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Sometimes when I’m watching something on tv or listening to a podcast or song, I start to run on auto pilot. You know, just coasting along, kinda paying attention, kinda on twitter, kinda playing Flappy Bird. Then something will come along and shock me out of this information overload. Something will make my ears perk up. Then I get a feeling like this is something I need to hear. I don’t why this happens but when it does, I know it must be important.

Two nights ago, we’re watching Jimmy Fallon’s first Tonight Show and Will Smith was his first guest. I imagined Will Smith would have something awesome to say but somehow I got distracted during his set and remained distracted until he said these words, “Keep, loving people.” My ears perked up as if I was about to miss something that was going to be on the test.

“Keep, loving people. The thing is, with your art, Let your art be a gift to people… When you see people fail in this business it’s because they’re in it for their ego and they start doing it for them… But you’re trying to help people.”
-Will Smith
Will Smtih, Tonight show, Jimmy Fallon

Simple. We all know this. But with all the distraction, with the highlight reel that is Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, we forget that just behind our lcd screens there is something important: people. People who are real and need help just like you. Let your art be a gift to people, not a podium for you to talk about how awesome you are. Just keep loving people. Let your art be a gift.

A brilliant reminder from the Fresh Prince.

Happy Wednesday!

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  • Kyle Bickham - Great post! I think it’s really easy to forget that the gifts we’ve been given are intended to make a contribution.ReplyCancel

You ever see a video or Buzzfeed link pop up again and again in your news feed until you finally click on it to go see what all the hype is about? I do that. If all my friends are posting about it, I’ll finally give in and go check it out. Because it’s the thing to do. And I don’t want to feel left out 🙂

Obviously it doesn’t make you a conformist to go look at a funny viral video. But the idea is the same in real world situations, we just miss it because the flow of the our social interactions is leading us saying, “Go here! Go Here!” Everybody’s doing the same thing so it must be right. Maybe… Maybe not. There may be some loneliness on this road you’re creating for yourself. Maybe you’ll feel left out sometimes. But the contrast is a life, full. Doing what makes you feel alive, not someone else.

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It’s about going first. We have enough safe. We have enough cynicism. Be daring, be different: not because it’s the cool thing to do, but because you are.

Happy Monday, yo.

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Yesterday was my birthday!! One of the awesome gifts Jen gave to me was the new Dave Barnes album, Golden Days. I’m currently on the third listen straight through. So good.

One of the songs on the album is called Hotel Keys. It talks about success. How sometimes, it can take you places you never dreamed. And sometimes all you want is to remember what it felt like when it was just a dream.

Wheels just keep on rolling.
Another town, another scene.
11 years of running over miles of memories.
What I’d give to go back to when it was still a dream.
When it was more than a pocket of hotel keys.

Success is defined by purpose. Make sure that you never forget why you started on this trek through the wilderness. Most of all, enjoy this time. This gift of the beginning. This is the time you’ll look back and remember: when it was still a dream.

Here’s to dreaming! And here’s to soaking it all in as you do.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Folks!

Question: Have you written down what success looks like for you? Take a couple days and think about it, then write it down. It’s better that you define than someone else 🙂

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Ideas are fragile in their infancy. They need to be nourished, fleshed out, and be allowed to grow. Words are powerful. It’s cliche, but you can literally turns someones day around with your words. For the best or for the worst. The same goes for ideas. You can use your words to propel an idea or to crush it. Always strive for the former.

Especially with good friends, it’s easy to want to rush straight to help them make a decision by calling out the flaws in the plan. In reality, what they need is for you to excited.

When someone shares an idea with you ask yourself 3 questions:

1) Is this person looking for advice?
If they are, give it. They sought you out for wisdom. But avoid words like, “I don’t know” or “maybe you should…” Remember, this is only the beginning. Some phrases lead to a negative tone and negativity could be the end of any idea.

2)What is my motivation?
Are you giving advice because you want things to stay the same? Social circles run in a hierarchy. There’s an order a, “way things are” and we all play a role. Once these roles are defined, it’s hard to imagine them any other way. We don’t like change. Once someone starts shaking things up and wanting to do things differently, it’s our initial reaction to fight to maintain the working order. Don’t.

Let people grow.

3) What does this person need from me most right now?
Encouragement? Hope? A push? Advice?  The beginning of an idea deserves some “excitement” time. More than likely, they just need someone to be excited.

When someone comes to you (a friend) to tell you about an idea or project, be excited with them. That moment will mean more to them and their success than the most fruitful wisdom you could possibly offer.

With words, you can help people win or lose. We could all use more #winning.

Happy Thursday, Yo.

 

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“Every creative story is different but every creative story is the same: There was nothing and now there is something. It’s almost like magic.” -Jonah Lehrer, Imagine: How Creativity Works

There was nothing, now there is something. If you are a creative professional, you are in the business of producing what does not exist. The business of making stuff that wasn’t here before you. Taking scrambled thoughts, busy scenes, and mixed up words and putting them in order to make something real. Bringing things into existence-this is what we do. We turn our thoughts, our vision, the way we see the world, into value. There was nothing, and now there is something.

You make magic. You add value. Start acting like what you do matters… because it does.

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Happy Wednesday!

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  • Chris Crimmins - Thanks for the thoughts Chris.

    I love seeing life in the perspective of creating value. Creating unique and inspiring value will always trump living out of fear and creating blah.

    Becoming vulnerable and evicting fear from our minds is the start of magic. Showing up allows us see the magic.

    You my friend are doing both. Great job.ReplyCancel

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