What Box?^®

Living a What Box? life of constantly promoting and encouraging people to break-out-of-the-box can have its challenges. For one thing, people are constantly looking to me to develop great ideas, out-of-the-box ideas. If I ever slip up, which happens quite a lot, and slide into a negative attitude or get frustrated with someone or something, I am reminded of past words of wisdom: I say “do as I say, not as I do!”

In all actuality I am constantly looking for ways to stretch myself and break out of my own boxes. I appreciate the reminders and I’m glad that people are reading and embracing the wisdom of What Box?

“Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter Drucker

Breaking-out-of-the-box is about stretching your limits and facing those things that hold you back. Last week I utilized a What Box? Think-A-Torium Workshop in Tulsa to break out of one of my own boxes when I decided to incorporate the “Electronic PowerPoint” into my presentation. Because of my visual thinking and communication background I prefer to create large scale murals, modern day wall paintings, to represent and share my ideas. I like to call them “Real PowerPoints.”

The electronic PowerPoints we have come to know and see all the time I refer to as “Weak Points.” In all the years of presenting and promoting I have never used a PowerPoint or created a presentation using this technology. In my opinion they have been infective as a communication tool and so overused that no one is really paying much attention to them. The experiences I have had and my technophobe attitude have created a major box around the idea of incorporating the Electronic PowerPoint into my presentations.

I was at Mooney’s one glorious Grand Lake day working on the creation and flow of this What Box? Workshop when I started thinking about what boxes I needed to break out of as they relate to my presentations. I have used murals for over fifteen years to communicate and share what I am thinking and feeling. What could I do that would be really different? What boxes were holding me back?

That is when it hit me. I need to use multi-media to really take my Think-A-Toriums over the edge and whack people up-side the head in a meaningful way. So I contacted my technology friend, Brad Vernon, to explore the possibility of incorporating multi-media into my presentation and get his ideas on what I could do. His first thought was PowerPoints. Boy, I was not happy about that suggestion. I mean, PowerPoints really suck. I have sworn against the use of PowerPoints and that is how it is. Done, fini, nothing more to say.

After much internal processing I realized that I had broken one of the cardinal rules of What Box? thinking which is being open to new ideas, being open to change. WOW! Pretty powerful stuff. After pondering the realization that I had a closed mind, I was able to see using a PowerPoint presentation as a way for me to break-out-of-the-box in front of 150 people and reinforce my strong held beliefs. I started opening up and asked Brad to share with me some of his ideas on how to create a PowerPoint presentation. He shared a couple examples of some pretty unique PowerPoint presentations by Lawrence Lessig and I found myself beginning to embrace the idea of a What Box? PowerPoint Presentation.

We started working on the flow and layout and before you knew it we had something that was looking like it might work. We decided to speed up the pace that the traditional PowerPoint presentation typically uses and utilize more visuals than words. Since I was still not convinced that it would work I created a mural to integrate into the Think-A-Torium just to be safe.

Brad and I worked on this PowerPoint for a few days leading right up to the workshop. I was nervous, uncomfortable, and not totally happy about the situation in which I had put myself. The situation was what it was. I had forced myself into thinking in a new way about my presentation and had opened myself up to a new idea that was calling for change. I was about to give my first PowerPoint presentation and in front of a lot of people. I kept wondering what in the world I was thinking!

As I started the Think-A-Torium I let everyone know that in order to break-out-of-the-box one must always stretch him or her self and I confessed that I was using this workshop as a stretching exercise for myself. As I started the PowerPoint presentation I realized that it was not so bad and that people were responding. There was laughter, gasps, and applause. It worked! I had broken out of the PowerPoint box I had created for myself. I was energized and people in the workshop were energized too, saying, “I have never seen anything like that before.” They were motivated to break-out-of-their own boxes. Mission accomplished.

Now I am not saying that I will be using a PowerPoint presentation all the time. What I am saying is that to break-out-of-the-box we need to be open to change, to be willing to look at the boxes that we create for ourselves, and then be willing to face them head on. Once we face them we need to take action to move out-of-the box which means doing what we have not wanted to do in the past. No small task that is for sure. Breaking-out-of-the-box takes practice, patience, constant attention, and a deep desire to be the best you can be. You can do it!

“The way to learn to do things is to do things. The way to learn a trade is to work at it. Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed and the work is half done already.” Mark Twain

What box are you looking to break out of in your life?

Only you can do it.

Let me know what you think.

Keep on keeping on

Until next week, remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.

Let’s face it. Getting ourselves out-of-the-box is not easy work.

Our patterns of judgment, fear, not being good enough, and control are only a few of the pieces that make up the box we create around ourselves. These thinking patterns have a powerful way of taking over our creative/intuitive processes, limiting our ability to reach for our full potential. Everyday is an opportunity to use your creativity, imagination, teamwork, positivity, logic, and passion which, when engaged, will enable you to increase your ability to live a life with more purpose and meaning.

Every time I see and old freight train car it reminds me of the boxes I have created for myself. The box car is a dark and dingy place where cobwebs of the past line the interior. It’s a symbolic reminder to never give up, to face my limitations, and to remain patient with myself as I go through life’s journey.

Whenever I want to remind myself to relax and think differently, I like to say to myself, or out loud, “What Box?” It is a reminder to remain open, to look at all sides of whatever issue I am faced with, and to remember there are not boxes to be thinking outside of, there are only the boxes that I create myself. What Box?

My creativity toolbox has an ever-growing number of tools to choose from which support me in living my life with a What Box? attitude. I have put together a few of these creativity tools and want to share them with you. These are not new tools. They have been around for centuries. We just need to practice them on a regular basis. Here you go:

Anything is Possible: I have had experiences in my life that just when I have thought something was impossible or that it was never going to happen, that it happened. And at that moment I have thought “How? What?” I never would have believed it was possible. If this has ever happened to you, this is when you want remind yourself “anything is possible” and think or say out loud “What Box?” Living a life where anything is possible takes continued patience and practice. You can do it!

Open to Change: It has been said that nothing is sure but taxes and change. Our ability to embrace change can make a major difference in how we evolve our careers, families, personal lives and community. Change is also a sneak peak into the future, and those who can stay calm and centered during such times will see through the chaos and new opportunities will become visible. Sometimes everything is changing around us except the way we are thinking.

Making it Happen: Whenever I find myself in a situation where a new idea is presented, a challenge is shared, or a dream is being expressed, I always tend to look at “how can we make this happen” no matter how outrageous the idea may be. The process of exploring the impossible as possible allows new What Box? ideas to rise to the surface. The challenge is to let the ideas flow and not block them with limited boxed thinking. Focus on making it possible and see what happens in your life.

Suspend Judgment: Humans love to judge each other; our ideas, the art we create, and just about everything in the world. When we judge we automatically are creating a box. In many cases our judgment is not based upon facts, but by emotions, fears, and control. The ability to suspend judgment for even a few seconds opens the door to new thinking and improves the potential of making anything possible.

Create a Team: As time has passed and the barnacles of life grow thicker, I have learned that almost everything I do needs a team effort to make it a reality. Whatever I am working on or creating, I always have team support. We can’t do it all ourselves. One of the most powerful ways to accelerate the realization of a dream, an idea, or a business endeavor is to create a team. Motivating and enrolling people into a shared vision is the best method to create a team. Use your passion and relationship skills to grow your team today.

Visual Thinking: I write down almost everything I am going to do, want to do, or dream of doing. I literally have hundreds of sketchbooks with drawings of to dos, strategies, ideas, solutions, and the story outlines for each What Box? article. I use my imagination and daydreaming to expand the ideas I have written down, and then I go back and write down all that I have imagined. The ability to visualize on a physical and emotional level is quite possibly my single greatest creativity tool. Visualizing my ideas and that of others has opened the door to living a life with unlimited potential. Go pick up a sketch book at the Brush and Palette in Grove and start drawing out the best inside of you.

Let Go of Your Fears: We’ve all got them. They start when we are very young and grow stronger or weaker over time. For many the fear of failure is one that paralyzes a person, preventing him/her from attempting to move forward with an idea or vision. In my life the fear of failure has held me back more than once. Facing and letting go of a single fear will support you in letting go of other fears you may have in your life.

Never Ever Give Up: No matter what happens in your life it is important to keep on keeping on. There are so many examples in history where people had given up on an endeavor just before they were about to make it happen. They gave up and upon reflection realized that if only they had gone a little farther they would have achieved their goal. Being able to never give up on being who you are and reaching for your full potential will support you in achieving the goals you set for yourself and others.

You have to look inward to influence the external. In the end only you can make the difference.

Hey, anything is possible.

Let me know what you think.

Until next week, remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.

Okay, do me a favor right now. No matter where you are.

Close your eyes and breathe in. Take the time to hold the air in your lungs and then breathe out, letting go of any negative thoughts or feelings. Let the air out all the way until you have no more air in your lungs. Now breathe in again, this time focusing on positive energy and love. Continue breathing in, focusing your mind on the positive, and breathing out, focusing your mind on the negative, for at least ten times with your eyes closed.

Now, how do you feel after your focused breathing exercise?

In all likelihood you are more relaxed, your muscles are less tense, your heart is beating slower, your mind is calmed and you are more energized. Focused breathing is an important creativity tool that will enable you to gain greater focus and clarity in your life.

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” Carl Jung

Living, working, and playing have a way of taking over our lives. I know that when I most need to take the time to breathe I don’t. That is because I am so caught up in what I am doing, what I’m about to do, and in most cases what I need to be doing next, that I start going faster and faster. This is exactly when I need to remember to focus on my breathing and take the steps to increase my energy.

Here is the thing. When I am able to catch myself in the “doing mode” I am able to focus on my breathing. I close my eyes and breathe in and breathe out and, just like magic, I am calmer, more efficient, and more effective. This new found clarity allows me to take in what is happening and create better results in the here and now, and as a result, I am in a better mood and work more effectively with the people around me.

“I have everything I need to enjoy my here and now–unless I am letting my consciousness be dominated by demands and expectations based on the dead past or the imagined future.” Ken Keyes, Jr.

Being aware of your breathing is not a new idea. Throughout history wise sages, shamans, and spiritual leaders have understood the power of focused breathing. They knew that one could live longer, be calmer, increase energy, and create greater meaning in your life just by taking the time to learn how to focus ones breathing. Today, we hyper humans don’t even think about the impact that our breathing has on our lives. We continue to try to do more, create more, and collect more, all the while not realizing that our breathing can impact the results of these efforts, and in many cases, for the better.

How often do you think about your breathing?

Breathing is one of the most powerful ways we have to change the way we are thinking or feeling about something. It can actually change the chemistry of our brain, causing it to slow down and affect the way we behave, react, and respond to any given situation. Learning to breathe more effectively will increase your energy levels. The more energy you have the more power you have. When your energy is increased and focused, you are more likely to achieve your goals in life. Your breath is connected to the life force of the universe. When you learn to focus on your breathing you become more aware of this life force, which results in increased energy and power.

Next time you find yourself stressed out about a job you are working on, or running so fast you do not know which way to go, take the time to breathe in the positive and breathe out the negative. Like most of what is written in What Box? it takes practice and patience to learn how to breathe. It is worth the effort and the rewards of greater energy and increased power will be yours.

Let me know what you think.

Dear Sean,

I read your article last week on The Creativity Challenge. I am definitely creatively challenged. Coming up with new and creative ideas and solutions to problems or situations seems to evade me. Where do I begin?

Creatively Challenged in Coweta

Dear Creatively Challenged

As has been written in this What Box? taking the time to breathe is one of your greatest creativity tools. Take the time to relax your body and your mind through breathing. When you do you will find that new and inspirational ideas naturally come to you. Write down the first ideas that come to you while in your relaxed state. Evaluate these ideas and focus on the ones that have the greatest potential for positive results. Always follow your instincts. Inside of you is an unlimited potential for creativity. You can do it!
Keep on keeping on,

Sean

Remember that the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.