Creative Communications

So, I’m going to follow my own advice, and focus the purpose of this blog into experience oriented creativity.

The creativity brand is good enough for Apple and Amsterdam, so I don’t have any problems in jumping onto that particular bandwagon. I’m not going to tout the latest macbooks, unless I’m given one, I’m not going to promote cheap hotels in the Netherlands, but the Abba Hotel gave me a large closet to sleep in for 25 euros.

Creativity incorporates all of my interests together into one lively whole. I’m a polyglot programmer, a multi timbral / modal musician, a multimedia magician, a dabbling writer and visual artist. My point is, I love creating experiences and telling engaging stories. I don’t make ‘stuff’. I don’t like the idea of making more ‘stuff’. The world has enough ‘stuff’.

Writing about creativity can <span> any topic. I suspect there will be anything from musical iPhone apps to neuroscience. From organizational systems to Processing swarms. And oh the books, Fiction and Non. (I should really review Anathem)

Anything which strikes me as interesting in this regard, I will post here. A big part of my experience is trying to get creative in the workplace, and meeting innumerable amounts of conflict. I aspire to offer solutions for this.

My objective is to offer more resources then my words alone, but, lets see, there are many things to do.

Finally, I should publicly thank Cyborg Anthropologist – Amber Case for the inspiration to work on my personal brand once again.

I wanted to write a post that wasn’t complaining about the current economic woes that myself and many other people find themselves in at this time. I mean, what the heck, I’m not being foreclosed upon, I have a $25 balance on my credit card. And for the next month at least, I can pay rent.

So that’s the first step, acknowledge what is going well. There are a few things working for you in your situation, they often get overshadowed by all the negativity that keeps hitting the fan and getting everywhere.

Craigslist, monster, jobdango, indeed are all my friends, and I visit them often enough to keep a constant stream of work applications going out. It’s thankless work, I’m lucky to get an acknowledgment of the receipt of my materials, and once or twice, I was actually rejected! I try to forget about jobs I’ve applied to, it just makes things easier.

Second step, keep up the momentum, the biggest enemy at this point is stasis. This kind of stillness only allows depression inside. Don’t stop, don’t even begin feeling sorry for yourself, keep working on things. Set non work-related goals and accomplish little things.

Writing about all this stuff actually helps. I think it helps me more then it does you. Just voicing these fears and concerns, even to an audience of zero, helps the mind sort it all out. Bringing the intangible to reality offers a small measure of control.

Third, find some sort of expression for the frustration, notice I didn’t say ‘release’. Release is too often associated with self-destructive urges and non-productive actions. Expression is functional, release just puts the energy into the ether with no regard for where it lands or what effects it has. There’s a reason we’re feeling frustrated, lets focus on that.

True story, in 1999, under Bill Clinton, I was working and making more money then I ever have since. Every job I had gotten up to that point was given to me as a result of my modest awesomeness. Apple stock barely peaked $10 a share, and life was good.
Fast forward to 2008. I have no job, a piddling income from various freelance gigs cobbled together, and even after two college degrees and 8 years of professional experience (worked through college), my high income level is still from the last decade.
It’s not that I’m exceptional at my chosen profession and I am entitled to more as a result of my god-given talent. Indeed, I’m more of a generalist, I’d rather be able to do many things then do one well. I get bored easily, you see, and tend to distraction.
Now you can write this all off as ‘it’s the economy stupid!’. I agree, but disagree at the same time. Things were this way BEFORE the current economic woes.
I’m sure you’re aware that Apple is coming out with a sub-$1000 notebook. Which for most internetzians, seems to be thrilling beyond belief. While the idea is appealing, I can’t believe anyone would spend that much money, in these times, on something that wasn’t a necessity, or even worse, put it on credit.
I’m just tired of being poor, and I would like to materially participate in this high-tech world once in a while.

Anyway, I’ve polished up my freelance business site: www.8isc.com if anyone want to take a look and give me feedback, that would be great.