I've been sitting here for maybe the past hour or so looking at this screen, with the title you see above, wondering just what I am thinking about this. In the process of looking at the title, I have taken time to check mail about 17 times, (nothing there), posted a few Twitter comments, updated the MySpace page to take out what was no longer correct, looked out the window about 14 times wondering when my shoulder will be well enough for me to get back out there and rake the leaves away, and have come back to this blog entry wondering still what it is I am meaning by the title.
I've been busy.
As I can read into what I just typed, I really have been busy doing stuff. Strange thing is it doesn't really look as if I got anything done on what I had set out to do. (The goal was to have this post written, and yet it sits here, staring back at me, with all it's empty spaces mocking me.
Life and its busyness - a writer's view.
As a writer, I have heard way too often of the "necessary" distractions which can keep us from actually getting our writing done. And, um, yes. I have fallen prey to many of those. But that is a story worthy of it's own posting later on.
Writers have this thing, mainly because writing is such a solitary activity which is often done at home, of having many more distractions right in front of us because they are ours.
Necessary Distractions?
Things like needing to take the trash out, water the plants, wash the car, cut the grass, rake the leaves, paint the garage, wash the dishes, make lunch, trim the bushes, repair the bathroom doorknob, (don't ask), wash the windows, take out the plastic soda bottles from the office and make the bed, (which no, I don't totally understand why this is so necessary, most of the time).
Yes, pretty much anyone "lucky enough" to work from home has these distractions right in front of them on a daily basis. Ooops, hang on. I really need to dust this monitor and desk, it will only take me a minute.
(15 minutes later)
Ok, I'm back. You know how it is, one thing leads to another. After dusting the desk, I noticed just how dusty the shelves in here are along with the window ledge. And of course, the trash wasn't taken out last night, so I had to do that, along with raking the leaves from the driveway since I was out there. But I am back now. Really. Back to whatever I was writing about.
See how easily one can become distracted? Yes, things needed to be done. But did they need to be done in such an un-timely fashion?
I'll leave it to you to decide on your own about what is necessary to do versus what is just an untimely distraction, when it comes to doing what you are doing.
Larry's up next to give you tips, tricks and treats of keeping distractions to a minimum.
Larry has been able to fight these urges, to do something else, for a lot longer than I have. He has managed to create creative copy for clients, write witty words with wonder, and type tons of terrific tomes of tunage, while not allowing the personal world of what would be wild to work on without winding up with nothing done.
So stay tuned for his posting in the near future. Once it's written, we'll link to it from here as well.
Your turn.
But for now, what is it that is getting in your way? Yes, it may need to be done, but does it need to be worked on while you are busy doing your work? If you were working away from home on the job, where you wouldn't be able to wash your car, (necessarily), what would you be working on?
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Everything Has Value, But How High Is Yours To Yourself?
I was cleaning out a few boxes last week and came across this stack of cards. they seem to have once been in some sort of Rolodex type calendar or something. But these were scattered all over the place in this dusty box from the back of the basement.
Anyway, being the quotation reader kinda guy that I am, I looked through them. Many said the usual stuff like "Be the best you can be," and "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." You know, the usual stuff from years past. (not that that's a bad thing, but I had read many of those before.
Then I came to this one.
"If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise the price."
It got me thinking first about all of discussions writers have about writing for free when you are just starting out. Should you do it? Should you volunteer your mad word writing skills just to get a few clips? Will folks expect it out of you all the time? What will this then do for the profession? When will you ever get paid what you are worth?
But this same sort of thing should relate to all of us in whatever we are doing. Questions such as...
How much is my time worth?
Is what I am doing now adding value?
Will doing this or that help me later on to do these and those?
If you can see a larger benefit later on, then you may want to think about it. But if there is nothing in it for you, unless it just makes you feel good that you contributed to something you are passionate about, you might want to look at something else.
Remember that you have value to yourself first. It's up to you what you are worth in the long run. But it doesn't hurt to earn more right now if you can.
--David
David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
http://www.djstoddard.net
http://www.insearchofourselves.com
http://www.biz-e-life.com
Anyway, being the quotation reader kinda guy that I am, I looked through them. Many said the usual stuff like "Be the best you can be," and "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." You know, the usual stuff from years past. (not that that's a bad thing, but I had read many of those before.
Then I came to this one.
"If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise the price."
It got me thinking first about all of discussions writers have about writing for free when you are just starting out. Should you do it? Should you volunteer your mad word writing skills just to get a few clips? Will folks expect it out of you all the time? What will this then do for the profession? When will you ever get paid what you are worth?
But this same sort of thing should relate to all of us in whatever we are doing. Questions such as...
How much is my time worth?
Is what I am doing now adding value?
Will doing this or that help me later on to do these and those?
If you can see a larger benefit later on, then you may want to think about it. But if there is nothing in it for you, unless it just makes you feel good that you contributed to something you are passionate about, you might want to look at something else.
Remember that you have value to yourself first. It's up to you what you are worth in the long run. But it doesn't hurt to earn more right now if you can.
--David
David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
http://www.djstoddard.net
http://www.insearchofourselves.com
http://www.biz-e-life.com
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Amazing Benefits Of "Tag-Team" Co-Writing! (Part 5)
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
(Larry) Sounds good to me. So, what benefits do you personally find yourself experiencing when co-writing in a "tag-team" effort and what specific benefits and values to you find that the reader gets and enjoys from the process?
(David) For me, the "tag-team" way of doing things helps me focus by branching out with different ideas. I know that may or may not make sense, but that's what it feels like to me.
In this article alone, I have written about things I had not necessarily written about before, or at least in a way that has been presented. I don't ever remember writing about W.C. Fields, but there he is in letters and words.
(Larry) Exactly! The other person is quite comfortably, naturally and automatically utilized as a springboard for new and originally undiscovered pathways, concepts, avenues and perspectives that never would have ever occurred to the single, individual, independent mind alone, limited to whatever is already available inside a closed system of conceptual consciousness.
It's like suddenly having the ability to see what's out there to the left, right and behind, as well as an nearly endless number of "degreed" variables in between, instead of always simply, single-mindedly and methodically pushing endlessly forward with a pre-set and dialed in stream of consciousness. I love it! Two writers working in "tag-team" tandem increase the possibilities creative awareness to an infinite degree.
(David) Plus it also helps to clean things up in one's mind, as well and helps narrow down the focus (or search for just the right word). Finally, it provides a feeling that yes, I am on the right track. The ideas I type tend to get a vote of approval or maybe a thought that something needs to be altered a little bit.
(Larry) You are precisely 100% right on that point David, but isn't it nice to know that if you were only a mere 97% right, I would be here by your side to help find that missing 3%! I know that I am so very appreciative of the fact that you are there to prod me on to look deeper, write clearer, think wider or narrower, as the case and need may be.
(David) For the reader, I'd like to believe the co-written version, while longer than just a single article, gives a bit more of an entertaining way. It gives life to a given article. It adds excitement, conflict, and a lot of other words which normally wouldn't be there had it been just 1 person.
(Larry) Bingo! That's really whole gist of the matter, right there. While a relaxed, comfortable blog post might end up LONGER than usual, as we both discuss the multiple variable involved from two very distinctly different perspectives, length is not always the natural, guaranteed outcome.
When it comes to actually doing REAL paid "WORK," be it web copy, articles, press releases, sales letters, marketing promotions, newsletters or books / e-books, whether about business, the internet or life in general, there is a combined, laser like commitment to crystal clear and concisely clean focus!
(David) So yes, while it certainly provides perspective from a 2nd point of view of sorts, a 2nd opinion, a 2nd pair of eyes, a 2nd helping of potatoes and that bacon you had mentioned earlier, it also helps us to keep it clean and simple, directly to the point and right on target. That is the benefit of having two experienced editors on our two man writing staff. Two heads are better than one kind of thing. Finally, I think it shows that we are just "people," much like those reading what we write.
(Larry) I completely concur. It is a very valuable, dual role, simultaneous processing tool to naturally:
(1) expand on the possibilities of an idea or concept, while at the exact same time, it helps improve the content by effectively
(2) "double filter" editing, limiting and focusing in on exactly where the message is now, and where it is intended to arrive at when the process is over.
This means the great and significant advantage to the reader is, there is constantly an editor, a second brain and set of eyes to catch a vital point that might be inadvertently over-looked by one writer who is so busy making sure he gets 1 , 2 or 3 major premises down on the page before they disappear into the ether, that 2 or 3 equally interesting ideas might accidentally be completely forgotten about in the process of desperately trying to "get it all down."
Plus the second person, who knows the first person well enough to have a pretty good idea where their mind is probably going with a concept, is right there on the spot to instantly ask an important question or request an example or two in order to ensure further, specific clarification of what is being conveyed to the reader.
I'm most definitely happy and very satisfied with the benefits provided by writing with the tag-team tandem approach. I thank you Sir, for your much appreciated participation.
With that, I momentarily step away from the coffee table to go watch the birds goofing around and eating stray french fries out on the deck for a while.
Hey ..... my coffee's COLD!
(Larry) Sounds good to me. So, what benefits do you personally find yourself experiencing when co-writing in a "tag-team" effort and what specific benefits and values to you find that the reader gets and enjoys from the process?
(David) For me, the "tag-team" way of doing things helps me focus by branching out with different ideas. I know that may or may not make sense, but that's what it feels like to me.
In this article alone, I have written about things I had not necessarily written about before, or at least in a way that has been presented. I don't ever remember writing about W.C. Fields, but there he is in letters and words.
(Larry) Exactly! The other person is quite comfortably, naturally and automatically utilized as a springboard for new and originally undiscovered pathways, concepts, avenues and perspectives that never would have ever occurred to the single, individual, independent mind alone, limited to whatever is already available inside a closed system of conceptual consciousness.
It's like suddenly having the ability to see what's out there to the left, right and behind, as well as an nearly endless number of "degreed" variables in between, instead of always simply, single-mindedly and methodically pushing endlessly forward with a pre-set and dialed in stream of consciousness. I love it! Two writers working in "tag-team" tandem increase the possibilities creative awareness to an infinite degree.
(David) Plus it also helps to clean things up in one's mind, as well and helps narrow down the focus (or search for just the right word). Finally, it provides a feeling that yes, I am on the right track. The ideas I type tend to get a vote of approval or maybe a thought that something needs to be altered a little bit.
(Larry) You are precisely 100% right on that point David, but isn't it nice to know that if you were only a mere 97% right, I would be here by your side to help find that missing 3%! I know that I am so very appreciative of the fact that you are there to prod me on to look deeper, write clearer, think wider or narrower, as the case and need may be.
(David) For the reader, I'd like to believe the co-written version, while longer than just a single article, gives a bit more of an entertaining way. It gives life to a given article. It adds excitement, conflict, and a lot of other words which normally wouldn't be there had it been just 1 person.
(Larry) Bingo! That's really whole gist of the matter, right there. While a relaxed, comfortable blog post might end up LONGER than usual, as we both discuss the multiple variable involved from two very distinctly different perspectives, length is not always the natural, guaranteed outcome.
When it comes to actually doing REAL paid "WORK," be it web copy, articles, press releases, sales letters, marketing promotions, newsletters or books / e-books, whether about business, the internet or life in general, there is a combined, laser like commitment to crystal clear and concisely clean focus!
(David) So yes, while it certainly provides perspective from a 2nd point of view of sorts, a 2nd opinion, a 2nd pair of eyes, a 2nd helping of potatoes and that bacon you had mentioned earlier, it also helps us to keep it clean and simple, directly to the point and right on target. That is the benefit of having two experienced editors on our two man writing staff. Two heads are better than one kind of thing. Finally, I think it shows that we are just "people," much like those reading what we write.
(Larry) I completely concur. It is a very valuable, dual role, simultaneous processing tool to naturally:
(1) expand on the possibilities of an idea or concept, while at the exact same time, it helps improve the content by effectively
(2) "double filter" editing, limiting and focusing in on exactly where the message is now, and where it is intended to arrive at when the process is over.
This means the great and significant advantage to the reader is, there is constantly an editor, a second brain and set of eyes to catch a vital point that might be inadvertently over-looked by one writer who is so busy making sure he gets 1 , 2 or 3 major premises down on the page before they disappear into the ether, that 2 or 3 equally interesting ideas might accidentally be completely forgotten about in the process of desperately trying to "get it all down."
Plus the second person, who knows the first person well enough to have a pretty good idea where their mind is probably going with a concept, is right there on the spot to instantly ask an important question or request an example or two in order to ensure further, specific clarification of what is being conveyed to the reader.
I'm most definitely happy and very satisfied with the benefits provided by writing with the tag-team tandem approach. I thank you Sir, for your much appreciated participation.
With that, I momentarily step away from the coffee table to go watch the birds goofing around and eating stray french fries out on the deck for a while.
Hey ..... my coffee's COLD!
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Amazing Benefits Of "Tag-Team" Co-Writing! (Part 4)
This is part 4 of our conversation on working together as writers. If you missed the first 3 parts, they can be found here.
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3
(David) W.C. did have a way of being a Wise-Cracking, West-Coast, Wild-Child, with Wonderful-Comedic timing and tendencies.
That's why I was a bit surprised by his answer about pressing on, stamina, perseverance, never giving up and doing what you feel you want to do."Son. It's like I've said before. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then Quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it."
(Larry) Well I say a hearty "Amen" to the first part of his exhortation, the whole thing about pressing on, stamina, perseverance and never giving up on pursuing what you feel, or know it is that you want to do.
Creative screen writer / actor / director Woody Allen has been immortalized for decades for his vast number of deeply brilliant and often simultaneously humorous lines, but one of the most famous Woody Allen quote is actually quite profoundly serious in it's significant substantive stance that "90% of life is just showing up!"
It's true. You don't always have to have all the answers completely figured out and lined up in a decisively masterful "step-by-step" order arrangement. Sometimes just having the motivation and determination to show up with a sincere conviction and unwavering, driving commitment, is all you really need.
Just like the extremely resourceful "MacGyver" before us, we never fully know for sure, exactly how or what tools we will need to utilize in order to succeed at our objectives. Once we "show up," with a determination to see things through till the very end, that's when we finally have earned the opportunity to personally experience the immediacy of the circumstance.
Then and only then are we really in a reasonable position to most effectively interpret for ourselves precisely where we stand and decide whether it's going to take (a) the toothpick, stick of chewing gum, magnet, harmonica, can of hair-spray and the clock radio or (B) the "D" sized battery, slab of bacon, mini pocket calculator, cigarette lighter, plastic straw and the litre of orange soda to get us out of the current jam we find ourselves in and back onto the road to victory.
So yes, without a doubt, absolute perseverance and total commitment are vitally important to "team effort" writing project.
(David) I think you are right. And this article seems to be a perfect example of having an idea at the beginning, but then taking on a life of it's own down the road becoming more than what we thought it could become later on. What started as an article has become more of a transcript of 2 people talking about what it is to write together. This has brought about a few extra topics that we may not have thought about had this had been strictly scripted in (as you mentioned) a step-by-step manner.
Sure, it could be a whole stream of consciousness exercise (and that, by the way, is an exercise which is quite beneficial to anyone either in business or wanting more out of life, but isn't quite sure what that is). In this case, our "article" has become the beginning of a road map. An example of what can be created with just a single idea.
But in the end, one does need to get back to what works, what was begun in order to get something accomplished. So how about we move on to something more useful and personal?
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3
(David) W.C. did have a way of being a Wise-Cracking, West-Coast, Wild-Child, with Wonderful-Comedic timing and tendencies.
That's why I was a bit surprised by his answer about pressing on, stamina, perseverance, never giving up and doing what you feel you want to do."Son. It's like I've said before. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then Quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it."
(Larry) Well I say a hearty "Amen" to the first part of his exhortation, the whole thing about pressing on, stamina, perseverance and never giving up on pursuing what you feel, or know it is that you want to do.
Creative screen writer / actor / director Woody Allen has been immortalized for decades for his vast number of deeply brilliant and often simultaneously humorous lines, but one of the most famous Woody Allen quote is actually quite profoundly serious in it's significant substantive stance that "90% of life is just showing up!"
It's true. You don't always have to have all the answers completely figured out and lined up in a decisively masterful "step-by-step" order arrangement. Sometimes just having the motivation and determination to show up with a sincere conviction and unwavering, driving commitment, is all you really need.
Just like the extremely resourceful "MacGyver" before us, we never fully know for sure, exactly how or what tools we will need to utilize in order to succeed at our objectives. Once we "show up," with a determination to see things through till the very end, that's when we finally have earned the opportunity to personally experience the immediacy of the circumstance.
Then and only then are we really in a reasonable position to most effectively interpret for ourselves precisely where we stand and decide whether it's going to take (a) the toothpick, stick of chewing gum, magnet, harmonica, can of hair-spray and the clock radio or (B) the "D" sized battery, slab of bacon, mini pocket calculator, cigarette lighter, plastic straw and the litre of orange soda to get us out of the current jam we find ourselves in and back onto the road to victory.
So yes, without a doubt, absolute perseverance and total commitment are vitally important to "team effort" writing project.
(David) I think you are right. And this article seems to be a perfect example of having an idea at the beginning, but then taking on a life of it's own down the road becoming more than what we thought it could become later on. What started as an article has become more of a transcript of 2 people talking about what it is to write together. This has brought about a few extra topics that we may not have thought about had this had been strictly scripted in (as you mentioned) a step-by-step manner.
Sure, it could be a whole stream of consciousness exercise (and that, by the way, is an exercise which is quite beneficial to anyone either in business or wanting more out of life, but isn't quite sure what that is). In this case, our "article" has become the beginning of a road map. An example of what can be created with just a single idea.
But in the end, one does need to get back to what works, what was begun in order to get something accomplished. So how about we move on to something more useful and personal?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Amazing Benefits Of "Tag-Team" Co-Writing! (Part 3)
Part 3 of our conversation about working together. Didn't catch the first or second, click here for 1, here for 2.
(Seeing how Larry's mouth has been filled with the peanut butter and celery deliciousness, not to mention that each stick contains no less than 3 tablespoons full of the sticky peanutty rich filing - which David just forgot to mention - this has forced Larry to spend a great deal of time rearranging his tonsils in an effort to talk. So for a good 2 minutes, David gets a chance to wax poetic).
(David) Yup! I agree. (Understand that David had been sitting there waiting for a breath so he could go to the restroom. Talk of the Titanic and all of that water really wasn't helping).
(David now makes his way back to the living room drying his hands with several paper towels as Larry is finally able to open wide enough to not only stick his tougue out at David, but to also ask him a serious question).
(Larry) Any other comments that need to be discussed or addressed?
(David) Yeah, finally, as a famous actor told me in a totally made up, in my own imagination interview I conducted, we are all actors. No matter if it's our daily life, if we are on stage or screen, or even online, our best role is of ourselves. It keeps us real. Makes us real. And is the best we can possibly do.
(Larry) Sounds like a pretty smart guy. It's a significant truth that goes all the back to William Shakespeare, and probably well beyond that, though at the moment, off the top of my head, the Shakespeare line about us all being actors on the stage is the earliest historical reference to the concept that comes to mind from history.
If you have to play a role, why not choose to play the one role that no one on Earth can ever possibly even come close to playing as well as you, the role of yourself. If you are ever going to stand out and be noticed, appreciated and congratulated for effectively playing a character in life, the one you have the best chance of pulling off to perfection is "Yourself!"
Any other wise words from your actor friend?
(David) Well, before he left, I asked him about this partnership so many may seem to be worried about. He said there are 3 kinds of folks to worry about when you are working with them. First are animals. Second are children. And third, are experienced ghost writers.
So what can I say. I love animals.
(Larry) Ah, sounds like you were interviewing the ghost of W.C. Fields. Yeah, he and I have had our differences over the years, it only makes sense that he would take this opportunity to get another dig in at me over my career as a ghost writer.
Even after all these years, that's one very verbose ghost who doesn't like his lines written for him or being told what to say. ;-)
Personally, I'm a little surprised that he didn't offer up a warning about the corporate copywriter instead of the ghost-writer. After the last several years spending so much of my time writing copy and designing "Brands" for big companies, I, much like Mr. W.C. Fields, feel as if I have been spending "way too much time" working side by side with a bunch of "children" and "animals!" (LOL)
(Seeing how Larry's mouth has been filled with the peanut butter and celery deliciousness, not to mention that each stick contains no less than 3 tablespoons full of the sticky peanutty rich filing - which David just forgot to mention - this has forced Larry to spend a great deal of time rearranging his tonsils in an effort to talk. So for a good 2 minutes, David gets a chance to wax poetic).
(David) Yup! I agree. (Understand that David had been sitting there waiting for a breath so he could go to the restroom. Talk of the Titanic and all of that water really wasn't helping).
(David now makes his way back to the living room drying his hands with several paper towels as Larry is finally able to open wide enough to not only stick his tougue out at David, but to also ask him a serious question).
(Larry) Any other comments that need to be discussed or addressed?
(David) Yeah, finally, as a famous actor told me in a totally made up, in my own imagination interview I conducted, we are all actors. No matter if it's our daily life, if we are on stage or screen, or even online, our best role is of ourselves. It keeps us real. Makes us real. And is the best we can possibly do.
(Larry) Sounds like a pretty smart guy. It's a significant truth that goes all the back to William Shakespeare, and probably well beyond that, though at the moment, off the top of my head, the Shakespeare line about us all being actors on the stage is the earliest historical reference to the concept that comes to mind from history.
If you have to play a role, why not choose to play the one role that no one on Earth can ever possibly even come close to playing as well as you, the role of yourself. If you are ever going to stand out and be noticed, appreciated and congratulated for effectively playing a character in life, the one you have the best chance of pulling off to perfection is "Yourself!"
Any other wise words from your actor friend?
(David) Well, before he left, I asked him about this partnership so many may seem to be worried about. He said there are 3 kinds of folks to worry about when you are working with them. First are animals. Second are children. And third, are experienced ghost writers.
So what can I say. I love animals.
(Larry) Ah, sounds like you were interviewing the ghost of W.C. Fields. Yeah, he and I have had our differences over the years, it only makes sense that he would take this opportunity to get another dig in at me over my career as a ghost writer.
Even after all these years, that's one very verbose ghost who doesn't like his lines written for him or being told what to say. ;-)
Personally, I'm a little surprised that he didn't offer up a warning about the corporate copywriter instead of the ghost-writer. After the last several years spending so much of my time writing copy and designing "Brands" for big companies, I, much like Mr. W.C. Fields, feel as if I have been spending "way too much time" working side by side with a bunch of "children" and "animals!" (LOL)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Amazing Benefits Of "Tag-Team" Co-Writing! (Part 2)
Part 2 of our conversation. If you missed the first, click here to get caught up.
(Larry) So how did you choose to respond back to these clearly well meaning, even if slightly off course concerns?
(David) After a moment, my slightly more serious answer becomes something closer to "Unlike many of the past changes, this one makes sense." The reason this all began, is the same. The mission, remains the same. The methods of humor and daily life connections, is also the same.
(Larry) Exactly, that's really the whole point isn't it, that the over-all final goal and desired objective actually remains pretty much consistently the same. It's only the plotted out path leading to the desired destination that necessitates change.
To stubbornly insist upon driving across a bridge that no longer exists or forcibly enter an "on-ramp" that has since been closed and barricaded, just to "stick to the original plain" would be perceived by most as a sure sign of absolute insanity.
(Larry now carefully climbs majestically up onto his very own, official public proclamation "soap-box," which he always conveniently keeps nearby, in the bottom cupboard, over by the sink, fridge and coffee machine. David wisely pushes his chair back about 7 feet, as Larry has been eating oreo cookies, and does not want to be inadvertently injured in the coming conceptual cacophony)
(Larry Continues) I think that's the really vitally important part of the whole scenario that people either seem to lose track of or simply haven't yet been around in this business long enough to fully get their feet wet, let alone behind their ears, to effectively detect smooth sailing and abundant fishing from storms on the horizon, conflicting rip-tides and the potential for drowning.
When you know precisely where it is that you want to arrive, then confidently set sail and begin the journey. As the tides change, the winds falter and then gale and the occasional storms come and go, you must continuously need to "alter your coarse," to ensure that you safely get to your planned destination, but that is nothing even close to changing your mind about where the ship is going to eventually come into port.
One quickly discovers the ultimate truth that, "not being willing" to alter you tack in order to effectively compensate for the continuously changing conditions that befall you while you are out there making your way across the raging seas, is actually a sure fire way of ending up shipwrecked, crashed on the jagged rocks, with no sign of salvation in sight.
If the Titanic could have altered it's pre-set course when icebergs were first observed directly in the ships predetermined path, it would have ended up successfully pulling into port, precisely where it was hoping to end up, with a bunch of very happy, satisfied and probably "return" customers.
Instead, the inability to change tack in time when danger was discovered directly in the middle of the ships pre-ordained coarse. is exactly what kept them from successfully be able to reach their intended objective, and the outcome was death, destruction and not a single satisfied "return" customer coming back for more.
Altering the original path most certainly does not equal a disregard fr the original plan, it actually serves to ensure that that plan is successfully achieves, safely, securely and with all your passengers and customers fully satisfied and coming back for seconds, thirds, fourth, fifths, etc.
Make sense?
(Larry descends from his lofty perch and smilingly grabs a couple of fresh celery stick with peanut butter, crafily placed there by David in hopes of getting a chance to add his 2 cents worth.)
(Larry) So how did you choose to respond back to these clearly well meaning, even if slightly off course concerns?
(David) After a moment, my slightly more serious answer becomes something closer to "Unlike many of the past changes, this one makes sense." The reason this all began, is the same. The mission, remains the same. The methods of humor and daily life connections, is also the same.
(Larry) Exactly, that's really the whole point isn't it, that the over-all final goal and desired objective actually remains pretty much consistently the same. It's only the plotted out path leading to the desired destination that necessitates change.
To stubbornly insist upon driving across a bridge that no longer exists or forcibly enter an "on-ramp" that has since been closed and barricaded, just to "stick to the original plain" would be perceived by most as a sure sign of absolute insanity.
(Larry now carefully climbs majestically up onto his very own, official public proclamation "soap-box," which he always conveniently keeps nearby, in the bottom cupboard, over by the sink, fridge and coffee machine. David wisely pushes his chair back about 7 feet, as Larry has been eating oreo cookies, and does not want to be inadvertently injured in the coming conceptual cacophony)
(Larry Continues) I think that's the really vitally important part of the whole scenario that people either seem to lose track of or simply haven't yet been around in this business long enough to fully get their feet wet, let alone behind their ears, to effectively detect smooth sailing and abundant fishing from storms on the horizon, conflicting rip-tides and the potential for drowning.
When you know precisely where it is that you want to arrive, then confidently set sail and begin the journey. As the tides change, the winds falter and then gale and the occasional storms come and go, you must continuously need to "alter your coarse," to ensure that you safely get to your planned destination, but that is nothing even close to changing your mind about where the ship is going to eventually come into port.
One quickly discovers the ultimate truth that, "not being willing" to alter you tack in order to effectively compensate for the continuously changing conditions that befall you while you are out there making your way across the raging seas, is actually a sure fire way of ending up shipwrecked, crashed on the jagged rocks, with no sign of salvation in sight.
If the Titanic could have altered it's pre-set course when icebergs were first observed directly in the ships predetermined path, it would have ended up successfully pulling into port, precisely where it was hoping to end up, with a bunch of very happy, satisfied and probably "return" customers.
Instead, the inability to change tack in time when danger was discovered directly in the middle of the ships pre-ordained coarse. is exactly what kept them from successfully be able to reach their intended objective, and the outcome was death, destruction and not a single satisfied "return" customer coming back for more.
Altering the original path most certainly does not equal a disregard fr the original plan, it actually serves to ensure that that plan is successfully achieves, safely, securely and with all your passengers and customers fully satisfied and coming back for seconds, thirds, fourth, fifths, etc.
Make sense?
(Larry descends from his lofty perch and smilingly grabs a couple of fresh celery stick with peanut butter, crafily placed there by David in hopes of getting a chance to add his 2 cents worth.)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Amazing Benefits Of "Tag-Team" Co-Writing! (Part 1)
This is the first of an expanding, on-going series, or what we here at www.Biz-E-Life.com , sitting around the cofee table with our feet up and our shoes off, like to call "a conversation.”
From time to time, we’ll throw open the beaded curtains to the Biz-e-Life world to give a bit of a “behind-the-scenes” look into what we do, what we’re thinking, and what we talk about.
Why?
Because sometimes it just helps to see things in a different fashion. We could sit here and write things from a planned perspective, pulled together, parlayed and presented in a pretty piece primarily planned to position these postings in a precise pile of practicality for the perceived people to ponder.
Or we could just wing it.
This first round of conversations begins on the topic of working with another person after being a "Lone Wolf" for so long on one's own.
(Larry) Hey David, I've gotten a lot of emails recently from several long-time clients, associates and readers who are asking me "how and why" someone in my position, with an established career, following, reputation and readership, would now suddenly be willing to agree to share the spotlight with another popular, established writer.
"How do you avoid stepping on each other's toes, making sure that you get the chance to stay on track and "make your intended point," while steering clear of competitive creative confrontations?" they ask.
Dude, I've got to ask you, are you getting any such comments or questions like these, and if so, what the heck are you replying back to these deeply inquisitive minds?
(David) As word of Biz-e-Life was starting to leak out (and by leak, I don't mean nude photos of either of us being quietly released to the media in a passing fashion over a root beer float and a pair of bear claws at the corner donut shop), I began getting the occasional comment about just what in the world I was doing. People would pretty much ask, "David, what in the world are you doing?" "Won't this change all that you have been doing?"
My first thought of a reply is something like "You've seen how often I've altered the website or blogs over the years." Or "You remember the original "In Search Of Ourselves" ebook and how things have changed since then." I've probably changed things up more times than a 5-month old gets changed in a week.
(Larry) Yes, exactly, one of the things I have always been the most impressed with about you David, your ability to constantly keep your senses open to not only what's going on all around you, but what's going on inside of you. That's a very rare and valuable quality.
As one continues to grow and expand, as one takes in, absorbs and rearranges ever new and changing information, it only makes sense that one's point of view and road map will naturally be altered, based on the new bits and pieces of reality taken in by simply living life as an intelligent, sentient being from day to day. Anything other than that would be considered dangerously reckless and somewhat crazy.
If you have last year’s map to get to a location, and sense the map was published, the roads between here and there have been re-worked, some new roads opened, some old roads closed, to insist upon forcing your way through several new barricades merely because that's the path you mapped out last year, is complete lunacy!
From time to time, we’ll throw open the beaded curtains to the Biz-e-Life world to give a bit of a “behind-the-scenes” look into what we do, what we’re thinking, and what we talk about.
Why?
Because sometimes it just helps to see things in a different fashion. We could sit here and write things from a planned perspective, pulled together, parlayed and presented in a pretty piece primarily planned to position these postings in a precise pile of practicality for the perceived people to ponder.
Or we could just wing it.
This first round of conversations begins on the topic of working with another person after being a "Lone Wolf" for so long on one's own.
(Larry) Hey David, I've gotten a lot of emails recently from several long-time clients, associates and readers who are asking me "how and why" someone in my position, with an established career, following, reputation and readership, would now suddenly be willing to agree to share the spotlight with another popular, established writer.
"How do you avoid stepping on each other's toes, making sure that you get the chance to stay on track and "make your intended point," while steering clear of competitive creative confrontations?" they ask.
Dude, I've got to ask you, are you getting any such comments or questions like these, and if so, what the heck are you replying back to these deeply inquisitive minds?
(David) As word of Biz-e-Life was starting to leak out (and by leak, I don't mean nude photos of either of us being quietly released to the media in a passing fashion over a root beer float and a pair of bear claws at the corner donut shop), I began getting the occasional comment about just what in the world I was doing. People would pretty much ask, "David, what in the world are you doing?" "Won't this change all that you have been doing?"
My first thought of a reply is something like "You've seen how often I've altered the website or blogs over the years." Or "You remember the original "In Search Of Ourselves" ebook and how things have changed since then." I've probably changed things up more times than a 5-month old gets changed in a week.
(Larry) Yes, exactly, one of the things I have always been the most impressed with about you David, your ability to constantly keep your senses open to not only what's going on all around you, but what's going on inside of you. That's a very rare and valuable quality.
As one continues to grow and expand, as one takes in, absorbs and rearranges ever new and changing information, it only makes sense that one's point of view and road map will naturally be altered, based on the new bits and pieces of reality taken in by simply living life as an intelligent, sentient being from day to day. Anything other than that would be considered dangerously reckless and somewhat crazy.
If you have last year’s map to get to a location, and sense the map was published, the roads between here and there have been re-worked, some new roads opened, some old roads closed, to insist upon forcing your way through several new barricades merely because that's the path you mapped out last year, is complete lunacy!
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