make ideas happen.
Good advice to young and seasoned creative souls.
video via 99% and Life Remix
i am all RIGHT.
When was the last time you changed your mind?
I mean really changed your mind on a spiritual or political issue? After receiving new facts or information, your viewpoint evolved? If you are like me I bet it is difficult to come up with an answer. You aren’t alone. The Boston Globe has a great article, How Facts Backfire, that confirms this inconsistency:
“In 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. Facts, they found, were not curing misinformation. Like an underpowered antibiotic, facts could actually make misinformation even stronger.”
The article goes on to suggest that those people who feel “most strongly” about an issue were even more closed and often times — more incorrect than those with a more flexible viewpoint. Part of this may be our brain chemistry, and part a social fear that admitting change may be seen as weak or an admittance of “wrongness” (See John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Race).
What’s the solution to this crazy human need to be right?
Work on your self esteem. Those with higher self esteem are as more comfortable with political discourse and more open to additional viewpoints.
Do not internalize the facts. If you define yourself with the belief, then of course, changing your opinion would also mean having to give up some part of yourself. Instead, see facts as fluid pieces of information. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Need help with this one, try The Four Agreements.
Do not become a pundit. When you become a pundit you rely on your viewpoint being right to stay relevant. We are more than our beliefs. Relevance comes from being of service. Giving value. Action speaks louder than words. Practice what you preach.
Value truth, not rightness. Everyday the weather changes. We get older. Technology evolves. It is a useless battle to expect that one opinion could be correct forever. Imagine if you were asked to live you life based on the values you had at age 16? I’d have to marry Donnie from the New Kids on the Block. Stand by my belief that “math is stupid”, and act as if no one over 30 has anything to teach me (I’m 33.) Silliness. The only thing that is constant is change.
Over the next day or two, give yourself the luxury of allowing new facts to open your mind.
hire artists
This morning I stumbled onto Kim Werker’s awesome blog. Not only does she write about living a creative professional life, but she also makes stuff like this:
Very cool right?
She wrote a great post Unemployable (Not Really) and she links to another great article about hiring artists (a must read in my opinion!) Bottom line, allow flexibility for your staff to live their passion and everyone thrives. This seems like an easy win-win situation. What can we do to cultivate more flexibility in the workplace for artists, musicians, triathletse — whatever?
influence project
Who influences you online?
Fast Company wants to find out. A new style of social media network that allows you to add your profile & then recommend people who influence you (and maybe folks will reciprocate). Interesting format. Definitely worth a peak.
a few quick reads
posts I’m loving:
- 5 tactics bloggers should borrow from PR
- 11 wisdoms you can turn into cash. . .and crazy love
- getting started in social media
current books I’m digging:
poem I’m feeling:
The Summer Day
by Mary OliverWho made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
i <3 seattle
A few weeks ago, I joined some fellow Seattleites to participate in a flash mob with Seattle Metro Magazine. Just one of the things to love about this city!
find your invisible man
Via Gwen Bell, I watched this video from COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg. She gives some great Facebook statistics, but the part of the message that excited me: social media makes the invisible victim — visible. The invisible victim is an economic theory. When a tragedy happens say like AIDS to millions of people or thousands of children dying from dirty drinking water, as humans, we can’t grasp those numbers. However, when that story becomes personal — say a friend is diagnosed with breast cancer or a local business burns down in a fire — the actionable items seem obvious, and you feel personally responsible to help out.
This only re-affirms the importance of cultivating a strong community around your issue. Your community makes the cause “personal” to a new audience. When creating a campaign or promoting a cause you are about — what is a unique story to help your audience connect personally to your work?
coco chanel & intentional human inspiration
My friend & mentor Emily Hine turned me onto a Facebook Group — Intentional Human, “an online space for all of the amazing ways intentional people are making the world a better place.” Currently, the focus is 3o days of self love through Facebook updates & quotes. When looking for new professional clients and the search for meaning & joy (never forget the joy) a little extra inspiration never hurts. Every 30 days is a new intentional focus. My favorite quote inspiring me to greatness recently:
“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone.” Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel has come to mind regularly since I saw the movie Coco Before Chanel a few months ago. Mainly it is because Audrey Tautou is gorgeous and the costumes in the movie are to dye for (brooches, suits, & stripes, oh my!). However just as exciting as the fashion was following a woman’s winding journey to her passion.
Recently, I’ve felt myself “waiting” for some inspiration. Looking around my life for secret signs to help direct me to my next exciting professional experience. Now, I’ve changed my mind. I will run head first (and heart first) into the joy & I vow to do it with fantastic style — I might even do it with gloves on. Thanks Coco.
Still need another does of daily mindfulness? Follow Gwen Bell’s mindfulness list.
what drives you?
A few months ago, I went to a book lecture with Dan Pink hosted by friends at Biznik. I was truly moved by his previous book A Whole New Mind (and so was Oprah). At the evening of networking and red wine, I got a copy of his current bestseller Drive. My bedside table is filled with a pile of “must reads” so I haven’t gotten to it yet, but this video not only has great illustrations it also outlines his current premise (via GwenBell). What can you do to motivate yourself, your staff, and your current projects to the next level?
Check it out.
yes we CAN.
Two years ago, I was a senior staffer for Seeds of Compassion in Seattle. Tomorrow is the two year anniversary of our events. There will be a full day of speakers to enhance compassion in every aspect of our lives (not to mention some amazing speakers). I’ll be acting as the master moderator helping to forward questions from viewers watching the webcast virtually to the panelists. Send in a question or comment and I’ll do my best to get it answered.
Also, make sure to join the Compassionate Action Network to support other organizations doing this inspiring work.
