Reinvent Yourself | Bleeding Through the Chapters w/ Brandan Schieppati

• Posted November 24, 2013

Each one of our lives can be written down to become a unique book. Along the way, we all experience changes to our physical, spiritual, and mental being. With each passing chapter in YOUR book, you endure trials, successes, failures, and ultimately need to reinvent yourself. Times change and pages turn. Sometimes the page is savored, other times we can’t turn it quick enough.

Final European show

One final page currently being savored is of the chapter for the band Bleeding Through. Bleeding Through is a ‘hybrid’ hardcore band out of Orange County, California, and they have experienced all of the swings mentioned above. Their music has provided a life-saving outlet for many, especially for the bands own members. Yet through this enrichment, Bleeding Through itself was often on life support. Enduring the lack of money, line-up changes, and label issues, etc were just a few of the obstacles. Now, as the band calls it quits after 14 years, what can we learn from their ability to embrace the closing of their chapter?

Reinvent Yourself

To experience a fulfilling life, the ability to adapt and reinvent yourself is significant. We must also recognize and understand that the timing of these reinventions is indiscriminate. You may need to reinvent yourself at age 15, 25, 45, or even 95.

What if you are a 55 year old out of work male? Reinvent yourself. I like to point to Michael Savage. Michael has been mentioned on this site before (in the 12 resources for 2012) and hosts the Savage Nation Radio Show. He held numerous jobs throughout his life and claims to be a victim of political correctness. Being denied work as a professor due to ‘over’ qualification and diversity, he had to reinvent himself yet again. At the ripe age of 55, he sent a demo tape around to numerous radio stations hoping one would invite him on. The result? 16 years later, he is now slated to take over the coveted, nationally syndicated, 3PM EST slot in January 2014. What if he quit at age 55? Keep his story in mind next time you think you are too old to learn something new.

What if you are a stay-at-home mother whose life is rocked by divorce? Reinvent yourself. Where would the family end up if she quit? It is not easy, but to live on with anything less than ‘all she’s got,’ will spell trouble for the family.

Personally, I can look back at my life and point out times of reinvention. When my father was no longer a part of life at age 13, I had to fast track maturity to try and become the male figure in the household of girls. In high school, I transitioned into a full time landscaper and invested all of my savings into my landscaping company. While playing junior hockey, I had to reinvent myself from a stay-at-home defenseman, into a 4th line grinder forward, to stay on the team. A few years later, I became a general contractor in Washington, D.C. As of now, I have spent a quarter of my life in D.C. using the labor of my hands to transform the Atlas District at H St. NE (in spite of petty bureaucrats). Now, it’s time for another chapter as I am learning to trade the stock market and keep a pulse on geopolitical trends. This will also help me research where to plant my next flag. Where would I be now and in the future if I would stay content at any one chapter of my own life.

Reinvent yourself.

Bleeding Through

The members of Bleeding Through are experiencing their own reinvention. Some are moving on with family life and other careers, Brandan is looking to build and expand his workout gym empire.

Looking forward, this is not really a sad time. It’s more of a time of closure and reflection. In this case, it’s awesome to be able to look back on the pages of the past, contemplate, and learn from them. I can still play the album Declaration and remember things I was going through at the time. Or a song can trigger the memory of a certain number of reps I blasted through during past workouts.

There is no doubt that the necessity to reinvent yourself will arise at times in your life. Keep yourself in a position to view these transformations as an opportunity. For Bleeding Through, they are using the farewell tour for reflection and closure for their fans. This allows them to go out properly and close the chapter with no ill feelings. Now, focus can be turned towards the next chapter for all involved.

For Brandan Schieppati, he is ready to focus 100% on his fitness business. Check out his site for ebooks, info, or just to contact him for your fitness needs. In addition to his site, he is also working to build and expand his Rise Above Fitness gym.

Without the ability and willingness to accept the situation, Brandan and Bleeding Through may not have been able to give 100% of themselves to their future endeavors.

Giving 100%

In the video, Brandan talks about giving 100% of oneself in whatever we do, and don’t ride the fence. Not giving 100%,  is an injustice for all involved. When looking to reinvent yourself, do it with all your heart and go for it. Without total commitment, we just end up selling out.

This idea is not revolutionary, but it is even repeated in Biblical text. In Revelation (3:15-16), John writes to the angel of the church in Laodicea, that which is  revealed to him.

“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

These are harsh words directed at people who are on the fence. The Laodiceans thought they had what they needed, and were spiritual enough. But if we commit to anything just enough, we can be sure that it is not enough at all. In the case of the Laodiceans, God viewed nonbelievers with LESS contempt, than he did those who professed faith, yet did not live it. I wonder how He views humanity today?

These words teach a lesson for both the atheist and the Christian. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, a hobby, or even one’s faith…..if you are not able to give it your all, it’s time to reinvent yourself. To reinvent yourself does not necessarily mean you change the job, relationship, or faith. Sometimes it will, for sure. But other times it may just be us bettering ourselves to commit fully. Each instance must be decided by the individual on a case by case basis.

All and all, the above section is why the OPPOSITE of LOVE is not hate, but INDIFFERENCE.

Your Book

Stepping back for a moment to look at your own book. Are there pages of the past which you turned too early? Is a part of you still stuck in a certain chapter, thus preventing you from giving 100% now? Learn to not dwell on the pages of the past, but contemplate and learn from them. It may be necessary to now attempt closure, for something of the past. If it will help you to move on, so be it. Attack the pages of the future with enthusiasm and give 100% of yourself in everything you do.

After this writing, I’ll include James Altucher’s ‘little’ cheat sheet to reinvent yourself.

Don’t fear the necessity to reinvent yourself. Instead, embrace it and use the opportunity to make the best transformation possible. Bleeding Through is moving on to a new chapter in their story. How will you embrace writing YOUR next chapter?

With God’s Will

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