In Michael Bungay Steiner’s last book End Malaria, he wove together a series of articles from creatives, business leaders and doers of cool things to raise money to end malaria. The proceeds raised from End Malaria went to buy mosquito nets that save lives in countries not as fortunate as most.

They raised a great deal of money, the book is a great read and looks great on a coffee table, but it wasn’t enough.

April 25 is World Malaria Day. Help us help others in saving lives. Buy something, donate cash or share with your followers/friends/fans/circles; we thank you in advance for your help.

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I’ve longed dreamed of being worthy of a TED selection. Every time I watch a talk online, I’m reminded that there are tons of smart people doing a ton of amazing things. Some of them fell into their fields, others prepared for such, but each presenter shares a passion about what it is they do.

And they inspire along the way.

Such was the goal for my TEDxPhoenixSalon talk, originally titled How My Fear Of Failing To Impress the Audience With a Catchy Title Led Me to Use This One. I practiced jokes, made sure my slides were minimal, fretted over my tone and voice, made a BrandxTshirt for the occasion and pretty much did everything I shouldn’t have done. Why? Because TEDxTalks aren’t supposed to be lectures or presentations, they’re conversations. They’re intimate. They’re meant as a platform for speakers to connect with the audience through stories. I forgot that.

Now, I’m fully aware that the presentation isn’t as bad as I thought it was. I’m also aware that most people will never be asked to give a TED Talk, let alone attend TED or appear on stage at a TEDx.

When looked at that way, I’m certainly not embarrassed or ashamed of my performance, but I know I could have done better. This line of thinking brings up two choices: I can dwell on the past and wish things were different, or I can move the fuck on, hold my head high, and make my next appearance before an audience 10x more awesome.

Image courtesy Gaping Void. Buy Hugh's stuff!

Failure isn’t bad, as long as you learn from it. Most of my accomplishments, and I’m talking a seriously high percentage, would have been nowhere near possible had I not failed first.

But the thing I’m most proud of isn’t that I Robert Diehl asked me to speak at TEDxPhoenixSalon, or that I have more fodder to learn from, but that I’ve lead a life worth sharing, worth talking about, and worthy of being learned from.

Hard to find the failure in that.

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When I played organized sports, I always liked having a coach. Not a strict authoritarian type with a typical ‘my way or the highway’ attitude, but a coach that knew when to give orders, when to praise, able to teach me how to get off the mat, and with a strong sense of what lines he won’t cross.

Regardless of where that line was—yelling, persuading, extra workouts, etc.—I never questioned a coach whom I thought believed that the outcome of his direction would produce a better me and a better team.

As I grew up, I lost that coach figure. Sure, I’ve had bosses and managers and colleagues and even a probation officer, but I’ve never found another coach.

We could always use a coach in our lives. Whether they’re helping run a basketball league, giving feedback on projects or even teach you how to appreciate what you already have, coaches create a framework that people like me thrive within. As creativity is well served when externally limited, this idea of a creative coach of sorts crossed my mind.

Now, I do not mean life coach. I’m sure they are good at whatever it is they do for their clients, but I’m not looking for a life coach. Hell, I may not be looking for anyone in particular, rather a set of guidelines I can teach myself to follow. You know, like a training program for a race or competition.

I suppose this is why people work 9-5, or in an office, when they aren’t required. This routine serves as a replacement for a motivational figure, but not a worthy one. The problem here is that I wouldn’t necessarily believe what they believe, making it less likely I’d listen.

Making it less likely I’d do what it took to get the job done. Because I don’t believe in what they believe, but if you give us all enough money, we’ll pretend to.

(What I typed barely makes sense to me, but I needed it out of my head because I feel cluttered. It’s been a helluva first three months of 2012. My TEDxTalk that I’m not proud of was uploaded today, so I’m feeling very self conscious and I’m scared to watch the video. Also, Titanic 3D was fun.)

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(I wrote this in the midst of my pre-wedding freak out. It feels unfinished, but what the hell.)

(With apologies to Todd Henry and his I’m sure to be excellent, unreleased book)

When Jason Garcia first moved to Brooklyn, I was happy for him. He packed up and left in what felt like less than a week, and seemed, at least publicly, stoked about his decision. He was sure. He was all in. I asked if he had job leads, he said he had but nothing solid, but I wished him well.

While with friends a few days later, Jason’s situation was discussed and I found myself disappointed in his what now seemed like a rash decision, and wished that he’d planned a little better. I pitied him for but a few seconds, but decided it was me projecting.

So he did this rash thing. Is he okay now? Sure, he seems to be. From what he’s told me, he is.

Again, I pitied him, but only for the same short time and with the same decision. I was jealous. Not of his escape to New York, but of his ability to make a decision. He wanted something. He took it. He experienced something none of us ever will, because no experience is ever the same. He is, of course, writing another life story of many, but his journey zigs and zags a bit more.

And it empties along the way. It empties for all of us. We make our mark, establish our legacy, and hope that we’ll be remembered fondly. That’s ego. And it’s stupid.

Last week, I was honored to speak at TEDxPhoenixSalon. I don’t think my speech went well, but I’ll leave you to judge that when footage is available. But what you or I think about the speech is irrelevant, because all that matters is that I’m a little better today than yesterday, and that I left my mark along the way.

Leave enough of those marks, and you’ll eventually run out. No matter how many you bring in, you can’t ever overcome the need to empty yourself of the gifts you’ve been given. Or the talents you were born with. Or the skill you’ve practiced hard to master.

Regardless of what we think we should save for the way back, we’ll never be successful unless we’re also willing to fail. We must give it our all.

We must die empty.

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I’m getting married this Saturday, March 24.

That day never meant anything to me. Never would have noticed it, never would have looked forward to it, and never would have thought to plan something on it. But plan something I did. March 24 will now be celebrated for as long as I’m alive. Well…at least I hope so.

Anyway, I’m having a party to celebrate my last day of singledom. My final day of legal bachelorhood is this Friday, March 23, and you should join us. It will be a collection of friends from town and those from home, and family from home. We’re going to play some poker (bring money!), we’re going to play some video games (any good Kinect games? Xbox 360 games?), and we’re going to have a good time.

It would be cool if you came and celebrated or reminisced or laughed or talked or high fived.

We’ll be at the main clubhouse at 575 West Pecos Road, Chandler 85225. Fun starts at 9pm.

Bring beer to share if you’d like, or just show up and drink ours. Or bring wine. Or something to munch on.

Or just bring yourself.

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The first Lemonade movie was about people chasing their dreams after being laid off. It shares their struggles and successes, their emotions and their dreams. Producer Erik Proulx, a recovering advertising guy that lived in Boston during filming, now has another project.

And it’s about more than a group of people determined to succeed. This time, it’s about one of the greatest American cities that has fallen on harder times than anyone could have predicted. Thanks to a group of people determined to reinvent Detroit, Motor City’s future has more than a glimmer of hope.

Recording Lemonade Detroit stories costs money. Proulx and company need people like us to help, whether that’s through buying merchandise or buying movie frames for $1 each. No matter what you choose, you’ll get to be a part of history. And you can put a movie producer credit on your resumé, too. Kinda.

First! The line starts here.

Now go buy something so we can all watch Joe Faris’s fashion design renaissance.

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It can be hard to meet like-minded people in the geographically disparate Phoenix metro. Whether you’re into indie movies, programming or anything out of the mainstream, social media especially Twitter has helped bridge that gap, making the Valley seem a whole lot smaller.

But interacting online isn’t usually enough. Good relationships need in-person time, they need chances to see each other face-to-face. They need events like TechPhx.

Formerly PodcampAZ, TechPhx is the Valley’s longest-running event focused squarely on relevant in this case, user-generated media in AZ. This free shindig looks to pair geeks who’ve got it going on with newbies looking to learn, all in the friendly, welcoming confines of the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe.

It’s a place to share ideas, ask for help on new projects, shake hands with online friends, and learn digital skills that WILL make your life easier. Thanks to generous support, TechPhx is free to all attendees.

Yep, free. What a concept.

But free comes with a few strings attached. You see, TechPhx needs volunteers. This free event can’t happen without people donating their time and now YOU have a chance to help out. Yes, you.

We’ll be at there on Saturday, February 11th at 10:00 am in Room 203.

Get there. Stop talking about wanting to.

Stop doing the same things you’ve always done. Stop making excuses about not having enough time. Stop putting opportunities off because it’s just not the right time.

Get up, get in your car and show us what you got. Many hands make light work, and many good ideas produce great few.

See you on Saturday.

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I was never baptized. I’ve never been to church with my family. I’ve never regularly attended any kind of religious service. I have, for most of my life, recognized myself as an agnostic, which is an efficient way of saying: “I can’t prove there is a God, but I can’t prove there isn’t one either, so I’m just not going to care.”

I do believe in the power of prayer, but only for the person actually praying. I believe that large groups of people, joined by shared faith, have a far better chance of living happy, fulfilling lives than those who choose to go at it alone.

I’ve never worshipped anything but myself.

Until I started reading Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment: Getting to Ecstasy Through Wine, Chocolate and Your iPod Playlist. In it, he mentions Sportuality, a term coined by a buddy of his that was into spirituality and sports (this sounds lot like a pothead ultimate frisbee fan, but stay with me) and needed a way to fuse the two.

Sportuality? That’s pretty dumb, right? And, like fusing many, many things (save PB and chocolate), it looks and sounds stupid until you experience it. Here are the basic tenets of Sportuality that I made up about an hour ago while on a plane to Portland. They are in the order I thought them up in, and are not organized besides that.

Always sacrifice for the good of the team
Where we’re going can’t be traversed alone. What you can’t do now may be solved by someone who can. Later, what you can do will save someone who can’t.

Recognize a leader.
Recognize your most talented teammate.
Make sure they get along.
Sometimes these are the same person, but too often an abundance of skill in one area hides a lacking in the other. Be sure that the leader can keep your most skilled teammate focused.

Accept hierarchy, but don’t act like one.
People are not equal. Some are smarter, faster, stronger. Others are better at managing groups. Others are great at leading them. Some people are just there to provide laughs. While you don’t always want to let your group comedian lead you, communication should stay flat, even if decisions are not.

Eliminate bad apples.
It may not be personal, some people just won’t fit. That’s okay. Let them go be happy somewhere else. Encourage them as quickly as possible.

Recognize hidden strengths.
Most great sports teams are NOT stacked with the best athletes available. Hell, some teams have guys on the team that will never get off the practice floor. That’s okay. Without those people busting their ass during the team’s non-public moments, the others couldn’t shine when the spotlight is on. Be sure to celebrate all achievements.

Follow a game plan.
Yeah, yeah, life’s happiest people experience life only in the moment, without a care about what has happened or what will happen. We get it. But what we often don’t know about those people is that they DO have a broad, overarching plan that allows them to live in the moment. They practiced hard (worked out, ate well), know their game (read good books, perused case studies) and mentally steeled themselves to block out what doesn’t matter (advertising for stuff we don’t need). Living in the moment requires planning for the future.

If you don’t love it, leave it.
If you don’t love what you do or why you are are doing it, if you don’t love who you are with or the feeling you get when you do, if you don’t love the way you act or why you are that way, then get the fuck out. Get rid of bad people. Stop paying for TV so reality shows and news don’t distract you. Give away stuff you don’t use regularly. Let love guide your way.

This needs a helluva lot of work, but it’s a start for me in trying to understand why I want what I want, do what I do and believe what I believe.

Do you have something like this?

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(Until 8pm tonight, ANYONE that signs up for the 5th Annual Body Composition Challenge at either Pro Fitness AZ location will get a FREE workout, courtesy of yours truly.)

Lay down $99, win $3000. Pay less than one hundred bucks and you’ll be in the running to win 30 times that. Bet your bookie would approve.

I would like so much not to carry around all this extra weight. Sure, I run a lot and yes, I lift weights, but I’ve never been able to get into the kind of shape that doesn’t remind you you’re fat every time you slouch and bend forward at your desk.

The kind of shape that doesn’t show itself off every time you tuck in a shirt. The shape where you can do beauty queen stretches. The kind where car rides don’t make you want to unbutton your top button.

Two months to gain good inches and lose bad ones

I’m going to change that for the next 60 days, but I’d like your help. I’d like you to participate with me. But $99 is a lot, you say. Eating right and exercising is hard, too. So fucking what? Aren’t you tired getting the same results while doing the same things? Aren’t you done with making excuses about losing weight next year? Or when you have a break?

Starting today and continuing through March 19, 2012, I will be participating in Vin Vallejo’s 5th Annual Body Fat Competition through Pro Fitness AZ. I’ll post daily recaps at TylerDHurst.com, with weekly highlights right here.

I could really, really use your help with this. Hell, maybe we can all improve our health together. Sign up today and get a free workout!

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“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake.”

If the above quote, from Chris Dodd, MPAA head and lobbyist (or will be, when he’s allowed on the floor in a few years) is completely true, it is horrifying.

I prefer Square, but cash works when it has to.

He openly admits to bribing our legislators in exchange for passing bills that benefit his industry. This is highly illegal, immoral and unjust. It’s what our system was designed to prevent.

Someone is investigating this right? Justice Department or whoever is looking into political donations to make sure they weren’t out right bribes? To make sure there wasn’t a quid pro quo arrangement between private industry and public lawmakers?

The need for artist to be paid for their work is not being questioned here. I absolutely agree with their concerns. I believe copyright makes us better. But I don’t believe that protecting old business models should require sacrificing the technology, and freedom that technology represents, that allows us to evolve in ways we could never physically initiate.

For years I’ve heard the rumors about corporations controlling the government and how ‘ha-ha’ I bet the lawmakers are just pawns and thought, “It can’t be that bad everywhere. Maybe a few, isolated issues, but nothing widespread or important. Surely someone would have spoken up had they seen this happening. Right?”

Apparently I was wrong. And that scares the hell out of me.

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