinary”.  You can also contact him directly by sending an email to: column@beaconmediaonline.com.