Shark Sense

by Sharkie Zartman

Overview

Are you ready to tap into the potential power of a formidable predator? Shark Sense is about learning to use our instinctive wisdom to supplement logic and is a simple, no-nonsense approach to life's challenges. Packed with shark attributes, entertaining stories, tips, illustrations and written by a professor and former All-American Athlete who also happens to be named after a Shark, this book will inspire you to take charge of your life. If you are tired of settling for less and playing it safe, then it's time to activate your inner shark. Using your Shark Sense will propel you toward your goals. What are you waiting for? It's time to DIVE IN!

Product Details

BN ID:	2940167250291
Publisher:	Spoilers Press
Publication date:	05/03/2023
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

Read an Excerpt

Shark Sense

Getting in Touch with Your Inner Shark

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By Sharkie Zartman

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Sharkie Zartman
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-7740-2

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Chapter One

A Shark Is Always True to Its Nature

Human Translation: Know Who You Are and What You Want

The shark came slowly, steadily, as if it had no need for speed, for it knew it could not be stopped.—Peter Benchley

It was a hot August afternoon in Southern California, and the air was dry and heavy, making it difficult to breathe. The sand was blistering hot except down by the water, where everyone was hanging out. I was eight years old on a beach outing with my family, waist-deep in the water, jumping and diving through the waves with the other bathers, swimmers, and surfers. It was getting late, and my parents started to pack up the cooler and towels. I turned my back, ignored them, and kept jumping the waves. I didn't want to leave.

My sister started to yell at me from the shore. "Sharkie, Shark! It's time to go!" She kept yelling my name, and I ignored her, hoping she would go away. I'll never forget what happened next. Suddenly, everyone in my near vicinity ran out of the water in a panic. All around me people were splashing, screaming, and sprinting for the sand. At first I didn't understand what was happening, but then I realized that all those people thought there was a real shark in the water. No, it was just me ignoring my sister as usual.

I never really thought that much about sharks until I saw the movie Jaws and, like so many others, was terrified to go swimming in the ocean afterward. I couldn't believe my dad named me after such a horrible, mean, ugly fish. No wonder people reacted so strongly to my name. I knew my name was different, but after Jaws I realized it was downright scary!

Now, after many years, I realize there is more to a shark than what Hollywood wants us to believe. Even Peter Benchley, the creator of Jaws, took a different perspective on these amazing creatures in his book, Shark Life. He explained:

I am now convinced that attacks on human beings which I had thought were intentional, were mostly cases of mistaken identity. Sharks had been condemned as man-eaters for thousands of years, and it would be several more years before that belief would be effectively challenged. We knew so little back then and have learned so much since; I couldn't possibly write the same story today. I know now that the mythic monster I created was largely fiction (Benchley 2005).

Mr. Benchley stopped writing about rogue monster sharks and instead became involved in shark conservation up to his death in 2006. He strived to change their image from mindless killers to essential creatures that are a necessary part of the ocean's ecological balance.

While it is true that sharks are predators and on rare occasions attack humans, less than ten people per year die from shark incidents, whereas around 150 die from being hit by falling coconuts. Maybe we need to be more concerned about coconuts. Also, out of more than 350 known species of sharks, 80 percent do not hurt people (Pope 2002). By far, the most shocking statistic is that for every human killed by a shark attack, there are roughly ten million sharks killed by humans, mostly for their fins, flesh, skins, teeth, cartilage, and organs (Benchley 2005). Many sharks are now hunted for their dorsal fins alone, which are cut off the sharks immediately after they are caught and used as an exotic soup ingredient. Then the sharks are thrown back into the water, defenseless, to bleed to death or be eaten by other sharks.

Who are the real monsters?

Sharks have been on this earth for over four hundred million years, predating even the dinosaurs (Kalman 2003). They have survived the harshest environmental conditions and have adapted in order to survive. Sharks are efficient at what they are programmed to do: swim, eat, and make little sharks. Their purpose is to maintain the balance of nature in the ocean, and they accomplish this by being perfectly designed eating machines. If they were not a part of the ocean environment, its ecological balance would be severely compromised. Sharks are genuine and goal-oriented, use their strengths, and are not even aware of their weaknesses. It's easy to understand why they are at the top of the food chain in the ocean.

When humans venture into the ocean, we are in their territory, and everything in the water is considered food—including us! As Peter Benchlely eventually recognized-we are the aliens in the water. We wouldn't venture into the jungle in the middle of the Amazon without considering that there are some animals, snakes, and insects that most likely don't appreciate our presence or might do us harm. So why do we go into the ocean and feel as though we own the place and not take precautions? Instead of being arrogant or downright stupid, why can't we respect other forms of life on the planet and their environments and realize that all living beings have a reason for being here?

The first time I remember using my Shark Sense was when I was three years old. We were living in Lubbock, Texas, close to the air force base. My parents took me and my sister to the park, and we were headed for the swings when something caught my eye. It was an American flag waving in the breeze at the top of a long pole.

My parents took their eyes off me for a second, and when they turned around, I was off sprinting toward the flag. Before they could stop me, I was halfway up the pole, going for the top. All they could see were my diapered behind and my skinny legs moving upward. I could hear my parents pleading from below, "Please, Sharkie, come down, slowly!"

Funny, I don't think I had ever heard them say "please" to me before, but I do remember hearing "no" quite often.

I made it to the top of the pole and grabbed the flag with my chubby hands. It wouldn't budge, and I started to throw a mini-tantrum. But then I looked down and saw the view from the top. I didn't feel scared because it was amazing seeing everything look so small, and I felt so big! I wanted to stay there forever, but from below I could hear my mom crying hysterically, so I slowly shimmied down the pole.

My parents were so relieved that I made it down unscathed that they didn't get mad at me. I also learned an important principle: where there's a will, there's a way. I never went up that pole again, but I knew I could do it if I really wanted to.

What's your flag? We all have at least one goal or dream tugging at us that wants to be realized. We also have a reason for being here or a purpose. What is it for you right now? Are you considering a new career or searching for a special person to share your life? How about optimal health or financial security? Do you have a desire to do something with your life that is unconventional or different from what you are doing now?

To complement any goal or purpose, we have well-equipped, goal-oriented instincts, especially when we are very young. This is what I call our inner shark. Just ask your parents what you were like when you were two or three years old. I'll bet you were inquisitive, adventurous, and didn't have any fears. As a parent, I realize we cannot allow our kids to run around like unsupervised little sharks. We need to set boundaries to keep them from getting hurt, destroying property, or worse.

As children grow up, their parents' voices are replaced by an inner voice of caution, doom, and gloom that sends messages like: Be careful; Don't take a chance, you might make a mistake; or You will be sorry! That original sense of fire, determination, and freedom gets snuffed out. We submerge our sense of self and try to fit into our families, society, culture, religion, and schools. In an effort to fit in and feel loved, we lose a genuine part of ourselves. Some of our natural talents become suppressed because they were considered unworthy or unimportant by others whom we valued. In other words, the inner shark is no longer working for us because we have put it to sleep.

Eventually, our lives become cluttered with chores and responsibilities. We're more concerned with paying bills and making others happy than living our own lives. One day we wake up and realize we are making everyone happy but ourselves. What you really want in your life becomes a hard question to answer because you haven't asked the question in such a long time. So I encourage you to ask it now. What do you want? Only then will the inner shark in you awaken.

When you have determined what you want, you have made the most important decision in your life. You have to know what you want in order to attain it.—Douglas Lurtan

A while back I attended a workshop on weight loss and nutrition where the guest lecturers were sharing secrets on how to help people lose weight. Most of the speakers were talking about the latest workout regiments, gimmicks, or supplements. They all started to sound alike; however, I'll never forget one speaker. He said the unthinkable: "If you want to lose weight, take off all your clothes, look in the mirror, and tell yourself that you are responsible for this."

The message was not well received. The audience started to boo the speaker, and some even threw their food at him. They tried to "kill the messenger." As he collected himself, he proceeded to explain that unless we take responsibility for the choices that got us where we are today, we will never change. It will always be easier to blame others or make someone else responsible for our lives.

This nugget of wisdom is essential for anyone who wants to achieve a goal. Where am I now? How did I get here? What choices did I make that got me here? Where do I want to go from here? What can I do differently now? Possessing the courage to look inside ourselves, taking responsibility for our past behaviors, igniting the desire to change, and realizing that the only limits are the ones we impose on ourselves, is imperative to changing our lives for the better. We need to accept where we are today and know that only our behaviors will change us! That is where the authenticity comes in. We must not lie to ourselves. Accountability and responsibility generate self-esteem. The more authentic we are, the more powerful we become and once again, the inner shark can emerge, thrive, and move us toward our goals.

As the late John Wooden used to say: "If we are not true to ourselves, we cannot be true to others—our wife or husband, our family, our profession and colleagues" (Wooden 1997).

By now you are probably wondering why I am comparing human behaviors to shark behaviors. What's the point? We're human and sharks are fish. However, as we look closer at some of the sharks' attributes, there is a great deal to learn from their simplicity, focus, and persistence. Why not take a look at what makes them successful instead of fearing them or trying to wipe them off the face of the planet for some exotic soup?

Shark Action Steps

1. Take fifteen minutes each day to get away from your environment. Spend the time alone without distractions. Ask yourself the question: "What do I really want?" If nothing comes to mind, then ask: "How may I make a difference in this life?"

2. If you knew you only had one year to live, would you still be doing what you are now?

3. Identify at least ten goals you would like to achieve before you3. die.

4. Write them down!

5. Which one has the highest urgency?

6. Once you identify a primary objective, list your personal strengths that will facilitate reaching this goal.

7. What will slow you down? Identify the people or the conditions that are barriers to your success.

8. Put a target date on this goal. When would you like it to be realized?

9. Identify the tasks you need to complete before this goal is achieved.

10. Commit to performing at least three tasks a day.

11. Schedule these tasks as you would any other priority.

12. How will achieving this goal change your life? Write down anything that occurs to you.

Quotes on Goal-Seeking Behaviors:

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. —Les Brown

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.—Jimmy Dean

If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.—Lawrence J. Peter

There is no passion to be found in playing small; in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.—Nelson Mandela

Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.—Brian Tracy

There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.—William James

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.—Michelangelo

Chapter Two

Sharks Don't Ask for Permission

Human Translation: Be Independent of Others' Opinions

Do not become too concerned about what others may think of you. Be very concerned about what you think of yourself. Too often we care more about a stranger's opinion of us than our own.—John Wooden

When I was seventeen years old, my dream was to be a great volleyball player. My days were filled with running along the beach and going from court to court looking for games. I played with and against anyone who would let me on the court.

One day my high school coach called me into her office. I thought that she was going to compliment me since I threw my body into the wall to get a ball during practice. But instead of the praise I'd been expecting, she said: "Sharkie, I think you should quit volleyball." She looked stern and serious. She went on to explain that I was too short, uncoordinated, and out of control to ever be any good at volleyball. I was crushed! I knew my volleyball skills were less than impressive, but I was not ready to quit my passion, even though my coach thought it was in my best interest. The fact that she said I should quit made me want it even more. It was my starting gun and activated my inner shark.

I became obsessed with finding someone who would help me become a better player. I wasn't going to get better on my own, and my high school coach certainly wasn't going to help. It seemed hopeless since most girls did not pursue sports, especially after high school. The chances of playing in college were slim. But I wasn't ready to give up. I soon found out that one of the football coaches at our school was also a volleyball player and coached a men's club volleyball team. He had a reputation of being strict, disciplined, and mysterious as well. Coach Z was his name, and all the football players were afraid of him. Desperate, I walked into his office and asked if he would help me become a great volleyball player since my high school coach had given my volleyball career a death sentence. I'll never forget his strange buzz haircut.

After hearing all the stories about how mean he was to the football players, I started to get nervous thinking that maybe this was a bad idea. But something in his eyes told me that he was the one who could help. He said that he would coach me if I got enough girls to form a team. No problem.

I recruited girls who were marginal players and had little volleyball experience. We even had a girl who would scream and duck every time someone would hit a ball toward her. Needless to say, our first year was a disaster. My new coach had never trained girls before, so it was also an education for him. He learned quickly about PMS, boyfriend problems, and girly gossip. Coaching girls was a whole new ballgame! But my new mentor persevered. The next year, we started to win matches, and the other teams stopped laughing at us. In fact, a few teams were afraid to play us. Eventually, our team attracted some of the finest athletes in the game, and we won the USVBA national title and beat the top-seeded Adidas team in the finals. Their coach was so upset when they lost to us that he threatened to go back to Japan!

I was recruited to play volleyball at UCLA and was on the first national championship team. Playing volleyball quickly became the focal point of my life as I continued to play both college and club ball. Being selected for the World University Team and the US National Team was the high point of my indoor career. Whenever I saw our flag and heard the national anthem, it sent chills up my spine. I was representing my country and playing against the best volleyball teams in the world.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Shark Sense by Sharkie Zartman Copyright © 2011 by Sharkie Zartman. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword....................xiii
Acknowledgments....................xvii
Introduction....................1
Shark Sense One: A Shark Is Always True to Its Nature Human Translation: Know Who You Are and What You Want....................3
Shark Sense Two: Sharks Don't Ask for Permission Human Translation: Be Independent of Others' Opinions....................12
Shark Sense Three: Sharks Swim Forward Human Translation: Action Is the Key to Success....................20
Shark Sense Four: Sharks Do Not Have Divided Minds Human Translation: Focus on One Goal at a Time....................28
Shark Sense Five: Sharks Eat to Live Human Translation: Become a Mindful Eater....................35
Shark Sense Six: Sharks Are Relentless Human Translation: Persistence Is Its Own Reward....................41
Shark Sense Seven: Sharks Rely on Their Senses Human Translation: Develop Keen Awareness....................48
Shark Sense Eight: Sharks Are Fearless Human Translation: Growth Happens When We Are the Most Uncomfortable....................55
Shark Sense Nine: Sharks Are Flexible Human Translation: Adapt and Thrive....................61
Shark Sense Ten: Sharks Sleep with Their Eyes Open Human Translation: Be on the Lookout! Opportunities Are Everywhere....................69
Shark Sense Eleven: Sharks Have Thick Skin Human Translation: Toughen Up....................77
Shark Sense Twelve: Sharks Do Not Experience Self-Doubt Human Translation: Confidence Opens Doors....................82
Shark Sense Thirteen: Sharks Fend for Themselves Human Translation: Get Away from the Maddening Crowd....................87
Shark Sense Fourteen: Sharks Don't Show Their Age Human Translation: Enter the Ageless Zone....................92
Epilogue....................97
References....................101