You're a what? (Two minute read)

 "The chief enemy of creativity is good sense."

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.

Order your copy of the book 

Learning to Win

 

(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. 

• How are my relationships? Do I have a date night with my spouse? Do I tell her I love her? Do I call my mother regularly? If not then I'm setting up my personal life for failure.

• How's my health? Do I eat badly? Junk food, processed food? Do I exercise? If I'm not living a healthy lifestyle then am I not setting up my health for failure?

• What are my personal finances like? Am I in debt? Do I impulse buy? Do I budget my money and stick to it? Do I save? If so, my personal finances are at risk of failure.

• There is also the question of my personal and spiritual development. Do I spend an hour a day reading quality books and articles? Do I have a period of personal devotion? If not, again, I'm setting myself up for failure in that area. 

• My personal habits also play an important role. Do I stay up late watching TV. Do I sleep late in the mornings? Do I indulge in useless, pointless online videos? If I'm not making good choices in my personal habits then I'm again setting myself up for failure. 

Mr. Miller chose 5 areas in ones life to help a person either finally succeed or come back from failure.

1. Loving relationships
2. Uncompromising integrity
3. A clear purpose
4. Vibrant health
5. Optimistic faith

We all make mistakes. We loose, we fail but as Robert Kiyosaki said in Rich Dad Poor Dad, an entrepreneur's job is to make mistakes. To make no mistakes is the job of an employee.  

Do you want to know how to be creative in your life and profession?

For a copy of Bob Doll's book Shut Up & Draw: A Journey to Creativity click here

Not in the Contract

 I've said on many occasion that if I knew beforehand how being successful was going to be this hard, I would have preferred to just live happily ever after instead. It harkens back to the days of 2011 when all I knew was having a secure job with benefits and how the "security" tuned out to be delusional, on more than one occasion, in my experience. 

Ironically, the shallow waters I experienced in the traditional world of employment was setting me up for a world of self-employment. There are pros and cons to each, and it also recalls the question, which I've written about in previous blogs, is a person's personality made to be entrepreneurial or does entrepreneurship make the person?

It's also a matter of how self-employment has conditioned me to be very discontent with traditional employment. I am seriously questioning my ability (or willingness) at this point, to return to the world of employment. 

"All mortal greatness is but a disease."

 I don't know why because I'm no psychologist, but I tend to believe less in myself than others do. It's been my arch enemy all my life. It's my Lex Luthor, my Mr. Hyde, my white whale. 

The Meaning of the Meaning

The meaning of life. What a profound statement. There are so many implications and interpretations behind the meaning of life and is there only one answer? Some people think there is a singular solution and they advocate that if everyone would just  do things exactly the way they do it then everyone would be successful, thin and happy. However, we know that's not the reality. 

To me, life can seem a blissful holiday one day, with sunshine, birds singing and unbound optimism. The next day it may seem a foreboding harbinger of doom, ready to fall upon me a crush out my very life. 

Aside from the psychological implications of being hopelessly schizophrenic, or whatever the proper medical term is, most of us would admit to having mental highs and lows which will not be debated here, but I, for one, am happy that I have the ability to illustrate my thoughts, either through drawings, words or both. Doing so requires me to examine some giants of art and literature (or any field of endeavor) , as well as the everyday people. When I realize that even people of great success have everyday problems, then I don't feel like such an anomaly.

My Favorite Writer

It's no secret to my friends and business associates, that I write and most of the time, when it's convenient, my words are accompanied with a humorous drawing. 

I have a handwritten journal I keep at home, and I always have paper and pen with me when I'm away from my desk. Recently, I've been keeping a micro-journal on my cell phone using the OneNote app which syncs well with all my devices. This micro-journal is good for writing on the go or when I'm even at home when I get the itch to write right-away. No waiting.

Needless to say, I have an assortment of sketchbooks which also serve as a journal. A graphic journal, if you will, and in them are drawings which record my thoughts just as words can.

I have this thing about me where I insist I can do things better than anything mass produced whether it's cooking a meal, coffee, or even writing. There are many best selling books I've read (or began reading) that I couldn't stomach. Some of these books are bestsellers and congratulations to the authors who have found the way to sell to the masses. It's also a heavy commentary on the mindset of the readers of these books. Someone once said

"When I want to read a 

good book I'll write it."

Maybe I'm totally wrong. I could be swinging at a ball that isn't there. Who am I to determine what is good writing and what isn't? But don't we all have our own opinions?

This is a Life?

There is a network of Christian businessmen I used to attend on a monthly basis until I slowly came to the realization that the guest speakers at these meetings tell very similar stories and follow predictable patterns which is why I know I'll likely never be chosen as one of their guest speakers. 

Don't call us, we'll call you...

I'm being rather presumptuous to think I would be considered as such, but it is my hope that one day I will be chosen as someone's guest speaker. However, I am quite certain that I won't be chosen as the afore mentioned organization's speaker.

Nothing to see here, folks

Why? Because based on the previous speakers, I don't fit the pattern. Most of the guest speakers have had a life of alcoholism, drug abuse, wife beating, and prison who have been face down in the gutter, then found God who led them to a remarkable recovery and brilliant life.

Close, but no cigar

My background contains none of those experiences and in fact, based on said criteria, I am apparently very boring. I've been a faithful husband, my marriage involves no abuse, and I've never been afflicted with alcoholism or drug addiction. I've never gambled. I've never been to prison, nor have I ever been homeless. I've never driven a successful business into the ground and neither have I been "on fire" for The Lord.

My message is how normal I actually am. My story is not to impress the average guys and gals, with stories of rags to riches, other than I hope that one day, this heretofore ordinary life is one that reaches a certain level of success to which the normal person can more relate. I wish to be more inspirational to those of us lying face down in mediocrity, not the gutter.