I've been reading It's About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital, a fund that invests in companies led by underestimated founders. There is a chapter in it called "Write Your Own Headline" that I adore. When Arlan had the idea for Backstage Capital, she wrote an email to herself with the subject … Continue reading A Pocket-Sized Vision Board – Arlan Hamilton
Category: creativity
What is your ultimate goal?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBgBy4vP_QE&feature=emb_logo It's easy to get distracted by our to-do lists. It's easy to overcommit ourselves and take on too much. What's hard is taking the time and focus to define an ultimate goal. That's a goal that can be stated in 10 words or so. Once we articulate an ultimate goal, all of the decisions … Continue reading What is your ultimate goal?
Looking to Theater for Inspiration
Business, design, and engineering cultures have a record of looking to theater for inspiration. At any hip conference you will find at least one activity that draws on the art of improv. Improv encourages us to suspend disbelief and instead say, "Yes, and" to build on the ideas of others. Now that we find ourselves … Continue reading Looking to Theater for Inspiration
It Has to be Bad at First
If you make things, then you know that the first time you try something, it isn't that good. Lorne Michaels says about SNL, "It has to be bad at first. Dress rehearsal is bad before it's good." In order to make things with a high level of craeft, we need to push through the discomfort … Continue reading It Has to be Bad at First
Is Losing Faith Helpful?
There is a curious pattern that I observe in my own work and in the work of some of my peers. We struggle with faith. Logically we know we need it. It's helpful. But when we are deep in the mud struggling with a problem, we lose it. At that point, I guess one could … Continue reading Is Losing Faith Helpful?