The Happy Burro

originally published January 23, 2007

As part of my 2007 goals, I signed up for a beginner’s art class at a local art academy.  I don’t see myself especially gifted as an artist, so I figured this would be a great way to find out how right I am.

Guess what?  There is a process to drawing!  It isn’t just trance-like inspiration.  The master artists, Cezanne, Picasso, Calder; they all started with drawing.  It is the beginning, the genesis of all great paintings and sculpture.  I learned more in that two hours than in the past two decades about lines, angles, apathy (danger!), and perfection.

1.  Relax

2.  Concentrate

3.  Draw lightly

4.  Big shapes first

5.  Compare back & forth

6.  Turn it upside down

7.  Find mistakes

8.  Put arrows down (next to mistakes)

9.  Turn it right side up

10. Correct mistakes

11. Erase arrows

12. Check positive & negative shapes

13.  Correct mistakes

14. Stop & rest

15. Check it again

16. Correct mistakes

17. Raise your hand & ask for help

18. Ghost your line

19.  Add details

20.  Ask for help one last time

Perfection, as defined in art, is ‘done right’.  Perfection in business tends to go down the road of ‘analysis paralysis’ or delays to a product launch while everyone worries about getting everything “perfect”.  This isn’t what we’re focused on.

As our instructor mentioned, “Everything you draw or paint, it should be able to be displayed.  Work on it until you’ve perfected it.  Apathy is your enemy.  There are a lot of crummy painters out there.  You don’t have to be one of them.”

There is a fine line between being ‘perfect’ and ‘doing it right’  – and  I am 20 steps closer to that line.

Joe Raasch :: Jul.12.2010 :: Innovation, Life, Personal :: No Comments »

(originally published July 6, 2008)

How significant are you at work?

In his monthly Fortune magazine column titled, While You Were Out, the ubiquitous Stanley Bing writes about his addiction to the digital world while on a vacation. It all started with a phantom buzz of the BlackBerry in his coat pocket. He wasn’t wearing a coat. Why the urge to check in?

Stay Connected

The place cannot run without me. I have such an important job/project/title/image that when I’m out, nothing moves forward. Is that your job? What about the ‘hit by a bus’ theory, where if you were hit by a bus, what would actually happen at work? With few exceptions, most businesses would survive the loss of the newest employee, the CFO or CEO, even the entrepreneurial founder. So why do you have to keep thumbs to the BlackBerry or a Bluetooth glued to your ear while your family hits the beach without you?

Let It All Go

What if I took off a week, or two, and no one really noticed? Meetings are held, decisions made and key projects moved forward. Uh oh. Is my work that insignificant to the organization’s goals? Am I that insignificant at work?

Balance the Flow

Certain positions require you to provide input, even when you’re supposed to be away. Find the top three issues/challenges/project decisions that could arise while you’re planning to be away, figure out reasonable scenarios with your minion to determine a course of action, assign responsibility and vacate. Then, should these plagues rear their ugly heads, your organization/team/support staff have a pre-determined course of action from which to work on a solution.

____________

In the end, if you’re able to stabilize your work, delegate the decision-making process and disappear for a few days, you’ve succeeded where many have failed. Being able to disconnect isn’t easy. You are the first one that has to let go.

Find some time to spend away from work, completely away, and reconnect with family, friends, your dog. Then bring back your renewed self to your organization.  That is significant.

Joe Raasch :: Mar.06.2010 :: Employee Engagement, Innovation, Personal :: No Comments »

May you find peace and joy in 2010!

Joe Raasch :: Jan.01.2010 :: Life, Personal :: No Comments »