Ronald Reagan said it best
The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.
Archive for Mind
Sunny side up
This shot from my back deck reminds me of my brain most days. A random fog rolls in. After a time, the sun tends to break through the haze. Things are clearer. Thankfully this doesn’t happen every day.
Music is like this. Certain songs on first listen don’t get inside. A few more listens and it catches on. Reading certain texts like scripture or the Declaration of Independence has a similar effect. Upon a second or third reading, even years later in some cases, causes certain nuggets of truth to appear as if out of nowhere.
I suppose even relationships can take on this mystical quality. One day I realize something really special about my wife that wasn’t there before (from my vantage point). Little by little, the fog lifts.
I’ve realized I have to recognize it as the fog that it is, and the mostly temporary nature of it, before I can see the truth.
The Art of Daniel Merriam: The Impetus of Dreams
I’ve been friends with Dan Merriam since high school. He was a few years older than me. I remember early on he was one of those guys who could draw/paint anything. During the first few years of college we were roommates in Naples, Maine as he was just beginning to move into the professional world of transparent watercolor. Our family has many of his originals from the very early days.
As time passed, Dan was recognized and heralded by many in the art world as a creative genius in the art of contemporary surrealism and transparent watercolor. He wrote a book chronicling his path called The Art of Daniel Merriam: The Impetus of Dreams
Here are a couple of links to view his artwork.
http://www.animazing.com/gallery/merriam.htm
http://www.danielmerriam.com/index.php
http://www.visionsfineart.com/merriam/aa_index.html
Join me and others every Wednesday as we gather around the Watercooler at Ethos.
EIEIO… and on this farm
I receive Dan Miller’s 48 Days email newsletter each week. He is a wonderful communicator focusing on the message of going for your dreams as it relates to your occupation. He often prompts us to try new things and get out of ruts that we so often get stuck in. His latest book “No More Mondays: Fire Yourself — and Other Revolutionary Ways to Discover Your True Calling at Work
- (E) - Entertain
- (I) - Inspire
- (E) - Educate
- (I) - Inform
- (O) - Outrage
Says Dan:
I see so many people and companies speak or write without including any of these elements. They tell people their personal story or the features of their new product. All the while, their customers, coworkers and bosses are waiting for something that will Entertain, Inspire, Educate, Inform or Outrage them. If you’re trying to move up - just follow Old McDonald’s formula. You’ll be amazed at the success you’ll unleash.
Music in my head
Music communicates to us emotionally through systematic violations of expectations. These violations can occur in any domain — the domain of pitch, timbre, contour, rhythm, tempo, and so on — but occur they must. Music is organized sound, but the organization has to involve some element of the unexpected or it is emotionally flat and robotic.
This book isn’t for everybody, because at times it can be a little dry. And don’t read it to be a better listener of music. It is not designed for that. But if you are fascinated with the how things work (like the brain, for example), you’ll really be amazed at what that small mass of substance in our head grapples with each time you listen to your iPod. The author includes many different songs and styles from his year of working in the business. As he writes he’ll include a song title to make a point about a bass line or a type of phrasing. If nothing else, it will bring back some memories of your own.
Enjoy.
