Steve Rizzo is The Attitude Adjuster. You can’t attend one of his seminars or read his books and leave with the same attitude. He is a personal development expert, comedian, motivational speaker and author. His popular PBS special brought him into millions of homes. It’s no surprise that he’s been inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame. His latest book Get Your Shift Together is one that I just had to share. I had the opportunity to ask a Steve a few questions about his life and his new book.
Let Go and Yield To a Higher Purpose
Steve, everyone would say that you were on the top of your game. As a comedian you were a national headliner, sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Dennis Miller, Ellen DeGeneres and many others. Your roommate was Drew Carey! But, you made a decision to leave comedy and start over in a new career. Tell me about that decision.
Growing up as a child, I acquired many fears and limiting beliefs about myself and the world that surrounded me. Unaware, I carried many of those unresolved negative labels and limiting beliefs into my comedy career. As a result, I kept sabotaging many opportunities that were coming my way. I knew I had the talent, but I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting my big break. I eventually figured out that I had a fear of failure AND a fear of success. (Talk about not being able to make up your mind.) So I went on a self-help quest to better myself. I read countless self-help books, went to personal development seminars, and listened to motivational CD’s. I was determined to turn my life around.
Through the years I noticed a major shift taking place within me. I guess you can say I was starting to get my SHIFT together. Eventually, the comedy industry was starting to show a lot of interest. Ironically I was no longer interested in them. I was being called to do something else with my life. This gradual shift that was taking place led me to my true purpose in life, which is to show people how to be happy and successful, regardless of their circumstances. The tools that I used to better myself are the very tools that I use when I speak to groups throughout the country and around the world.
My quest to overcome the obstacles that were keeping me from the life I truly desired has brought my work full circle. I am truly grateful that I’ve come to the understanding that I didn’t quit stand-up comedy. I simply let go and yielded to a greater purpose. A new dream. Okay, I didn’t simply let go. At times I held on with white knuckles in a desperate grip, kicking and screaming! The point is, when I finally did let go, I was free to pursue my true dream–to use humor and the power of positive thinking to help people learn the skills they need to get to a better place at work and in life.
