Interesting post by the Comfort Queen Jennifer Louden – “about learning how to declare what will satisfy you.”

I see so many clients and friends who aren’t enjoying their lives or having the success they want because they don’t have way to measure their progress.

Clients who are so incredibly talented it boggles my heart. But because they are so damn smart, and interested in so many …

No, not the Japanese condiment you put on sushi. But rather “the Japanese principle of wabi-sabi … [which] values character and uniqueness over a shiny facade. Rare down to the essence, but don’t remove the poetry.”From Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.

From Wikipedia: Wabi-sabi represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience. … The aesthetic is sometimes described …

Designers love consistency. Part of the design process is setting down the rules to ensure consistency of the design outcome. Graphic and web designers use layout grids to contain the figures; architects use axes to landmarks, landscape features and compass points to define form, movement and flow; and industrial designers use anthropomorphic measures to constrain the placement of controls and indicators…

A good design has strong and clear rules …

1. Solving their own needs –> 2. Asking others what they want –> 3. Tapping into a mission with wider relevance.

Many businesses start off doing something for themselves. Leveraging a talent to build a product, or create a service that satisfies their own needs. For example: Apple started because the two Steves had a need to build a computer. This is step 1.

As their product or service took …

If it is not a labour of love it is not worth doing. Great sentiment right?

But love takes time and energy. And the modern world is great at sucking away time and energy.

Stalemate?

This artist – Lio Bolin – painstakingly paints himself to match selected locations so as to appear invisible. It is his way of protesting the Chinese government’s persecution of artists.

And it makes for great art I think.

Full article and pictures on Oddity Central.

“The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.” said Hugh MacLeod in his great book Ignore Everybody and 39 Keys to Creativity.

He advocates the concept of “pillar management”. Pillars meaning the props that businesses and persons acquire to hide behind. They need managing (or rather removal) because they “get in the way” of letting authenticity and real talent shine through, and provide distractions and excuses …

Number 29 in Hugh MacLeod’s book Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity.

“[You take power by] not needing anything from another person in order to be the best in the world.”

We give our power away when we believe that we desperately need someone to accomplish our life’s work or complete a creative endeavour. We take our power when we know we don’t need anyone, when we …

What is it about Britain’s Got Talent? In 2008 they found Paul Potts.

And this year, they found Susan Boyle.
Hear her here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
¬
They are wonder reminders that excellence, craftsmanship, and mastery exists out there, often within the people we least expect. And they will be recognised and counted no matter what.

In this world of manufactured fame and PR-driven airbrushed stardom, I take my hat off to Britain’s Got Talent, …