Big Magic, real life assassins, and a sharp-witted management consultant (weekly wrap #23)
Inspiration and wisdom on creativity, curiosity and design from Elizabeth Gilbert, Mariana van Zeller, and Russell Ackoff
Welcome to Under My Turban. Part cultural commentary, part personal deep-dive, part no-nonsense guide to leading, communicating and working like a real human. At least once a week I share reflections and stories with soul, and tools you can actually use both at work and at home.
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Something I’m reading
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was so inspired by the relatability in an early part of the book, about all the fears we have that get in the way of living a more creative life or simply expressing our creative selves more openly, that I made a thing about it and shared it on LinkedIn.
Here are some other bits and pieces I’ve really liked from the book so far.
“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life. Living in this manner—continually and stubbornly bringing forth the jewels that are hidden within you—is a fine art, in and of itself.”
“Recognizing that people's reactions don't belong to you is the only sane way to create. If people enjoy what you've created, terrific. If people ignore what you've created, too bad. If people misunderstand what you've created, don't sweat it. And what if people absolutely hate what you've created? What if people attack you with savage vitriol, and insult your intelligence, and malign your motives, and drag your good name through the mud? Just smile sweetly and suggest - as politely as you possibly can - that they go make their own fucking art. Then stubbornly continue making yours.”
“You're not required to save the world with your creativity. Your art not only doesn't have to be original, in other words, it also doesn't have to be important. For example, whenever anyone tells me that they want to write a book in order to help other people I always think 'Oh, please don't. Please don't try to help me.' I mean it's very kind of you to help people, but please don't make it your sole creative motive because we will feel the weight of your heavy intention, and it will put a strain upon our souls.”
That last one really made me chuckle at myself. ;-)
Something new (and dark but also illuminating) I discovered
The other night I stumbled upon a National Geographic investigative journalism documentary series called 'Trafficked’, specifically an episode called ‘Inside the Dark World of Assassins’ with Mariana van Zeller.
Perhaps just as fascinating as the episode itself was Mariana herself. This (the below video) is a fun watch, and it might inspire you also in some way. Let me know if it does.
Some sharp wit I’ve been enjoying
I was astonished to discover that I had not already known about Russel L. Ackoff.
Russell Lincoln Ackoff (February 12, 1919 – October 29, 2009) was an American organizational theorist, consultant, and Anheuser-Busch Professor Emeritus of Management Science at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Ackoff was a pioneer in the field of operations research, systems thinking and management science.
But the thing I’ve been enjoying about ol’ Russel is an incredibly sharp wit. It’s a bit of Peter Drucker meets Oscar Wilde. Here’s just one gem that I’ve been enjoying chewing on.
“A good deal of the corporate planning I have observed is like a ritual rain dance; it has no effect on the weather that follows, but those who engage in it think it does. Moreover, it seems to me that much of the advice and instruction related to corporate planning is directed at improving the dancing, not the weather.”
― Russell Ackoff
As someone that has been involved in teaching both dancing (in the metaphorical sense that Ackoff meant it) and trying to improve the weather, this is just gold. I’ve seen some of the smartest and most well-meaning people in large organisations (including some subscribers of mine!) get caught up in trying to perfect the dancing. And sometimes not even trying to perfect or improve it but just trying to make sense of some obscure, improvised choreography, completely forgetting that the original intention was to effect the weather.
I also think it’s true in life, generally.
We can get caught up in trying to improve how we’re living our life (whether it be materially, morally, intellectually, spiritually), that we forget that the point was actually to live life as fully as possible while we’ve got it.
Something I’ve been pondering
I think I might stop trying to become the best version of myself, and just try to be the most version of myself.
No, I didn’t forget a word in that sentence.
That’s it, that’s the wrap for this week.
Have a nice weekend.
Dev