Category: Creativity
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Three things on spontaneity
Scheduling something makes it more likely to happen, while simultaneously taking the fun out of it. Selin A. Malkoc makes the case that it feels too forced. One solution is to plan less, and to get comfortable with the stigma of unplanned meet ups—which is currently characterized as “lazy and non-committal.” They’re also less ambiguous;…
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Zen longcutting
A Zen student went to a temple and asked how long it would take him to gain enlightenment if he joined the temple. “10 years,” said the Zen master. “Well, how about if I really work hard and double my effort?” “In that case, 20 years.” See also “Why trying too hard can backfire.”
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Six things about glamorous jobs
If a job is prestigious, it’ll entice more people who want to do it; it feels existential. Many people will often be willing to do anything for it, grateful for a chance to give up their personal lives for the opportunity to participate. The people best positioned to do this aren’t necessarily the most skilled;…
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Showing up vs. disappearing
Anna Gat writes: I’ve been telling people that your number one job is to not disappear. It’s maddeningly easy to disappear, the stage trapdoor remains open. I’ve been repeating it with wild gestures, whenever someone breaks up with their famous cofounder, I’ve been waxing ex cathedra, when friends leave buzzing cities, upscale jobs: Do not…
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“How do you work past self doubt?”
u/blinkycake writes: I have a talent for art and a desire to start a creative career of my own making, but feel like I’m being held back by doubts about creative careers. I’m about to be 35 and want to start a creative career in art (freelance illustration and painting) and I’m haunted by the…
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Just write
“I don’t get inspired to write. I just write.” Salman Rushdie (via Backable by Suneel Gupta)
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5 minutes
In Springfield Confidential Mike Reiss and Mathew Klickstein write: Matt Groening definitely created the Simpsons, and the story of how he did it is truly unbelievable. Matt was a Los Angeles underground cartoonist when he was called in for a meeting at The Tracey Ullman Show. The series had one-minute animated bumpers (as well as…
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Creativity and data
In Nightingale, the journal of the Data Visualization Society, Victor Muñoz discusses applying my post on the four stage creative process to his data physicalization project. I really appreciated Victor’s post, which was a demonstration in how widely creativity is applied. (Other parts I liked: The journey involves Figma, a daily creative operation, and is…
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“The road is made by walking”
Walker, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more. Walker, there is no road, the road is made by walking. Walking you make the road, and turning to look behind you see the path you never again will step upon. Walker, there is no road, only foam trails on the sea. Border of a Dream: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, translated by Willis Barnstone
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The right season
A fruit is nothing picked out of season. Even a brute’s praise won’t stand to reason. Border of a Dream: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, translated by Willis Barnstone