Do creatives balk at rules? Does it matter?
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201111/stan-richards-unique-management-style_pagen_2.html
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201111/stan-richards-unique-management-style_pagen_2.html
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Big Mouthing.
On a recent episode of the ABC TV show Cougar Town, Courtney Cox's character Jules admonished one of her friends not to "big mouth her."
Big mouthing in her world means using an obscure word when a familiar one will do.
On a recnet hike at Pinnacle Peak, I big mouthed a ranger. He and his colleague needled me about "talking fancy."
I've written before about the danger of using $10 words when $5 ones will suffice.
So, let this serve as a reminder: in life as in art, the lesson is to check your big fancy mouth--most of the time.
Big mouthing in her world means using an obscure word when a familiar one will do.
On a recnet hike at Pinnacle Peak, I big mouthed a ranger. He and his colleague needled me about "talking fancy."
I've written before about the danger of using $10 words when $5 ones will suffice.
So, let this serve as a reminder: in life as in art, the lesson is to check your big fancy mouth--most of the time.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Act, Learn, Refine. Repeat.
In the book Now, Discover Your Strengths, authors Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton advocate building strengths, not correcting weaknesses.
In doing so, you'll make great progress, but you'll sometimes slip.
The process is simple: act, learn, refine. Act, learn, refine.They call it the essence of strong living.
Carl Jung captured this spirit, "Fidelity to the law of your own being is...an act of high courage flung in the face of life."
The book is focused on work-related success, but the mantra applies to all of life.
So, here's to stumbling with grace.
http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Your-Strengths-Marcus-Buckingham/dp/0743201140/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336754514&sr=8-1
In doing so, you'll make great progress, but you'll sometimes slip.
The process is simple: act, learn, refine. Act, learn, refine.They call it the essence of strong living.
Carl Jung captured this spirit, "Fidelity to the law of your own being is...an act of high courage flung in the face of life."
The book is focused on work-related success, but the mantra applies to all of life.
So, here's to stumbling with grace.
http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Your-Strengths-Marcus-Buckingham/dp/0743201140/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336754514&sr=8-1
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Word Nerds.
You might be a word nerd if:
* You own a word-a-day calender
* You're on a first name basis with a librarian
* You buy books of poetry
* You own a Knidle or Nook
* You were a high school debator
* You correct your friends' grammar
* You once won a spelling bee
* You own a word-a-day calender
* You're on a first name basis with a librarian
* You buy books of poetry
* You own a Knidle or Nook
* You were a high school debator
* You correct your friends' grammar
* You once won a spelling bee
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Lessons Learned From The Voice.
Like much of TV-watching America, I am hooked on The Voice.
What I am most struck by is the repeated advice from the judges to the artists to maintain their originality.
Contestants who morph into copycat performers get axed; those who continue to challenge the contours of their own unique style succeed.
The same sage advice can be applied to writing: stick with your authentic voice. Explore its edges, but keep it your own.
What I am most struck by is the repeated advice from the judges to the artists to maintain their originality.
Contestants who morph into copycat performers get axed; those who continue to challenge the contours of their own unique style succeed.
The same sage advice can be applied to writing: stick with your authentic voice. Explore its edges, but keep it your own.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Take Time to Waste Time.
That's the advice of Jonah Lehrer in his new book Imagine: How Creativity Works.
New science shatters the myth that a select few are creative.
Instead he recommends taking a break when you feel stuck: get outside, take in a movie, tour an art gallery. He also talks about embracing the rut and pooh-poohs brainstorming.
http://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Creativity-Works-Jonah-Lehrer/dp/0547386079/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335192250&sr=8-1
New science shatters the myth that a select few are creative.
Instead he recommends taking a break when you feel stuck: get outside, take in a movie, tour an art gallery. He also talks about embracing the rut and pooh-poohs brainstorming.
http://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Creativity-Works-Jonah-Lehrer/dp/0547386079/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335192250&sr=8-1
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