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Oliver the Writer…Motivational Action

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A few days ago I reading a post about how motivation and basically everything related to motivation has been an addiction of sorts. Looking at the landscape of media especially places like Facebook and Twitter, it is easy to find anything motivational and positive. It’s apparent that there is a market for this. And just like most things it over saturated and in my humblest opinion it does get overly routine and non remarkable.

I’m totally guilty of this too. If you are a friend of mine on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you know everyday that I do a “Good Morning World” message. And all my good morning world messages are a positive, thoughtful, and motivational quote or idea to help start your day on a good note. So as you can see, I do add the influx of motivational things you see everyday.

However, I would like to say, that there is absolutely nothing wrong with spreading positive motivational things to friends and family. My point is that, you can’t just receive it, read it, and then share it, just like that. I think that too many people just take it face value and do nothing more than collect and share.

I think and know that the best thing to do with the motivational energy that you get from these is to take action with them. Actually get out of your seat, stop browsing Facebook and Twitter, and take some steps to getting something done. It is a better use of your time to do something for yourself to help you get one step closer to a career goal, scratch out another item on your bucket-list, and or make time to build and nurture great relationships.

I totally understand that it is easy to get caught in reading motivational blog after motivational blog but just doing that will not alone make you a better person. I have been there and I have done that. What have learned from there is that hoarding the information and sharing it doesn’t get you anything if you don’t do anything with it. It is better to share AND help others with it. What this gets you is twofold; first you ensure that you understand what you are reading and learning and second and most important of all; you are helping another person and or community gain a set of tools to build the world that they want to create and live in. It’s been said time and time again but remember this; whatever it is that you do, love it, share it, and do it not for yourself but for your community. It is NOT about YOU! It is about the COMMUNITY that nurtures and fosters you.

So enjoy the motivational quotes and ideas that you see everyday, but do yourself a favor and the people around you and take ACTION with it. Help make and create a community that will nurture and foster more positive and motivational karma.

Oliver the Ideamaker…Originality

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Originality? What is it? How do you find it? And how do you define it?

These are some of the questions I have been pondering lately. Over the last few weeks, I have heard discussions about people copying materials and ideas, copying what others have been doing and then passing it as theirs; without an mention of where it came from or influenced from.

So the pondering question has been, how do you find and make original material?

The quick answer is do it yourself and make it from scratch. Don’t look towards others for influence and also don’t pay attention to what others are doing. But if you think about it; that is easier said than done. In this day and age it is so easy to see what others do and the ease of acquiring knowledge it makes it almost impossible to avoid any influence. And chances are you have already been influenced in one form or another.

For example, this blog that you are reading isn’t the most original of ideas. There are thousands of blogs out there and there are countless personal ones that talk about normal daily life like the ones I have written here so far. And this topic alone, I’m sure has been discussed and posted previously by others.

So then how do you create original material.

One idea is to “steal” it from many artist. Last week on Chase Jarvis LIVE guest Austin Kleon, author of Steal Like an Artist, discussed the idea of; Stealing like an Artist. The idea at first seems far fetched.  What?! Steal?! The idea doesn’t really mean to just steal without reason. Taking from one artist is stealing but taking from many artist is research! The reason for this is easy to see and understand. It means that sometimes you need that extra push and understanding to get you to the next step. Learn a skill that you didn’t know before. Borrow. Learn. Create.

Another however more extreme idea is to go on a trek of self discovery. Disconnect…find yourself…leave what is familiar to you, and let the unknown and journey help you to find the next idea. And then pray that the idea is original.

But here comes the problem; you can’t completely disconnect from the situation because you have already been influenced by other things that you carry with you always even if you disconnect from the world. From when you are born you have already been influenced.

See the problem? So how do you make original content? Yes that’s a repeat.

Here’s my idea. You make original content by ALWAYS KEEPING A NOTEBOOK WITH YOU. Have a stream of conscience and document. No matter how small or far fetch the idea. Just write down, let it stew, and then when you know the timing and feeling is right. Do something with it. Simple right. Well I’m imagining that this is not so,etching that happens overnight or over a couple of days. This kind of thing will take place over weeks, months, and even years. You need the different influences to be your guiding principles and let that guide and lead you to the next step. It seriously is about the journey not your destination that is important. Yes that has been beat to the bones over time but it is true!