Have you ever read a sign wrong and liked it better that way? Our family went “rustic camping” a couple of weeks ago, and we passed a notice by the road that said “You are responsible for your refuse”. This usually means, “Hey, pick up your trash, kid.” but I saw “refuse” for its literal meaning – to be unwilling to do something.
My gears started to shift.
Things happen in life. Whether it’s an opportunity that comes my way or a problem that blocks my path, no one can force me to change. But if I choose not to grow, take risks, and make the next move forward (however scary) then I need to take responsibility for my choice.
I am responsible for my refuse.
Most of the time, I don’t think we realize when we are refusing to change. For me, sometimes I get into a routine that works, and I think I’m all set. After all, if someone isn’t inviting you to jump into a cold lake, are you really refusing to go?
Of course, there are times when refusing to do something is a good thing. Not every opportunity can or should be taken. But I have refused so many good things in life.
I have refused to believe. Refused to put the work in. Refused to give someone a chance.
Those devastating refusals are on no one else besides me. But I don’t have to stay in a state of quiet or constant refusal. And if I am responsible for my refuse, then that means I also have the ability to change it. The transformation could be amazing, if I refuse to doubt.
You are responsible for your refuse. The question is: What are you going to do with it?
Until next time,
Invent your story
I can’t take credit for the cool faces on all of these boxes. I have an artist in my home who learned this technique from a buddy. Since my son took it up, our home has exploded with fun faces that bust up the doldrums of household routines.
Just for giggles, here’s my how-to tutorial for Cereal Box Sharpie Art:
1.) Choose a cereal (or other) box.
2.) Grab a sharpie.
3.) Get creative.
How long has it been since you’ve given yourself complete creative freedom? When was the last time you recklessly abandoned the rules and thought, “What else could this be?” The ingenuity of this art form is its out-of-the-box thinking. Sorry guys, it just had to be punned.
Just in case you think I’m off my rocker, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’m not a super-great artist. I love art, and I marvel at the classic, great artists who’ve earned every bit of their fame. But I am not, and will never be, one of those men or women.
I’m more of an “art-inspires-me-so-I-create” kind of artist. A lot of my work is just odd. I like it that way. But why in the world do I put it online for you to see and try for yourself?
Here’s the thing: I don’t care what category your profession falls under – healthcare, hospitality, computer software development, or waste management – every job needs innovative thinking. Are faces on cereal boxes innovative? Maybe, but they definitely shake things up, and they’re reminders.
Reminders that things can change.
So, if you’re stuck in any way, shape, or form in life, grab a sharpie and a box. Change it up! Remind yourself that even good things can be a little brighter when you add your creative thinking to them.
Until next time,
Invent your story
This seems like the easy part of creating an invention center – you just get the supplies you need. The thing is, without a method to the madness, it’s just madness. So here are three plumb line questions to keep you stockpiling instead of just making piles.
Does the material fit into the goal of your invention center?
I know I haven’t brought up the term “goal” in the context of your invention center before, but if you’ve come this far, you probably have a good idea of what yours is already. (If you haven’t read the first two posts on creating an invention center, you can read what it is and Part 1 to get caught up.) If you’re woodworking, you’ll need wood, screws, a drill, etc.
This is the no-brainer stuff to have around. Without a stocked area, you’ll get bogged down looking for that lost paintbrush or copper wire. This is why we’re making an invention center.
How much do you need to get started?
Sometimes the zeal to create can take over, and you end up with a lot more than you need – especially if it’s freebie stock. Like toilet paper rolls. There are tons of art and engineering projects you can do with toilet paper rolls. But if you keep saving and don’t use them, well it can just start to get weird.
There has to be a FULL point. Then move on.
Did you throw a wrench in your plan?
If the answer to the last question is “nope” – then it’s time to find that wrench and throw it into the stockpile! Hear me out on this one. If you want to create a maker’s space, that’s great, but this is a defining moment for your invention center. You want to have something in your invention center that challenges you to break the mold. More than something. A fair lot of things. An acorn from last fall’s hike. A bunch of rusty nails. One red sock.
These are the grains of sand that help your creative oyster make a pearl.
Until next time,
Invent your story
Writing a rough draft is exhilarating. Most of the time. That new idea bubbles up in my mind, tingles my fingertips, and makes me sit my busy butt down long enough to put it on paper. It’s my happy place. However, editing is an entirely different animal.
Editing is like unleashing my inner pack on my writing. I don’t know if everyone has a crowd of canines that crashes into their thoughts, but if you don’t, I’d love to introduce you to some of mine. They’re extremely friendly and helpful. Most of the time.
The Bloodhound: This editor sniffs out each nook and cranny from sentence structure to syllable count. She snarls at spelling mistakes. She barks, “You just wrote two sentence fragments instead of complete sentences. You’re breaking the rules.” Bloodhounds are very useful, and I love them, but sometimes I have to call her off the scent. Once in awhile, it’s okay to break the rules.
The Yippy Cocker: Not all cocker spaniels are yippy dogs, but this one is. She yaps, “It’s too short!” “It’s too long!” “Use better language!” “That’s not right!” “That’s not right either!” “Don’t erase it!” No wonder she always need to pee. If I can calm the hyper, this puppy’s really useful. I just don’t let the little dog run my show.
The Shaggletooth Monster: He’s the dog featured in this post. He’s a mutt. He has no pedigree, and loves everything. He doesn’t bark, yip, growl, or bay – he licks. He will lick the wall, the floor, the couch, the toys, the paper plates…and I forgot he’s supposed to be in my head.
This editor never stops trying to get that last crumb off the page. The truest dog on a bone, he will keep at a piece of work until he’s accidently shredded and destroyed it. So, I love this guy, but at some point I have to pull that drool-soaked manuscript out of his mouth and say, “Okay. Let’s hand this off to someone else.”
If you don’t have a pack of pups on your writing team, I think it’s worth your time to sit down and discover how you think about what you write. Not only is this exercise useful, it can be a lot of fun. I want close with, “Trying it will make you want to howl!” But my team is good at holding me at bay. Most of the time.
Until next time,
Invent your story
Every life is a story. Every story has a theme or purpose. In writing, sometimes an author develops a theme and then writes. Other times a theme emerges when the work is complete. In my study of Thomas Edison, who is famous for inventing the lightbulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera, a theme emerged as if it was pre-planned.
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – Thomas Edison
Perseverance
That famous quote may be the definition of what it means to press through and not give up on a goal. As an inventor holding over 1,000 patents to his name, he wasn’t throwing idle numbers around. Can you feel the fight in these words? He indignantly refused to accept any try as wasted time, and he recognized the value of each forward step.
I’d love to know where he got his grit. As a child, Thomas came down with scarlet fever, had recurring middle ear infections, and suffered hearing loss. Life didn’t come easy for Edison, but he didn’t let that stop him from inventing.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. – Thomas Edison
Oof! If you google Thomas Edison quotes, you’ll find he talks straight about hard work. During his young life, he sold newspapers and candy on trains. He worked for over 3 years as a telegraph operator before launching his career as an inventor. Through these years, he did experiments – that sometimes got him into trouble – and continued to try again and again.
The value of an idea lies in the using of it. – Thomas Edison
Just as we look for the theme or point of a story, Edison looked for the usefulness of the invention. He didn’t use his mind and talents to create idly and be cool. Thomas was a man who saw the needs of his generation, and worked adamantly to bring to fruition inventions that helped to meet those needs.
The result of that perseverance?
He drastically changed the world.
So, inventors, we’ve got work to do. Hike up your sleeves, or put your overalls on. And if your idea doesn’t work the first time, don’t give up!
Invent your story.
This is my second post that studies the lives of inventors. You can learn something useful (that may flip your value system) about Albert Einstein at: What You Didn’t Know You Have in Common with Albert Einstein.
I learned a lot about Thomas Edison on Wikipedia and found the cool quotes in this post at BrainyQuote. If you want to learn more about Edison, these sites a great place to start!
(sources include but not limited to: encyclopedia.com, wikipedia.com)
Until next time,
Invent your story