“Creativity is as important as literacy.”
—Sir Ken Robinson
Creativity matters
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Liberating loss
Every loss is a liberation.
I’m out
As I look back, I’m convinced that impulsively quitting my job was the single greatest decision I have made in my life so far.
Reckless, stupid, irresponsible, challenging, stressful, frustrating…
…liberating and empowering.
Problems
You can either add to a problem or you can help solve it.
Becoming a potter
Jonathan Adler is a great example of someone who couldn’t succeed at anything—except what he actually wanted to do. The key to his success was his ability to tune out the reasonable, responsible advice of the people around him and pursue his lifelong passion for pottery.
I saw this video originally on 99u
What it’s all about
“Enjoy your life. That is what it is all about.”
—Lisa Allred
Worthy of trust
“The interesting thing about trust is that sometimes people become trustworthy only when someone places their trust in them, not before.”
—Shane Canale
Looking forward
You have more control of your future than your past.
Success
The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied only a little while.
The businessman then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The businessman scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?” To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, señor?” The businessman laughed and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.” “Millions, señor? Then what?” The businessman said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Environment
“I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.”
—Robert Costello “The Departed”