Rewind and Fast Forward

The very first stereo I purchased was a Julliette 8-Track player with AM/FM. It came with headphones. It was $128 in 1975. I paid for it with money I had earned. I was so excited. 8-Tracks were being phased out because audio cassettes were making 8-Tracks obsolete. I didn’t care. Besides, the “Cut-Out Bin” for 8-Track Tapes went for .99 cents. I gobbled them up. And hey, I had a stereo, a Hi-Fi (short for High Fidelity!) in my bedroom. I spent many a night listening to those 8-Tracks and late night radio shows on Sunday nights like “Dr. Demento”. Barret Eugene "Barry" Hansen (born April 2, 1941), better known as Dr. Demento, was an American radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present. Hansen created the Demento persona in 1970 while working at Los Angeles station KPPC-FM.  After Hansen played "Transfusion" by Nervous Norvus on the radio, DJ "The Obscene" Steven Clean said that Hansen had to be "demented" to play that. Thereafter, the name stuck. His weekly show went into syndication in 1974  and from 1978 to 1992 was syndicated by the Westwood One Radio Network. Broadcast syndication of the show ended on June 6, 2010, but the show continues to be produced weekly in an online version. Hansen has a degree in ethnomusicology, and has written magazine articles and liner notes on recording artists outside of the novelty genre. He is credited with introducing new generations of listeners to artists of the early and middle 20th century whom they might not have otherwise discovered, such as Harry McClintock, Spike Jones, Benny Bell, Yogi Yorgesson, Stan Freberg, and Tom Lehrer, as well as with bringing parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic to national attention.

One of the features of the audio cassette that help make 8-Tracks obsolete was you could “Fast Forward” or “Rewind” to hear your favorite song again. “Control and Choice” was the defining feature. Of course CD’s improved on this feature which made rewinding cassettes obsolete, but I digress.

All this to say, “Rewind and Fast Forward” is a simple and grand way to achieve your goals in less time.  

I first heard this concept at 14 years of age in a seminar I attended by “The Pacific Institute’s Action for Excellence” facilitated by my late, great mentor Bob Moawad. He said, “Rewind to a positive memory you have of past success. It may be hitting a game winning shot or earning a 4.0 gpa. It could be a positive letter someone wrote you or someone you respect giving you praise for a job well done. Go back and remember it detail with all the positive emotions attached to it. Hold that feeling. Let’s call it positive butterflies. Then fast forward to the next goal you would like to achieve. Memory/Imagination in concert.”

I did. For 30-days. Something magic happened. I proceeded to score 25 points in 3-Quarters in a big win on the sophomore team. The coach held me out for the 4th quarter so I could play one quarter on JV where I had 9-rebounds and two more points. The total? 27 points, 19 rebounds and two wins. When I go back and remember that experience (Rewind) I can recall the praise, kind words and feedback I received.  

I still use that memory to fuel my future success in every area of my life. Before I make a presentation to 500 people, I invest a few minutes and rewind, then fast forward to a great presentation with a long line at the book table. I used to like “Standing Ovations”. They felt good. They fed my soul. Now I seek “Standing Invitations”. They are good for business. 30 people waiting in line to hire me to speak or purchase my books and audio programs never gets old.  

To summarize:

1. What memories of past success can you remember? List them. Choose one. Close your eyes and relive the memory. Feel the feelings. Smile as you recall the experience.
2. Choose a #1 Goal that means more to you than any other one. Write it down in Positive, Present Tense, Powerful and Personal terminology. It might say, “I feel great at 198 with a 34” waist! I love to work out 4x-a-week!”  
3. Sit some place quiet where you will not be disturbed first thing in the morning. Relax, breathe deeply and quiet your mind and body.  
4. Rewind to that positive past memory. Hold it and the feelings.
5. Fast Forward to your new #1 Goal. See it. Imagine it. As if was actually happening like a movie on the screen of your mind.
6. Repeat this process 2-3 x a day for 30 days as a test.
7. If anything positive happens, do it again for another 30 days.

If you make this simple habit a routine, it will accelerate your progress, astound your friends and colleagues. You will achieve your goals in a fraction of the time. I promise. Better yet, read “Creative Visualization” by Shakti Gawain. There is a reason it sold over 6,000,000 worldwide. She practices what she preaches.

I kinda miss that old Juliette 8-Track stereo and Dr. Demento. For that matter, all the old cassettes and CD’s. I guess I can download him on i-tunes. It’s just not the same. I guess it’s true. You can never go back…

But we can go forward fast, after we rewind!

Mark Matteson - 206.697.0454 - [email protected] - www.sparkingsuccess.net/store