In my book there is a tattoo culture.  Each family has their own symbol or emblem, which is customarily tattooed within the frame of an armband.  Recreational tats are also used.  If the person is a warrior and is moving up the ranks, then tattoos will represent that.

I love tats.

For me, tattoos should have meaning.  They can represent a period in my life, something I may want to let go, something that I want to remember forever, or something that represents one of my philosophies in life.  So I take a long time to decide what I want to get.  But that’s part of the fun.  The other part is the pain involved.  But that’s another post.

One of my favorite shows is The Actor’s Studio, hosted by James Lipton.  He’s interviewed famous actors, directors, and some writers, exploring how they got to where they are today.  One of the running themes of the show is tattoos.  Every time an actor has one, or several, Lipton asks them about it.  He whines how he can’t have a tattoo because his wife won’t allow it.

One of my friends wants a tattoo.  He’s a doctor.  His wife won’t allow him to have one.  She said it isn’t proper for a doctor.  My initial thought is, if it’s covered under clothes, how would anyone know?

My second thought is, why are these men allowing their wives to tell them what they can or cannot do with their bodies?  It’s their bodies, their life; they can do with it as they wish.  Right?

If my friend wanted to quit his job just because he felt like it, then that’s different.  He’s the sole breadwinner, and his family depends on him.  But getting a tattoo shouldn’t change his wife’s love or appreciation for him.  Right?  He’s still the same person.

If my friend was single and wanted to quit his job, then he should.  He has to live with the rewards or consequences of doing so, but he’s only affecting himself and not anyone else.

Isn’t getting a tattoo only affecting the person getting it?

It pisses me off that people try to tell others what to do.  We live in a society of blending in.  You wanna look good and be part of the right group of people?  Wear the right clothes sold at the GAP.  Have your hair this way.  Talk right.  Earn this much.  Color within the lines.

You want a good job?  Get a college degree.  Really?

Steve Jobs never got one and look at where he is.  Is he an exception?  I don’t think so.  In his lecture to Stanford’s 2005 graduates, he tells them that he’s always lived a life of passion, and followed it.  For him, the incomprehensible dots that led him out of college and into that famous garage wasn’t planned, nor could he even see what they would lead to.  Not until he arrived could he connect the dots looking back.

So live your life.  Follow your passions.  You’ll never know where they’ll lead you.

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Can you imagine taking a red hot metal 7 and sticking it on your supple skin for a few seconds, so that  7 can be displayed till the day you die?  Much like tattoos.

I love tattoos and have a couple.  Anyone have them?  It took me five years to decide on my first one.  My friend and I stayed up all night designing it on the computer.  The next day we were going to go to a car show.  But before we’d arrived, I went to a tattoo shop, slapped the print out down, pointed to my arm, and said, “I want this here.”

The tattoo artist looked at the picture we spent hours on and simply said, “That’s not going to work.”

Man!

My hopes for a tattoo flushed down the toilet.  He asked me what I wanted.

“Just an armband, but I want it to frame two Chinese characters for Inner Strength.” It’s part of the tattoo culture in my book, where family emblems are framed by the arm band. The idea was spawned by Superman.

“Hmmm.”  The guy straightened his glasses, tightened his headband, took a pen and quickly sketched on the back of my print out.  It took him like ten seconds.  “I think this is what you’re looking for.”

“Yeah!”  And damn.  That was quick.  That was about ten years ago.  And I still love it.  Inner strength. Not surprisingly, it’s a theme that the 7th Province explores.

Below, you’ll see an an audio to a woman who did a lecture on branding.  Talk about inner strength.  This woman exuded serious determination, passion and confidence.  Her name is Philippa Burgess.  Check her out at www.creativecvg.com.

I’ve broken up the 42 minute audio into three parts. Feel free to download them. She was part of the San Francisco Writer’s Conference.

branding-part-1

branding-part-2

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