Get Out Of Your Head, It’s A Mess In There is a book that has been percolating in Art Dielhenn’s brain for a bit. It was COVID that pushed the former A-List TV director turned Career Coach to add the title of author to his creative resume. He wrote this book as a “get-me-through-the-pandemic-with-my-head-screwed-on-straight-project.” It’s a book of aphorisms for better thinking and living, promising readers quick access to 101 thoughtful ideas and 101 clever cartoons.
What Are Aphorisms Anyway? The dictionary says they are, “pithy observations that contain general truths.” They are economical, reducing principles to their primary essence. They are “tried and true” shorthand directions for living. By repetition over time, they become part of the fabric of life’s understanding of itself. They are reminders, prompts, encouragements; sometimes admonitions like “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush” or “look before you leap.”
So, back to the story of how this book came to be. After graduating with distinction from The University of Wisconsin with a degree in Communications, Art headed West to pursue his TV career settling in Hollywood, where he directed over 15 pilots and 300 prime time episodes including: Punky Brewster, Head of the Class, Silver Spoons, Webster, and Sister/Sister.
His experience navigating the entertainment industry and two years of study at The Coaches Training Institute prepared Art to transition to his next career as a Certified Career Coach establishing Los Angeles Coaching in 2000. Flash-forward to June 2020, (that was fast) the pandemic is raging and Art decides to double down on his own sanity and serenity tools by writing about the aphorisms he’s collected over the years.
But first he must pitch the idea to his friend Clemmy Le Busque over coffee. He knows that he wants to create a fun book and that Clemmy’s satirical cartoons perfectly match his sensibilities. So, he says, “You want to draw 101 cartoons for the book?” When it comes out of his mouth, he knows he’s asking a lot. He expects to hear the word “No!” But Clemmy says, “Yes! When do we start?” So, they both get to work and the Get Out Of Your Head adventure began.
Then suddenly and sadly in the middle of the project in the middle of the pandemic, Art and his ex-wife lost their oldest son. More than ever, writing about these tools for better thinking and living took on even greater importance helping Art endure the indescribable grief that followed, grief that so many have experienced these past few years.
Art has assisted hundreds of people design and build rewarding sustainable careers. As one client put it, “Art’s coaching penetrated deeply into my psychology, clearing my confusion, indecision, and negative thinking. Our work leveraged my strengths, turbo charged my plan and produced rewarding results!” Art offers this book, chock full of thoughtful ideas, as a pathway to growing awareness, understanding and peace of mind.
