One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
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Friends near and far, a little help?
I am offering the new Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, improv training for Chicago city employees of all levels - free of charge.
Follow me on Twitter @jay_olson and please also Tweet Mayor @rahmemanuel telling him what a great idea it is to empower Chicago with new ideas about teamwork, creativity and flexibilty.
What if he says yes? And then other cities follow his lead? And states?
I believe in the power of our homegrown artform, improvisation. I believe in Chicago. I want the whole world to be better for my sweet baby boy.
NEW MAYOR. NEW CHALLENGES. NEW ERA.
Thanks,
- Jay
Two Quote Tuesday / What do John Keats & Muhammad Ali have in commom?
“Though a quarrel in the streets is a thing to be hated, the energies displayed in it are fine; the commonest man shows a grace in his quarrel.”
- John Keats
“There are no pleasures in a fight but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.”
- Muhammad Ali
Hustle on without it…
I’ve been obsessed, as of late, with efficient packing. I even follow a blog or two dedicated to the subject here on Tumblr. Embarrassingly, I caught myself window shopping for an ultra-light, waterproof rucksack with a several hundred dollar price tag attached. What’s wrong with me?! Oh, yeah, here’s what: A lot of my travel is with my wife and son. Flying with a 13 month-old requires many accoutrements; bag of toys, travel crib, car seat, etc. Many airlines are now charging around $25 just to check your suitcase. Most airlines also charge $75-$100 if your bag is over 50 pounds. To keep costs down and save wear and tear on my (rapidly aging) back - I have to do a lot of editing as I pack. But that’s only for the outbound flight. I have to plan for the return flight, too, because once we get to grandma’s every cubic centimeter of empty suitcase space will be filled with new toys, books, and clothes. Grandmas love grandbabies. Outlet malls love grandmas.
I take great pride in the fact that solo business trips now require only a backpack and noise-cancelling headphones. Light, fast, and free.
It was difficult for me to learn that to move on to a new place in my life, I had to leave crap behind. Especially if I wanted to pick up souvenirs! For me to get to here from there required me to unpack my old self-image, prejudices, and long-held (and often just plain wrong) beliefs. Not everything stays behind. But it all gets taken out and examined. What will I really need? What will I hustle more easily without? Wherever you are headed, you’re going to need some room for all your awesome new experiences and ideas! So take only what you need. If you had to make an emotional bug out kit to start all over, unknown, in a new and exciting place – what would you bring? More importantly, what will you leave behind?
- Jay
“To overcome difficulties is to experience the full delight of existence.”
“I really thought you would be hard to forget
Till they filled up my heart with microscopic jets
They say I can make love three thousand times a day
So sister you better get out of my way”
- Bobby Bare, Jr. The Heart Bionic
In a business world that’s more uncertain than ever it pays to be able to think on your feet…accepting any idea that’s brought to the table and then taking that idea further.
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| — | CNN.com, On Improvisation for Business. |
Two Quote Tuesday / What do Teddy Roosevelt and Chuck D have in common?
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles…The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…”
“All the critics, you can hang ‘em. I’ll hold the rope. But they hope to the Pope and pray it ain’t dope…”
