Bike Riding Donkeys

Remember the game "Telephone" we used to play as children?

A group of children sitting in a circle; one thinks of a phrase like "Fuzzy monkeys like yellow bananas", whispers it into the ear of the child sitting next to them, and then that child whispers it to the next until the phrase goes all the way around the circle. The last child says out loud what they were told:

"Busy donkeys bike with bandannas"

Everyone laughs because they realize that's not what the 1st child originally said. It's a great illustration on how communication breaks down when it gets passed around from one person to the next; each time traveling further from the source.

It's hilariously funny with a group of kids at a party, but terribly destructive with adults in everyday life. When we pass along misinformation and misunderstandings we contribute to the breakdown of trust in relationships. This happens at work, in families, and in our friendships. Being a trust-worthy and life-giving person means that instead of calling others, you dial the source directly.

The next time you hear something that you are curious about, sounds a bit off, or you need clarification on, don't pass it along the circle...go to the source, assume the best, and you just might be surprised at what you actually hear.

A Decade Old

Creative.

Silly.

Insightful.

Goofy.

Adventurous.

Compassionate.

Energetic.

Sensitive.

Tenderhearted.

Fun-Loving.

a Gift.

Dont' Be A Ball Hog

One of my soccer coaches used to say:

"I don't care if you score the goal, I care if you get the assist...

...your job is to make your teammates look good."

Being a key player on a team means setting those around you up for success. A generous player brings out the best in others in such a way that their own weaknesses get minimized (which is greatly needed if we are going to contribute anything worth-while in this world).

Conversely, it is the "Ball Hog" who, convinced that they are the ones who will "save the day", end up doing everything, running all over the field with little direction and clarity, and in the process greatly minimizing the role of their teammates.

One creates an environment where others see the value of their play and look forward to contributing; giving way to new insight and possibility. The other creates a fractured state of frustration in which the team is nothing more than a group of uninspired individuals who have no stake or care in the direction the team is headed.

What kind of player are you? Are you going to keep insisting on doing it all yourself at the expense of your team and your common goal? Or, will you work in a way that inspires others to contribute their best because you were quick to pass the ball.

Wait In Line

Next time you find yourself in a line try something...

Wait.

You may be thinking, "Isn't that kind of obvious?"

I don't think so. Just take a look at how many people fill their time waiting in line on their mobile devices. People playing Angry Birds, checking email while listening to Green Day (that would be me), or Tweeting about how lines at the grocery store make them crazy.

You can fill your time in line with so much mindless consumption that before you know it it's your turn at the check out, and you can think to yourself, "man, time flew by".

"Waiting", in these circumstances, is really nothing more than mindless interaction with the illusion that we are actually accomplishing something so that we don't feel like our time was wasted.

While we may be completing some minor tasks, the constant influx of data keeps our mind bouncing from one thing to the next without ever having to stop, pause, reflect, and assess. Moments in our day where we are forced to wait can actually become sacred spaces for us to disconnect from life's hurried pace and take a bird's-eye-view of our day or even our life.

In our true waiting we can be free to observe the people and situations around us, as well as observe where our day has been and where our day is going. Waiting can help us connect to life's bigger picture. Waiting, emptying, pausing are often the canvas for new thoughts, ideas, and discoveries.

So whether you are at the grocery store, doctor's office, or in the parking lot of your kid's school, try using your time in line to simply wait.

Post It on the Refrigerator

Your art doesn't have to have wall space at the Guggenheim to capture the imagination of others. It doesn't need to have it's own exhibit at MoMA to create a following. And it certainly doesn't need to be hung next to a Rembrandt at the Louvre to shape the world.

The refrigerator will work just fine.

We all have a forum in which to share our thoughts, our ideas, our art. It might be the corner of a local coffee house outfitted with a stool and microphone, a bulletin board in the break room at work, or a kitchen table surrounded by family and friends.

We all have a refrigerator in which to bring our art to the public.

And so your family, friends, and co-workers; those who share the same niche interest as you are waiting. Waiting to hear from you; waiting to see just what you will post on the refrigerator that will shape the way the rest of us view the world.

What will you post on your refrigerator?

Lonely Lone Ranger?

It's tough to be a "Lone Ranger"...

...even the Lone Ranger had a sidekick; a teammate.

Why? Because creativity never develops in a vacuum. You need people to surround you, bounce ideas off of, and to tell you that you're crazy.

The difficulty is in finding the right people. You need teammates who believe in you when you fail to believe in yourself, who push you when you decide it's time for a break, and who tell you to move on when there is something waiting up ahead to discover.

So go ahead and be a "Lone Ranger"; share ideas that the world thinks are peculiar, offer suggestions that dwell far outside the box, and never let your dreams be tamed by the oppression of the status quo. But just remember, that in order to thrive like the Lone Ranger...you need to be a part of a team.

Begin

The greatest thing Steve Jobs did? Not the Apple II or the iOS software. I don't think it's his vision for Pixar or development of iTunes which changed the way we listen to music. And sorry to say, I don't think it's the creation of the iPhone or iPad.

Steve Jobs' greatest contribution is that he began.

In a garage with a friend and an idea.

No rules to follow; simply doing what only he could do.

Too many times we get hung up on trying to make something spectacular that we become paralyzed from doing anything at all. You can't change the world if you don't begin somewhere.