Are You Settling for the Default Settings? by Cara Lumen

How much of our life is lived by default? Sure, you know the manufacturer sets you up with the standard set up, the efficient settings, but how often do we just accept those simply because we don't know enough to change them and don't want to learn. What would happen if we knew how to set the advanced settings?

I've been recording CD's and audio books a lot lately but as it turns out I haven't been using my good microphone because I didn't set it up right. I was getting sound because the webcam sitting on my desk was picking up my voice and I was so new at setting up my new mike that I didn't question the default settings that kept it active. I got sound and thought that was enough.

I discovered this mistake because I was trying to improve the sound, so I moved my good mike to several new places trying to get rid of the ambient sound that was distorting the recordings. It wasn't until I recorded from out in my hallway that I realized my voice was being recorded less and less so the microphone had to be back at my desk. I wasn't even plugged in right!

I can't tell you how many things I had to unplug in order to finally locate the microphone that was recording. You know how the wires are around your computer. But here's the point. Because I was new at setting up the microphone, and working my editing program Sound Forge, and had only used the video cam once, I just settled for the default settings.

It would have been better if I had taken the responsibility to figure it out right in the first place but there were an awful lot of new choices coming my way and I took the easy route-easy but wrong as it turns out. I did go exploring to find out about what microphone to choose and I've now done enough editing to be competent at basic editing. But what if even now I went exploring and learned more about Sound Forge and recording techniques. Think of the new level of creativity I could achieve.

We come installed with some default settings - some come from our childhood, some from our life experiences. Check the beliefs and your assumptions you have installed and see if they are really ones you want.

Be aware of your choices. Are you making a choice because you are tired, or don't have time, or don't understand and don't want to take the time to figure it out? Those excuses come up more often than not. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. And by the way, not choosing is a choice too!

Look at your life with fresh eyes. What are you settling for? Look at your relationships. What boundaries do you need to set? Look at your business. What old patterns and default settings do you need to release/ How can you expand your business and take it to a new level? What new settings can you make in your life?

Don't settle for the default settings. Learn to understand the Advanced Settings. Think bigger and expect the best.

Cara Lumen, MA, Your Idea Optimizer helps you turn your ideas into steady profit. As a business developer, content developer and educator, Cara helps you make money from what you already know. You can learn more about how to put your wisdom to work through her radio show www.blogtalkradio.com/passioantelyonpurpose and her Passionately On Purpose emagazine at www.caralumen.com