| Whether it's the second gunman on the grassy knoll, the alien
mystery at Roswell or what really is hidden within the high-security
confines of Area 51... conspiracy theories abound. Many of us
are amused by the speculation, while hardcore buffs examine every
nuance looking for clues to support their version of the story.
If you'll notice, all of these conspiracy theories involve some
type of dastardly deed or cover-up. Someone is out to brainwash
us or hide the facts from the public. After all, "the truth
is out there," according to X-Files scripture. I never seem
to hear people suspecting, for instance, a conspiracy by furniture
salesman to stuff money into the nooks and crannies of the couches
they sell. Yet I always find change under the cushions when I
clean. Hmm... maybe they're secretly... Oh, never mind.
There's another kind of conspiracy conjurer. You know the type.
The artist, musician or writer who believes the deck has been
stacked against him or that nobody will ever give him or her a
break. "This town is just not artist-friendly," he/she
proclaims. "This sucks. Why bother?"
To listen to these people, you'd think the radio stations, theatre
groups, art galleries (or whatever venue applies) were all part
of a sick joke, trying to obliterate creative growth. And just
like the bigger conspiracy nuts, they find clues and plenty of
ammo to support their claims.
"See, that guy never returned my call," they announce.
"I can't buy a job in this town." Anything even remotely
inconvenient that happens to them lends credence to the devious
master plot.
Here's a fun little game that I challenge you to play. It's called
the Inverse Conspiracy Game. For one entire day, I encourage you
to go through the day believing wholeheartedly that there is a
conspiracy involving you. Only with this Inverse Conspiracy, the
whole world and everyone in it are involved in a conspiracy to
help you succeed.
If you're familiar with the Jim Carey movie "The Truman
Show," you know what I mean. In the film, everything that
happens to the main character is a preplanned scene -only he has
no idea it's fabricated.
So for one day, imagine that everyone is pitching in on a secret
mission to help you. There's a positive reason behind everything
that happens to you. Even seemingly negative events are put into
action in order to propel you toward a reward that's just around
the corner. And it's your job to break the code and figure out
exactly how the world intends for you to use what happens to your
advantage.
True, this isn't your father's conspiracy theory. It will take
some brain work to reorient your mental perspective - especially
to keep it up for an entire day. But just think how this shift
in attitude might alter your progress. You'll be forced to view
everything in a far more constructive light. And when bad things
do happen, it will be your mission to find the hidden opportunity
(instead of more reasons to stop trying to reach your creative
goals).
Give this inverse conspiracy theory a try. You can always go
back to looking for evil schemes and cover-ups. In the meantime,
you just might discover an alien on a grassy knoll waiting to
help you succeed.
Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook,"
"Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself
Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site
and free e-zine that have been delivering marketing tips and inspirational
messages to music people of all kinds since 1995. Get your FREE
subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com
today.
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