Jimmy Johnson, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, speaks much of "scared money" which has become popularized in various circles, But
what does "scared money" mean?
Playing with scared money often refers to gaming as in black jack, for example, when one, afraid of loosing, will wager little money and in return receives smaller gains, if any.
Johnson, who enjoys black jack, used this philosophy much in football as one who is daring, bold and takes calculated chances, knowing the risks but is willing to put it on the line for
gains all out of proportion to the investment.
This may also be related to one's personal or professional life when one has little he wishes to put at risk consequently has little gains as a result. A basic rule of investing is if one has little to loose, then risk it.
What's the harm if it's lost?
In business, seeking a big payday, not playing with scared money can be easily applied. Soliciting an unlikely but good client who would pay top dollar for my services, is a good applicable example.
How can you use creativity in your life and career?
Get your copy of Shut Up & Draw: A Journey to Creativity here
The following is an excerpt from Shut Up & Draw: A Journey to Creativity
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I never imagined indulging in these practices as a career.
How could I? The adults in my life never thought of it that way either. To them it was a nice talent for a quiet boy, and a good hobby but it was no way to earn a living. To do that it was necessary for me to get a job and do what I was told so I could pay the bills.
pay the bills.
This programming has stayed with me for most of my adult life even after I became self-employed in a non-artistic field. It's been hard to reprogram.
Becoming self employed when I did (albeit in a blue-collar capacity) I became associated with other self-employed business people who were not as timid about following their aspirations which was contrary to my
"play it safe" programming.
It's worth noting that even in such an optimistic environment I still sensed the reluctance to share my vision overtly. This has to do with whom we choose to share our vision.
Get your own copy of
Shut Up and Draw: A journey to creativity
Pablo Picasso
Being a creative person has a misleading reputation surrounding it and among the confusion is how so many artists have given us the impression that to be creative you must empty your mind of all thought and plug into the spiritual realm of your being.
Many profess either overtly or by inference, you must be in touch with some other heavenly part of the universe that takes you somewhere without self input as if you're not in control of the outcome
As remarkable as this sounds to some, it simply isn't true. Many pretentious artists, who wish to be venerated, want us to envision their creativity as something that has been gifted to them from the gods on high and with such a pronouncement it often discourages many from even attempting to draw declaring...
"I'm no artist"
The truth of the matter is that creativity in general and drawing specifically is a skill that can be learned with practice like any other progressive skill such as math, welding or selling insurance.
Creativity in general can be practiced and like any other part of the mind you focus upon, the more you use it for creative purposes the easier it becomes.
It's true that drawing specifically lends itself to mindfulness and focus, but it's similar to the way a mathematician focuses on solving a calculation. Like many other activities, some people are predisposed to it. Mozart was a musical prodigy, Michelangelo was masterful and these traits were often reflected in their personalities and their approach to everyday things, but by no means does this disqualify anyone else from learning to tap into their own creative potential.
There is no compulsory temperament a person needs to possess in order to be a creative person. No one must be either introverted or extroverted, neither eccentric or plain.
My wife put it to me this way:
"Shut Up and Draw"
This article and accompanying illustrations is an excerpt from
Shut Up and Draw: A Journey to Creativity.
(Two Minute Read)
They say failure is just another step in the learning process. Ted Turner, as owner of the Atlanta Braves, when asked during the teams rebuilding process, how he felt about all the losses incurred in the interim said,
"we weren't loosing. We were learning how to win".
All fine and dandy but it still doesn't make loosing and failing any easier. At least not to most people, me especially.
My virtual mentor, Dan Miller, (48 days Podcast) brought up the subject when he read a letter from a listener who said "sometimes it's prudent for a person to quit wanting what they want because there comes a point of realization that the dream will never become a reality. Consistent failure leads to deep depression and one must come to the conclusion that loosers are a fact of life".
Yikes!
Mr. Miller addressed this and, for me, the most meaningful point of the conversation came when he suggested that if my business life isn't where I want it to be or is failing, then take a look at my personal life because the state of one's personal habits and practices are reflected in the business life.
Mr. Miller chose 5 areas in ones life to help a person either finally succeed or come back from failure.
