The Most Important Tool

“Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure -these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement ceremony, 2005.

Thank You Steve Jobs

Camouflage Dragons

When I asked my son what color he was making his dragon, without skipping a beat he said, "Camouflage".

I didn't realize that "Camouflage" was a color (my hunting friends are way ahead of me on this one). However, what I can tell you is that a camouflage dragon is interesting to look at.

I've seen blue dragons, purple dragons, and yellow dragons before. But a camouflage dragon?

That's worth a second look.

Never before have we had more opportunity to create things that are worth a second look. We have access to tools via the web, through photoshop, and in our Crayola boxes that can help us bring to life what we could once only imagine.

So the obvious question: What is your camouflage dragon? What will you create today that is worth a second look?

Wise Words Wayne

"Led Zeppelin didn't write songs everyone liked. They left that to the Bee Gees."

When you try to please the masses your art suffers. When you make your art palatable to everyone it looses its prophetic voice.

Good art, ideas, breakthroughs, and innovations come because instead of being concerned with what's popular, the artist concerns themselves with what's revolutionary.

Ghoulies a Go!

I think the Groovie Ghoulies got this one right.

Are you passionate?
Do you love what you do?
'Cause I am, and I'm telling you if you're a hitman, a hooker,
a punk rock nightclub booker, be passionate, or don't do it at all.

Are you passionate?
Do you love what you do?
Would you do it if they didn't pay you?
If you're a preacher, a teacher, or, trying
to run a record store, be passionate, or don't do it at all.Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/Z45Are you passionate?
Do you love what you do?
If not, then you're pretty screwed.
If you're a dreamer playing a song to a world
that's gone all wrong, be passionate or don't
do it at all.

What are you passionate about? What's keeping your from doing that today?

Kazoo Mike

This is Mike.

Mike is a professional kazoo player. He makes a living playing his kazoo for others.

While playing his kazoo, Mike also happens to collect tickets at the movie theater from those going to see the latest blockbuster film.

Some might say that Mike's job is merely to ensure no one gets into the theater without paying. But don't tell this to Mike.

Mike understands that his role at the movie theater is really a platform to give others a gift. When people unexpectedly hear the song, "When the Saints Go Marching In" flawlessly played on the tiny plastic instrument, smiles and laughter can't help but materialize. A culture of fun and silliness is being created not because Mike loves his "job" but because he loves his art.

Every one of us has a platform. Circles of influence where we can either get by doing only what is expected, or give something that cultivates the kind of culture we want to be a part of.

Maybe it's time you became a professional kazoo player too.

Safe Soccer

My only question: "What was the previous venue for soccer like, that makes the new location the safer alternative?"