I have always prided myself on my level of patience in anything I do. I personally do not mind waiting for another person, be it at work or at home. But in comparison the thought that I am late for another person or someone is waiting for me just fills me with all kinds of negative feelings of guilt, concern and almost panic. I detest being late! It makes me feel physically ill!
But recently I have found my need for immediate responses on things has begun to border on the excessive. I started to wonder why after sending an email my inbox fails to immediately pop up with a response. The time I face during the sending and receiving has become quite a stressful time. But why is this?
I still remember writing letters to pen pals where days would turn to weeks and then the letter would arrive, as it should. But now in a world of immediate responses to every action we make is beginning to border on excessive compulsive disorder. We send a tweet and ten people re-tweet and a few ask you a question or comment on what you tweeted. We post an update on Facebook and immediately, although everyone is supposedly at work, it’s liked, disliked or commented on from all corners of the globe. God forbid a Google plus update takes more than a few seconds to be +1’d or shared again!
Instant communication the world has brought to our fingertips is a joy to behold. Where news stories are discussed amongst real people before the headlines hit CNN or the BBC, I personally think this is a positive thing. It’s away from corporate judgment and political sway so that real people can discuss the facts of a case first, before they are told how they should think.
Social media has created a window of honesty in the world and needs to be protected, but we, and I say that hoping I am not alone, need to hold on to the values of patience and let things take their natural course. Not everything should be immediate and we have all responded a little too quickly sometimes and wished we had paused for that one moment more.
So try and take your time on what you are doing today, after you LIKE and comment on this post this second that is! 
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Tags: Facebook, google, technology, time, Twitter
Of course you can’t replace Steve Jobs, But you could still exude his passion.
Anyone that knows me will tell you i am a major Apple fan. I have never owned a PC, thought of it just makes me shudder! I think Android is a wonderful product but have never even asked the price or about the details because I won’t be buying one, so why bother? My first experience with Apple was many, many years ago in computer studies as a kid. We were shown these four machines. There is one I don’t even remember the name, then there was the BBC and commodore (don’t remember the number) but, and I have no idea why because we had not even touched the computers, I was drawn to a little icon on the front of the computer on the far side, A striped Apple with a piece missing.
My love affair with Apple has continued throughout my adult life. The iphone, ipod, ipad and all the macs have at some point been in my possession. It’s not just the products for that i love, it’s what the brand has stood for, excellence in every aspect of a product and especially the design. Steve Jobs for me has always been an icon or role model. Steve’s passion is legendary and watching the recent keynote speech that Apple had, the one thing that was missing, apart from Steve obviously, was real passion.
I have the upmost respect for the new CEO Tim Cook who I feel has the unenviable task of following one of the greatest icons of our time. Tim clearly understands the brand, he has lived it for many years. The man has every qualification you could want to lead Apple forward. I actually really wanted the keynote to be a smash hit. But when he stood on stage there was one thing missing that just failed to excite the audience, especially me.
Without emotion, a presentation is just a long list of information. With emotion, a presentation engages an audience to believe anything. When Steve Jobs used to take to the stage the excitement he generated was incredible. I don’t believe that anyone expected the same from Tim as we have seen from Steve, that is just not realistic as Tim is his own man and needs to ensure the world knows that the Apple brand can still deliver greatness without Steve looking at every detail.
The product didn’t really help as people were expecting more. Personally I think the iphone4S is a great update to a wonderful product that still is outselling competition by a mile. But come on Tim, give us the emotion that we know you have, that we all have for this brand, these products. That’s all we ask.
Like this:
3 bloggers like this post.
Tags: Apple, brands, creative writing, illustration, inspiration, iphone, keynote, keynote speaker, motivation, photography, steve jobs, technology
This was the question my son asked me last night when we were out in the car. It was just him and myself as he had bumped his head an we went to the clinic to check he was okay. He was so as we headed home he started flicking through the songs on the radio to see what he could find. I usually let him or his sister do this because a) It’s nice to see the kind of music they each like and b) it keeps them from breaking anything else in my car!
He had been flicking through a few times and started going quicker through the stations when I had to stop him. There is nothing worse than hearing a single second of a song before being hit with another, and another, and another. I asked what was wrong and he looked really deep in concentration and after a few seconds he finally said, “Do you have that song ‘Hot Dagger?” Now I am no music expert by I do have a very wide taste in music and can recall most songs but this was one that I couldn’t get. So I asked him when he had heard it before.
He began telling me he had heard it on the school bus, which told me it could only be one of four Dubai radio stations and they all, except one play up to date music. But I really couldn’t grasp what it was. Then suddenly, like many times in my work I had a flash of a song that sounded like the one he meant. So I gave him my phone and told him to skip down through my ipod and select a certain song. His face lit up when it cme on and it really made me laugh. The song he wanted was not ‘HOT DAGGER’ but rather, Maroon Five and Christina Aguilera’s latest hit, “MOVES LIKE JAGGER!”
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Tags: Advertising, Art, boy, Christina Aguilera, creativity, digital art, family, Graphic Design, illustration, inspiration, life, Maroon Five, motivation, music, packaging, photography, Poster, Typography
Social media has the power to do many things. It helps to inform people about natural disasters, helps companies communicate directly with consumers, Helps people discuss, learn, educate and hear the latest news about topics they are passionate about. Social Media also helps people of all ages come together in ways we, probably, have never seen in the history of our race. It’s an exciting step, but with it comes a word caution.
With everything in our world that is good there has to be the balance of bad that we need to understand before making judgments about whether something should be stopped or celebrated. It happened with comic books in the early part of their history, claiming to be creating a culture of negativity and violence. This is something we have also seen with movies, games and anything new, because new things make people nervous. Not everyone is able to embrace change so easily.
But we need to look at what we have and what social media has given people in all corners of our world. For some it is the only place to be themselves or even interact with people without judgment, prejudice or dependant on the physical attributes of who they are. In a world where the media has distorted our own image of what beauty really is, social media puts substance over appearance at the head of the class. In a world full of eating disorders, plastic surgery and self hate about how we look, Social Media is helping give people confidence in the person inside rather than an exterior image that is currently portrayed on the covers of magazines, and that, is a beautiful thing!
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Tags: architecture, Art, beauty, creative writing, Graphic Design, illustration, inspiration, interior design, legends, magazines, media, motivation, music, packaging, Painting, photography, social media, Typography
Social media has been taking a real battering all over the world during the past year. From Iran, Egypt, Bahrain and even places like London questioning whether social media should be allowed to maintains it’s place in our lives has shocked many people to their core. When Iran closed Twitter and facebook there was uproar around the world as it showed a so called oppressive state in action. Equally, when Hosni Mubarak did the same in Egypt, every corner of the globe condemned the dictatorship and rallied with the protestors. So was London any different?
Well London was fueled by people who just wanted to cause trouble and steal. This had nothing to do with a person being shot, it had nothing to do with anything other than mindless fools trying to make the most out of a difficult situation. But surely the answer is not to turn off the power, especially in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and respect for all. Surely Social Media, although a place where people can arrange things, is also a place where authorities can monitor the trouble makers and make arrests where necessary? So rather than being a problem for the police, it actually, if they use it right, will be an added area of security.
To shut down social media anywhere will take away from people who have truly found a voice in a world where they have felt alienated, lonely and separated from a chance to connect with people on a daily basis. It is no exaggeration to say that for some people the social media ecosystem is the only place that they really feel happy, comfortable and part of a community. And surely, isn’t that something we should all fight for?
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Tags: Advertising, animals, brands, design, Egypt, Facebook, friends, Graphic Design, illustration, inspiration, Iran, London, motivation, movies, packaging, photography, posters, riots, social media, star wars, Twitter
Sometimes when you fail it can take away every ounce of your confidence. Literally drain you of all the positive energy that drives you forward in life. But if we look at people in the world who have achieved any amount of success we often rarely realize the success they obtained came out of many, many failures. I personally have failed many times at so many things in my career and even if life. But out of every single failure I learnt more about myself than any other experience could have taught me.
I have tried many business ventures in the past, some were bigger failures than others but each time I failed I never once looked at it as the end of the dream. I just picked myself up, dusted myself off and tried to look at all the reasons this happened. One could easily shy away from trying anything in the future but you can never give up on the dream you have, or else you are pretty much giving up on the person you are.
Thomas Edison failed over a thousand times before creating the right chemical mix for the filament of the lightbulb. He claimed he never failed but rather found 2000 ways how NOT to make a lightbulb. Steve jobs, Richard Branson and even the powerhouse business man that is Donald Trump have all stared failure in the face before starting again with renewed vigor. Believe that you can achieve your dreams through every pitfall and barrier you face, because the truth is although you may fail many, many times; you will only need to be successful once in order to reach your dreams. And
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
Tags: Advertising, Art, creative writing, design, Donald Trump, dreams, failure, illustration, inspiration, motivation, national geographic, Painting, photography, portraits, product design, Richard Branson, steve jobs, success, Typography
In life we often talk about good listeners. People who are always attentive and are the ear for you to bend when things are not going well. But listening is only half of the story as it takes a certain type of person to go from listening, to hearing. We all listen to what is happening around us yet very few people really, truly hear what is being said to us. I know that I have to make a concerted effort to stop myself thinking about what I am going to say or trying to solve the problem I heard in the first few words in order to hear, digest and truly understand what is being said.
This is one of the problems that companies are facing today when it comes to social media. Some are just opening a Facebook page and putting up their corporate mission, thinking that this is all they need to do when it comes to social media. Social media is about listening rather than communicating your messages. Listening and really hearing the conversations that are taking place in the world where your company, brand or product is being discussed. Ignore this, and face a backlash from a new generation of consumers who want to be heard.
There are few things that we can do in this world that are greater than to hear another’s tale or side of a story. We have to remember that not everyone wants you to solve their problems, not everyone is looking for an answer and most importantly people in the world are just looking for someone that will hear their voice in a world where individuals are often boxed away in some category or demographic. So today I will make the effort to try and hear the people I listen to, because we all deserve to be heard.
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Tags: Advertising, Art, brands, company, Creative, creative writing, design, digital illustration, Graphic Design, illustration, inspiration, life, listening, love, motivation, motorbikes, natalie portman, nature, Painting, people, photography, portraits, product design, social media, super heroes, tattoos
I used to watch the news religiously. To the point were as soon as I arrived home the news would be on to the groans of my kids and also my wife. I used to tell them that it is important to understand what is going on in the world. I used to sit and watch the same stories gradually increasing in information as the continual loop of things from around the world would cycle through each hour. CNN, BBC, Sky news and all the others have turned news into an art form where every incident, no matter the size nor gravity, create a show that even Steven Speilburg would be challenged to match. But then one day I just sat there thinking to myself, “When was the last time I watched the news and felt good about something?”
Apart from things like miners in Mexico being rescued and the, very, occasional return of a missing person the news has been nothing but bad. So what I do now is have a quick glance through the paper to see the main stories and that is all. The difference mentally is quite incredible really. I spend my time looking for things that will inspire me or entertain me. I cannot help thinking that there are some people in the high positions of the news companies rubbing their hands at the current buffet of bad news coming from Japan and the Middle east. I do not feel the news is being brought to inform anymore, it has been turned in to a media controlling platform that is all about making money.
Maybe I am just naive in thinking that the world would be otherwise, but if we all just sink into being fed this over sensationalized drama then we will never really make this a better world. In my humble opinion the world, and especially our children, deserve better from us to help inspire and create a world where they still believe they can achieve anything they put their minds to. I no longer subject my children to the news although I try not to let the news be substituted to cartoons either! But a healthy balance that will help them have the best chance in the future. That, for me, is a news story I could live with happily. Have a creative day.
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Tags: Advertising, bbc, brochures, change, cnn, creative writing, Graphic Design, hope, illustration, inspiration, James dean, Jerry Lewis, news, packaging, photography, quote, quotes, scarlett johanson, Skateboard, Sky news, tweet, Twitter, Typography
How fast is the world going to spin before we take stock of the important things in life? I am a huge passionate fan of technology, a real geek when it comes to new products and gadgets. From the very first day on social media I realized that it was something interesting, something different and something powerful.
Obviously current history is proof of one side of this power. From the Middle East revolutions to the outpouring of sympathy and support for both New Zealand and Japan has delivered a timely reminder of the good things we are capable of in this world.
No matter how fast our lives move in this day and age nothing is more awe inspiring, more endearing and powerful than seeing people reach out across the world and show they care. In a world that can sometimes appear cold and greedy, social media is becoming a platform that can, if you filter through it, really does bring wonderful people rising to the surface.
I find it incredible that of the nearly six thousand people I follow on Twitter there are around two hundred people that are just incredible people. So giving, so warm and they are so generous that it makes all the selling, shouting and ego’s that can appear simply fade away.
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of the other people are wonderful as well, but there are some serious stars that just sparkle in our world and I feel proud to have met them. During the current disasters their generosity and care seems to know no bounds.
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
Tags: Advertising, animals, care, creative writing, followers, Graphic Design, illustration, inspiration, life, motivation, photography, rays, social media, Twitter, Typography, underwater
We have all witnessed the terrible destruction that has wreaked havoc on the beautiful island of Japan, first with a 8.9 magnitude earthquake and then the awful and powerful Tsunami that followed. The sheer power of mother nature tearing the island apart before an unstoppable wave washed across the country was terrifying to witness. All of our prayers today are for the people who are in Japan, or have loved ones in this area. But after the horrifying wave of the Tsunami struck, another wave began almost Instantaneously, online.
The social media channels leaped into action. From Facebook to Twitter, and so many more, people began sending messages, pictures and even videos from Japan asking for help and support. This is not CNN or BBC, but the people of the world broadcasting the real horrors of a tragedy, that is still unfolding as we speak.
Donation requests, calls for information about certain people, reports on surrounding areas as well as the information about Japan has been incredible. I have chosen this image today (Which came via Tumblr) to use in dedication of the people of the world in how they are an inspiration for the love they are showing right now for the people of Japan.
It’s why I love social media, not for the politics, not the business side but because it shows that when the world is rocked to it’s core, the people of the world can in one voice stand together and create a wave of love that will support Japan in it’s time of need. Today I am proud to be human and for those lost today, may god have mercy on their souls.
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
Tags: bbc, cnn, design, earthquake, Facebook, Graphic Design, help, horror, inspiration, island, japan, mother nature, motivation, Poster, prayer, social media, support, tragedy, Tsunami, tumblr, Twitter
