Wednesday Words
To Go Where Your VisionPoints, a few inspiration points for you and your business.
The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting.
—John Cleese
And that, dear readers, is what I love about great discussions, ever-changing communities, and working with incredibly intelligent, creative collaborators.
When you want to expand your thinking, you’ll always get farther with the patience to watch ideas evolve, and a little help from your friends.
1+1≠2.
1+1 (or more)=Creative lightning.
Let’s spark a great discussion…
Grow and be well,
Kelly Erickson
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30 September 2009, 7:56 am
Swing pan shot to the ocean, off the southern English coast. We see light waves, a couple of boats near the horizon, and just now we see what looks to be a single figure playing in the surf.
But wait! He’s not playing, he’s swimming into shore. He’s half-dead, exhausted and sunburnt, clothes hanging off him like a tunic on a skeleton. Who is he? A shipwreck survivor? A chubby tourist knocked off his windsurf board? A cast member of Lost? We’re not sure yet.
As he gets closer to shore, we see his arms are flaying a bit like he’s in a life or death struggle, and death is winning. We notice a scraggly beard and shaggy eyebrows and hair longer than what is socially acceptable today. Finally one last wave throws him up onto the beach and he crawls up with his final bit of energy and he says:
“It’s…”
30 September 2009, 8:01 am
R
O
F
L
O
L
Lyrical, Graham. Absolutely lyrical.
Regards,
Kelly
30 September 2009, 8:39 am
If this is going to turn into a Monty Python quoting exercise, then let me begin.
“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition”
We could easily turn that into a commercial for MCE. Nobody expects the MCE audit. Our chief weapons are clarity and thouroughness and an almost fanatical devotion to Men With Pens. Ohhhhh! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as…. etc. etc.
EyeNiguy
Eyeteaguy´s latest blog… Lessons you can learn from F1 – revisited
30 September 2009, 8:46 am
I agree.
30 September 2009, 9:39 am
Francis/ Eyetea,
For the record, Men With Pens have an almost fanatical devotion to me. Let’s get that straight.
And lordy, that made me laugh. Well-spoofed.
Friar,
Me too.
Until later,
Kelly
30 September 2009, 9:50 am
@Eyeteaguy
Nee…!!
Friar´s latest blog… Blogo-Land Blow-Out Sale! Buy Now!
30 September 2009, 10:06 am
Nee! Nee!
30 September 2009, 10:13 am
I do that with my writing. To come up with ideas I say something, then write it down, then cross it out and then start asking myself questions until it goes from boring to interesting to “oh my god I have to get started on this idea right now”
I don’t do it so much with my business stuff because I already have more ideas than time and I don’t want to start tripping over the ideas and missing clients who are wanting what I already offer.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s latest blog… Self-Development Check-In: How Did You Do?
30 September 2009, 10:19 am
@Brett
Nee! Nee!
Friar´s latest blog… Blogo-Land Blow-Out Sale! Buy Now!
30 September 2009, 10:25 am
Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say `nee’ at will to blog readers. There is a pestilence upon this land; nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and blog about shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
(I think we’re still in the “not such a good idea” phase of this topic…)
~Graham
30 September 2009, 10:29 am
This is why you might try Twitter, Kelly
Seriously. I’ve asked for help randomly once or twice on there, and *BOOM* someone pipes up with the answer.
Nee!
30 September 2009, 10:53 am
I think I can identify with 1 + 1 = (Creative LIghtning)
Sometimes when I have an idea, it helps to talk about it with someone else. Often, I find that two heads are better than one. There’s a synergy you get with the right person, where together, you’ll come up with a great idea, that you NEVER would have gotten on your own.
Another trick that I find helps even more, is to stand out in your back yard, next to the Shrubbery, and go: “NEE! NEE! NEE! ”
Friar´s latest blog… Blogo-Land Blow-Out Sale! Buy Now!
30 September 2009, 11:04 am
Nee!
That’s why I mentioned Twitter. I dunno, it just seems able to reach more people more quickly than a normal blog, web page, email, IM…
It’s the whole six degrees of separation thing.
30 September 2009, 11:13 am
@Brett
Nee!
Not only that, but Twitter gives you tons of other opportunities.
Like hiring Emotional Freedom Coaches to help you improve your miserable excuse for a life.
Or learning what “Social Media” is. (Just ask…you will get carpet-bombed with all kind of gurus and consultants and experts).
You can also find out how to earn a bajillion dollars a week, just by looking stuff up on Google. (Wish I’d thought of THAT before doing a PhD!)
I know it’s all True, too.
Because Twitter tells me so.
Nee! Nee!
Friar´s latest blog… Blogo-Land Blow-Out Sale! Buy Now!
30 September 2009, 1:48 pm
Does anyone else think it’s just a touch disconcerting that no matter how much really genius stuff John Cleese has done —books, science shows (love ‘em!), etc. not to mention other comic work on t.v. and in film— in the thirty-odd years since Python, “nee” is still the knee-jerk reaction to his name for pretty much everybody?
Alex,
I like the “keep asking questions” technique, too. Some professor a long time ago told our class, there’s no way your first idea is your best. Based on that I always keep looking, even though sometimes he’s wrong and the first instinctual idea is the best one. But I always check!
Graham,
I agree.
Friar,
That’s it, isn’t it? Even the way Alex suggested, poking at yourself with questions to expand on an idea, it’s still only your own perspective. Getting somebody else into it, as Cleese suggests, will always provide some spark you didn’t know was possible. Even if it’s not “better” right away, it’s got a whole different potential.
Brett,
Believe me, Twitter weighs on my mind sometimes. But to do it well, what do I give up? Eating? Sleeping? Working my tush off for my clients? Because I’m not giving up time with The Kid, and I’ve already given up television for blogging, and all my other vices for…
… hmm. Why did I give up all my other vices?
I should go get some vices, then I could give them up and free a lot of time.
For Twitter.
Until later,
Kelly
30 September 2009, 1:48 pm
I think we should eat Sir Friar’s minstrels….. there would be much rejoicing.
Now where did I leave my Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.
1…2…5 (3 sir) right, 3.
EyePalinguy
Eyeteaguy´s latest blog… Lessons you can learn from F1 – revisited
30 September 2009, 2:23 pm
Technology should enable you, not enslave you.
Depends what you want to use Twitter for, I suppose.
Put it this way – I’ve seen some really high-profile bloggers (i.e. A-listers) espousing that when trying to get work done, we should turn off all potential distractions such as Twitter, IM, email programs etc.
Okay… but, my personal view on this is that if one is that easily distracted and cannot exercise basic discipline to get the job done, one has deeper-rooted problems.
Procrastination existed long before Twitter, MSN, and their ilk.
(Perhaps that’s my problem? Hee hee…)
Anyway, what does “doing it well” really mean? I see a bunch of people chatting on there, I see a bunch of people marketing themselves to the other people, and I see a few people asking questions and getting answers.
I’d say I poke around on there once every couple of days for 10-15 minutes, and I’m not missing out on time with my kids, my wife, my dog, my friends, or my Messiah to do it.
Perhaps I’m not doing it well? I don’t know. I’ve used it to find help when I couldn’t find it anywhere else quickly.
In any case… I think it’s becoming like everything else out here, the signal to noise ratio falling rapidly, so maybe you’re not missing out after all.
30 September 2009, 2:44 pm
A good idea….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s
Can you see the writers’ meeting on this?
30 September 2009, 3:12 pm
Brett,
Well, “to do Twitter well” for me would mean like here at MCE, I’d want to be giving something of value frequently enough (and of enough value, not the same thing y’know) that it was worth my being there to others, and (sorry if this offends anyone) also leveraging it so that there was some return on it for me and for VisionPoints, otherwise from a business standpoint why bother?
I know some people look at it from a purely personal standpoint, and of course I can see that value and would want that to be part of the mix, too—but hey. Truth is from a personal standpoint I’m booked up now. And from any standpoint I’d have to jettison something to squeeze it in. So knowing I’d want to do it well on many levels, or not at all, I’ve wisely chosen to be the best me I can be in the arenas I’m already in. I don’t like to give half my all to anything.
That’s what Friar keeps telling me. So then I stop worrying about it for another little while, but it is tempting.
Janice,
Any of their meetings must have been something to behold. But yeah—16 simple seconds—probably took hours to come up with. Brilliant.
Later,
Kelly
30 September 2009, 3:29 pm
Yes, and I have to think that whatever triggered the initial meeting, wasn’t, “oh, a fish slapping dance.” Yet recognizing it when it happened, thinking, ” Yes! Take this to production. ”
It so works, delivering delight in those short seconds. That’s the thing that amazes me about Cleese. No matter what format, long short, film, tv, in person, in a tweet, (yes he is there), he has an uncanny ability to deliver, some kind of internal GPS set right, well whacky, but right…knows a very good idea when he sees it, or in the fumbling, some everyman kind of truth dressed up in a silly hat.
Like what does he think everyday when he rolls out of bed? “Okay, time to go see what absurdity lands on my stoop”? He’s on my fantasy dinner party guest list.
30 September 2009, 3:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COVycMEj1Pc
Eyeteaguy´s latest blog… Lessons you can learn from F1 – revisited
30 September 2009, 3:49 pm
Eyetea,
What’s he saying on the shore?
30 September 2009, 3:55 pm
@Janice,
Its the video that Graham Strong (the first comment here) was describing.
He is say “it’s” as in “it is Monty Python’s Flying Circus.”
They did a million variations of this on all the series and movies if I rememeber correctly.
Eyeteaguy´s latest blog… Lessons you can learn from F1 – revisited
30 September 2009, 4:14 pm
Thanks… I thought so, but it has been a while since I watched. Everytime I see these I am SOOOO tempted to toss everything over and go screen a few for fun… bad idea… bad…must paint…
30 September 2009, 4:48 pm
Kelly,
Even our friend of the day is on Twitter http://twitter.com/thejohncleese !!!
Love it or hate it, it will get you eventually muahahahaha!
Leaving my joke aside, though, I see your point.
You need to decide for yourself, of course, and if you’re not going in half way then…
Leaving it for now is probably the best idea, if you are fully booked as you say. One day you may use it, or not. Very good chance you won’t, though. Experience design might be one of those areas where the people you deal with don’t use it. So, I’m not the best person to ask on this one, you are.
Just think though… All of the fun you’re missing out on. Mayhem, mischief! Every night with Friar and I hee hee… Sleep – who needs it!
30 September 2009, 5:07 pm
Food vendors, mobile chefs, and bakeries are doing some serious business via tweets and twitters….could be a boon to a sleepy hamlet…or lackluster sales… like getting a reverse fishing report ….serious good eats on the corner of x and y today at noon….
http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/05/a-list-of-street-food-vendors-trucks-carts-using-twitter.html
30 September 2009, 5:08 pm
RELEASE THE TIGAH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w
I confess I was ROFL when I first got to the end of that clip….
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach ´s latest blog… Long Tail SEO tips for local business high visibility
30 September 2009, 5:45 pm
@Kelly
Following what Brett said, Twitter can be fun, in moderation. Actually I use it a lot (probably too much). Reading the 140-character blurbs is addictive, almost as much fun as a good blog discussion.
Twitter’s definitely worth it, but like I said, in moderation.
Friar´s latest blog… Blogo-Land Blow-Out Sale! Buy Now!
30 September 2009, 5:45 pm
Ignoring everything else, if that link’s correct…
The guy’s done two tweets and he has thousands of followers. Now that, folks, is a funny haha.
(Barbara—they’re all my favorites, but oh, that one’s a fave too…)
30 September 2009, 5:52 pm
No, no, here’s the one I follow>>>http://twitter.com/JohnCLeese
30 September 2009, 5:53 pm
http://twitter.com/JohnCLeese
( oops spacing…)
30 September 2009, 5:54 pm
That’s what I mean!
We could have all kinds of followers, with nary a tweet.
And then, if we needed a hand, we could ask.
Think about it…
30 September 2009, 5:59 pm
@Janice,
Thanks.
I just picked the first one I saw.
The one you linked to is the real one, apparently.
Sheesh, he has a *lot* of followers!
30 September 2009, 6:26 pm
Yes, a gazillion followers… the guy just keeps on giving…podcasts, twattling twits and all.
Stephen Fry is great too. In these cases, twitter is such a great idea…a nice little window.. I mean Fry gets stuck in an elevator in NYC after an Apple personal appearance and instant twitpic show, hilarious. AND the twitworld tilts to NYC and getting them out or at least keeping them company, La Condition Humaine in 140 characters… or a pic. Amateurs, just step back and take notes… when these things are used so well by these two. I am SOOOO grateful.
And the recent flash mob dance in Chicago with the black eyed peas…twitter integrated. The tools are nothing without the ideas, just tools… again.. it’s the people behind them.
30 September 2009, 6:44 pm
Lemon curry?
30 September 2009, 6:52 pm
Don’t get the whole Twittering thing. If I want to talk to someone I’ll call or email them. Carring an iPhone around just to tell people where I am going is not a good use of a tool. Knowing what a good tool is from a toy is the key here.
Eyeteaguy
Eyeteaguy´s latest blog… Lessons you can learn from F1 – revisited
30 September 2009, 7:06 pm
Eyetea>>> http://twitter.com/F1
1 October 2009, 2:34 pm
Janice,
I love Stephen Fry. I even go spy on him on Twitter now and then. Yep, my one solid interest on Twitter is for a guy I’ve adored for fifteen years. One more place to enjoy his wit, hooray!
Once again, though I’m scared to admit it, I think I’m with Francis on this. If I want to talk to someone, I’d far rather call or email or comment on their blog where there’s a sustained conversation going on.
Except when the twitterbug tries to infect me… but I usually take two Advil, and I’m better in the morning.
Later,
Kelly