We all need to connect. Physically, mentally, spiritually. Connection is a state that comes about only when we are truly vulnerable to someone who is in turn vulnerable to us. We all need to be supported. Knowing someone is there to catch us if we fall. Be our backstop when we get into a tough situation. Give a pep talk Read More …
The world is filled with more information than ever before. There are books on every topic from running businesses and self-improvement to becoming a better communicator or relationship partner. There are thousands of blogs written by very astute writers on a myriad of subjects many containing some very profound ideas or at least reminding us of good common sense. I Read More …
We may often hear the adage Quantity vs Quality. This may seem like a piece of wisdom, that creating a lot of something precludes our ability to do it well. Perhaps this comes from mechanization taking over hand crafting. The mechanized product is generic and of low quality whereas the individual artisan takes their time to produce something of beauty. Read More …
One of the best sources for inspiration out there is reading. Yet in our attention anaemic world it can be hard to find time to really sink into a good work of fiction or non-fiction, thus I recommend a reading strategy for the time deprived: Read 2 pages per day. This is similar to what I recommend to my fencing Read More …
People often ask me how I have accomplished so many different things in my life. There are of course many different aspects, disciplines, and qualities that I believe help me do this but one of them is jumping on inspiration when it comes. Sometimes a particular project or idea comes percolating to the surface of your consciousness and it demands Read More …
I wrote recently about striking while the iron is hot. Today I want to consider a related idea for turning inspiration into fruit: Setting things into motion. Another key to getting many creative projects underway for me is that when I feel a creative inspiration I try to set it into motion as quickly as possible. I want to move Read More …
Being a long-term instructor of anything means that you see a lot of students come and go and in many cases come again. It’s these returners who often have the biggest challenge in being in the learning environment. These are the students who come back with a great passion and then become quickly despondent and depart again, often forever, after Read More …
I was reminded today at my dance class and last night when teaching swordplay about the constant cycle of learning, achievement, plateau, and renewal. I’ve been practicing swordplay for essentially 20 years now and some topics I’ve taught for nearly 15. The potential for boredom as a learner and as a teacher is high. I have to use a lot Read More …
If I do something awesome, what if the people around me aren’t ready for it? What if they don’t expect awesome from me in that moment or ever? What if they won’t accept me? Buck up buttercup. Sometimes the practice of awesome is about creation without collaboration. Take it or leave it. Here I am.
Yes is a powerful word. It moves us forward. It opens doors. It invites people and opportunity in. Yes is about the positive side of choice. Yes is how successful people say no. This last one may seem a bit backwards. I’m not suggesting that successful people say yes to things that a sensible person might say no to (though Read More …