Time to think.

A close second to my last post. Sitting still had an interesting effect.
I have found a new hobby. Thinking.
I was relating a new idea to a friend of mine and he made an observation.
"You have had time to think." A compliment... sorta. But enlightening in that it stood out.

When I look back on the years I spent at an ad agency, it occurs to me how the system had managed to hide the one thing that I actually like doing. Thinking. Seems like there was always a meeting to go to. Or an internal issue to resolve. A political ass to kiss. Even though there were many hours spent concepting big projects, it was fragmented at best.

I'm not sure how the very industry that was created to dream the biggest ideas for clients, allowed itself to become a business. Now i'm not a hopeless idealist. I get business. Oh boy, do I get business. But a creative mind should have time to walk in the high-grass. Play (as TED puts it.) I know it is a fragile balance a business owner must maintain.

Proforma vs. Performa.

I have come to know this-- now that I have liberated my brain-- if you cannot focus on the challenge at hand, you will come up with a perfectly marketable piece of mediocrity.

I live in a linear world now. When I am into a project it is all that's on my mind. Day and night until it is bright. I am not constantly shifting from project-to-project, and client-to-client. And what I am finding is that my thinking is fresher than ever.

Focus does not guarantee success but it affords a clear line of sight to the solution. After that, it's between you and your genetics.

If what you do involves problem solving, try this drill. Next weekend, do nothing but stare at a single problem. Mix your life in (eating, sleeping, etc.) to break up the monotony, but don't think about any other challenge in your job. See what happens.

Now, if we could just create a workplace that afforded this kind of focus. I am positive the profits would result.