On June 8th, 2001, I was on the back patio of my apartment a block from the beach in La Jolla, California reading Michael Gelb’s How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.
I had just turned 27 and had just left the business (The Active Network) that acquired my first business (eteamz).
As we’ve discussed before, that book changed my life—particularly the 100 Questions Exercise which led to me asking myself, “How can I get paid to do what I love?”
Since then, Michael Gelb and I have become friends (he’s even an investor in Heroic) and I do the qi qong practice he taught me EVERY single morning on my sunrise hike.
But let’s go back to June 8th, 2001.
So… I’m reading about how to think like da vinci and Michael is telling us that, in addition to being one of history’s greatest artists, scientists and military engineers, apparently Leonardo was also an incredibly strong athlete as well.
Which gets us closer to the point of Today’s +1.
In the process of telling us how important it is to Optimize both our minds and our bodies, Michael recommended something called the Alexander Technique. It’s a technique originally developed for singers and actors that helps with your posture and poise.
I thought it sounded cool and for whatever reason decided I’d do a little retreat hosted by an NYU dance professor in Greece that summer. So, I booked my one-way ticket and had a great time with a few Americans and a bunch of Greek students on the magical island of Tinos.
Which officially leads us to the point of today’s +1.
Here’s the #1 lesson I picked up from that fun experience: Imagine a thread that runs from the very top of your head down through your spine to the base of your tailbone.
Can you feel it?
Now gently pull it up.
That’s it. That’s Today’s +1.
We know how important good posture is for our Power (see Presence) and for our breathing (see Optimal Breathing 101).
And that little thread is a REALLY good way to stand tall and sit tall and quickly find your ideal posture and the relaxed grace and poise it provides.
So, one more time. Imagine a thread running from the top of your head down through your spine and all the way down to your tailbone.
Gently pull it up.
Relax your shoulders. Lengthen your spine. Chest up. Chin (and shoulders) down. Breathe in through your nose, down into your belly. Smile. Exhale.
Do that now and see if you can remember it a few times today. (And tomorrow and…)
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