Why I Was Just Naked For 36 Hours Straight
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Every month, my girlfriend and I go away for a weekend and rent a house in some unique destination to un-plug and spend some time in nature.
And I’m proud to announce that this weekend, we spent approximately 32 hour straight…NAKED!
Now before your mind starts spinning off into some kinky story about what we did all that time… let me share some cool highlights from the experience (that just might mean something to you and your life).
The Yoga Story
While we were practicing yoga on Saturday morning on our beautiful deck overlooking the mountains, I helped my girlfriend slightly adjust one of her poses to be more in alignment.
After a few moments of silence, she said:
“It’s so interesting how one little moment of support can change your experience so much. And then once you get that little bit of guidance, you know how it feels to do it right and can just continue doing it that way from that point forward.”
Boy is that a nugget of wisdom.
In life and business, so many people are so close to “doing it right”… yet they just don’t have the right knowledge or guidance to make that slight little adjustment… mostly just because they don’t know what they don’t know.
So instead, they just keep doing it wrong… time after time.
And what’s worse… most people don’t actively SEEK OUT the help they need to “adjust”… so they just stay exactly where they are and don’t make any progress.
Not knowing that one little “adjustment” could make a world of difference in their results.
The Moral of the Story: If you want to be great at something, find a coach or mentor who can give you those subtle yet important “adjustments” now.
You might not even know that you’re doing things wrong until your teacher shows you a different way. So don’t wait for something to be broken to get support. If you’re serious about improving your life and being the best you can be, find people now who can take you to that next level.
Remember… all Olympic athletes have a coach… and they are the best in the world at what they do.
The 45-Minute Brainstorming Session Story
Look… I’ll be honest.
Even when I unplug, my mind still thinks about creative ideas, new programs I want to develop, upcoming projects, etc.
Fortunately, I’ve found a partner who loves to brainstorm these things with me… so she gives me permission to spend a little bit of time talking about stuff like this with her.
But get this…
Over the weekend, we spent 98% of the time relaxing, swimming, cooking, watching movies, napping in the sun, and all around enjoying our private home.
Then we took about 45 minutes to brainstorm a new idea that was on my mind and I was amazed at how much we got done in that super short amount of time.
In fact, I’m willing to bet that it would take an average person 4-5 hours to come up with the ideas we developed instead of the 45 minutes it took us.
The Moral of the Story: We all think that working hard is the answer. We’ve been conditioned to believe that everything needs to take a lot of time and effort.
But what if the opposite was more true? What if we could be 5 times more productive by doing less and having more fun?
At the private Mastermind I just co-led with John Assaraf, he kept saying: “Intention, Attention, No Tension.”
Meaning, set your intention on a clear direction, put your attention on manifesting it, and do it with absolutely no tension or stress (and have more fun in the process).
But is that what we do?
Mostly not. Instead we work hard, work long hours, put in more time, and all around struggle to find clarity.
… Because we’re afraid that stopping or slowing down would mean we would lose momentum.
It’s a hard pattern to break (I’m still working on it myself)… but I’m convinced that this is where the gold lies. Do less, have more fun, and get more done.
Sounds like a sweet recipe to me.
The “Naked” Story
Ok… just so all sorts of crazy rumors don’t start spreading through the internet that Max Simon is turning into a nudist… let me explain.
So much of the time in life, we put on “masks”.
Masks to pretend to be somebody… something… or someone.
And fortunately or unfortunately, we spend so much time reinforcing this image of who we think we need to be that we lose sight of the person behind the mask. Let’s call him or her “the real you.”
So this weekend, I decided that it was the perfect opportunity to put everything down and just be “naked”.
… Literally and metaphorically speaking.
Because the truth is… it’s difficult to hide behind a story when you ain’t got no clothes on (haha).
The Moral of the Story: Get naked… right now!
Haha… just kidding. The real moral of the story is that it’s OK to get away sometimes, put down all of your roles, responsibilities, and identities… and just “let your freak flag fly” as my friend Suzanne Falter Barnes says.
I mean look… I’m sure some people will read this story and get a little weird-ed out by it.
But you know what… I’m ok with that. Because I’m a weird guy… and I like playing with other weirdo’s who are willing to do un-orthadox things like spend an entire weekend o’natural.
And if you’re running a business, you should do the same.
Not the be naked all weekend (unless that’s what you’re into 
but rather the be willing to let “the real you” come out. Don’t worry what people will think of you.
You already know that YOU are your worst critic. So instead of holding back or trying to conform to what other people say you should be…
Just be you… in your business… in your life.
I’ll bet a bunch of other people in your tribe might hear your naked story, smile a little bigger, and love you a little more.
Right?
If this story “touched you” in any way (haha… I couldn’t resist), leave a comment below!
Much love,
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Absolutely agreed, the un-plug part can bring a literal transformation sometimes! And yes, headstand helps too! TURN the world upside down is such an awesome experience on the mat and off the mat!
Thanks Max – loved your quirky angle to this message. I’m working on finding more time to unplug myself! Sometimes it seems like hard work
Lets all have the courage this week to ask for support and be ourselves
What a beautiful way to spend time with someone you love. Thanks for sharing, Max.
I loved this story. How funny and fun all at the same time. I love the way you think and the ideas you come up with. I will “let my freak flag fly” and be my true self in my business and in my life. Thanks for being you.
Love & blessings,
Annett
Max, you write just like you talk! It’s awesome.
So glad to hear you got away from it all and stripped down to let it all hang out.
We didn’t get naked, but we just enjoyed 8 days on Maui with the family, getting away and unplugging. I can honestly say that I did not turn my laptop on for days and it felt great. Maybe next time we will spend a day or 2 naked.
There are so many messages in this post and I want to address another one besides the idea of being naked (or being the real you) and that is the idea of having intention, but releasing the tension part of running a business.
So many people (my self included) have spent so much time being BUSY, spinning their wheels and trying to get things moving in their business without seeing huge results and I love that you tied in the idea of seeking a mentor or coach while also reminding us to relax into the intentions we set. Sometimes business grows gradually and other times it grows by leaps and bounds, but tension doesn’t serve us. It brings an energy that will attract others with the same level of tension. Right? And I don’t know about you, but I want to work with clients who are relaxed (and who might spend some time naked every once in a while!
Hope you are doing well, Max. It sounds like everything is great. Always saying prayers for your dad and my mom. Be well. xo
weird thoughts
perhaps some masks took over already
who is original and who is the mask?
which of the several should rule?
Is there a truly preferred mask rather than original?
could it be that one may not even know the difference?
I LOVE YOU MAX! Thanks for always bringing something better, more fun and even more authentic to the table. I feel blessed to have your presence in my life. Hope you are having a great morning!
Kellie
Max,
Talk about a winning subject line for an email to evoke a click-through!
I want to thank you for his post. I love what you reflected about how small adjustments can let us know—in body,mind and spirit—what it is to be aligned.
For some time now, I have turned within for those re-alignments; I can feel myself moving closer to allowing other people (like Max Simon
to also be instruments of the Source—and instrumental in helping me offer my gifts more effectively—and with more ease! It’s about time.
Thanks! (One of these days, I will click “Register!”
Ani
How beautiful and funny. What a lovely quirky story. I’m passing it on to my son the skateboarder. He would totally appreciate this. It’s so true…we do come with masks and though I consider myself pretty real…I know in many circumstances I’m not. It takes work to accept yourself wholly and fully when the habit has been otherwise for more than 30 years. I’ve heard Wayne Dyer say this many times “What you think of me is none of my business” . My intention and how I choose to show up in the world is totally all of my business. Thanks for sharing Simon.
Hi Max
I’m curious about why it would be a crazy rumour to be a nudist? The most authentic we can be is when we are ‘naked’ as you say. And there’s nothing quite like beach volleyball and swimming in the ocean in the nude! Enjoyed the post – thanks
Max,
WOW! I admire your courage to be yourself. (And the copywriter in me loves how you used your uniqueness to grab attention and almost guarantee click-throughs…who could read that subject line and NOT let their curiosity get the best of them?
)
Not to mention your amazingly profound message…it’s so true. I’ve had breakthroughs with both my copy consulting clients and my own biz coaches in 45 minutes or less. Your girlfriend hit the nail right on the head…one simple idea can lead to course corrections that change our entire lives. Thank you so much for sharing this nugget of wisdom!
Best,
Tammi
Hi Max,
Way to bait-and-switch with the subject on the email. Brilliant!
Also topical. I agree that this is the trick, isn’t it? To be true to ourselves, confident in our vision, and unapologetic about putting it out for the world.
I also rather enjoy quirky/weird – they are just labels that other people put on things they don’t understand.
Thanks for that post and best of luck,
Gretchen
Love your comments and fresh energy! You are tuned in to great stuff in all your nakedness!!
Hi Max,
Now I know I am in the right tribe. I can really relate to your post. Loving nature and being in nature are truly the keys to our creativity.
Live in love,
Richard
Thanks Max! Exactly what I needed to hear today. Just back from Bhakti Fest and started going back into “work” mode. Now I’ll breathe, relax, put on some new music and play while I “work”.
love you!
Hi Max, this is a great story. It really hits home because I have got a lot going on and sometimes I forget to have fun. Everything always works so much better when I do. I also like to the part about not being afraid to let people see who you are in business. Last but not least, I like the idea of letting my freak flag fly. It’s not that I don’t fly it, it’s just that most people never know about it and I didn’t have a name for it.
do less, have more fun, get more done!!!!!
because when you HAVE FUN, you get more than and feels like you have “done” nothing!!
that´s the magic of Life
and getting naked is a glorious way of having fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun
thanx max for reminding us of that
What go “naked”… we all need the reminder to take off the Costume! You wrote it beautifully, now, i just have to fit it in…. where is my calendar!
many hugs
I love your style of writing and like what you say .It helps me thoroughly enjoy being the me that I am … thank you . ..
What a great idea. Once you strip down to the bare facts you get to the naked truth. Thanks. I think I finally got all the puns out.
Seriously, though, it makes sense to get down to basics and get still to find some of the best ideas. It’s a good reminder to slow down sometimes. Thanks, Max.
Exactly! I agree with this wholeheartedly and it’s in fact a lot of what I propose through my healing practice, Naked Wellness. ;o)
Hi Max,
This is Sri, i’m 28 and i’m a teacher from India. Didn’t know where to write to you so i’m putting up this post here.I work in a school here, primarily with 12-15yr olds. Meditation has been a big part of my life & from time to time i have spend time in the ashram (satyananda.net, Satyananda yoga is the tradition where i have trained) going deeper within myself. I work in Delhi and here the culture is so different. The children are so lost in imitation of the west that they no longer know consciously who they are and what they stand for. I have been looking for a new language to share meditation with them. The older vocabularian and way of teaching/communicating just doesn’t work with the teens today. So, over the last few months i have been working on how to make this age old process more contemporary and thats when i first stumbled across your website, at that time your focus what more on meditation. Is there any way i can access the way you taught meditation earliar. methods and ideas of communicating it to the younger gen. I liked the way you called the breathing exercises as breath flows and all. Just presentation style was so refreshingly new. I would like to purchase some of these materials on how you had taught meditation. Also since i’m from a middle income strata in India, there’s a limitation on how much i can pay.I really want to make a difference in the lives of these children, help them find the grounding and clarity that they are unconsciously seeking. Do let know how i can purchase some of these materials .
warmly
sri
Hi Max,
As many others have mentioned, your subject heading was definitely a great hook! I skipped over the email for several days but it piqued my curiosity until I finally just had to go back and find it and click on the link. Brilliant.
I’m glad you were able to have such a great weekend and get so much done. Great advice to us all, too.
You have touched my life and continue to do so. I love your writing style, so simple and straightforward and you really do write just like you talk.
Love you,
Marcy
I love you more every time you post. Thank you for being you to the Max. Your points are clear and cover subtle nuances that are important for deeper internal exploration. Most of us have several areas where we are clueless as to what we are doing “wrong” that keeps us stagnant and afraid to change.
I study Native American animal totems and raccoon is all about masks. I have seen a rash of dead raccoons along the roads this past week and have been contemplating the masks I wear to try to fit into society and to feel like a part of humanity. The authentic me is hard to express in the world because the masks have been in place for so long. It is also a survival issue. If anyone knew the real me and what I came here to do, at best I would be considered weird and in my fears, I would be stoned, hung or a multitude of other unpleasant things would be done to me to keep me small and controlled.
Masks have been very important and necessary survival tools in the past and it is hard to let go of something that is so ingrained. But now is the time for change and your insights and information not only lead us to look deeper into who we truly are but also give people new tools for change so the masks can drop away.
No tension, no fear of getting dead is a very core issue for messengers. I appreciate all that you write to help us feel more comfortable in our positions as facilitators for profound change and transformation. Please continue to do so.
Love through you always,
Deb
Max,
You just blow me away with your presentaitons and the powerful messages. Each time the nail is hammered in more and more.
I know that I am closer to my calling cause GOD just keeps aligning me with God inspired folks to lead the way. I had a true Resurrection when I read something you sent me from Robert Evans on Easter Sunday. I truly have to kick the rolling ball NOW!
You’re truly one of the vessels through which the message is being delivered and I receive it all. Much love and success.
What else is there but to …’get naked and dance’ !
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