Today and for the next few days I’ll be writing about Harry Houdini.

Houdini started life sharing a ramshackle, rat-infested apartment with his parents and 6 siblings…

And went on to become one of the most famous and highest paid performers of his time. 

Even today, he’s among the greatest magicians who ever lived.

So if you’re trying to succeed against the odds, climb to the top of your field, or you’re feeling trapped in some way and itching to escape...

I can’t think of anyone better to learn from.

Houdini didn’t have it lightly.  The world of professional magic in the early 20^th century was cut-throat.

It was filled with “pirate” magicians trying to steal secrets from each other.

Taking the latest and greatest secret to a new city or country could be a magician’s ticket to fame and glory.

So sneaking backstage at rival shows to catch a glimpse of hidden equipment was part of the game.  As was offering bungs to stagehands.

And magicians would do whatever it took to guard their secrets.  They’d talk in code with their assistants, create decoy props and even employ armed guards to protect their tricks.

Enter Houdini.  And his own way of doing things.

One of Houdini’s early tricks was a rope-tie trick.  Houdini would invite the audience to bind his ankles and knees, and tie his hands behind his back.  And Houdini would escape in seconds.

It was a popular trick.

As Houdini went on to greater and more dramatic stunts, he started to drop the rope-tie from his act.

But he didn’t drop it quietly.

Instead, he exposed the whole act in a newspaper article.

Houdini realised that the secret was only a valuable secret if it stayed secret from the public.  And revealing his secrets publically left his rivals unable to copy him.

A middle finger if ever there was one.

And Houdini continued to reveal his secrets throughout his career.

So far, so cunning.

But I suspect there was something deeper at play.

By revealing his own secrets and burning his magical bridges, Houdini was challenging himself to come up with more original and astonishing tricks.

Which he did.

Stunts like his 1912 Chinese Water Torture Cell…

Being buried alive in 1915…

And vanishing an elephant in 1918.  The trick which led to the longest single engagement of Houdini’s career.

For Houdini, surrendering his old ideas was how the new ideas to come through.

And this rings true.  

After all, it’s difficult to move forward if you’re still holding on to what came before.

That’s all for today. 

More Houdini horseplay tomorrow.

 - Tom

p.s. Whenever you're ready, here are the ways you can connect with me