I recently did a presentation on innovation. In preparation, I asked attendees to rate themselves on a scale of 1 to 10 on how creative or innovative they considered themselves. Then, for those who didn't rate themselves a 10 (there was only one who did), I asked them what obstacle was in their way. A number of people judged themselves to be too practical or admitted to getting hung up analyzing the practicality of an idea. Ah, practicality: The enemy of awesome ideas. Many a brainstorming session has come to a screeching halt when someone suggests an idea deemed …
Time for a Tinker Project
I turn 40 this year. I’ve accomplished a lot in forty years, but I’ve ended too many of the past few regretful that I didn't make more art. Part of the reason is because it feels too self-indulgent; to spend more time on something I enjoy so much can’t possibly be considered “work,” right? Meanwhile, because we never experienced much financial success in our early efforts to promote "Kim & Jason," I’ve believed the lie that my art is not valuable enough to be a viable business option. And so I’ve distracted myself with other more “worthwhile” businessy pursuits. When I’m making art, all …
Twenty Questions to Start Your Year with a Bang
Are we afraid of curiosity because of what it (supposedly) did to the cat? I’m searching for a reason to explain why kids are insatiably curious, while adults tend to grow less so over time. We’re conditioned in school to believe there is only one right answer and everything else is wrong. But that's not really true in the real world, is it? For example, what's the correct way to raise a kid? To find a job? To make dinner? To propose to your sweetheart? To host a wedding? To be a good parent? There are a lot of right answers to those questions. The beginning of a new year is a popular …
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This Video Has Nothing to Do With Circumcision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCadpRQjtY Do you surround yourself with only like-minded voices? I'm finding how interesting life can be when you are challenged to make decisions because you've chosen them versus going along with the norms that are expected. …
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What I Learned from Getting My Hair Chopped
I sat in the chair watching 5 inches of my hair hit the ground, and thankfully, I instantly knew I was making the right decision. I wasn't sure earlier that day as we drove there. Was I going to cry? (Yes, that HAS happened to me before -- not a good day.) Change can be exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. Those two emotions can manifest tears or joyful feelings of freedom. Sometimes you just don't know until you do it. …
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Embrace Curiosity and Save the World
One of the greatest superpowers of childhood is curiosity. And I bet there are few people who'd debate the importance of validating and fostering the curiosity in children. However, the tone often changes when that curiosity tramples our adult sensibilities. Allow me to share part of an email I received from a woman who heard me speak at a national conference: …
What Business Card Design Has to Do With Making Your Life Better
How many business cards have you collected over the years? A handful? A hundred? Enough to wallpaper the bathrooms of every house on your block? Even if you're not involved in "Business," chances are you've received a number of business cards over the years, from the auto mechanic to your neighbor who sells Mary Kay. Most business cards are, frankly, forgettable. …
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Adultitis Relief Brief: Breakout
This episode is geared toward those of you who think you’re not very creative. To that we say, “Au contraire!” Watch this episode for an idea you can try tomorrow that will spark a creative side you didn’t know you had. Enjoy! iPod Version (14.7 MB) | Subscribe with iTunes …
The Right Way to Tackle Life, Brought To You By a Nine-Month-Old
Lucy is mobile. She rolls, scoots, crawls, and pulls herself up on things. I'm considering taping my eyelids open because I know that if I blink, she'll suddenly be walking, running, and asking for the car keys. I'm certain the little jet setter has cried more times in the last four weeks than she did in her first seven months of life -- and 95% of it is all her own doing. (I'll chalk the remaining 5% up to her footie pajamas that make the kitchen floors more slippery and treacherous.) Curiosity is what drives her. She's always looking around, exploring, and discovering new things. In her …
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What Watching Fireflies Can Teach You About Your Level of Adultitis
The other night I was sitting in the backyard with my daughter Lucy. We were watching fireflies, aka lightning bugs. I tried catching one so she could see one up close, but chasing down a firefly in the dark with one hand while holding a baby in the other proved trickier than expected. Deciding to just take in the scene, we sat on the deck and watched them go about their evening routine. Questions started popping into my head. What makes them glow? What purpose does the glowing serve, anyway? And where do they go during the day? After putting Lucy to bed, I decided I was going to do a …
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