Floating into 2020 and beyond...

Andrew Ford, Social Star, e-ttraction, float tank.jpg

What's it like to have all of your senses taken away from you for an hour? This was the question I set out to answer yesterday when floating in a gigantic tank. It's a strange experience; you can't see, hear, feel anything, but it's liberating for the mind.

I posted pictures on Facebook and many friends asked what it was like going into a floatation tank for an hour, so I thought I would write a quick blog on my observations.

Firstly, a big heartfelt thanks to my buddy on BYOB Social Club, Cathryn, who gave me the float as a Christmas present. A perfect gift for a guy like me (creator profile) who loves to think. Plus perfect time of year (Christmas), when I do all of my reflection and planning for the year ahead.

Secondly, I booked my session at Elevation Float in Hawthorn and it was a little tricky to find as it's set back from the road, but it's a great place. Park in the shopping centre as you get 2 hours free is my tip. Just to be transparent, I am not in any way sponsored or related to them. Also, I am not very tall so it's pretty easy for me to fit into the machine. Furthermore, I am comfortable with enclosed spaces so consider all this before proceeding. Now onto the review!

Once inside Elevation, I was met by Delilah who was lovely and helpful, with amazing tattoos! Very funky so I knew it was a cool place haha Similarly, I like my baristas to have a serious beard and tatts so I know they are committed to my coffee. Delilah served me some refreshing tea whilst I read the long disclaimer about how if you contaminate the water it's $1,500 charge and if you have a heart issue you might die. Just the normal stuff.

Once signed in, she takes you to the room with the tank and shower and shows you how it all works. They give you headrests, like in the planes, to keep your head up even though you don't need it, but it makes you feel safer. They also provide earplugs to keep the sound out and ears dry, plus and a water spray bottle in case you get the very salty water in your eyes. The machine is fully automatic so the music and lights are taken care of, you just need to lie there. Easy.

I opt-in for the headrest just in case plus the earplugs and jump in the water and slosh around trying to close the lid awkwardly as it's super slippery. Once inside I realise that I just created a wave pool and have to hang onto the door struts to not hit the sides. Not a very professional start to a relaxing float!

Once it calms down I let go and just float. Music is on and I haven't turned the lights off so more sloshing to adjust. Once done, I realise I find it hard to relax! I'm such a doer that I want to move, but I breathe and try to just 'be'.

The music stops automatically after 10 min and I drift off. I don't sleep really as it is a strange feeling lying on water, much like your bed, but you can't roll over or move as you will sink so I try to stay really still. The water isn't super warm, which also stops me sleeping.

After a while, my mind wanders into the challenge I set it for the session. My 2020 plans and my new book I want to write but have been struggling with. It's good. I am letting my mind go be creative and I arrive at some wonderful ideas and a great format for my book But more on that in another blog.

Before I know it, I have to go to the bathroom! Argh...damn that tea! I think about the $1,500 fine and decide to go to the bathroom haha Plus it's distracting me from the thinking so I get up. It's quite hard to get the lid up and the lights decide not to work, but I manage. More sloshing around to get in, wave pool, but I slip right back into relaxing quickly again.

Then what seems a few minutes later, time is up! Music comes back on, but I don't want to go! I'm in the zone again. But then the lights go on and an auto message says 'times up'. Still, I resist until the machine starts auto cleaning, so I do as they say and get up for a shower.

When I leave I feel refreshed and a bit sleepy like in a theta brain state. I go to a coffee shop and drink lots of water! You don't realise how salty the water is until you see the salt crusts on you. I bang out my ideas into my computer and feel good about life and the potential of 2020. Job done.

Finally, the verdict. Would I go back? Sure. I get similar in the zone mindsets from running, massage and meditation so I will put floating into that mix for an alternative way to reach peak creative states. Maybe quarterly when I do my business reviews. I wonder if it's tax deductible...

The only way for you to really know if you like it is to try! Give it a go and I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences of this or other ways to reach your peak flow state as it's a big focus for me in 2020 and beyond.

Hope this was useful :)

Andrew

Andrew Ford

Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.

 
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