by Owen | Oct 27, 2019 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
What I’m Reading: Freakonomics – Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
This book has been on the back burner for a while now, but I’m really glad I got around to reading it. Unlike most of my reading list, Freakonomics doesn’t focus on a central theme. Rather, Levitt and Dubner take us through some interesting questions and show us how conventional wisdom may be easily broken if we only look at the right data. The book is filled with great studies and anecdotes, It’s got me thinking a lot on how similar situations may be dealt with in our lives.
What I’m up struggling with: Free Time
It’s been a while since I’ve had so much time to myself. I’ve mostly been working back to back to back for about 8 months now. I’m now confronted with (entierly on purpose) by a ton of free time. It’s really great to be able to relax but I constantly find myself going a little bit insane. I think this time will serve as a great creative resource but also as a nice mental reset.
What I can’t get out of my head: This TED Talk
I watched this about a week ago and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Though Shirky directs most of his examples towards internet culture (that is his specialty after all) it also applies almost directly to everything we do as artists, especially in the theater. I think it’s easy to rail against the institution as collaborators but Shirky draws some interesting conclusions on the application of both.
The quote I’m thinking about: “You must respect the body you are trying to heal”
What if that body is an institution, a system, an industry?
by Owen | Oct 24, 2019 | Creativity, Impromptu
“I’m out of ideas”
I doubt it.
Out of good ideas maybe. But full of bad ones. And all of them a path to something.
Perhaps another idea.
But don’t get paralyzed. It’s in there somewhere.
Whether in pieces or in process, exploring the wrong path is just as valuable.
The only way out is through. So keep going.
There’s work to be done.
by Owen | Oct 20, 2019 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
What I Overcame: The Fear of Posting
I’ve been turning over how this blog was going to take shape for weeks now. Admittedly these weekly posts have started to feel safe. The thing I feared was putting the ideas down and lacking any authority to carry them. Yesterday’s post on initiative was ironically the thing that broke me down. It came in a burst of inspiration and for a moment felt confident about posting it. If it hadn’t happened then and there it might not have gone up at all. Hopefully, overcoming that has opened to door to exploring more of what this blog and my writing can be.
What I Didn’t Know I Needed: To Get Away
Yesterday I had a bit of extra time in my day. Usually, I spend my free time in a room somewhere, writing, reading or watching something. but I wasn’t feeling inspired to do any of these things. On my way back from my errands I happened to be walking by the Boston Public Garden and couldn’t remember the last time I had walked through them. I ended up sitting under a tree in the gardens just watching the tourists and families around me. I left an hour and a half later completely revitalized. It had been so long since I had taken that kind of time to be still and sit and listen and observe. I’m making a pact with myself to do this every so often, as often as I can. it sounds cliche but I think we often forget how important it is to stop and take it all in. And hey things are cliche for a reason.
The Leap I Took: The Freelancers Workshop
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Seth Godin. I mean that’s his quote at the bottom of the post. Outside of his books and talks, one of the things I’ve kept an eye on for a while is Godin’s training courses through his company Akimbo. He and his team have created various programs focused on different areas of business and marketing. They happen every few months throughout the year. This past week I decided to sign up for the Freelancer’s Workshop and it’s already opened my eyes to so much. The program hasn’t even officially started yet and I’ve gotten the chance to talk and learn from dozens of different people providing all kinds of art and service. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the program brings.
The Quote I’m Pondering: “Sometimes the best thing to do is to break it for the people you don’t care about and make it work for the people that you do.”
It can’t be for everyone.
by Owen | Oct 19, 2019 | Creativity, Impromptu
It’s easy to feel satisfied when our inbox is empty. When the last box is checked.
We’ve met spec! Fulfilled the direction!
But is that enough? Focusing on the inbox is a zero-sum game, circling the status quo.
The meaningful work exists beyond the list. Before the checkmark and in between the tasks.
That work requires initiative. The initiative to look outside the box and ask “And what else?”
That work moves the needle. That work inspires.
Initiative creates movement and movement becomes change. And what’s not worth changing?
Take initiative. Not direction
by Owen | Oct 13, 2019 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
The New Routine I’m Trying: MorningTED Talks
Alright if you can’t tell by now I’m a massive dork. And I’ll admit it, I secretly loved all of those TED talks the teacher would put on in high school. I never watched any in my own time, but recently I’ve become interested in public speaking as a form of storytelling. And what better place to learn about their structure then from TED. So as a little exercise I’m going to try replacing the Netflix I watch each morning with a TED talk. I’m a little excited about it.
What I’m Reading: The Person and The Situation – Lee Ross & Richard Nisbett
This might be the most eye-opening book I’ve ever read. If you are at all interested in the field of Social Psychology you MUST read this book. It can be a little dense at times but it’s worth pushing through. The authors take you through all of the major principles and findings of social psychology and the studies conducted along the way. They explore the implications of our inherent social flaws and biases while offering insights into how we can become better communicators in spite of them.
The Quote I’m Obsessed With: “Anything beyond spec is marketing”
This quote popped out at me from this blog post and I can’t get it out of my head. I’ll let you pick it apart but I think it’s worth considering.
What I’m Reminding Myself: Remember the Simple
Countless times this week I’ve caught myself overthinking a problem or understanding something. And every time the answer or the comprehension has come from something simple. I think its incredibly easy to trick ourselves into believing the problems we face are complex. As we continue to learn and grow we expect the concepts and challenges to grow accordingly. Perhaps we even wish they were, the complexity gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Sometimes our problems are that complex. But more often than not we need to remember the simple things. Start at the beginning. The true proof of growth is the ability to see the problem for what it is.
