Reggie Watts. PopTech 2011. Watch him work.
Thank you, JW.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Beginning #4: Note to Self
So many ways to begin. It's not about finding THE right way. It's not about mechanics or routines. Most likely these are known. As for finding the start of a new piece, that's easy. You are flush with beginnings; endings too. The challenge is more subtle. More like parsing Rummy's unknown unknowns.
Find zero. Or rather, create the conditions approximating zero. Imagine you could start from zero. Where is the place of "as if" you could start from zero? It's tricky when you think about it. Zero is different every time. You are different every time. The material, the conditions, the context - all changed. Forget last year's successes. Forget past failures (there will be new ones). Forget frustrations. Careful of distractions (there are so many). Don't allow others to set your agenda. Ignore the buzz. Modulate the signal to noise ratio. Zero is the balance.
Do these things now:
Find your constants.
Be simple.
Be stupid.
Allow more blank space. (This is not even an approximation.)
Humble yourself before the work.
Listen.
Listen some more.
Shut up.
Show up. Be present. Regardless.
Pay attention to frequencies.
Where is the interest?
Who really wants to play?
Let your collaborators reveal themselves.
Accept invitations.
Practice forgiveness. Set the timer. Try 5 minutes. Press start and forgive everyone for five minutes. Let it go. Set the timer again. Try 5 minutes. Press start and forgive yourself for five minutes. Continue in this manner increasing the duration until the timer is no longer necessary.
Find zero. Or rather, create the conditions approximating zero. Imagine you could start from zero. Where is the place of "as if" you could start from zero? It's tricky when you think about it. Zero is different every time. You are different every time. The material, the conditions, the context - all changed. Forget last year's successes. Forget past failures (there will be new ones). Forget frustrations. Careful of distractions (there are so many). Don't allow others to set your agenda. Ignore the buzz. Modulate the signal to noise ratio. Zero is the balance.
Do these things now:
Find your constants.
Be simple.
Be stupid.
Allow more blank space. (This is not even an approximation.)
Humble yourself before the work.
Listen.
Listen some more.
Shut up.
Show up. Be present. Regardless.
Pay attention to frequencies.
Where is the interest?
Who really wants to play?
Let your collaborators reveal themselves.
Accept invitations.
Practice forgiveness. Set the timer. Try 5 minutes. Press start and forgive everyone for five minutes. Let it go. Set the timer again. Try 5 minutes. Press start and forgive yourself for five minutes. Continue in this manner increasing the duration until the timer is no longer necessary.
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