TobiasZimpel.com

Still alive!

Tobias Zimpel — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:59:30 +0000

I just wanted to post a quick note and tell you that I’m still alive, and so is this site, although I put it on the backburner months ago to get busy in other projects. I sure will come back to this site - and to you! I can only guess when this will be - presumably around spring next year or so, but don’t hold me to that.

Anyway - I wish you much success until then, and hope you do the same. And believe me that I will have a lot to share with you!

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Where Do YOU want to go?

Tobias Zimpel — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:10:26 +0000

Lately I had a conversation with my brother about my blog and how it is going.

While we were talking, I found that he was not quite right about the focus of this site. I thought that maybe he is not the only one, so I better clarify this a bit before I continue blogging.

He understood my change of focus in such a way that I no longer want to just repeat common knowledge or techniques, but express my own experiences. That’s not wrong, but also not the whole truth.

Of course I want to write from the basis of my experiences, but also with a tight focus on certain topics and the intention of this whole thing called TobiasZimpel.com.

I started this site with the idea to provide you with everything to live your dream life, including the tools to get there and how to use them. But when I thought about it, I found out that there are a lot of other ressources that teach you “how to drive” - and they do a much better job than I could. There are even sites that collect the best of the best - like Lifehack.org.

So I asked myself a question:

Should I really reinvent the wheel from scratch?

Once I asked the right question, the answer became simple:

No!

One of the strongest dreams of mine always was to create something entirely new, something that never existed before. Something that originates in my heart, my soul, something that is a full expression of who I am.

That was the point when I decided to change the topic and focus of this site. It’s now called “Dare To Dream” for a while.

Dare To Dream in a nutshell

To explain this site, I think I best use an analogy: Let’s suppose that you want to get from Point A to Point B physically.

I won’t tell you that you could walk, drive by car, use a bicycle, an airplane or a ship - you probably know that already, don’t you?

I most probably won’t even help you to decide what way of traveling is the best - simply because there is no right or wrong way of traveling.

And I also won’t tell you how to drive a car, repair a bike, or what is a good walking shoe you might consider to buy.

However, I will write about my favourite walking shoe, how I like to travel, and my experiences with different cars or whatever if I find it appropriate. But even this will not be the main focus of TobiasZimpel.com.

What I want to really focus on is helping you to find out where to go in the first place. I want to inspire you to dream again, to start believing that life could be much bigger than a cubicle that looks more like a prison cell than like the open sky under which you could be traveling.

I want to show you that life can be everything you want it to be, and that the only limiting factor in your life is YOU!

The second large topic is my vision not only for my own life, but about where our world as a whole is heading towards, and what we all can do to change the world for the better right here and now!

These two topics are the essence of me and my life, and what I really want to express.

They are what makes this site unique and worthwhile.

If you want to suggest a topic or are interested in something else concerning your dreams and how to live them, please let me know or write a comment in the comment form.

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Getting Back to Love

Tobias Zimpel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:49:31 +0000

Erin Pavlina just wrote a beautiful article on her blog about how she deals with her two children having an argument.

She used to find out what the conflict is about and who started it, but found that this is not useful at all when it comes to solcing the conflict and having her children to stop the argument.

Instead she invented some kind of game she calls Getting Back to Love. Playing this game, her children not only learn to express their feelings towards each other, but are also shown quite plainly that negative feelings will increase their distance, while positive feelings will bring them closer together again.

I think this is a beautiful way to solve conflicts, as it helps the arguing parties to step aside and look at what they really feel deep inside. Most of the time they will find that they don’t want to argue, but be nice with each other, because their true feeling is love.

I agree with Erin that this will not only work with children, but is also applicable to adults.

If you have additional ideas on how to solve arguments, have a hard time with it, or want to share your own story to inspire others, please use the comment form or send me a private message using my contact form.

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Don’t Worry - Be …

Tobias Zimpel — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:07:40 +0000

…happy! I think most of you out there know that kinda funny song by Bobby McFerrin back from 1988. But have you ever thought about its deeper meaning?

Isn’t it true that worry does not change anything about the underlying situation? In only adds an additional burden to it.

Here’s a great quote about worries that always helps me when I lose my head over what happened or might happen to me:

It makes no sense to worry about the things you have no control over, because if you have no control over them, it makes no sense to worry about them.

It makes no sense to worry about the things that you do have control over, because if you’ve got control over them it makes no sense to worry about them.

- Wayne W. Dyer

Isn’t this simple? If you can change something, change it instead of worrying, and if you can’t, worry still just a waste of energy and time.

What is it you worry about?
Is there something you can do about the situation? Then do it!
Is there nothing you can do about the situation? Then do that

If you have additional ideas on how to stop worrying, have a hard time with it, or want to share your own story to inspire others, please use the comment form or send me a private message using my contact form.

Update June 14. 2008: Removed video.

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An Inspiring Story: Make A Difference Movie

Tobias Zimpel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:14:43 +0000

Have you already seen the Make A Difference Movie by Mary Robinson Reynolds?

This is exactly what I love so much about the internet: It allows for a simple message to spread through the whole world in a matter of seconds.

And that movie is a very special piece. It’s about a special boy and his fifth grade teacher. It is one of those stories that bypasses your mind and goes directly into your heart, touching you at a very deep level.

We all know how influential teachers can be to the lives of our children. But have you ever considered what influence you have on the people around you by your actions - or lack of action?

I won’t tell you any more about it, just because watching this simple movie is an experience of its own.

So just click on the link and watch this incredible movie. It’s just a few minutes long. However, go and get some kleenex before you start watching.

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Wouldn’t it be great if…?

Tobias Zimpel — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:52:13 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great if you were living the life of your dreams?

Sometimes we get stuck in our current life, and this can lead to a point where change seems nearly impossible, and where you stopped dreaming and visioning. Your life seems shallow and empty, and there is simply no spice in it anymore.

You maybe still know what you might want, but you can’t imagine anymore how it will be if you get it, how you will feel, and how life will change. You feel blocked, as if you are literally stuck somewhere.

However, there is a powerful question that will get you into visioning mode again immediately: Wouldn’t it be great if…?

You can not only use this question to start dreaming yourself, but also to inspire others. I hace to thank Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc. for this technique. He uses this question quite often in his keynotes when announcing visions of him or new products to the public.

You can ask this question whenever you want, wherever you want, about whatever you want!

Wouldn’t it be great if I had a job as a college teacher?
Wouldn’t it be great if I lived in a larger home, where I have place for everything that is important to me?
Wouldn’t it be great if I could help just one other person today?
Wouldn’t it be great if I could really make a difference in the life of others?
Wouldn’t it be great if I had an ice cream right now?

This question works for the profane as well as for the profound.

Can you see that poor woman sitting at the check-out? See how stressed she is serving her customers, one after another? She’s all alone, and the line is getting longer and longer. Her face is stiff, and you heard her just snapping at an impatient man who is waiting in the line. When it’s finally your turn you smile at her and say her what a great job she is doing. Immediately, her breathing gets deeper, and you see a little smile hushing over her face, while she thanks you. Was that a tear you just saw in her eye? Wouldn’t it be really great if you were the one who brightened up her day just a tiny little bit?

Can you feel the ice cream melting on your tongue? Can you taste its sweetness, fel how cool it is? Imagine how it will make you feel while you are sitting under a bright, blue sky? Wouldn’t it be great to be just there right now?

Can you imagine sitting at the porch of your brand new home, looking around? Can you see your neighbours smiling at you and hear them wishing you a good morning? Look at your new home. How does it look like? What is it made of? Smell the fresh air. Was that a butterfly you just saw there in the tree? Now go inside, and look around. Isn’t it beautiful how all of your favourite things beautifully fit into your old and new furniture? It is just the way you always dreamed of. Can you still smell the fresh painting? Walk through every room, and feel the happyness. Feel the energy of your new home, and how great it will feel to live in such a fabulous house.

Start dreaming again. Even if it is just a second, it will improve your life. When you feel it in your mind as if it were real, you are already halfway there.

What is it that you want? Inspire others by sharing your dreams in the comments. What would be great for you?

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Open Your Eyes To Find Opportunities For Help

Tobias Zimpel — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:45:40 +0000

When you want to make a difference in the life of others, you must first know where your help could be of use.

I already provided you with some ideas to help others, but maybe you struggle with finding opportunities to help others.

There are opportunities wherever you look - you just have to open your eyes in order to see them. And many people tend to look away when there are people in need.

When I search for opportunities to help, I look at the people around me and ask a simple question:

How can I make this person’s life a little bit easier right now?

What is this person doing right now, or trying to do? Can I help there? Can I do something else to keep some burden from her back? Can I support her in some way, even if it is just a hug and a short “I know you can do this”?

There are always ways to help other people. If you don’t know, just offer your help and ask what you could do. If your offer is honest, the person will eventually accept your help, even if it is rejected at first.

Just make a difference in someone’s life every day. Once a day is enough, but if you can and want to do more, go for it for as long as you want. Only do it at least once a day.

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Be A Wonder - Every Day!

Tobias Zimpel — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:47:46 +0000

I want to invite you to be a wonder - and be one every day.

This means that you do something to make a positive difference in the life of someone else every day. In my last post I gave you a short list of simple ideas to follow. Every item on this list is a small wonder for someone, and when you are a wonder every day, there will be 365 more wonders in only a year.

And the great thing is this: The more love you spread around, the more love will come back to you. You deepen the relationships to the people around you, and build relationships to new people. And eventually, your whole life might feel like a wonder, like a daring adventure. And every morning, there is one big question you will ask:

In whose life will you be the wonder today?

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7 Easy Things You Can Do To Help People In Need

Tobias Zimpel — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:18:17 +0000

To add to my last post on how you can help people in need, I thought about some easy things you can do to help people in need. Most of it will be only helpful today, but even helping today is great, even if tomorrow will be as bad as yesterday again.

If you are in a position to provide long-term help to those people, you already know that as well as what you can do for them. So this post is for those who aren’t.

Without further ado, here are 7 easy things you can do to help people in need:

Give them some money! If you find someone who can not fulfill their most basic needs, give them some money if you can - what will not be much to you will make a real difference in their life today.
Smile at them! Not only at the poor guy above, but at everybody! As long as you are in a higher emotional state as they are, a smile will make them feel better instantly.
Listen to them! And I really mean listen - without judging them or giving them advice they did not ask for. The most impressive text I’ve ever read was from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, where he shows what a difference it this can make. When I read this text, I still have tears in my eyes!
See through their eyes! Really, try to see the things the way they see it. Feel how they feel. Understand why they do so. Only when you do this, you can really understand them, and when you understand them, you have already be of help to them.
Give them a hug! A hug is the easiest way to express your love for a person. And you can really love everybody. Another piece that still brings tears to me is Juan Mann’s free hugs campaign and how many others were inspired by this idea. Here’s the video:
Help them with something they can’t do themselves! It must not be something huge - what might be little for you can make a huge difference to others around you.
Appreciate their results! When they succeeded to do something, or even did it better than last time, appreciate their results. Even if it might be something you could’t do that bad even if you tried to, for them it might be a major accomplishment. And they will be happy if someone notices.

If you have additional ideas on how to easily help others in need, have a hard time with it, or want to share your own story to inspire others, please use the comment form or send me a private message using my contact form.

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How You Can Help People In Need

Tobias Zimpel — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:15:26 +0000

As we transition to a courageous society, some people’s fears will even increase. Seing others emerging to live their dreams scares them to death, because they strongly believe that they are not able to live their own. They see themselves falling through the cracks, and fear that soon there will be no place for them anymore - and they cold be right if nothing changes.

As long as there is a need for money to be earned, many emerging prople will have to lower their standards, get some job to pay the bills, and invest at least some of their otherwise free time to do work they actually enjoy, until they eventually find a way to make a living from it and be able to quit their dayjob. Or they find some other way to monetize their skills and knowledge until they find out what it is they really love to do.

Those who already have an idea of what their dream would be will eventually summon their courage and take the chance to go for it, either by taking on a new job, or by providing a service to others for money, either directly or indirectly.

But there will still be people who neither find their place in the broken parts of the industrial-style work, nor in the new that is focused on knowledge, information and service to others. Those are the people who at the moment do fall through the cracks of our society, and are the aim as well as the source of a lot of negative energy. They are accused of living on the expense of society, and accuse the “more lucky ones” - as they see it - to live on their expense.

Those are the people that most desperately need our help, but all they get is hate.

What could we do to help those who are in need of help?

Think about this for a moment. Really, think about it for a moment!

…

Give them money, so they can fulfill their needs? Great idea. Give them what they would need to buy with the money, so they can’t spend it on something they don’t really need? Would be even greater, if it would not imply that you know better then these people themselves what they need. They know pretty well! What brings us back to the money, after all.

But will money change anything about their situation? It will today, and maybe tomorrow, if they spend it wisely. But what about next week? Next year? Next century? Will you pay for them the rest of their (or your own) life?

Then they should get a job, right? No, they shouldn’t - at least as long as a machine would be a better fit for that job. Human rights, remember? Every human being has the right to do work that inspires them, and that gives their lives a deeper meaning. But first they need their basic needs fulfilled, so they have the bandwidth to even think about what they really want to do.

But how can we ensure that their needs are fulfilled without the need to constantly pay for it?

When you give a hungry man a fish, it will feed hin today, but if you give him a fishing rod, it will feed him for his whole life.

And this is the approach we should apply to people in need, shouldn’t we?

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