Creative Fun — Third Thought

Must I do Social Media?

7th of February ~

I just returned from an excellent conference–my first in two years. And I am exhausted. The theme of the conference was “Monetize Your Message” and I saw several speakers who are making millions, yes, MILLIONS repackaging their content in multiple formats. Good idea.

There was also talk about how to use social media. It won’t ‘monetize’ but it DOES help you build your brand. Right. Good idea.

So, now I have a whole new business to create. Kidding. I’m digesting it all and will do a few reasonable things that feel congruent with the way I do business. I’m not sure I’ll get to be a millionaire but I am OK with that.

Meanwhile, I found this handy chart to help me figure out Social Media:

Thanks to Douglas Wray for the chuckle.

Find Your Flow

8th of March ~

My last post was a dreary summary of how hard you are all working. What’s to be done?

I believe that when one side of the equation (work) is getting heavy the other side of the equation (fun) must be increased to keep a good balance. One of the most rejuvenating ways to balance a demanding job is to find flow.

Mihály Csíkszentmihályi proposed the notion of ‘flow’ and defines it:

Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity.

What activities allow you to immerse fully and forget about everything else? For me, it is dancing with my Get a Life Marching Band. I LOVE marching in parades!! We recently traveled to New Orleans to march in one of the Mardi Gras parades. Never have I encountered such enthusiastic crowds. Laissez le bon temps rouler indeed. The next day we performed a standstill at Jackson Square. Here we are performing Lady Gaga’s Poker Face–quite pleasing in a band version

Am I in Flow? You betcha. Work, schmerk.

Flash Culture

11th of December ~

Have you always felt that opera is too schnertzy for the majority of people? Do the high costs of quality arts performances mean that you don’t get to watch much high cultchah? The Knight Foundation believes that if people can’t come to the arts then the arts can come to the people. They are funding 1000 Random Acts of Culture. You can read more about it here. And here’s one of the performances in Macy’s. I love watching the reactions of the crowd!

Not that you must be a professional performer to be a part of a public performance. All manner of dancers are organizing Flash Mobs. There are many examples on YouTube. But I like this one that aired recently on Modern Family, one of the great shows on television right now. Recently, Mitchell joined a Flash Mob as a “love letter” to his partner.

I want to be in a flash mob!!!! If any of you are doing one I want in. Really.

Creative Fun — Third Thought Third Thought