Brand Me Redux

Sometimes the best way to work through something is to have a conversation.

Not the lightweight kind that’s all about weather and idleness. I’m talking about the heavyweight kind that starts out with a interesting question, forcing a dive to the depths of one’s mind/heart/being, and comes up with something bright and unexpected and, in a way, profound.

No introductions, no status reports. Just a simple, interesting question.

When I have something I need to work out, one of my favorite things to do is Google searches. Because, to my mind, if I’m thinking about it, chances are someone’s already thought about it and is talking about it right now. All I have to do is find it, right?

My second favorite thing to do is Amazon searches. Because, to my mind, if I’m thinking about it, chances are someone’s already written a book about it and Amazon is selling it right now. All I have to do is find it and buy it, right?

As a result of doing these things, I’ve become very familiar with what’s out there in terms of “random prompts as pathways to profundity,” and I’ve come to the conclusion that either I suck at searches or what I want doesn’t exist.

What I want: I want a book of questions that make me think. I want an oracle of a sort. Something that will spur me to follow threads I can’t create for myself just yet. Something that will ask me that simple interesting question so I can dive in deeply and come back up with something I wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Perhaps I expect too much. As I think about this, it sounds like what I want is a “coach in a box.” Doesn’t seem practical or even very useful since it can’t be customized. But still, there should be things out there that can trigger positive reflection in everyone, right? Things that are just triggers, that allow you to stop right where you are and do the work, without any pressure to turn the page, finish the chapter, or get to the ending.

Are there?

Something in my head today, as I inhale and digest all manner of info/claptrap about creativity.

Specifically, I’d like to know where it says that “creativity” has to be as loose as a bad bowel movement. I mean, I get what the creativity gurus are trying to say: Loosen up a little; put down the hammer, have a drink, and set a spell. Yeah, OK, I get that.

There’s a part of me that thinks that’s pretty weak, though. What starts as “loosen up a little” generally ends as “let it all hang out.” Yeah, that’s OK (and even helpful) for about a day. After that, it becomes annoying. That whole, Doug Henning-esque feel to the notion of creativity just isn’t me and it’s not something I particularly want to be associated with. It all has its place but a steady diet of that brand of creativity is much less substantial than I think I need.

So, what is my brand of creativity?

I don’t know yet, not completely. I know a little better what it isn’t. It isn’t SARK’s brand, all happy colors and (ugh) “succulent juiciness.” It isn’t what a lot of art journalers portray in its messy, primitive, randomness. Again, all this has its place and is helpful in theory and concept, but…

To a lot of people, creativity is a wild animal. Something that we cage up as we get shuffled through our society’s institutions. Something that, caged up too long, eventually weakens and dies. Sure, we might let it out on special occasions, like for Christmas or our parents’ 30th anniversary, but only long enough to sniff the air. Instead, we should be allowing it to roam where it will, do as it will, and call all of its output “art.” Even the shit.

Again, I think that’s helpful and even necessary, but only up to a point. After a while, the wild animal needs to be disciplined. Not tamed, but trained. Indeed, I sometimes think it’s a lot like a spoiled child — bored with getting its way for so long, it starts asking for some rules, some boundaries. It starts wondering what it might say.

What might mine say? I don’t know, but I think I’m getting closer to figuring it out. It’s telling me, at times gesturing wildly, but I can only hear little bits and I can’t see it very well at all. Hopefully it won’t get too frustrated with me.

So, I recently installed a wireless network in my home using Apple’s Airport wireless hardware. The Apple web site and the accompanying documentation make wireless networking sound like an amazing invention that’s even more amazingly simple to install. If you use Apple’s gear, then a potentially days-long experiment in frustration is reduced to a few minutes of networking nirvana. Because everything Apple makes “just works.”

Well, if you’re using Windows, that’s not always the case.

It took me about 2 days of near-nonstop futzing to get the Airport Extreme and Airport Express base stations to work (and keep working). The issues I experienced were experienced by many, many others, some of whom documented their resolutions which in turn got me closer to getting things working. I’m writing this article to record my own resolution, paying it forward as it were. Continue Reading »

A lot of what I read (on the Internet, in books, in magazines, etc.) about creativity usually centers around being artistic. If you’re “creative” you’re throwing pots, making jewelry, telling stories around a campfire, painting or drawing or collaging or similar whathaveyou. And if you look around trying to find information about being creative in business, you find people talking about how artists can earn a living making their art.

Uhhh, ok. Not quite what I had in mind, though.

See, I’m not an artist nor am I workaholic. Creativity isn’t only about being artistic and business isn’t only about making money. There’s an intellectual facet to creativity that I don’t think gets explored outside of science journals. And there’s a moral aspect to business that’s all but ignored in the real world.

So, what am I looking for? I guess I’m looking for the offbeat, the unconventional, the non-conformist. Yeah, if you’re going to make money without getting in trouble, a business has to adhere to certain conventions (like established accounting principles). And too, the reason for starting the business has to be somewhat conventional, like solving a problem, filling a need, or providing entertainment. But the business itself can be as freaky as it wants to be, as long as there’s a market.

Sounds great when you’re talking about it. And if you already have a freaky idea for a business, there’s no shortage of people willing to help you figure out if there is a market.

But what if you don’t have your freaky idea yet? What do you do to get one?

So, I’m also looking for examples of creative thinking, creative problem solving.

Why am I looking for this in the first place? Because I’m ready to make some changes. Rather big changes, actually. Since I’m now “of a certain age” (and, consequently, living outside of acknowledged chronology), there’s no sense in denying myself what I want anymore.

When you’re young, people are always telling you how you have your life ahead of you, how much time you still have. Personally, I think that’s a lie. None of us has much time at all. So, there’s never a reason to put off your dreams or bury your talents or “wait until next year.” There’s never a reason good enough because no one has a life long enough.

Yeah, I know that what I’m looking for is fairly nuanced, so I’ve no doubt I’ll be looking for a while to find it. While I’m looking I’ll post what I find. Hopefully, I’ll be successful.