I am very fortunate to have met a man who has changed my life… and the way I think. His name is Mr. Twenty Twenty.
He was born John Wingert, but changed his name after a series of life transforming events. He chose the name Mr. Twenty Twenty (his real, legal name) because it best represented what he would be striving for and teaching about for the rest of his life – Clarity… Vision… and Focus.
OK, that’s all well and good for him, but what does it do for you? I think that personal experiences are always the best – let me share mine with you.
I was talking with Mr. Twenty Twenty a few days ago. We’re in a Master Mind group together that includes his wonderful wife, Carol. At one point in the Master Mind conversation, I asked a favor of Mr. Twenty Twenty.
I’m writing my first book, a fiction filled with valuable insights and learning pieces all about unconditional giving. The favor I asked was that I wanted him to critique what I had written thus far. But as I made the request and gave him some background on the book, I revealed that although I loved the most recent couple of pages, I wasn’t too keen on any of the earlier character development, which makes up about 80% of what I’d written! As I was explaining, I was “leaking power”. I was talking from a place of judgment. But this wasn’t the self-condemnation kind of judgment. This was my true inner counsel saying, “Todd, this really isn’t very good thus far, be willing to toss what doesn’t work, keep the good parts toward the end, and resume”. But at the time, I didn’t have that clarity. I wanted to pawn it off onto Mr. Twenty Twenty to have him tell me what to do. Ultimately, I was attempting to make him responsible for a decision that I alone would have to make.
So after all of my explaining… and complaining… I finally asked him. “Will you critique what I’ve written thus far?”
His answer astounded me.
“No”.
That simple one word response hit me like a ton of bricks. But right away I knew what he was saying, why he was saying it, and what I needed to do. Mr. Twenty Twenty was already clear. He listened to the emotions and the thoughts between my words and realized that I already KNEW the answer. I was just stalling. I was trying to get him to bail me out, to make me feel better, anything… but face the truth that I already knew. The first 80% was crap. I knew that. I just didn’t want to own it.
So start over. No biggie. I’m not a bad person. I’m not a bad writer. I just gotta start over.
That was one of the most incredible gifts I have ever received from someone, in that one word answer. No time wasted. No mind dribble. That’s wisdom. That’s Mr. Twenty Twenty.
So is there anything you’re unclear on in your life right now? Write to Mr. Twenty Twenty at john@wingertgroup.com. He’ll help you get clear. Quickly.
This will be one of the better things you will ever do for yourself.
Blessings to you as you gain clarity this week!
Todd