This article, “Be Bold (Part One)” originally appeared in my weekly newsletter  and on my website before but I wanted to share it again here. Don’t receive my newsletter? Sign up here (the blue box on the right) and get the weekly news delivered to your inbox.

Be Bold

Yes, friends, it’s that time again. Time for a reprint of this summertime article. I hope you will enjoy it.

Part One

WARNING!  This article contains material that some may deem offensive.

In the summertime, one of my favorite activities is to wind down the workday at the pool. The other day, as I was sitting poolside, I noticed what appeared to be a stream from one of those hand held pump water guns.  As I looked again, to my surprise, I realized it wasn’t that at all.  Rather, it was J.J, a four year old boy peeing in the pool.

Now, that in itself is not that unique (come on, you KNOW that kids regularly sneak a pee in the pool), but this was different.  He was standing proudly by the side of the pool at the shallow end, in plain sight, swim trunks around his ankles, wearing a big smile, and letting it fly, so to speak.

As I witnessed this, I heard someone shout his name.  He stopped, mid stream (okay, sorry for that), turned his head to see who was calling, then returned to the task at hand (okay, sorry for that, too) and finished the job. J.J. then calmly pulled up his trunks and jumped in the pool still smiling.

Now there is more to this story which I intend to share next week, but for now let’s focus on this.  J.J. did not take the easy route.  He could have easily just done his thing in the pool with no one the wiser. No. He chose to be bold and make a stand (again, sorry).

Early in our lives we are all taught to speak up if we wish to be heard.  In other words, be bold.

When I was in high school, my band director used to to tell us if we were going to make a mistake, be sure to make it loud and proud.  Be bold.

In the entertainment business, you have to be bold and step up.  You can’t just sneak your way in….people need to know who you are…they need to know what you can do…and if you aren’t bold enough to show them… you might was well be peeing in the pool.

The Twenty

If you’re bold enough to accept it, my FREE gift to you is this brief exercise to help you assess where you are and where you want to go. I am certain you’ll find it to be helpful.

So, #TakeTheTwenty. You did Take The Twenty, right?  If not, why not do it now?

chris@chriskeaton.com

My podcast RANDOM ACTS

Photo Credits – Cover: c.2017 pexels.com ; “Peeing” c.2016 lefthandedtoons.com