Quixoting® - A Quest for New Ideas

Introducing A Fun New Idea. Created By Someone Else.

I heard a fun little story on NPR this past week.  It was about a guy with an idea.  No, not me.

Dan Florio started a new website called runpee.com and it hits on a nerve (or a bladder) with me.  I ALWAYS think about this when I go to the movies. And he beat me to it.

Of course I never had the idea - I just had the problem.  The one he has now solved.

So, what is it, you ask?

Dan created a website that tells you when you can get up, go to the bathroom and not miss important scenes in the movie.  Will you miss part of the movie? Yes.  But only those scenes that are not integral to the plot.

So, now you have an answer to the age old question when returning from the bathroom . . .

What did I miss?

No more racing down the dark stairs and crashing into the flashlight-toting usher.  No more painful moments.  

I love ideas like these - and there are, I'm sure many other problems out there waiting to be solved.

If you'd like to listen to his NPR interview, click here.  

To visit his site, click here.

And, finally, to follow him on Twitter, go here.

There's An Awful Lot Happening On Mt. Everest

Just when you thought things had settled down on Mt. Everest, it just keeps getting more interesting.

A few weeks ago I told you about Johnny Strange and his father.  Johnny was attempting to be the youngest Westerner ever to climb Mt. Everest (a Nepalese Sherpa has the record at 15).  He is also attempting to conquer the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent).

Well, based on the news from his blog, he has done it.  Here's how it was announced . . .

Johnny strange, Brian Strange, Scott Woolums, and sherpa team led by namgyal sherpa summited may 20th 2009. Johnny Strange will write submit dispatch within the next few days.

You can go to the blog and read Johnny's own description of his ascent.  You can also read about the perils of descent as symbolized by his walk past the dead body of fallen climber Scott Fischer who died on Everest in 1996.

So now we know that Johnny is making things happen.  So . . . what else? 

In Wednesday's Orange County Register, we learn that a 67 year old Costa Mesa, CA man just summited.  This makes him (he believes) the oldest American ever to reach the top.

It was his third attempt after a frustrating failed attempt two years ago that had him just hours away. You can read his story here written by Cindy Carcamo. 

Is there something in the water here in Southern California that has people taking action and pursuing big dreams?

I'm thirsty.  

The Power of Daydreaming

Hey everyone!  I wrote a guest post (The Power of Daydreaming) for a great site called Brainzooming.

Mike Brown, who writes the blog, was kind enough to allow a short post from me to be featured there today.

Please come take a look by clicking here.  

While there, please check out Mike's posts as well as the posts of other guest authors on Brainzooming!.

I'll be back with another post here shortly!

Curse You, Verizon! and Opportunity Strikes Again!

CURSE YOU, VERIZON!

Generally speaking, Verizon Wireless has been a pretty good carrier.  Since the switch from AT&T/Cingular, I've had fewer dropped calls and some pretty decent customer service.  The only problem so far has been that I seem to be on an uphill trend as it relates to the amount of money I pay them every month. 

First it was just my phone and my wife's.  Then I added the Blackberry and the cost of e-mail/internet. Then came my son's phone (he's 12).  And, finally, me being the guy who has to have access everywhere I go, the wireless card was added.

What was once a convenient wireless plan at $69 per month is now over $230! But I can't blame anyone but myself.  I do have a choice in the matter, right?

But this friendly (albeit expensive) relationship came to a screeching halt this past Friday.  You see, my son lost his phone when we were at the Grand Canyon a few weeks back (my wife swears she handed it to me). So, thinking of the possibilities as we walk through the door, any optimism was dashed quickly once our predicament was explained to the customer service rep at Verizon.

The good news, they said, was that they have a lost or stolen phone policy. Great!  (Imagine my son and I looking at each other and sharing a warm father/son moment).  However, it turns out that the policy's cost depends on the status of your free upgrade (we are scheduled on his lost phone for September).  So, according to Verizon it was either $200 for a new phone (with $50 rebate now $150) or wait until September.  

Now, let me remind you that I am currently paying Verizon $230 per month. And I paid an average of $100 for the phones I have now (3).

Isn't that enough?

And, aren't the phones made in China for $15-$20?  And they wanted to charge me $150?  It's frustrating even telling you about it.

But, you know what?  The solution, which I figured out while in the store, was that there was one simple and no cost solution.  The one, I guess, that was on the last page of the Verizon customer service rep training manual:

If you have another phone (perhaps an old one laying around the house),Verizon will switch the phone over - for FREE.  As in no charge.

The lesson here?  Do not throw away, donate, give away or garage sale your old cell phones - they can come in handy.  Place them in a junk drawer (along with your cords and chargers) for an emergency.

We hadn't done that.  We weren't prepared.  Luckily an Aunt had an extra phone and we were home free.  We went back to the Verizon store, handed them the phone and within 5 minutes he was back texting his friends.

Did I do all that just so he could text again?  No, it is a safety thing.  Right.

OPPORTUNITY STRIKES AGAIN!

So, being that this site is about ideas, here's one that came out of my experience.  A place where, I think, many good ideas take root.

For all those people out there who lose a phone and do not have one to spare, take heart!  I will open a store (virtual or next to Hallmark) that buys and sells Verizon phones.  I'll pay $5 to the old owner and charge $25 to the new owner.  

The best part?  I won't charge either person any fees and I won't force a contract on anyone.  

Everyone wins.  Except Verizon, I guess.

The Psychology of Littering - Evaluating the "Litterati".

It's a question I ask myself all the time.  Why?

And a common one for me relates to littering.  A habit so annoying and so easy to avoid that I honestly don't see how it continues.  Even more interesting to me is how people justify the practice.  No hiding or fear of getting caught. Almost as if it is really OK.

Do you litter?  Be honest.  If so, why?

In a world where trash cans cover the landscape around where we live, what leads people to litter? Is it a conscious act?  Is it an old habit taught by the parents?  Or is it just pure laziness?

Here's a new term for these folks who boldly litter as if what they are doing isn't wrong.  It's based on the term "Glitterati" which means:

"wealthy or famous people who conspicuously or ostentatiously attend fashionable events" according to dictionary.com.

The "Litterati" are people who must think they are famous in that they believe they can litter and get away with it.  Separate rules, you know?

Littering comes in many forms, so let's talk about a few:

FROM THE CAR

So, you are driving behind someone on the freeway during the day and a small wrapper flies past. Maybe it is a plastic grocery bag.  But it clearly came out of the window of the car in front of you. What were they thinking?  

It's small, no one will know.

It's common, everyone does it.

I'm going 60 in lots of traffic, no one will know it was me.

I don't like to trash my car, so I'll let someone else pick it up.

What possible internal argument justifies littering vs. finding a trash can at the next stop? Probably my biggest pet peeve here is the flying cigarette (no, those aren't lightning bugs coming at you).  The cigarette out the window is so common I probably see one per day and they are often in the evening.  Clearly there is no well-understood rule here as everyone does it.

I wonder if it was cool once - back in the day when smoking was cool - to "flick your smoke" from the car.  Hey, at least you keep your car clean (even though your lungs are not), right?

Sorry if this feels like less of a review of the psychology and more of a rant, but this one I just don't understand.  So maybe ranting helps me penetrate what's happening in the mind of the litterati.

OUT AND ABOUT

Baseball fields, skate parks, community parks.  We all use these parks and we all would like to see them kept clean, right?  Yet, they are not.

I showed up with my 10 year old son at the skate park a few weeks a go.  Sunday morning.  No less than 15 pieces of trash on the ground within 10 feet of an empty trash can.  So, as my son heads into the bowl, I start walking around and picking up.  Good to do and plenty of time on my hands.  A few people watched me closely.

Why aren't we self-policing this?  Why, when one of two 15 year olds tosses their Red Bull to the ground, isn't the other saying "Dude, the trash can's right there?"  Didn't they get enough Earth Day messaging on Toon Disney when they were kids?  Isn't the younger generation supposed to be more concerned about that then the rest of us?

So, here's my idea.  

From the day we are born, everyone wears a belt and to that belt everyone attaches a small litter bag. All your trash goes sin the bag and when it is full you empty it.  This way we establish a new, healthy habit for the environment. Once you can prove your ability to use your litter bag responsibly, you are able to remove the litter bag from your belt - only then can you buy and attach a cell phone.  Thereby joining the mature class of citizen.

If you are still walking around with a litter bag attached to your belt in high school, people will wonder what's wrong with you.  Why haven't you learned what everyone else has?  That littering is unnecessary. And that being a member of the litterati is not cool. 

Not practical?  Perhaps not.  Hmmm.  How else can we change our habits?  Or reinforce the rules?

Your ideas? 

Johnny Strange And The Quest For Mt. Everest

When you think of the number 17 and the Himalayan giant (world's tallest landmark, Mt. Everest) what comes to mind?

Perhaps you think of the number of expeditions that have succeeded?  Maybe it's the number of base camps (or stopping points) along the way?

How about 17 as an age.  No?  Yes.  The age of a kid from Malibu, CA who is aspiring to be the youngest Westerner ever to climb Mt. Everest (a 15 Nepalese Sherpa has the record at 15).  His name is Johnny Strange and he is attempting to conquer the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent).

I read about Johnny in an LA Times article today written by Pete Thomas and was blown away by the sense of purpose displayed by Johnny.  

You can follow Johnny's quest at his blog here.  I am.

And while I read Jon Krakauer's great book on Everest (Into Thin Air) and watched a reality show on TV (name escapes me) a while back, this is a story I am anxious to follow.

Here is a kid living out his dreams (acting on his ideas) at a very young age.  And, while many of us are older than Johnny, the chance to live out our own dreams is still right there in front of us.

We just have to get going.  

So, when will you get going? 

Still Hate Going To The Dentist? I Have The Antidote!

Some ideas pop into your head as a result of a single experience.  Others come from years of experiences.  This particular idea is associated with pain and discomfort.  Yes, I'm talking about the dentist office.

Now, dentistry has come along way over the past few years.  For example, there is no more blood-letting to fix a sore tooth.  Thankfully.

As background, this idea is one that comes from the heart.  As many of you, I lived through the pain of a thousand men as a child sitting in the dentist's chair.  The man in the mask was no friend of mine. He was the ultimate villain . . . a pain with with no solution.

Well folks.  I think I may have an antidote to one of the biggest issues dental patients face today.  Pens ready?  The issue?

Extended numbness or as it is called in the medical journals: 

frozen or tingly face syndrome 

The symptoms of this particular malady include:

1.  a sense that you are drooling when you are not

2.  an inability to speak without a lisp

3.  a feeling like you were hit on the side of the face with a two by four

4.  an inability to drink without spilling

5.  a fear that your bottom lip has swollen to a size similar to Angelina Jolie

The perpetrator, of course, is your favorite family dentist.  The weapon of choice is a needle with a toxic asset inside.  A very long needle on the end of a very medieval looking device.  What makes it worse?  

 . . . the shaking of the needle upon entry into the soft underbelly of your inner cheek

 . . . the accidental spilling of venom (numbing fluid) in the mouth cavity (that is one bad taste)

 . . . the way the dentist roughly grabs the cheek to position the weapon

If you think I'm bitter.  You are correct.  These are pains that hang with you for life.

Now I'll tell you that I now have a great dentist.  He really cares.  Really!  So, to return the favor and to keep the positive karma flowing, here is my idea to improve the post-dental experience:

I call it NumbAway™.  Its goal is to reduce the extended time your face is numb.  Why?  Because it is annoying, embarrassing and often unnecessary.  In my experience, the numbness lasts about twice as long as it needs to last.  Here's the idea from my Idea Book . . .

So, what is C12?  Make a comment below if interested and I will tell you.  Its success has been proven time and time again - every time I have been numbed beyond belief.

You might be saying.  "Hey, I see the problem.  No one likes to be numb for too long.  But what if I take this shot and the numbness goes away before the pain does?"  Fair question.  One that would need to be tested more thoroughly.  But I've never had an issue.

Beyond that, I don't see any negatives to this idea.  Dentists pay a small fee for the shot and offers them free of charge to their surgical patients.  Patients see a caring dental office and have less fear and discomfort about coming back.

What do you think?  Any dentists out there?  Let me hear from you!

Memories that Cling: Chewing Tobacco, Bees, Coke, Lightning Bugs

It was a rare day in Brownstown, Illinois.  The year was 1971 or 1972 but I can't be quite sure.  

Like many American families, our maternal grandparents did not live in California where we grew up. We did not see them but once every three to four years - if we were lucky.  That made them special in a different way from our paternal grandparents.  Instead of seeing our out of town grandparents every holiday having warm, personal encounters, we lived on a different kind of love.

My Grandpa and Grandma Lipscomb loved us by mail and sometimes by phone.  Grandma collected rare coins and paper money so we got small coins or small coin collections sent.  We also got great handwritten letters, the hand getting more and more shaky as you might expect as the years passed.

But the memories that cling are ones related to the rare visits to their hometown.  

Brownstown, Illinois.

A small town (now 705 people) east of Vandalia.  You see, I never had that small town experience.  I grew up in Northern California (San Rafael) busy with cars, people and open spaces limited to the beautiful hills around the valley.

As a child visiting, Brownstown had it all.  Houses with big backyards (big for a 6 year old anyway), friendly neighbors, mother nature's blessing, and a wonderful little market down the street where a kid could walk, buy a small bottle of coke and enjoy it all the way home.

Mother Nature's contribution?  Well, that came in two forms.

Mother Nature provided those amazing lightning bugs who always seemed to be flying in an effort to escape their hot rear ends.  Walking out into the backyard at night the first time to see all those magic bobbing lights was a vision.  One that will not leave my memory.  On my last days here that will likely be on the playlist of final thoughts.

Mother nature also provided bees.  Beautiful to watch on TV, they way they talk to each other through dance and the brilliant way they make honey.  Not so great to have buzzing by your head or leaving their stinger somewhere unpleasant.  

Here's where the memory starts to fuse.  Also having good and bad aspects?  Chewing tobacco.

Our grandpa, Claude (Whitey) Lipscomb, had a thing for alcohol and chewing tobacco.  Of course, the only one I knew of was the tobacco.  For some reason, back then it was OK (or so it seemed) for Grandpa to keep a Folger's coffee can nearby anytime the need to spit arrived.  This included a very inopportune time known as the family dinner.

All of us around the table, talking about our day, forks at the ready.  And now interrupted by a loud clearing of the throat and nasal passages.  Followed by a wet, three foot spit to the floor where the coffee can stood with its eyes shut.  I never walked around that side of the table to see if he ever missed.  So the meals in Brownstown were always colored by the sights and sounds of Grandpa's tobacco.

But, like bees, Grandpa's tobacco also had a positive side.  One that I never expected.

One of those great summer days out in the backyard I stepped and found one of mother nature's bees. Looking for pollen to make us some honey, no doubt.  As I placed my foot down during my run, she looked up and in a last desperate act thrust her rear up and gently left a stinger in my foot.

Her gentle action left me howling, running around in circles as my foot started to swell and get red.  

Well, all that running around and screaming aroused my Grandpa who was sitting on the porch enjoying the sun.  With all he could muster, he said "Hey pantywaist!".  Now before I continue, I think pantywaist (sp?) means sissy.  I think he said it in a loving way.

He motioned for me to come to the porch and sit on his lap.  I remember limping up the steps where he pulled me up onto his big lap.  Getting close to his face I could smell the acidic aroma of the chewing tobacco.  Between fits of cries, I explained what had happened.

He then pulled one rough and calloused hand from my shoulder and with his thumb and index finger reached into his mouth.  Out he pulled a nasty and wet (but relatively fresh) pile of spent chewing tobacco.  Before I knew it, this vile pile of tobacco was resting on my swollen foot, just where the stinger had hit and thankfully fallen out.

You see my running around wasn't all just noise - I had a plan.

Then something amazing happened. The pain went away.  I stopped crying and Grandpa winked at me. His magical cure.

I left his lap in wonder and walked in the house.

There's got to be an idea here.  Another application perhaps, but an idea all the same.

If not, at least I have that memory . . .

When a ceiling fan just doesn't cut it . . .

A while back I wrote a post here called "Does anyone need a blanket in the summertime?"  The idea solved a problem for me (on paper) in that I need a heavy cover when I sleep.  Summer or winter.  That fact made summers uncomfortable and hot.  So my solution was a blanket with big holes in it that would provide the weight without locking in the heat.

Well, that idea has not yet found its way into the new Bed, Bath and Beyond catalog.  I didn't build a prototype and neither did you.  So we'll try again.

This new idea tries to solve the same problem in a different way.  Not sure there's really a problem to solve here?  I can't help you there.

So this idea tackles this problem with moving air and an ability to self adjust as temperatures go up and down under the sheets.

And, well, some ideas need to be illustrated.  So, here's more of my famous art work.  Used sparingly here to make a point.  

I know what you are thinking.  What about a ceiling fan?  Wouldn't that do the trick?  Not for me.  I end up with a frozen face and dry eyes.  OK, it's probably not that bad . . .

So what are the pros and cons of this idea - from my perspective: 

PROS:

- invisible as everything is under the tucked sheets

- works in summer and winter

- included thermostat maintains a consistent temperature under the sheets- helps to avoid bed sweats (not that I ever have those, of course.  And can be set for 10 minutes before wake up to aid in the "return to the living"

- quiet fan provides a peaceful white noise (if any at all)

CONS:

- perception issue?  A bit clunky?

- will my feet be colder/warmer than the rest of me?

- what if my husband or wife gets hot and I get cold.  Problem?

OK, now it's your turn to turn up the heat on this idea or give it the cold shoulder.  Come on.  I can take it.

A man and his dog

My dog Casey likes to walk on the sun-side of the path.  As we depart our wet, sandy beach he shifts to the the right to catch every possible inch of brightness.  I'm not sure he really cares about the warmth. After all he's a dog with lots of fat and fur (more than I have).  I shift along with him.  I dropped a piece of jellied toast on him this morning.  He tried to grab it from me. And he wants to reach for its sweet taste as we walk along and up a gentle hill.  Funny, he can lick so many strange places, but is unable to reach this one spot to get the jelly.  Grape jelly.

----

I wrote that in a journal back in 1996.  Casey was 6 months old at the time.  As I write this post, Casey is on his bed up in our master bedroom.  Up near where I write.  

I've been thinking a lot about him lately. He is 12, almost 13 and is beginning to feel his body slowly break down.  So tonight, the focus is on my dog.  I grabbed a Pacifico from the garage refrigerator, helped him up the stairs and was reminded of the reference in my old journal.  Reminded of the last 12 years of life. 

If you are worried that a "Marley Moment" is on the way, well cover your eyes.  No promises.

Casey is not in any pain.  At least not according to the vet.  But he is not the puppy he was even a few short years ago.  The puppy whose eyes lit up like fireworks when the opportunity to run, chase or wrestle came available.  

So in addition to the journal entry from '96 I wanted to write something short to help me remember a few times in his life and, by default, this time in mine.  Because things happen so much quicker in a dog's life. Aging from 8 weeks to 8 months as well as the aging process near the end of a dog's life.

----

I could have been a better friend.  More balls thrown.  More walks.  More moments rolling on the floor playing keep-away.  Unintended scratches on the arms and chest as evidence of a job well done.  This little puppy who slept - wedged in between the car door and the passenger seat of the rental car - the whole way to the airport.  Born in Carnation, Washington.  Poor little guy barked so loud we could hear him in the cargo hold as the plane began its jerky movements on the tarmac.  We took pictures of his mom and dad.  Lost the camera.  

Our dogs have a hold on us that is hard to explain.  Their fully stimulated posture and jerky tail wagging.  So violent as their entire body has to support the obvious pleasure at your arrival. Even on my worst days, I was forgivable, lovable and bearable.  To him.

I feel guilt, fear and a slight hesitation as I approach him today.  Wondering how his wobbly legs really feel vs. the feelings I project upon him.  On a very short walk a few weeks ago, his back legs simply collapsed.  And he looked up at me from the ground as if to say:  "See!"  Like I was trying to toughen him up.  Not breathing hard, not whimpering or crying.  Just unable.

He still wants to play though.  You can see it in the eyes.  Through the haze there are small little bright spots.  The edges of what used to be huge bursts of fire.  Reflections of his memories. Memories of those days when his body unleashed horizontal rocket departures.  From my bare feet to a point some 100 feet away where a wet green tennis ball bounded along.  Waiting for the clamping of canine teeth.  Snatching victory.  Preparing for a rubber-band return back to me.  To drop the wet ball on my warm toes.

----

As I look down at him now through the amber colored Pacifico bottle.  I see the sharp-eyed puppy of 10 years ago.  As he catches my glance, his eyes open wide.  His chin lifts off the bed and I'm sure he's wondering whether it's time to go.  Play.

What are you doing with your ideas?

If you have been a reader here at Quixoting you know that this site is about encouraging you to take action on your ideas.  My historical malady may be yours.  I spent years creating ideas and logging them into my idea book.  A book that only I read and only I reflected upon.

Hey, at least I had the ideas and wrote them down, right?  

I used to think that was good enough.  Now I know the truth.  That having ideas is 25% of the value. The rest comes in sharing, building upon and implementing your ideas.

Only then do you feel the excitement of innovation and creativity.  Even if people don't love them . . . or even like them.

So now I am sharing my ideas with you on this blog and on my Tim's Strategy blog (job search strategy and psychology) and website.  "So what's the big deal?" you might ask.  Isn't this just an online journal vs. a paper journal?

The difference is that the ideas are being shared with the world in the most global way possible.  They are now out there - available for supportive feedback, blistering criticism or no response at all. Quixoting, in a way, is my own online incubator.  A place to learn, once and for all, whether these ideas were interesting quirks of my brain or real, sustainable ideas.  Ones that could drive growth for me or someone else.

The cool discovery is that I now have an ongoing, living canvas where I can drop my ideas and let them grow.  Either deep roots . . . or mold.

Either is OK.  Because by sharing them I value them.  And, in turn, value myself.         

Here's 4 inspiring words . . .

There are four words out there that, when used together, can inspire great things to happen.  Or convince people that a solution is on the way.  Now you may have four words of your own to inspire (but be careful, there are kids in the room).

The four words I am thinking of?

I have an idea.

Simple, short and very promising.  Deceptively simple.

They can follow a number of other statements or situations.  Things are looking pretty rough and the crew is getting worried.  The problem is not being solved, it just seems to be getting worse.

Then someone says:  "I have an idea".  These four words are powerful because of their optimism and because they suggest that someone has been thinking.  Thinking beyond the scope of others in the room. Thoughts perhaps that have been germinating for days or weeks.  That just now became apparent.

Maybe it is someone who doesn't talk all the time.  Someone who has been a good listener and has been waiting for the right time to take all that perspective and offer a well-thought out suggestion.

And, yes, there is a risk that the idea may not be spine-tingling.  It may even be naive or unworkable.

But it's an idea.  And I love ideas.

The New Product Obstacle Course

About 15 years ago I was working at a very large global company.  I was focused in the new products area working for a smaller, more entrepreneurial division.  We were a growth division and were expected to launch a lot of new products.  Makes sense, right?

This division had a great, low cost business model.  One that was free of significant launch costs and many of the natural restrictions that keep ideas from getting out the front door.  Depending on your mindset, that might sound like the perfect scenario.  The company wants new products.  We can launch them easily and with relatively little cost.  A marriage made in Heaven . . .

The problem?  The division had a history of launching products that did not succeed.  The products were launched in niche categories, with little marketing support and without consumer research to determine purchase intent or confirm package size or flavors.  

OK, so maybe they just got unlucky, right?  But that wasn't the only issue.  Over time, the negative consequences are not just related to inefficiency or a lack of growth.  Some of the larger issues had to do with the effect on distribution partners and the sales organization.  They were losing confidence in the division's ability to identify, launch and support new products.

So, when it is too easy to launch a new product, there's only one thing to do.

Put up a brick wall.

In absence of a brick wall, You need another way to slow down ideas and make sure they are properly vetted prior to launch.

The thought came that an obstacle course was a good visual and might provide an interactive and tangible way to force more discipline on the new product launch process.

So, the new product obstacle course was born.  

The New Product Obstacle Course

A detailed and objective new product development path that requires a product concept to prove its worth before test market introduction and beyond.

Each obstacle included a qualitative (subjective) or quantitative (objective) hurdle.  In the final program, each product had to "clear" thirteen different obstacles prior to launch.

The effect?  With the microscope lowered on new ideas, the natural optimism was replaced with a more sober sense of the difficulties of succeeding with new products.  The reality is that 9 out of 10 new products fail.

Our goal was to better the odds by asking more of our ideas.

So if you are in the idea business or the new products business, make sure you put the work in up front. 

Make sure the products you launch deserve their time in the sun.

Make them earn it.  

Driftwood memories

 

There's a stretch of freeway that slices through Berkeley, California that I always looked forward to driving when I was a kid.  I say "driving" even though I spent 100% of the drive in the back of the station wagon.  Facing backwards.  Part waving and part making faces at the following traffic.

There's a good amount of traffic through there.  A fact that did not phase me.  It's presence extended the view.  A view that captured my attention for all the years of my childhood.

The reason for the regular drive was a visit to Grandma's house.  Christmas Eve, Easter and various birthdays.  So not only were there treats upon arrival but plenty of wooden ones along the way.

This particular spot became a gathering point for local artists, I assume.  Artists or hobbyists.  People who had an urge to build something.  They used driftwood, metal, sticks and hubcaps.  Whatever they could find, I guess.  Maybe there was one of Don Quixote?  If not, I should take a week off work and go build it . . .

One of the best aspects of the short drive-by gallery was the deciduous nature of the art.  It was always falling over and being re-built.  Often as slightly different - other times as just . . . different.  So each time we drove past we were guaranteed to see something new.

The sculptures depicted people, vehicles, animals and the like.  All created with an impulsive nature based, I always thought, on what was found that day.  I always imagined a person and their friend scouring the waterside and shouting to each other "Hey, this would make a great nose!" or "How about this for the sword?"  Because, well, I used to do that as a kid.

I believe that this fascination with the driftwood sculptures in Berkeley helped to form a creative bone or two in my body.  This, along with other influences, suggested to my brain that this might be something I'd like.  The problem, up until this point however, is that I thought I had to have a talent for things in order to actually do them.

Again, this is one of the reasons Quixoting (or "taking action on your ideas") struck me as important. You do not have to be a talented artist or a well-funded entrepreneur to take action on your ideas.  You just have to possess the desire (and the courage) for your ideas to come alive and be seen.

As you can see in the picture above, I do carve driftwood from time to time.  It's not very good artistically.  But I don't much care about that part.  I don't carve it to make money or impress anyone.  I carve it to relax my mind and to release ideas from the brain and heart.  Ideas that I don't know I have until a piece of wood suggests a path for its exit to the world.  And if you don't act you'll never know what's truly simmering in that head of yours.

Just like a cloud in the sky, every piece of driftwood suggests a new shape or vision.  And while it is fun to imagine what they could be . . .

It is a lot more fun to make it happen. 

Excuse me. Is this seat taken?

On a full Southwest flight this morning. 

Remember, Southwest is the airline that forces members of the human population to engage in a battle unlike no other in life. This battle does not involve swords, knives or even harsh words (most of the time). No, it is a battle of sheer will. Of patience and of reluctance. 

The cool thing is that getting on a Southwest flight, especially a full one, allows you to participate on both sides of the battle. First as a "seeker" than as a "defender". Of course I am talking about the battle over middle seats. Now don't get me wrong. I like elbow room just like the next guy. But I'd sure like a world where fewer battles are waged. 

Also, Southwest deserves some credit for easing the "getting on the plane" battles. While it feels a bit "grammar school" to line up based on a number, it seems to work (don't even get me started on the people who feel a need to get everyone in exact numerical order). 

But back to our topic. 

The mid-seat battle begins on the ramp as you begin to plan your strategy. What? Plan your strategy? Yes, if you wait until hitting the plane, everyone will see your deer in the headlights look as you fill the aisle in the front of the plane. In my view, the "seeker" has a number of reasonable tactical options. The decision on which to use is dictated by factors such as fullness of flight, time of day, how tired you are and your extrovert quotient (OK, I made that last one up but basically, "Are you feeling social?"). 

Here are the seeker tactics: 

- Quick Scan and Pounce. Don't think, just sit. Let's face it, the longer you wait, the longer you give for defenders to assess your battle readiness. 

- Wander and Waffle. This is what most people seem to do. Hesitate, look deep into the plane, then again behind you. Confusing for all, to be sure. 

- Friendly Joe or Jill. Position yourself as the best option. A full plane means someone will sit in that middle seat. Friendly may invite a return glance from a defender signaling their interest. 

- Back of the Bus. The easiest and least mentally taxing. Kind of a "give up" but makes defenders happy. 

Now, I am sure there are many more seeker tactics. Perhaps you'd like to share one of your own? 

In terms of defenders, you become one as soon as you find your seat (aisle or window). And your initial seat selection frames your mind set in the battle. Window seat? Let's face it, you don't have to get up for a seeker and you don't look down on a middle seat seeker the way a aisle person does. Aisle seekers look down on middle seat seekers? Yes, because aisle folks planned well in advance, having checked in days ago to get an "A" on their boarding pass. An open middle seat is an expectation. 

So, what are the tactics for defenders? 

- The Block. Anything here will do. Your bag on the middle seat. Crossed legs. Leaning forward looking in your bag. The message? This row is temporarily unavailable. 

- The Snooze. No one wants to wake up a sleeper, right? 

- No Eye Contact. If seekers are looking for a connection, this tactic will remove you from contention. 

- Look Mean. Boy does this one work! Who wants to sit next to a grump? Not me. Not a great way to go through life, but an effective tactic. To really play this out? Follow the mean tactic with no greeting and a quick groan after the middle seat seeker gets settled. 

- Hand Select. The right smile at the right person at the right time can invite good karma and help you fill the inevitable seat with someone who might be OK as a seat partner. 

My advice? Expect a full plane and let your extrovert quotient that day (!) dictate your tactical decision making. Don't be mean or rude. You never know who you might be pushing out of your life. If you really need space, fly at less busy times or pick an airline where you can get a confirmed seat. 

But once you choose Southwest's busiest flight, expect a battle. 

Searchin' the world for . . .

A while back I told you about one of my "younger in life" fantasies.  You can read that post here.  It was to sing, play guitar and write music.  Whether I was good at it didn't matter much because it was solely a creative outlet for me.

Did you read my last post titled "Creativity takes courage"?  In that post I suggested that the quote from Henri Matisse was incomplete.  I said it takes courage "when shared".  Creative work unshared may deliver great therapy but it is not a symbol of courage.

I bought my guitar after college and was living in Manhattan Beach with two college buddies.  I was courageous.  I shared.  And I was soundly laughed out of the house for doing so.

But I didn't care.  

We always gave each other grief about everything anyway.  One of my roommates modeled in a Mervyn's catalog (or so he once bragged) when he was a kid and we never let him forget that.  So, I guess I deserved the ribbing.

But I never let the ribbing stop my sharing - in fact, I forced them to listen to my songs.  After all, I was proud of them.  Even if the chords were embarrassingly simple.

So I wrote these song lyrics in 1992.  I wish I could explain what prompted the searching exactly, but I will tell you it all happened just before I met my wife.  I guess you could say I was searching for a mate, a purpose, a belief system . . . well, I guess everything.

Sources

(V1)

Searchin' the world for

Sources of information

Trying to find an answer

We can believe

The hopes of, the dreams of,

The fears of this life

Who am I, where are we

Questions, questions

(V2)

Searchin' the world for

Sources of affiliation

Where to find comfort

A warm bed, a free heart

(Where) they'll understand you

Teach you and reach you

Your with us, don't be scared

Welcome, welcome

Search for me

Search for me

Search for me

Set me free

(V3)

Searchin' the world for

Sources of fascination

Looking outside ourselves

To raise up from within

Blonde musicians in strange positions

Or heros on a screen

Party goers and ball throwers

Wishful, wishful

(V4)

Searchin' the world for

Sources of compensation

We rob each other, step on our brother

With no end in sight

Working hard, feeling scarred

From a life we have chosen

Slow it down, can we slow it down

Oh careful ,careful

Search for me

Search for me

Search for me

Set me free

(V5)

Searchin' the world for 

Sources of rejuvenation

After all the pills, the doctor bills

Our lives remain unchanged

Looking for a holy core

A life of solutions

He waits up there, says don't you dare

Oh hopeful, hopeful

. . . .

Searchin' the world for 

sources of information, affiliation,

fascination, compensation, rejuvenation

They provide the fuel that drives the tool

we use to create life

You might agree we're never free

from a day of illusion. 

So as I finished re-writing the lyrics (tonight, just now), I felt a new reluctance.  A reluctance to share. That feeling that often prevents the sharing of things that were personal when originally created.  

For me, though, the first half of the therapy is the creating.  The second half of the creative therapy is in the sharing.  Even if the posting of the lyrics here acts only to release them into a huge open space where they may never be seen again.  It is still honoring your ideas by giving them a stage - even if a very small one.

I think I'll call it "Message In A Bottle Therapy".

So, hey, if you get this on the other side of the world . . . open it up and read it.  Put it to your own music if you like.

Then send me a note back.  Or an MP3.

"Creativity takes courage"

The title of this post is an often used quote by Henri Matisse.  A self portrait of him is featured on the right.  I usually don't like to use common quotes because the internet is full of overlapping ideas and images.  In this case, however, it is such a nice fit with the Quixoting tag-line (see banner above) that I thought it would make an acceptable exception.

I also saw it in a unique way.  We took the dog on a walk this morning on a trail here in Mission Viejo - one that includes a garden of artistic structures. The quote from Matisse was written there among the art.  I guess that gives it some street (or trail) credibility.

I was instantly reminded of my inability to produce art - specifically painting or drawing - something I've always wanted to do.  I do like to carve a bit (more on that later).  And I will tell you that my daughter has an early passion and talent where I do not.

But really I think this quote is incomplete.  It should say "Creativity takes courage when shared."  Now perhaps it is implied, but for the purpose of this discussion, let's assume it is not.

What if you spend hours writing or painting, carving or singing and no one is ever exposed to it?  Is that courageous?  Well, no.  There's nothing wrong with doing so if your creativity is solely a therapeutic outlet.  That's OK with me.

But, if you secretly desire for the world to see what you've done or can do but are scared to suffer the slings and arrows of criticism, then your creativity is just a fun little hobby.  Again OK.

What if you want to share your creative ideas but aren't quite ready to do so or don't know how to do it?

Here's an idea.  Share it with me.  Send me an e-mail with a photo or image of your work and I will share it with my readers from "anonymous".  Whenever you are ready, I will add your name to the post and you can quietly, in effect, sneak your idea out of the bottom drawer and onto the world's stage.

Interested?  Find my e-mail in the About link on this blog.  

The world is waiting . . .

 

The Narcissistic Nature Of Being An Entrepreneur

Starting something - anything - requires a real dedication.  A lining up with a life's purpose and a significant sacrifice in other parts of your life. It also requires guts and determination.

When you think about it, though, it also requires that you fall in love with your idea and, in so doing, with yourself.  Because on the tough days when things feel headed down the toilet, only you will be singing the praises of your idea.  And if you stop singing, well, you won't even need to flush.

If you aren't familiar with the term "narcissism", you may at least know that it has a negative connotation.  Its origins lie in greek mythology and tells the story of a boy, Narcissus, who falls in love with an image of himself in a pool, not realizing it is a reflection of himself.  The modern use of the term is to characterize people who think mostly of themselves.  Self-absorbed.  Sound like someone you know?

My point here is that I don't see how you can be an entrepreneur without spending some serious time staring in the pool.  The difference, of course, is the purpose for your visit to the pool. How many of us have looked in the bathroom mirror before a presentation or big meeting and said to yourself:  "You can do this.  Go kick some tail out there".  Being a cheerleader for yourself and for your idea or company may be narcissistic, but full of larger purpose, it is pragmatic and necessary.

What do you think?

So, why am I writing about narcissism?  Well, I saw a quote the other day from Albert Einstein that I had forgotten but had once guided some of my decisions.  The quote?

Only a life lived for others is worth living.

Kind of socks me in the gut every time I read it.  My issue is that this sentiment runs headlong into a typical entrepreneurial mindset, does it not?  If you are working 12-16 hours a day trying to build your business, what time is there left to help others?  Really.

Well, certainly building a company can add jobs in the long term.  And building up a large workforce helps the economy.  Also, once you become CEO of your own creation, you get to choose how you treat your employees and their families.  You can have a big impact on a lot of people.

You can also, I guess, steer your company toward community pursuits.  A non-profit perhaps.  You can take the Paul Newman approach and give your profits (or a portion) to charity.  That works.  How about starting a company that supports the new green economy?

But there is another aspect that still bugs me a bit.  And it has to do with this blogging business and social media in general.  But it really stretches to include more than that.  The aspect?

The need for self-promotion

You see, blogging is a highly crowded arena.  It's like being a drop of water in a 40 foot wave breaking on the shore of Oahu.  Every other drop of water is trying to be bubbling white on the crest of the wave and shimmering in the Hawaiian sun. Of course, there are no elbows being thrown.  Everyone is very nice. And everyone is wiling to help you find your way.  It is just a sheer battle of will and determination.

So the ones who succeed, as far as I can tell, do so by being excellent self-promoters.  They also tend to have started a number of years ago when the market was less busy and they have built a following with excellent content.  Original, useful and/or personal content.

I've struggled a bit with the self-promotion part.  You see, I've always wanted to have a curtain of humility over things I've done in my personal life.  "If people like what I've done/written, they tell others and, over time, those others will come."  The problem is this is not a static market.  In fact, it is always changing.  I've learned that if you are not self-focused to some extent, the 40 ft wave will pick you up, drop you in the sand and drag you out to sea.  OK, that's a bit dramatic, but it can feel that way.

So, if you are someone who is not ready to self-promote in the traditional way, you need to find a way to do it that works with your philosophy. But, I'm afraid, if you don't do it you'll struggle.  There are some I've seen that are really good at it.  My first reaction to them was one of consternation. The arrogance!  But I've met a few of them and they are actually really nice people . . .

Yes, there is a narcissism in social media as well as in traditional entrepreneurial ventures.  You have to believe in yourself even when it looks like you shouldn't.  And you have to tell people about what you are doing in ways that might make you uncomfortable.  Or not.

So, don't be afraid to look in the pool.  If you fall in love, don't sweat it.  And, remember, you'll need all the love you can get on those days when no one seems to be listening, buying your product . . . 

. . . or reading your blog posts.  :-)

Ready to do something great? Are you sure?

This post was inspired by another I read this morning by Thom Singer on his blog "Some Assembly Required".  Thom was kind enough to highlight Quixoting in his post (Thanks Thom!).  But, more importantly, his larger message is one that resonates well here.

His message?

Believe You Can Accomplish Great Things In Life.

I absolutely love that because your ability to make it through the difficulties of life relies upon a confidence built up at some other point in your history.  Each victory.  Each successful struggle (and often the unsuccessful ones) build character and strength that can be tapped for the rest of your life.

As evidence of that, check out the picture above.  Do you recognize the world class athlete pictured above?  Probably not, because he's not famous yet.

To save you the suspense, it's me - resting after my January 2007 Orange County Marathon.  Don't see the connection?  Well, here it is simply.

Do something great in your personal life and you build a general confidence that you can do anything. I trained my tail off for that marathon.  I spent hundreds of hours training for the marathon with very few people watching.  Sadly, even fewer watched on race day (where was ESPN?).

The point is that I, along with thousands of others that day, set out to do something big.  And the large majority of us made it.

So?

On the days when I wonder whether I can do something new in life.  For example, start a successful blog, write a book, build an idea website or anything else.  I consciously or unconsciously go to the place in my mind that quietly remembers what it felt like the day I crossed the tape with my family cheering me on.  It's like an auto-reminder that prevents doubt from seeping into my active thinking.  

It manifests into a basic thought:

Yeah, I can do that.

So, if Thom's phrase above isn't an automatic for you.  If your brain isn't wired for as much confidence as you would like, go out and do something big in another part of your life.

Everyone needs a great challenge.  And the rewards of being in the game are huge . . . 

A logo, a design and now . . . a new tag-line

In a few recent posts, I shared with you the new logo (and suggested a process for working with a designer).  I also shared thoughts about the new blog design - one that was a long time coming but was well worth the wait.

Done, right?  Nope.

I already had a logo descriptor (a quest for new ideas) which helps people categorize what your idea (blog, product, etc) does or what category you play in.  

Now I have a added one last piece.  A tag-line.  

A tag-line is there to position your idea in the mind of your audience.  When you think about it, the name of this blog, Quixoting, does not have the same meaning for everyone.  

Some think "What?"  Some think "Oh, I get it. The guy who tilted at windmills."  Others say "Who is Don Quixote?".  So I've given myself a challenge - one I knew was there the moment I chose the name.

So, for this blog, defining its purpose is crucial.  No matter how obvious your positioning is, make sure you do everything you can to establish it.

The tag-line I chose is in the banner above and seeks to build a position and a personality.

Take Action.  Be Courageous.  Have Fun! 

These three phrases sum up my life story over last few years.  The first 18 months included a sense that the time was coming to act.  The last 6 months included a crucial decision to get started.

Take Action - I spent years writing down my ideas and promptly stuffing them into a bottom drawer. My lack of action on them left me feeling repressed and generally bummed out.  Why?  Because not acting on my ideas sent a quiet message to my soul that, well, the ideas must not be that good.  So finally I decided to act . . . and that has made all the difference.

Be Courageous - It's not easy to throw yourself out there.  You risk people criticizing your ideas.  The courage to get started includes the decision to sacrifice your personal time and the time of those around you.  It is a lot of work to start something brand new.

Have Fun! - It is amazing what happens once you get started.  Each effort adds on to the one before it. And as you move forward, little successes arrive and it feels great.  An energy starts to build up around what you are doing.  While it is certainly not wine and roses every day, there is a cumulative effect. You find a happy place and drop your bags.     

So there it is.  I am thankful for the chance to write and to think.  And I'm thankful that you are here to read it (and hopefully share your comments).

What's next?  Well, lots of ideas and creative wanderings to come!  Also, there is a website in the works here.  What could I possibly put there?

Well, I have a few ideas . . .