People who live without asking this question fulfill other people’s dreams. Their own dreams die, never realized. Companies who exist without asking this question function solely as money-making machines, destined to crumble after 10-15 years of success. They never aspired to a greater focus and purpose.
Childhood Playtime for Creativity
What did you love to do as a child? Who did you play with? How did you play? Where did you play best? When did playtime stop? As I recall my own childhood playtime:
Work in Progress: Weirdest Blog Post Ever
This morning, I started two blog posts. And didn’t finish them. It feels a bit like my work today is a failure. A flop. I even considered not posting at all today… But it’s time to make some lemonade. Ladies and Gentlemen: the weirdest blog post ever…
Ideation Exercise for Creative Flow
15 minutes on the timer. Write down as many ideas as possible. Rules: no rules. Even the ‘dumbest’ idea can eventually become amazing art or science. Make bubbles professionally. Eat only orange things. Grow something new. Climb a rock and write a poem on top of it. Spend a day living like a blind person.… Continue reading Ideation Exercise for Creative Flow
iPad 3 and the Technology Buffet: Does Technology Help Creativity?
With the new iPad coming out in a few days I’ve heard a voice creeping up from inside me. It says things like: The iPad 3 will help you be more creative. You’ll write more if I buy and iPad 3. The iPhone and MacBook are just distractions. You can use an iPad 3 just for… Continue reading iPad 3 and the Technology Buffet: Does Technology Help Creativity?
An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life
From: You Subject: Your Creative Life Date: Today To: You ——————————————————– Dear You: Remember me? I’m you, but it’s 20 years down the road. I know this is kinda weird because you don’t remember writing this e-mail, but I’m sending it anyway. I wanted to remind you that you’re amazing, you have what it takes,… Continue reading An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life
Picture Poem
Molasses thick clouds stretch the sky like pulled cords of salt water taffy. I stop. Is the sky expanding before me? My chest sinks into the gooey love place, embracing its smallness. Everything I need, I already have. Add your own picture poem in the comments based on this picture.
The Shortest Short Stories: Tiny Stories
Whilst traveling, my wife and I ran into a friend who had this book: It’s a fascinating (tiny) book of idea generators, saucy illustrations and super teeny-tiny stories. Coupled with this post of writing prompts I read yesterday, I thought I’d try my hand at a few tiny stories as well. Please leave your own… Continue reading The Shortest Short Stories: Tiny Stories
Where the Beauty Is (or Isn’t)
A few years ago Joshua Bell, a Grammy award-winning world class violinist, played a brief concert in a Washington DC subway for 43 minutes and made $32.17 in donations. He usually makes around $1,000 per minute. The Washington Post conducted the experiment. A short excerpt from the full article: “His performance was arranged by The Washington… Continue reading Where the Beauty Is (or Isn’t)
How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes
Blog Mistake Number One: Poor Title The best way to keep readers from enjoying your awesome posts is to write a poor title. Your title should engage the reader, build value and provide them with a possible answer to a question they’ve always wanted to know. For instance, you’re reading this post (most likely) simply… Continue reading How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes