Rena and I were talking the other day about how we can best support people to make their splash in the world as big as possible. We noticed a number of people thinking that they can get all the support they need by reading books, blogs and listening to podcasts. We feel sad for them because these aren’t delivered in a context that supports the necessary growth and forward motion.
Occasionally we are standing still because we don’t have the right information to move forward. In this case a good book gets us what we need, and we’re moving forward again. Often though, the changes we need to make require far more than information. If books and information were all we needed, we’d all be rich, skinny, and have awesome relationships.
Don’t get me wrong. We love books, blogs, and podcasts. They’re great. They’re just not enough. The trouble is with the context.
Context is King
Context has to do with everything else that is surrounding the content. The context colors the content. Some contexts even prohibit the content. Let’s look at some examples to see what I’m talking about.
Imagine a group of guys who are showing off and posturing. They’re one-upping each other. In this context, what would be safe and appropriate to share here? Is that a context where a guy could share that he’s having difficulties in his marriage? Probably not.
I had a personal experience around being in the wrong context. I was reading a book. A story in the book reminded me of a time when my older infant sister died when I was six. I hadn’t thought of this in a long time. And the memories hit me like a ton of bricks. But I was on an airplane that was about to land. The context was totally wrong for me to just feel, and be in the moment, open for more healing. I had to grab my carry-on and leave the plane. Luckily I was able to re-open the experience in a safe, supportive context just a few days later.
Free Content
Free blogs, and podcasts, and inexpensive books, when they are good, give the best that they can in the context in which they’re given. But they can’t go beyond a certain limit to support change. Imagine someone saying, “I’m going to become a master personal coach by reading books.” That just sounds ludicrous. You don’t become Tony Robbins by reading books.
It’s not that authors are trying to rip you off by holding back. It’s that there is only so much we can instill in someone through a book, a blog (even this one), or a podcast.
This is why we encourage you to attend seminars, workshops, and retreats. It’s best when they don’t just lecture, but rather provide an experience. When they are done well, providing the right context, you can make a critical shift in your life in one weekend. These cost more, but the free stuff is only going to take you so far.
You can kick the tires at the auto dealer all day long for free, but it’s just not the same thing as buying the car and driving it home.
