Clarity
Funny really as this is the main reason I haven’t managed to finish a post for a while – lack of clarity.
I’m still working to clear my workspace of all the books, props and other crap that I don’t need to achieve my end goals. I want to create a clear space between me and my desired results so:
1. I’m not distracted and
2. I can filter through the white noise that can cause me a mental blockage.
It’s an ongoing project and one that has taken me far longer than I ever anticipated. My aim is to strip back to the essentials and rely on the knowledge and understanding that I already have as opposed to seeking comfort in other peoples thoughts and ideas. It’s a leap of faith, I know I don’t know everything but I have to be confident that I know enough. Of course I am still influenced by others but I want to obtain some kind of ownership of my own perspective which in the past has been prone to be ever changing. So how am I going about this? Well primarily I am following a method of restriction. I’m restricting the number of “live” projects that I’m working on. This by default limits the number of reference/magic books and props that I need and everything else is being boxed and stored. Hopefully this will mean I can lift some of the fog that has been clouding my thinking of late. I’m also setting an arbitrary 40 books rule that states I can only ever have 40 books in my office at any one time, if I get a new book I have to eliminate one of the old ones. Let’s face it 40 is probably too many, you can only read 2-3 books simultaneously in my opinion. I know that we all love to have those materials ‘to hand” and that the more books on display the smarter we look and feel, but they are contributing to a lack of progress, they are the visible equivalent of white noise. Eugene Burger writes about the Tyranny of the New in his “Experience of Magic”, it’s also referred to by some as “Shiney Object Syndrome”, if you have young children you see it every day. The thing is that kids have a sponge like capacity for taking in the new where as the majority of adults are a little like blocked toilets in the knowledge department. (Not pretty I know).
In “Making Ideas Happen” Scott Belskey talks about the Project Plateau, the stage in a project when enthusiasm has faded and hard work is required. This is the point says Belskey when we look around for a new distraction to revive our flagging levels of productivity. The result is a series of unfinished projects or half baked ideas. Seh Godin has written a book on that phase, it’s called “The Dip” and it’s well worth your attention.
So what am I working on? Well some of you may know that I have started a new site, The Magic State of Mind, which is aimed at helping magicians be more creative and productive. (Don’t worry the irony isn’t lost on me). In order to help me however I have involved others. I have asked a number of working professionals for interviews and by them making the commitment I am forced to deliver, I have a responsibility to them. I also enjoy the process of talking to other performers and everyone I’ve spoken to so far has taught me something. I enjoy the editing process as well, I’m not particularly good at it but again I’m learning. The project has a bigger meaning for me than just being a website. It’s building towards something that I want to achieve as an individual so there are a number of intrinsic motivators as well.
I ‘m working on 2 routines for events that are already confirmed, again a built in commitment.
I’m revising and preparing a keynote speech that I have to deliver in October to 500 people – a real deadline.
So here’s a challenge for you:
- Pick 2 or 3 effects / projects that you have been thinking of working on or are already involved with and make them your focus.
- Source the reference material you need and eliminate or store the unnecessary books, dvd’s etc.
- If you can scan or copy the stuff you do need then do that, get rid of the surplus, keep everything to a minimum.
- Set real deadlines. A specific event, or make a commitment to someone else. Give yourself a reason.
Now you’re clear to concentrate on the project and the actions that are needed to move you from where you are to where you want to be.
