Putting It All Together

So, once again, here I am working late and once again, the ideas flow. I think that what I'm learning to do is really just be who I am in the moment and allow what's in me to come together and not force it.

Today, after a nice talk with one of the members on our team, I realized that the beauty of doing something great is actually the work involved in putting it together.  I was reminded of great painters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, Manet, Picasso, etc. and how they put together paintings.  I'm sure that they were full of ideas and allowed those ideas to flourish to the point and place where they put them together to create the masterpieces that they are considered today. 

Putting it all together takes not only ideas, but the diligence to see those ideas in your head come to life.  At some point, we cannot simply continue to let things be as they were and are, but we must give them space outside of our minds to flourish and allow others to experience.  It's a mandate. It's our purpose. And above all, it's what truly keeps us alive.

Categories: inspiration , organization , truth , work

A SoapBox Moment...

*getting on my soapbox and tapping the mic*

Ok, today I have a slight peeve. I get music all the time and today I received music from a notable musician.  While I WAS expecting to hear something different and unique, I was totally shocked at what I heard.  While this musician isn't the greatest singer, I have heard him sing before.  On the album I received, it sounded like he was hurt. The music was SO out there that I felt like a stranger to it and just wasn't able to really enjoy it at all.

Again, this is from a musician that I truly esteem for his talent and ability to think out the box.  What I heard was straight sloppy. Why you gotta be like that though? I've heard what you've done in the past and it has been nothing short of excellent.  This sounds so much like "leftovers". I'm feeling somewhat violated.

Yeah, I know. Harsh words, but I don't know how else to describe it.  I think I'm doing the musician a better service because I'm not mentioning who they are.

I say all this to bring out a principle: Sometimes we strive to be so different that we look weird. Quite honestly, there's nothing more aggravating for any of us to feel like what we're seeing, hearing, feeling, and/or thinking doesn't relate to us in any way.  We consider something weird for that reason - it doesn't relate to us in particular.

Music in my opinion is a preference but I do know when someone is doing something so different that it's not them.  Please don't use me (or my money) as your guinea pig to see if I like your "new sound". You're moving out of your lane and it becomes evident when you lose people.


Thank you.

*getting off the soapbox and walking out*

Categories: inspiration , music , work

Discipline (per Bruce Lee)

 

I was on Facebook and received this video from a friend of mine who happens to love kung fu flicks and is a serious Bruce Lee fan. I had never seen anyone play ping pong with nunchuks - heck, I don't think most people have seen anyone play ping pong with nunchuks.  However, here's Bruce Lee, captivating the game against one opponent, then against two, like if it was nothing.

Then it hit me: Bruce Lee displays discipline that he exercised behind the scenes that came out in the forefront. Notice how he does it and it looks effortless, sweatless. Bruce Lee was disciplined not in front of people, but really behind the scenes. 

Bottom line: The reward doesn't come from what you do in front of folks, but truly what you do behind the scenes, working late, being consistent, and being constant. Think about that and then get disciplined so you can play ping pong with nunchuks too.

Categories: discpline , ping pong , work

Late Night Working

Wow. It's 12:30am and I'm still working.  Let me tell you, some of my best work comes out at this hour and some of my best work comes with just the quietness of my house, save my music that I'm plugged into. Honestly, I find that being plugged into a source of inspiration is what produces excellence.  Look at that principle: When we are plugged into the right source, THE source, we find that what we produce totally looks like the source we are plugged into. The Source reproduces after itself with such precision that what it produces looks EXACTLY like it. There's no denying that it. I think that's what makes the work worthwhile because you know you're producing something so special when your inspiration is just, if not more, special.

Wow, I love working late...

Categories: excellence , inspiration , work