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It’s been a while since we’ve done a collaboration on this blog, but I always love getting everyone’s mind working together on something. In this case, I was inspired by a comment from Chuck Larner who came up with the name "Mediocrates" for one of Obstacle’s friends. I responded back that "Ida" would be the name for his girlfriend, as in "If Only Ida," and she would be known as the Queen of Regret (someone gave me this idea in passing during the weekend, but I don’t remember who (ps: this is the chance to claim it, you know who you are)).

I wonder what other partners-in-achievement-destruction the creative minds of the readers of this blog can come up with? Certainly Obstacles doesn’t work alone!

Who are his helpers?

Posted in Collaboration

55 responses to “Obstacles Collaboration”

Steve

February 27, 2008

How about his favorite teacher. Miss Opprotunity (Ed)

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Ian from Texas

February 27, 2008

Chris,
I don’t know if this is appropriate, but in light of recent events………..
dreaded villian………..
Legaleze
🙂

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David Fausett

February 27, 2008

I think they live in the Procrasti Nation.

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Ian from Texas

February 27, 2008

Chris,
What about Ida’s twin brother? Brother in-law to Obstacles…..
Ino…the know it all.
When you try to tell him anything.
Ino
Ino
Ino
Ian from Texas

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SRVW

February 27, 2008

Chris,
I want to thank you for the laugh! Going from 80 degrees in South Texas to St. Louis, getting little sleep for some unknown reason, and returning to 80 degree weather again has done numbers on my head and sinuses! All that to explain my responses coming from a foggy mind. My first thought was not to forget Ida’s sisters – Shoulda, Coulda, and Woulda. His ex-girlfriend could be Hypocrites (prounounced Greek). Love Mediocrates! Tried to think of another villain; however, could only think of a hero after being on leadership high all weekend. How about Hurdles (pronounced like and distant cousin to Hercules) who fights Obstacles, Mediocrates, Hypocrites and all their other relatives? Since I saw his relatives in St. Louis, I can easily picture Hurdles in a spiffy dark suit with red tie with red cape flowing behind him in the breeze! Laughing too hard to think of his wife-for-life but her loyal and supportive relatives were with their awesome men this weekend!
Sonya for Odem, TX

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S.Inglesby

February 27, 2008

Seems to me we have a whole army of bad guys! I think its time for some heros. I do have to admit, im getting my inspiration from a talk by Jim Jones (not the cool-aide one!!). If we have an obstacles on one shoulder, should we not have a good voice on the other shoulder? Maybe, well, I can’t think of any good names now. Any ideas? (P.S. images in my mind of little kids dressing up in a very much cops and robbers or cowboys and indians theme, except Obstacles and yet-to-be-named. As well as action figures for all-out battles!)

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SRVW

February 27, 2008

Chris,
In hindsight, Hurdles could be a villain; however, I was picturing him leaping over Obstacles in a single bound…
Sonya from Odem, TX

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Trevor

February 27, 2008

How about “Beauracraces” (need hlep on seplling)
and a good guy, “Serendipides”
and a passively bad guy called “boundares”
all prounounced in “Greek”, of course
Trevor

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Bill

February 27, 2008

How about “Impedes”?

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SRVW

February 27, 2008

Chris,
My husband and I are having lots of fun with this one. He thinks I’ve lost my mind as I keep running back to post something new. Heard an awesome talk this weekend (among many) where we were taught to grow ourselves so we can see our dreams over Obstacles. In light of that I think our hero should be something along those lines like Educates (in Greek).
Sonya from Odem

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LorieG

February 27, 2008

Hi Chris,
I’ve never blogged before but I felt sorry for you after that comment you made in St. Louis about your lack of bloggers, so here goes! 🙂 I just love Obstacles and adding new characters is an awesome idea! Your sense of humor and creativity are amazing and truly a gift. If you ever do an Obstacles comic strip I would love to help illustrate it. My background is in medical illustration but this certainly sounds like more fun than drawing kidneys!
Keep on making us laugh!

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Ian

February 27, 2008

Chris,
there are some really sweet ones!!!
how about his cousin
dif-ficulties’.or with a z
with action” thumbs down” arm
or complacentz’
with action eyelids!!
and their arch nemisis
possibilitez
with action rally arm!!!!
and an orrin voice-over of “FIRED UP” sound bite!!!
someone call Mattel!!!!
we got a whole line of actions figures for them to make!!!!
lol
ok gotta go!!!

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Carmine Villani

February 27, 2008

Chris,
Perhaps his cousin
Shoulda can make an appearance. After all many of us look back at opportunites and realized we shoulda done it.
Carmine

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Bill Mallory

February 27, 2008

Chris,
Just some thoughts.
Negatizer – Always negative, nothing works, I can’t do it, Murphy’s law, won’t accept any positive encouragement.
Laziator – Won’t get off the couch, likes the blue glow in the livingroom (TV). Requires an IV for sustaining exhistance…Instead of working for success.. All of lifes experiences for Laziator happen in his lazyboy chair.
Sociales – Like’s people, loves hangin out at meetings. However creates distratctions, never serious, never focused. Loves big events, makes big plans, never listens, never learns..
Bill Mallory
Saginaw, MI

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Brad L.

February 27, 2008

How about their conquests? Those they know they have in their clutches and will remain so until they realize that they can overcome the (insert legion of supervillian name here) or until we who have overcome our obstacles can help them to overcome theirs? Almost like the unknowing, blissfully unaware Muggles in the Harry Potter wizarding world?
In doing some thinking, I failed to come up with a unique (read: cute) name for them, but then realized that the media already did for me:
The American Idle.
The more we overcome our obstacles, they will see and realize that they can overcome theirs. And the more we do, the more allies we gain, the more Obstacles and his minions lose, and the more leaders we have in a world that is seriously crying out for us.
BL.

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Alex Cribley

February 27, 2008

Tolerables (toe-ler-ab-lez)
Aristolerable
Pessimisticles
Criticles
Lethargicles
Energize (e-ner-geez)
Hope these help!
A. Cribley
Mecosta, Mi

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Alex Cribley

February 27, 2008

How about a virtual Obstacles were you can enter your obstacle, chose your device of choice for overcoming the obstacle, and let Obstacles know loud and clear you are not staying in ninetyfivepercentville forever?

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floyd

February 27, 2008

hi Chris, This weekend was AWESOME need I say more, but I think we need a superhero in the action for everybody to look up too. Something on the lines of MegaDreamer to the rescue, because everything starts with a dream, right!
Floyd
Northern Wisconsin

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Staci Eibert

February 27, 2008

The “FULL SYSTEM” baseball bat of Obstacles-smashing justice should be in here somehwere!

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kckarate

February 27, 2008

There was Greek mythical character named Religiousocraties, who kept inviting Obstacles over for dinner. During the day Obstacles’ father, Devlor would send Obstacles to go after the more powerful Godson because Religiousocraties was very little threat to Devlor’s plans. Godson laughed it off, teamed up with his older brother, Jes and wiped the floor with Obstacles very similar to how Jes had done to Devlor 2,000 years previously.

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Lydia Seibert

February 27, 2008

Chris, I think that Sophy (short for Sophia) should be the wise woman on the other shoulder, whispering wisdom into our ears=Emotional intelligence, patience, longsuffering, meekness, gentlenss, courage, etc, etc.
Believe me I am no feminist , but I have always found it interesting that wisdom is a lady in the book of Proverbs. Check it out!!
If you don’t like that idea, maybe Sophy and Obstacles can get together in your next romance novel!!
Love your humor (it’s way better than mine!). This was a great post!!
Lydia

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Mark H.

February 27, 2008

Wow things are really coming together. As I read all the blogs. Everyone is forgetting were he lives? What does he drive? Does He have a cat or dog? What is Obstacles family background? Well here are some ideas Everywere USA? He drives anything that gives a reason not to read a good book and takes away the time to listen to a cd? I think he has both a cat and a dog so that you never have time to get ready for those tuesday night meetings? Far as the family background I’m still thinking of that one.. Keep up the great work and can’t wait to hear and see ya’ll again..

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Mike in St. Louis

February 28, 2008

Hey Chris,
I know your compliment tank is probably full, so I’ll just say “ditto”. Here’s a couple of ideas for Obstacles’ friends.
Problemetheus
Complicaticus
Impedimus
Sourpus
Iquiticus
I hope you can use something there or it at least sparks an idea for you. The contract for my royalties is in the mail. Enjoy!

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Sam Quick

February 28, 2008

Chris I thought this might also work with Obstacales, the pesky character that he is.
Obituary
Common Sense
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t legally defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m a Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Author unknown

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Tony

February 28, 2008

I think you should introduce the terrible twins – Scepticleez – and the even worse – to be avoided at all times – Cynicleez.
Good Luck. Tony from the good old UK.

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laurie tallio

February 28, 2008

Fearocles
By the way, we had a 13 year old girl in our group from the U.P. who could not stop talking about Obstacles (and the head smashing). She has carried this message home to her older sister and to her friends – she got it!!

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Rich

February 28, 2008

Obstaclez might sit on my left shoulder from time to time, but my great mentors Todd and Candace have taught me to always have Integratez on my right shoulder (that’s my good ear!).

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DaveC

February 28, 2008

Chris,
I don’t think that we need to look for superheroes to oppose Obstacles and all of his cohorts. We already have them. We just need to identify their secret identities. I think that everyone knows who Superman is already since someone let that slip in a CD by the same name. (I think that that was pretty obvious, even if we didn’t see the red cap sticking out from under his suit jacket.) I think that Batman’s secret identity if pretty obvious, since he is a deep thinker and pretty much of the leader in the fight against injustice (oops, sorry to let that one slip, Orrin). Then there is Batman’s sidekick, Robin. Hmmm, who could that be, CHRIS? Then there is the Flash, could that be Bobby Dickey? And could Spiderman, who is always climbing over obstacles (or Obstacles?) be Bill Lewis. Then there is the Daredevil, the man who knows no fear. Tim Marks could fit that description, but we already know he is Superman, and Chris Brady would be a likely candidate too, but he is the Boy Wonder. No the obvious choice here is a man who likes to jump off of cliffs, who had a zip line in his back yard into his pond, who dares crippling snowstorms to get to a tropical cruise, who likes to fly in jet fighters, yes, the Daredevil has to be Dean Frey. Now I am having a problem, the Green Lantern, who makes realities appear out of thin air with his ring (read that with his words) that could be either Randy Haugen or Larry VanBuskirk. Can’t you just see the realities of the stories these two men tell? Wait, I think that there is a solution to this. I seem to remember that there is more than one Green Lantern. There is a different one for each Planet so why can’t the team have two of their very own? Well I could go on and on but does anyone else have any ideas here? One idea that I rejected was that Orrin could be Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, leader of the Fantastic four, because he is, like Batman, a deep thinker and is very flexible. That wouldn’t work because his wife, Sue, is the Invisible Girl, and we wouldn’t want anyone to disappear, especially Laurie. We all love you Laurie!
DaveC

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Chris Brady

February 28, 2008

I object to the Robin thing. It’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN.
Chris

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DaveC

February 28, 2008

Chris,
Okay, Christopher Robin it is, and we can have Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too.
DaveC

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Lori

February 28, 2008

I agree, I think we need a hero. Maybe his name could be something as simple as . . . Vic Tory. I like the dark suit, white shirt, red tie and red cape idea that was stated above!! His weapon of choice could be flying CD disks. Also, Patti Plemel had the idea that you should create an Obstacles soft doll that you can pull the string and it will talk with Chris’ voice! I like that but again I think we need a super hero doll that our children can pull the string and it would say possitive affirmations and encouraging words! I love you site Chris! Lori

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Jesse Mitchell

February 28, 2008

Looking at Obstacles, the first thing that comes to my mind is having a type of Fear to overcome. I do refer to the Fear as in having a great respect or in reverance of. I refer to it as dreading to do the task at hand. I could not think of a way to use this in a greek sense, however I think that a French twist would work well.
Fear N. Dread (Fee-air N Dree-ad)

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brian barrett

February 28, 2008

We could have a line of positive action figures for our kids to play with perhaps PC or RT members meet Obstacles’and friends how how about a Chris Brady bobble head?

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pklamm

February 28, 2008

I cant wait to see more of these characters…many great names out there! I too would love to see a “good guy” in all of this. And would love a way to use this for my kids? Media department is probably already on that though right? You guys are way ahead of us I am sure

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David C. in Albuquerque

February 28, 2008

Chris, I just want to say what a fantastic and incredible Team we have. Thank you for your example. I truly hope that your Obstacles talk in St. Louis is made into a DVD. I know there are alot of people (me included) that could benefit from watching that over and over again. Please consider that. To add to the characters associated with Obstacles, we should note that Obstacles is a Jekyll and Hyde in that when we break through our obstacles we become as “Spartacus”. (Strong, Honorable, Having Integrity and Character) without obstacles we could not become as such.

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CM

February 28, 2008

As I sit here in my “Cubicles” looking at my Obstacles bobble head. I can’t help but think of his understudies: Recreatus (weilding his softball bat, and bowling balls as his weapons of choice and goes under the cover of his snorkling mask), Televisis (Telev-e-sis, who has the power to suck the brain dry with his blue hue) and Idiocrates (who has the power to dumbfound even the best of us).

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Joe B., St. Louis

February 28, 2008

I compliment everyone who has contributed to the obstacles collaboration. Each of you have done some extensive thinking and the imaginative genius has really blown me away. I thought I would throw my novice ideas in the hat:
Obstacles brother- Procrastinates
Obstacles wife- Naggalot
Obstacles offspring-
Polyexcuses
Amphritened
Herphishdied
Egomaxius
Obstacles Sister- Lilly the Lizard Lady
Obstacles Father-
D. Edify
Keep them coming. Ya’ll are doing a great job!

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Cathy

February 28, 2008

How about his kids, Coulda, Shoulda and Woulda
And his friend Iduhnno . . .
He has 2 sisters, A-Clueistic and Attitudinal.
Going from upstate NY to St.Louis was 2 days, 5 airports, 4 flights, 2 airlines, 2 special TSA security screenings (in one day), bad food and lousy attitudes and treatment from airline employees. Obstacles had a field day with us!
We arrived when Orrin & Laurie hit the stage Saturday afternoon. Going home was almost as bad. We wound up being picked up by our kids at an airport 3 hours from home so we could get to work the next day.
Our goal was to get there and home. Mission accomplished, eventually. Attitudes maintained positive. Thank you, TEAM!!! We couldn’t have done it without you!!

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Dan from Lewiston, UT

February 28, 2008

The “Ida” idea was inspired by you, Chris. I owe all the credit to you and my mentors who include Larry & Marsie Vanbuskirk, Robert & Charmain Lasater, & Crystal Christiansen! After all “It’s amazing how much gets done when you don’t care who gets the credit”, if I quoted it right. I truly can not take any credit. I thank you all!

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coach

February 28, 2008

how about the romans-IMA TOO YOUNG, UNCLE IMA TOO OLDS and ALLABOUTMEMEME…from the Greek 95%RUTOCLES–chris you continue to blow my mind(small explosion) be free coach

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Drew

February 28, 2008

Obstacles had two cousins that lived in the country, they were twins, Dilly and Dally. the twins never got anything accomplished, so their mother bought them a cat to give them some responsibility. The cat was a hairless, tailless cat
named MeMe. Dilly, Dally would never do anything because they were concerned about MeMe. They were worried what people would say about MeMe, so they just sat around and did nothing. Dilli, Dally wasted their life worrying about MeMe.
Drew in St. Louis

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Roy DeBaets

February 28, 2008

Wouldnt it be great to have a stuffed obstacles to throw around and beat on like a stress doll or darn it doll.

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Owen Derry

February 28, 2008

Crita Sism
Ino Struggle
Ima Proud
Freddy Cat
Procrastinates (pro-cras-tin-ate-eez)
I like the terrible twins from Tony in the UK – Scepticleez and Cynicleez.

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Michele

February 28, 2008

How about his minion buddies ObstiNate, and OpinioNate! We all know a few of them! (smile)

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Eric & Allison Schulte

February 28, 2008

We just saw Obstacles out on the town with his girlfriend Ifonly Ida Finiwell. (Miss Finiwell comes from a large family of leaders who not only know how to dream and set goals but truly demonstrate how to “finish well”. She is the rebel of her family and refuses to take advice from her successful family. If only she knew what she didn’t know.)

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Joe and Michele Davis

February 28, 2008

Hi Chris! Our favorite Obstocles side kick would be X. Cuses. Thanks for the blogs!
Joe and Michele

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Ray Mitchem

February 28, 2008

Thanks, Chris, for helping us realize that feeling ‘too comfortable’ is not acceptable. Therefore: Comfortableze would fit well with obstacleze. You’ve reminded us more than once that “the pain of staying the same must become greater than the pain of staying the same” if we truly want to defeat obstacleze.
Ray from Iowa

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DaveC

February 29, 2008

Chris and fellow bloggers,
Okay you guys forced me to come up with some more superheroes. So how about Aron Radosa as Cyclops with his lasar like eyes that show his determination and focus. I know this is a stretch, but how about Don Freeze as Mr. Freeze who had a change of heart and became a good guy? Now come on the rest of you. Don’t make me tax my feeble brain and come up with more super heroes.
DaveC

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Justin Porteus

February 29, 2008

Ne-gator: inhabits the Florida Everglades, ready to chomp any progressive ideas (I can’t take full credit for that…pg 151 of Magic of Thinking Big)
A close cousin to the Ne-gator is the Tail-gator, inhabiting roadways all over the world, the Tail-gator’s worst enemy is a slow left-lane driver.

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Kurtis

March 1, 2008

I had a thought for an archnemesis of Obstocles. I had this idea after reading Jim Collins’ “Good to Great.” He talks about “BHAG’s” near the end of that book (big hairy audicious goals), and when I get on the board I’ve started talking about “BOHAG’s” (big ‘ol hairy audicious goals) to people. Perhaps “Bohag, the Defender of the Vision” could be a member of the Virtuous League of Heros.

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