Tag: creativity

Categories
motivation

Relying on Technology or Persistence?

Cartoon of woman spying a periscope in her backyard.

You have to wonder how animals would fare if they had similar technology to what humans have. There are some critters like raccoons, coyotes, and moles that are so persistent, they have learned to thrive in spite of human intervention.

They also thrive despite their lack of technology.

  • They have no smartphones to tell them where to go
  • They can’t text their friends or use workflow software to stay productive
  • They keep plugging away with what they possess
  • They can get quite creative in evading capture without group chats

I tend to rely on technology a lot. Email is the primary form of communication at work. It’s necessary when I communicate with people across the country. But we use it a lot internally, even though we may be within walking distance of visiting a coworker and clarifying a confusing conundrum.

At the end of a busy day, I’ve found it is persistence, creativity and a good attitude that keeps me going. I have learned to use technology when it is helpful and pull back when it is not. Relying too much on one type of tool can become a crutch, and even a hindrance if I am not careful.

Even so, I have always loved periscopes. Perhaps I should get one of those whenever I am searching for someone in a cubicle. Maybe I can find one with a HUD (Heads Up Display) and night vision! Wouldn’t that be cool? Now here I go, geeking out on technology again!

Has there been a time when you found technology wasn’t helping and you had to find another way? Let me know in the comments.

Cartoon of woman spying a periscope in her backyard.
Categories
motivation

Cranky + Caffeine = Comforting Cheer

Illustration of a man with his coffee. His cat is sitting atop his head.

Yesterday, I read an article about my favorite hot beverage, or at least the prime drug that is in my favorite beverage; caffeine. It has been around for centuries, and according to the article, changed the course of history. Yet he maintains it also comes with a cost.

Washington Post article on Caffeine by Michael Pollan

Here’s the Audible link to the book

As I write this, I am enjoying some coffee and considering what caffeine has done for my creative juices.

Photo of Kevin Spear enjoying a mug of coffee
Enjoying some coffee with the “All Things Possible” mug.

Should I be concerned that I like my coffee? A stat in the article says up to ninety percent of adults ingest caffeine regularly. It’s a drug that businesses favor because it boosts productivity. Almost every office has coffee brewing. Creatives rely on coffee to get going in the morning. This is especially true considering how creatives like to be night owls. What would the world look like with a caffeine and coffee ban? I shudder to think.

The only thing I’m sure of is it would allow cats to take over the world. My illustration shows what I believe my cat would’ve done to me without that morning perk.

Illustration of a man with his coffee. His cat is sitting atop his head.

Could I quit coffee anytime I want? Sure I could. Just don’t give the cat a heads up if I ever decided to attempt this horror.

Categories
motivation

How to AI Proof Your Career

Cartoon of love in the Modern World
It’s just not working out, Rob. You’re love is so... so mechanical!”

A few weeks back, I read an article on CNBC about the threat Artificial Intelligence (AI) may have on white-collar jobs. The article states that we have been so focused on the threat to blue-collar jobs, we haven’t considered that managers, occupational therapists, even accountants and lawyers may be affected.

The dire predictions about artificial intelligence taking jobs have been around for years. It reminds me of an episode of The Twilight Zone from 1964.

“The Brain Center at Whipples” 1964

In the story, the executive eventually finds he too is out of a job. It’s a cautionary tale of mankind being very clever while not very wise. It’s also a reminder if a leader thinks he or she can’t be replaced by the same technology, they are fooling themselves. So how do we keep ourselves from being victims of AI?

The article quotes Anima Anandkumar who proposes a solution we examine if our jobs are repetitive or and involve a large amount of data that can be used to train AI systems. If so, she says to aim for jobs that require use creativity and human intuition.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean an entire career change. For instance, for lawyers and accountants, there are aspects of the job that require human interaction, collaboration, high-level strategy, and creativity. These will be more valuable in future.”

Anima Anandkumar High-paid, well-educated white collar workers will be heavily affected by AI, says new report

Focusing on creativity, human relationships and intuition in a career is the antidote. If any of us are doing repetitive tasks, let’s consider how we can allow bots and computers to do the boring work, and free us up to dream, imagine and work with our fellow humans. A little compassion and wisdom is the key.

Categories
Christmas creativity holiday motivation

Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Cartoon of two men. One has a red and green sweater. He says, "No, this isn't my Ugly Christmas Sweater. It's just my sweater!"

I love seeing kids grow up! Whether they are four-year-olds or fourth-graders, they follow a predictable path. in early elementary, most feel free to express themselves in art. They are most comfortable in their own skin and don’t mind sharing their opinions. It doesn’t matter whether it is socially acceptable or not. A four-year-old is going to tell it like it is in their eyes!

But a fourth-grader becomes very self-conscious. They don’t want to call attention to themselves. They want to fit in. They want to do the “cool” thing. A four-year-old may love to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. A fourth-grade will be mortified if he or any member of his family would do such an audacious thing that solicits attention.

Cartoon of two men. One has a red and green sweater. He says, "No, this isn't my Ugly Christmas Sweater. It's just my sweater!"
Featured in the December 2019 Church of God Newsletter

A four-year-old is bursting with creativity. Most fourth-graders will have nothing to do with it because true creativity makes you stand out. Yet, standing out is where the magic happens.

I hope you have a lot of fun this Christmas. Be the one who proudly wears the ugly Christmas sweater. Reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t heard from in a while. Don’t worry about whether someone thinks your sweater us gaudy or you’re too loud when singing your favorite Christmas carol. Just enjoy the time. You’ll find that it will allow most people around you to do the same.

Categories
motivation

Constraints Can Make You More Creative

Cartoon of two boys at a painting. One boy says, "It's my finest work. I call it, 'Clean Your Room!'"

From Fast Company:Brainstorming, thinking outside the box, working with free reign on a project–they’re old creativity maxims, but how well do they really work?

— Read on www.fastcompany.com/3027379/the-psychology-of-limitations-how-and-why-constraints-can-make-you-more-creative

Last night, I had a cartoon to draw. My old laptop is showing it’s age. It’s slow. I upgraded the system software and now it won’t play nice with my old drawing tablet. I may have chucked it all in if I didn’t need to send a cartoon out.

Cartoon of two boys at a painting. One boy says, "It's my finest work. I call it, 'Clean Your Room!'"

Then I remembered the article from Fast Company. I smiled when I read it because my high school graphic design teacher always proclaimed to the class, Limitation is the Basis of all Creativity! It’s the constraints that cause us to think in creative ways.

Of course, that doesn’t work if you see constraints as obstacles that cannot be overcome. Each time we face a problem, we can rationalize why things won’t work, or we can get creative and find a solution perhaps no one has thought of before.

Every challenge, every constraint gives us an opportunity to think creatively. Look at those limitations as an opportunity to think outside of the box.