from coffeeghost.net

Here are a few clips from the movie.

• Steve Martin on Materialism
• How to Propose

Because DreamingRight is not a big enough umbrella, I am starting a new blog, where eclectic bits of digital detritus will swim happily alongside poesy about chickens and photos of same.

Please help me name her.

Loading…

Here is the quick and dirty version.

First, prioritize relevant information about yourself – what skills you like to use, what fields of knowledge or experience do you like to explore, what kind of work environment do you thrive in, what kind of people do you like to work with, and where in the world you want to live.

Second, put it all on one piece of paper with a visual element and contemplate the big picture. Do not limit yourself. Imagine your dream job.

Third, if you don’t know what dream job this picture paints, then start showing it to (compassionate) friends and family or asking people what job they think would be a good one for you.

Fourth, once you’ve identified your dream job, interview people who have the job already. Find out how they got the job and how people they know got the job. Ask them to refer you to others. If it seems like the job is out of reach- 1)talk to more people, 2)identify which skills you lack and start building them, or 3)maybe this isn’t your dream job.

Fifth, visit, in person, the places that may have your dream job, whether they are hiring or not. Do research. Dress sharp. Practice asking and answering questions briefly. Prepare a handful of stories about times you were successful at using your signature skills. Ask anyone and everyone if they can put you in touch with someone who has the power to hire you. SEND THANK YOU CARDS. In interviews, talk half the time and listen the other half. Don’t talk for more than 2 minutes. Be prepared for “No’s.” Work the job-hunt like a job. Sleep well, eat well, drink lots of water.

Sixth, keep dreaming. Imagine yourself as a beekeeper, a machinist, a sociologist, a wine-taster.

Need a reason to get out of yourself?

Do it to be more creative.

A recent Scientific American article describes studies proving psychological distance increases creativity. I am always on the lookout for moments when science confirms the wisdom that artists have shared for generations, and this is one of those moments.

The age old wisdom about creativity:
Take a walk in another’s shoes. Travel. Distance yourself from a problem and solutions will appear. Take a walk away from your poem and the closing stanza writes itself. Change your perspective and become inspired.

The new science:
Psychological distance, which can  refer to a difference in space, time, and identity, as well as moments when we are imagining a solution to a problem that we don’t think we will ever have to face in reality, helps participants solve problems and generate more ideas.

So, if you are trying to solve a problem or create something, think about taking a step back, physically or mentally. Imagine how you would solve the problem if you were someone else. Try to compose the song in another musician’s style. Think of how a future version of yourself might create a solution.