Tea with McNair

:: what's brewing? ::

PROLOGUE :: "When I was a child I thought as a child, but when I became a man ..." I didn't change a DARN thing. TEA With McNAIR is enthusiastically committed to recapturing your creative spirit. Do stop by f-f-f-f-frequently.  My new book, HATCH! is available NOW. (Click book cover image  to enlarge.)  

• FREE PDF of complete 1st chapter: Hatch-Sample.

• Order HATCH! here: GIVINGTONS.com "The Generosity Shop."  A portion of each purchase is donated to a charity YOU see select at checkout. (Get two. A friend will "borrow" it and you'll never see it again.)

HATCH! is in top 10 of Amazon's 1300 "brainstorming" books and No.7 of 15 thousand "theme park" titles. Thanks to all, specially those who have posted reviews on Amazon.com HERE. Now it's your turn to post.

  WATCH a full presentation of my popular keynote Recapturing Your Creative Spirit  HERE Filmed at TEDx Denver.    

WATCH my new (3 minute) preview video (photo left) on how a trombone can change your life HERE.

CAFABC88-D233-3991-5E30-DED0BF1FFD92

1.03.01

Always remember that you are unique: just like everyone else.

(Are you behaving in ways that others notice this fact?) 

• standing against monotony

"Congratulate yourselves if you have done something strange and extravagant, and broken the monotony of a decorous age."

:: Ralph Waldo Emerson ::

• listen & enjoy

[Music to listen to while reading the "CONTEST" post below this post]

When I am writing, creating new sentences, chapters, a full book, I listen to music. Even when I am in a cafe, java joint, or one of my other "public offices" (as I am f-f-f-frequently) I will plug my head into my music. I cannot listen to anything with lyrics as I write. I can't even listed to instrumental settings of songs to which I know the words as I will sing along. I have too many times discovered—upon re-reading and editing my writing—that a little Sondheim or Rogers & Hammmmertstein has sneaked* into my just-written phrases.

I have, however, used song titles and lyrics to support or illustrate a point. In each of those cases, of course, I always site attribution so that readers can followup with further listening. My dream is to write a book and hire one of my favorite composers to compose a sound track to accompany the eBook, as you read you would also listen.

Today I am working on the words for Book No.2 in the HATCH! Creativity Trilogy. ("Book No.2" is not the title. I actually have TWO titles. One will move inside the book as a chapter title. Likely it will be the title of the first chapter: as in HATCH!, "I Love the Smell of Felt Pens In the Morning" was an early contender for the title of the book that became HATCH!)

I've been thinking of doing t-shirts with "I Love the Smell of Felt Pens ..." on the front and "HATCH!" on the back. What size will you want?

So here's one of my favorite Overtures that floated by today as I was/am writing:

(It begins quietly. Turn up volume and BE PATIENT)

Download 05 Dvořák_ Othello Overture, Op. 93

• Dvořák: Othello Overture, Op. 93

Performed by István Kertész; London Symphony Orchestra

~ There are no pictures of Dvořák (dvôrˌZHäk) smiling. This one comes closest.)

*(By the by, did you know that the correct past tense form of "sneak" is not "snuck", but "sneaked". "Snuck" was a slang word developed in N. America in the 19th century. "Sneaked" sounds funny, but that's why I like it. And when I "spell checked" this post "snuck" was underlined as misspelled—all three times! )

"McNair! You spell check your blog?" I can hear you. Yes I do, and once in a while a mispeld word has sneaked threw. Hah!

THIS JUST IN, 2 May 13, (via direct email)from a friend who writes A LOT of books" regarding spell check:  "Dew as eye deux and awl weighs yews spell check."  (Keep trying, it'll come to you.

• big contest starts soon

In just a few days, the BIG CONTEST will begin. (It is related to reader reviews posted on the "Amazon.com" HATCH! page.) Anyone who has a review ALREADY POSTED when the contest begins will have an advantage to winning in some categories. (If you are one of the 24 already posted, stand by ...in a seated.) If you have not yet posted, this is your last warning: GO NOW to "Amazonk" and post your review.

Think about sharing new insights you discovered, examples of the HATCH! brainstorming process in use in your world, and which groups are reading and discussing HATCH! (A "group" can be a book club, writer's group, a school class (business, creativity, art, publishing, writing ...almost any class that's reading, studying, and discussing HATCH! together. It could even be a family.)

If you have already posted a review on "Amazonk" and hurry (NOW) and post one before the contest is launched you will still be eligible to win—there is more than one category. You will be eligible to win in as many categories as apply to your review.

If you do not yet have your own copy of HATCH!: Brainstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer, you can order your very own copy on line and have it in hand in a couple of days. Amazon.con has HATCH!, or course, but the BEST place to get HATCH! is from a great new site www.Givngtons.com, "The Generosity Shop." Along with thousands of current best sellers, lots of titles from popular authors, and hundreds of classic books, Givington's also carries coffees, teas, (and equipment), beautiful mugs, gifts, fashion, and decor items—much of it hand made by nonprofits. Givington's can also assemble gift boxes with more than one item to send directly to friends.

The remarkable twist to this on line store is that at check out you will be asked to select from a growing roster of nonprofit organizations and charities. Then, Givington's will donate 30 - 50% of their profits to the cause you designate ...with every purchase.

Their prices are competitive and their items are fascinating, unique and beautiful. Have a look. HERE. 

The contest launch will be announced here at the "Tea Blog" as well as on my three Facebook pages and through Twitter: @mcnairwilson. WHAT?! You're NOT following me on Twitter. Hope you will ...

I am looking forward to your Amazon reader reviews. I have learned from all of them. Many of the comments are already informing the writing I am doing now on the second book in the HATCH! creativity trilogy—due for release in the Autumn.

• think & do

In elementary school I recall we had workbooks in English class (now called "language arts") called, Think and Do books. It was a companion workbook to the primary text (lots of English words) in which we had to work on or grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and other mechanical rules and procedures of the native tongue.

The academic theory, of course, was that whatever we think about, we will do—ten items at a time—in an effort to master the lingua franca.

(Funnily enough my father was as proficient at the use of the "mother tongue" as my mother. Both were profession educators. (My mother was, in fact, a trained and licensed speech pathologist—a.k.a. "speech therapist." Her life was filled with and focused on tongue stuff—male and female—but mostly she assisted elementary aged kids overcome correctable "speech impediments.")

In our Think & Do books we would fill in ten blanks, adjudicate ten true/false statements, or select the correct answer from column "B" that "best describes" words in column "A." (Is it a noun, verb, adjective ...) Some where in there we dealt with the dreaded "dangling participle." (Or is it a "dangled participle"?)

Somewhere in there (elementary school), I remember the principal asking a classroom full of us, "What are you thinking about today?" Then he threw it open to discussion. Finally he told us, "Whatever you're thinking about, you will likely spend a good deal of your time doing."

I remember thinking, Huh. That sorta makes sense. Sorta.

That brings us to ...today's question (or yesterday's question if you're reading this tomorrow) is, What are you thinking about? And do you find that when you think about something, a project, personal problem, pressing issue of life,  you then spend a "good" bit of your time (waking hours) obsessing on, working on, or worrying about.

Think & Do.

So ...What ARE you thinking about these days?

• Is it something worthy of your best skills and talents?

• Is it something that will benefit you and others as a result you to spend time thinking about ...and doing?

• Is it something over which you have even a modicum of control, ability to change, correct, or improve?

If the answer to any of the above is "No", think on other things to do. Really! Think about "stuff" you can have a positive effect on and can DO something about.

I worry, obsess, and fume (much of it internally) about all kinds of SH - - TUFF. With lots of it: Nothing happens: It ain't my job.

This is one of the key reasons I have carried a "sketchbook" everyday for most of my life. (At least since about age twelve.) Yours need NOT be a hardcover, bound book of 80 to 120 pages (typically 8"x10"), like mine. I use "hard cover" books because they are more durable, plus it typically takes me a couple of months to use (almost) every page. Get a size that will work for you to have with you everyday, in your purse, attache, messenger bag, etc.

For your first few sketchbooks, grab an 8"x10", spiral bound sketchpad at Target, WalMart , or your local drugstore. Do NOT get too nice a book (expensive)—at first— as you will savor it, treat it too preciously while waiting for a thought, image, of quote to come along that is worthy of your too expensive note paper.

[Photo :: A few of my recent sketchbooks (top shelf) and some blanks-in-waiting (next shelf down.)]

My sketchbooks are more than notes ...and there are lots of notes. There are also sketches, doodles, visual ideas, prompts to: check out a website, artist, music download, sermon/lecture notes (I was listening to), notes of my early thoughts about a talk I will deliver ...ANYTHING I WANT TO CAPTURE, REMEMBER, AND SAVE. Notes on book projects, seminars-in-development, and keynotes all are eventually transferred to my MacBook as research or in-progress documents, then outlines, and manuscripts.

At the front of every one of my sketchbooks—the first two to four pages—is the quote: "Anything worth remembering, is worth writing down?"

If you were to thumb through my current sketchbook—or any of the previous 150 (guesstimate) you would find two, four, or elven pages in a row on the same subject.  That is not only what I was thinking about, but what I was spending time doing  ...back then.

Some of those notes (including lots of doodles, sketches, diagrams and ephemera taped and pasted into the pages) was related to   projects at the time. Many of those pages translated into workshops, keynotes, blog posts, articles, surveys, and even books. A high percentage of my art on my sketchbook  pages can be found in the pages of four of the five books I've written. (One book was a private writing job for a friend. She had already engaged an illustrator prior to bumping into me asking , "Hey, I need your assistance writing a little book." It was in no wise "little" and it was a very rewarding project. I have one copy.)

My other four books are all me—accept the cover of the first four. (Let's talk about anything else.)

I spent hundreds of hours THINKing about their content and DOing the hard and rewarding working of writing and drawing all of them. 

Lately I have been sorting boxes, books, CD's. DVD's ... and doing the challenging work of downsizing. I am also doing the work to which my thinking leads me. Mostly I am THINKing about and DOing the writing for the second book in the "HATCH Trilogy" on creativity and communications.

This brings us back to you.

What are you THINKING and DOING?

What do you need to STOP THINKing about so you can use your time to DO more rewarding "stuff" with your valuable times and "factory installed" abilities?                                                                                                  

• your weekend plans?

What's on the agenda for this weekend ...any weekend? Is there a "To Do" list? Is it in writing? How many items are carry-overs from last week, last month, last Summer?

When you look at your list or think of the list in your head do you ears roll, your heart rate increase, your palms sweat?  WHY? Chores do not have to be a chore. Turn your weekend into a creative challenge:

1. You will accomplish one major and two minor tasks on your "To Do" list. That's all. If the list is drawn in collaboration with your spouse, roommate, or ... You can and should agree on the three tasks that you would both love to check off as complete.

2. Attack the major task first. Discuss a plan; give yourself a time limit; agree on what will be a satisfactory completion point.

[If your goal on any task—any part of life—is perfection go sit in a closet and give yourself the task of being silent. Maybe you can do that perfectly for a minute or three.]

3. Designate a period of time (no less than an hour, but preferably more) to spend working on a favorite creative project*, hobby, finishing a good book that's been collecting dust for ...as long as it takes dust together on an untouched book.

* A "creative project" is not necessarily and "art project", but something that you enjoy doing: building, composing, crafting ...Here are a few examples:

~ Sorting a box of family photos into categories (stacks, then files or envelopes) to be placed in an album or scrapbook (next weekend's project.) Hobby Lobby and Michael's will have all the supplies you need to start "scrapping."

~ Working your garden ...starting your garden. Maybe just a Japanese rock garden. ( You'll need a little sand.) This can even be created in an old wooden box on the balcony of a high-rise apartment building. More great garden and outdoor creative ideas from my friend Michele Beschen on"B-Organic" or google her "Simply Michele" sight. She has scores of projects and many on free, DIY videos.

~ Sorting, arranging, purging your media: CD's, DVD/BlueRay, VHS tapes, and LPs (I have a few gems I holding onto.) Every town has a shop that buys and sells used everyhing. This is your chance to cull the herd and pick up a few gems you'd like to have an hand.

And do you really need to keep ALL those books. No you do not.Have a party and stack the books you are shedding by the front door. Announce, "No one leaves without taking two or three books, at least!" Be sure to have a supply of plastic bags from the market of hand. (California residence have a spool of twine and pair of scissors.)

~ Model railroading! [pause to dream]

(If you are an artist of any sort I don't need to give you suggestions.)

Whatever your "must do" projects are for the next few days, ALWAYS have one or two "love to do" projects.

UCLA School of Medicine in its RealAge.com * project has determined that people who pursue their passion(s)—even an hour a week as a hobby—can add or subtract SIX YEARS to their life.

This weekend: start living longer, better, and more productive—especially creatively.

Check back next week and tell us what you DID this weekend. (I'll be working on a bit of "media purging" AND continuing the very enjoyable task of writing Book No.2 in the "Hatch Trilogy.")

•   •   •   •   •

* If you have never taken the survey at RealAge.com, it is fun and quite revealing. It was developed by Dr. Oz and friends. They will tell you whether you are younger than your chronologial age (healthy in mind, body, and soul) or you are older than your birth year suggests. You will be surpirsed at the categories that contribute to (and detract from) your health. It includes diet, execise, and smoking (of course), AND also pets, religious observance, pursuing your life passions, and more. Very revealing and quite helpful. It might change your weekend plans.

• abundant creativity ...from "hatch!"

My friend Andy Scheer is one of "those fellows" who has a revolving door betwixt his left and right brain. When I hired him as editor for my latest book—HATCH!: Brainstorming Secrets of a theme Park Designer—I knew I'd get top notch, professional, experienced, detailed editing. I also knew, just as importantly, that Andy "gets me" and would get HATCH! He is also editor or WORDSMITH the newsletter for Jerry B. Jenkins' Christian Writers Guild.

In the current issue or Wordsmith Andy excerpted some of my thoughts on our creative spirit as found in the 208 heavily-illustrated pages of HATCH! He captured my philosophy in a few cogent paragraphs. Even though the central theme of HATCH! is brainstorming—specificlaly my blazing system the  "7 Agreements of Brainstorming"—my ongoing belief in the creativity of every person is found everywhere in HATCH! Here they are:

Abundant Creativity
by C. McNair Wilson

If you have a pulse tomorrow, get out your “To Dream” list. Before the rooster crows, you need to hatch a plan. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it—” How does this finish? “Abundantly,” you say. Close. John records Jesus saying, “I have come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.”

For Jesus, mere abundance is not enough. He wants us to have life more abundantly. The assumption of our Creator is that we are already in abundance — living rich, full, remarkable lives — and Jesus shows up with more — a fresh supply.

One day your doorbell rings, and there’s a guy with a brown cap, brown jacket, brown truck, and two big boxes, saying, “Here’s your monthly shipment of abundance. Sign line seventeen.” All the while, there’s a big shed in your backyard marked “Scarcity,” filled with boxes marked: No Time; To Be Completed ...; Never Got Around To It; What Will People Say?; Lost Interest; Gave Up On; and Future Failures. Yet here on your doorstep has arrived more abundance — two boxes.

Our Creator is saying, “Live all the life you want, there’s plenty, and here’s more!” The only question now is, How great can you stand it?

Creativity — it’s not just for children, artists, and theme park designers! Assume that piece of the Original Spark still burns within you and everyone with whom you come in contact. Discovering that spark is the first light along the path to finding your personal passion — your built-in reason for being. Find your passion, know your purpose, live with power — and brilliance.

Use the best parts of you (brilliance) to interact with others. Take that brilliance and put it to work.

If you've read "HATCH!" I invite you to write a review on the HATCH! page

on Amazonk.com—HERE. To order copies of HATCH! please visit the remarkable

new online store Givingtons.com - - "The Generosity Shop." (Every order of

books, coffee, hand-made gifts, etc. includes a donation to a charity YOU select

at check out.) You can download a FREE PDF of the complete first chapter of

HATCH! in the "What's Brewing" area at the top of the Tea Blog.

• writers in the redwoods

This week is the 2013 Mount Hermon Christrian Writers Confernecer on the western slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains—about an a 90 minute drive south of San Francisco. We are in the heart of California's amazing coastal redwoods.

It is sunny, warm (60's), and idelic—at about 42' above sea level. (I can breathe!) Something is bound to go swrong. The photo is the HEnry Cowell Redwoods State park, about two minutes down the road.

The faculty is top notch and easily approachable. An entire wing of the dining room  has been given over to becoming the conference bookstore—in addition to Mount Hermon's regular bookshop. [In one section, on three long tables, they have more than fifty different tiles on the craft, nuts-n-bolts, structure, style. ...of writing. 

Along with my newest book—HATCH! : Brianstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer—they carry (on my recommendation):

• Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper, SARK

• Orbiting the Giant Hairball, Gordon MacKenzie

• Walking on Water, Madeleine L'Engle

• Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairytale, Fredrick Buechner

Plus I brought a few used copies of two of my now-out-of-print books:

• Everyone Wants to Go To Heaven, But ...

• Raised In Captivity, Memoir of a life Long Churchaholic

There are several tables of other books penned and/or recommended by faculty.

The main conference began yesterday, Friday 22 March and runs through Tuesday lunch—26 Mar. The day is wall-to-wall, morning-to-night seminars, workshops, one-on-one appointments with agents, publishers, editors (books and periodicals), and writing critiques.

Each evening I am presenting a keynote address, beginning last night with "Recapturing Your Creative Spirit." (One down, four to go.) A couple of my presentations are brand new. One is rework from the one and only time I gave it two years ago, and one will be a dialogue with the entire conference: "Tackling the Roadblocks to Creativity."  

As we are the only conference on the hill this week (and not huge in number), it's rather quiet here in the coffee house, lounge in the heart of camp. (It's also one of very few wifi hot spots in the forest.) Our guest rooms, while spacious and comfy, are black holes for wifi. Aaargh!

As I was preparing for my five keynotes it becaming more and more evident that the major themes and supporting illustrations for the week will find a place in my next book—Book No.2—in the three book series that began with HATCH!

I am still playing with the title, but hope to anounce it this Summer, in advance of its Autumnal release. I will be posting a brief survey here (www.TeaWithMcNair.com), and on the "Hatch-by-McNair-Wilson" Facebook page soon. Hope you will join in.

I continiue to be impressed and inspire by the remarkable array of people who attend these writing conferences. They are not all experienced, published authors. Yet from the dozen or so teens, to a physician I met, teachers, pastors, moms, and more, all have come to learn the craft of writing and the business of getting published and marketing their work. 

The common thread: all seem to have been ifected with the passion to write.

Start there and write, write, write.                                                         

• a warehouse of innovation

From the outside it is your standard twenty-foot high, very long, concrete walls, and scores of loading docks warehouse. The giant roll up doors are now locked and sealed. The grey, unpainted concrete floors remain. Only a small suite of glass-walled offices are carpeted ("the Coop). Their brick walls painted white but the texture is better, more inviting than the finest, most expensive grass wallpaper from a high-end interior design catalogue. I was there a few months ago—as the transformation was still in progress. They gave me one of the offices to camp in while I was there (see photo.) Behind the desk a thick pain of glass substitutes for a white board in each office. (Those large glass panes have sine been taken down, a sheet of white backing added, and re-BOLTED to the wall. Better.)

This is all in the new innovation center in Atlanta, GA., owned, operated, and developed by Chick-fil-A. It is just a couple of minutes down the road from their primary corporate campus. The new center is available to any group in CFA needing a place to create (brainstorm), design (prototype), test (validate)...innovate any part of their business, but not (as I understand) to use as just another meeting room.

When I arrived, last Wednesday, they had brought in several dozen folks from the general public for a "free lunch" in one of two, on-site model restaurants. Most of the interior walls, counters, and room dividers were black foam core. They might be test as many as five new condiment counter configurations through out the day. Tables and chairs are real and the food (from one of two, complete test kitchens) is exactly as available in 1700 Chick-fil-A restaurants. (And ...they might be test a new sandwich, dessert, or spicy batter for their signature chicken fil-A sandwich.) Overhead, several small (not obvious) TV cameras capture everything live. In a large room, adjacent, is a large team of execs watching how people are moving through the space. Viewing is on a giant, 20' x 20' wall. After lunch the guests will be asked about all facets of their experience.

This is all part of deciding how to improve the speed of service, comfort of guests, flow of human traffic, and efficiency of the entire operation. There are six new CFA restaurants under construction using innovations created here. One has already opened (I visited it a few months ago and it looks like no convenience food place you have ever visited.) They will build and test as many as fifteen new front counter designs in a single day. The model CFA restaurants are just one corner of the new innovation center.

By the way, the name of Chick-fil-A's new innovation barn is ...Hatch.

In the photo, I am standing by the massive wall of old , "up-cycled" wood in the reception area. It is the first thing you see upon entering Hatch.

LAST WEEK'S trip (one of several visits over last couple years) was to participate in the first of their quarterly "innovation speaker series." The day began with a basic introduction to innovation (including a Hatch tour.) Then, the first guest speaker, Joe Alves. In a word, Joe is ...remarkable. He designed the shark (a.k.a."Bruce") for the JAWS movies (One through 3-D.) Joe is a legendary Hollywood production designer, art director, and second unit director, his resume begins with the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet (1956.) Joe also directed JAWS 3-D and created some of the greatest film images (sets and locations) in modern film history. He was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA (British Oscar) for his production design on Close Encounters of a Third Kind. To realize the enormous set of the final sequence—the "landing site"—Joe created the largest movie sets ever in a pair of airplane hangars that were each 300' x 300'—the length of a football field, squared. But these Mobile, AL, hangars were still not big enough. Joe Alves added 150' to the open end of one hangar to enclose the set, below. It appears to take place outdoors, at the base of Devils Tower National monument in Wyoming, but was filmed on an interior set in Alabama. (Have I spoiled the magic for you? Sorry. Sometimes how the magic is made can be quite magical.)

For this design feat, Joe was nominated for Best Achievement in Production Design for both an Oscar and British BAFTA.  STAR WARS took the Oscar that year (1977) in the U.S. But "accross the pond" in England, Joe received the BAFTA, beating out Star Wars with it's all-British design team and crew.

In his one-hour plus presentation at Hatch, Joe told behind-the-scenes stories, showed film clips and share elements of his original storyboard and production design sketches for JAWS. A lively Q&A session ensued and spilled over into lunch in "the Feeder" (Hatch's in-house cafe.) 

Following lunch we shifted to the vast no walls flex space in the heart of Hatch, the "Incubator." I presented my signature "Recapturing Your Creative Spirit" to an audience of mostly Chick-fil-A staffers. Next I facilitated the interactive session "Tackling the Roadblocks to Creativity." Then a time to sign copies of my new book, HATCH!: Brainstorming Secrets of a Theme Park Designer. [Toy can download a FREE PDF of the complete first chapter—I Love the Smell of Felt Pens in the Morning— in the "What's Brewing" area at the top of this column.]

[ Photo: McNair, Joe Alves, and my long-time friend and filmaker, MaxPaul Franklin of IMS Productions.]

The day concluded with my new friend, Steve Nedvidek, Hatch's "Innovator in Residence" delivering an overview of the CFA Hatch innovation process.

A rich, full remarkable day. I am excited about partnering with this highly motivated organization in the months and years ahead.

I am inspired the commitment Chick-fil-A has to innovation by creating this 80 thousand square foot facility completely devoted to the tasks, purpose, and goal of creativity and innovation.

Here is a short video on the process of brainstorming, prototyping, and testing new Chick-fil-A restaurant designs in the "Pen" of their new innovation center, Hatch.

• an inspiring life

And a perspiring "Day In the Life" of John Lasseter (Pixar Animation Studios co-founder and Grand Creative Poobah.) Lasserter was just examined by a team of top medical and forensic specialists who declared John the World's Oldest Child.

This documentary is short, informative, educational, and most inspiring.

• hatch! second edition arrives next week

My publishing partner called today to strategizes shipping second edition copies of HATCH! directly to me to have with me at the Writing for the Soul writers conference next week at the BROaDMOOR Hotel here in "The Springs." (Still not to late to register and join us here in the Rockies, 14-17 March at WFTS Conference.)

    In getting ready to go to press with the second edition a few of us re-read the text. I read at a modest rate on a regular basis, but slowed it down even more to double check the HATCH! text for pot holes (missing words: found three) and grammarical errors. (Am I the only writer in the English language that is bothered by the "fact" that grammar as a noun inherits a magic "t" when it morphs into an adjective?) I also found a subtitle that was set as a part of the text in my favorite, elegant Goudy Old Style and not our playful subtitle font "Desiger" (not misspelled)

    There were more than a few passages I might like to have reshaped, shortened, move this paragraph up two slots and jettison that graph all together. But in noe of those instances would the improved the objective of the chapter in any measurable way. Chances are when I read it again—if I read it again—I would have given thought to reverting to the original configuration. 

    In more than a few spots I was reminded of the prolixity of my phraseology. Ah ...yeah. As the ever-malpropian Mayor Shinn in The Music Mann is wont to say, "Watch you phraseology!"

    That's why our beneficent Creator fashioned editors on the eighth day of Creation—following a nap.

    To all who jump in and bought signed copies of the first edition you have a book that is full, reich, remarkable version of what I believe about human creativity as a team process (a.k.a. brainstorming.) I like to think those first editions will, in some way become collector's copies. There were full six typos caught on the back cover by my friend Mr. B'Jenkins within the first hour after I dropped off a copy at his Writing Stable. I'm glad he found (and we fixed) those bits as well.

    First Edition Trivia: There was one tiny graphic anomaly on the front cover. Likely most will only spot with a side-by-side comparison of the first and second edition. It probably only bothered me and my co-designing partner Prof. Simpich of Old Colorado City. It was, however tiny, worth adjusting. Thank you, Lisa!

    Through all this, from our first breakfast at Village Inn, through numerous parking lot hand offs of computer disks, checks, and other pre-press items, my new friend Karen Pickering has been patient, detailed (though never condescending) and thorough. As V.P. and Director of Operations for Book Villages I first contacted her merely to assist me in securing copyright and and ISBN number. She was willing and more than capable of doing just that, Then she told me about the full compliment of services they offered in the burgeoning world of what is now called "DIY" (do it yourself) publishing. The Book Villages team has decades—maybe centuries—of publishing experience that includes years in the trenches at David C. Cook, Nav Press and others. BV is producing a wide array of items from colorful gift books to tradition hard cover, dust jacketed tomes and softcover twins as well as e-books. (Fear not, "eHATCH!" is coming.)

    Prior to connecting with Karen Pickering and Book Villages I had looked at other outfits to produce the actual hard copy editions of HATCH! My book designer (interior), Lisa Barnes/Niddy Griddy Design connected me with Karen.

    After nineteen rejections from "all the right publishers" it was literary agent, Mark O, Sweney, that first said, "This book needs to be in print! Do whatever you can, McNair to get it out there." We even had some enthusiastic editors, at big publishing houses in New York who were excited about HATCH! Alas, the way in is getting narrower and narrower. They were unable to convince the "committee" to green light little brainstorming treatise.

    So next week the new and modestly improved (fixed) edition of HATCH! will be here. There are still copies of the soon-to-be-a-collector's-item first edition available, but hurry.

    My preferred way for you to get HATCH! is through the exciting new Givington's, the "Generosity Shop" online story. Along with most of the latest and recent best sellers, they carry great coffee, mugs, gifts and fashions (mostly hand-crafted from the third world) Givington's donates 50% of their profits to a charity you select on their site. The launched on "Black Friday" and are growing quickly and enormously as friends to friends. Thier prices are on par with other online book stores, but none are giving to important causes like the ones on the Givington's site.

    Thanks to all who have posted reviews on "Amazonk"—I am greatly encouraged by your words on my words. If you have not yet weighed in, go now Amazon/Hatch.

    My new email newsletter will launch soon and I hope to include snap shots of readers with HATCH! in interesting, curious, and dangerous places.

• in atlanta 8 march to hatch the hatch

Dateline Atlanta, 8 March 2013 •  I will be speaking to the headquarters staff of Chick-fil-A for the first of what will be regularly occurring "Innovation Days" at their newly christened innovation center. They call the place, "Hatch"—really. 

On numerous visits to Chick-fil-A over the last year I have watched "Hatch" take shape with a delicious variety of discreet (closed) and flexible (open and versatile) spaces. When I was there a few months ago, they gave me a yet-to-be-moved-into office to camp in for a few days. In photo you can see my "BookBook" leather case for my MacBook Pro, open sketchbook, and Belstaff 554 bag (on top of the Chick-issued funky old drawers.)

To compliment the glass top desk each office has a clear glass "white board" bolted to the wall for out loud thinking. (Notice chrome bolts mid photo.) Great idea ...not as effective as they'd hoped: dry erase markers are no strong, dense colors—not opaque. The thin coloring and the strongly texture brick wall behind makes anything on the clear glass surface tough to read. I suggested adding the giant blank tablet sheets that have a strip of adhesive, like giant Post-It notes or butcher paper.

Here's an aerial photo of two "out buildings" Chick-fil-A has acquired very close to their larger headquarters building (near the Atlanta airport.) "Hatch" is the "smaller" building on the right. These were once giant, industrial distribution centers. To get an idea of the size of "Hatch" notice the two, white, semi-truck trailer boxes to the left of the building, just above center.

I will get more photos of the interior of "Hatch" when I speak there March 8th—now that this amazing innovation center is completed and in use.

If your organization would be interested in taking advantage of me being in the Atlanta  in early March, PLEASE contact me soon. We have not, yet, booked flights. I am available all week (before Thurs. 3/8 at CFA) and the weekend following for corporate in-house brainstorming, business round table gatherings, college or church speaking or performances of either of my two one-man plays.

     

• kyndra's hope

Of the many films I have seen recently, Kyndra's Hope, may be the most moving, the most inspiring, and by far the most important. The film and the people behind it are changing Colorado and the world.

This seven minute short was created by my long-time friend MaxPaul Franklin at the request of his long-time friend Ross Wright. Ross is the leader of a movement to change childcare—especially foster homes and related issues. Another time I'll take you on a virtual tour of his "offices" (just minutes from where I am living.) It may well be the only child care agency on the planet with a fun and inviting coffee bar as it's reception area and a playground out back. It is the Hope & Home organization.

For now, though, I want you to meet Kyndra. You will not be the same.

I was priveledge to be at the premiere of this film and to meet Kyndra and he remarkable new family. (You saw them in the film.) You can learn more about this "movement" to make sure there are fewer and fewer Kyndra's by visiting the Kyndra's Hope website.

Please share this blog post and film far and wide.

• unworried about the year 'thirteen

I am very excited about the wide (and W!LD) array of opportunities, creative challenges, and unknown adventures that await in the year 'THIRTEEN. How 'bout you?!

• it's a boy!

PERSONALS : Young man, his finance (v. pregnant), and a donkey, need place to stay. Anyone have room? 

Who got the best gift? We all did.

• a confession

In my blog post "Christmas gift-giving ..." (below, two posts down) I explained how I have saved money while Christmas shopping by not buying ANYTHING for ME (other than basic necessities) between Thanksgiving and my birthday on Jan 4th (make a note).

TODAY, I broke that rule: I bought a ticket* to see Les Miserable (the movie of the musical) for the first showing, Christmas morning, 10:30 am, Cinemark Carefree (at Powers) in Colorado Springs. SEE YOU THERE. 

* Tickets for the morning screening are at the "early bird matinee" price: $6.50 [ + tax and the compulsory Obamacare hidden surcharge (No.3,741), plus EPA "non-essential carbon creation fee" (NECCF) for operating an internal combustion engine on a national holiday.]

• a lecture on creativity

Professor John Cleese. Offered here—without my commentary (for now)—talking about creating conditions in which creativity can ...might ...happen.

As a companion to Mr. Cleese, watch my TEDx talk, "Recapturing Your Creative Spirit" linked above in the "What's Brewing" section at the top of this column.

Love to hear how you spark, ignite, prod, jump start, or recapture your creativity. Use comments section below so other Tea readers can respond or be inspired by you.

• christmas gift-giving & shopping tips ...

It was about two decades ago, while Christmas shopping, I became so over whelmed I set an armful of gifts on the fragrance counter of a major department store and left the mall, empty handed.

What I realized that day was: more than HALF of the loot I was about to buy was for me! In every store, at every turn there was a table of something-stacked-high ...ON SALE. Not one of those items was essential to my life, BUT ...it was my size, my color, and ON SALE. My (bad) thinking was “since I am spending all this money on others, what’s a few extra shekels on me?” Over the course of weeks and years of this one-for-you-one-for-me shopping system I had spent too much money overall and over spent on me—for STUFF I DID NOT NEED.

MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING RULE/TIP (I have mostly stuck to this rule for nearly twenty years.) Here ‘tis:

Between Thanksgiving Day and my birthday—4 January (write it down)—I buy virtually nothing for me. During my shopping rounds I have become almost oblivious to anything I see that I might like. OH, I see stuff, lots of stuff, that I’d like. But there is scarcely a twinge of temptation to try it on (just to see how I’d look in the new Big Bang Theory DVD box set ...IT’S ON SALE!!!) 

I shop faster, spend less, and don’t come home with pretty bags full of gifts—all for me. You IDIOT. You selfish bas----!

When I say I buy nothing for me, I do buy gas and groceries—but even Safeway et al have tempting seasonal goodies (mechanical Dickens villages ...I have a life-long Dickens adDICKtion.) But I do not buy: magazines, books (new or used), DVD’s out of the "8 movies for 5 dollars” bin, or items from my too-long Amazon.com “Wish List” while shopping for others on line. Even a book that’s fifteen cents still costs another four bucks for shipping.

I am certain this "rule" has saved me hundreds, probably thousands of dollars. 

Exceptions-to the-rule: along with gas, groceries, and occasional meal out with friends, I noticed years ago that my favorite cologne always offered a holiday gift pack—reduced price plus one to three additional items for free. I can usually get through a full year on one supply.

I do plan ahead and buy ONE nice gift for myself that is a combination Christmas and birthday gift. I buy it just after my birthday—January 4th. Did you write it down?

MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST

Two lists, actually. First list, the obvious and essential (1.) Must Gift List: spouse or significant other, kids (yours), mom & dad. THAT’S IT. Immediate family. If you are particularly close to a grown sibling they go on the TOP of the second list: (2.) Like-To Gift List: siblings, key co-workers or your staff, assistant, extended family (more about all of those folks next), neighbor, pastor, other important friends.

I can hear you already, “But I have to get gifts for …” Really? When did giving become a huge obligation? Think of all the people you are going to (or have already) bought gifts for (beyond your own immediate family.) Do they actually expect gift from you? How many of them do you expect a gift from? Likely very few. We waste a lot of time (and $$) thinking about, “Well, I should probably get a gift for (name of friend / coworker) 'cause if they give me something and I did’t get them...”

We shall all certainly go insane and in debt—thanks to those darn Wisemen and their boxes of smelly stuff (with shampoo and deodorant thrown in free with every holiday purchase.)  EXPECTATION is the root of all disappointment.

Another Gifting Idea [Several friends with whom I have shared this, report it’s annual success.] For all who gather with extended family—nieces, nephews, aunts, siblings and siblings-in-law, multi-generations, etc., etc. Everyone exchanges names in the classic “Secret Santa” gift-go-round. When you gather everyone will receive one nice gift from some another member of the clan. NO ONE is expected or obliged to buy gifts for everyone. (You are still allowed to get a small special gift for a particularly close aunt, adult sibling or ...but you DO NOT HAVE TO. No one does.)

I was married for a while to a wonderful lady. She inherited my little family of four and I joined her just-a-bit-larger family. That first Christmas she and I spent weeks and a few thousand dollars shopping for everyone we knew would be there. That gift exchange took so long, opening one gift-at-a-time (as though each present was the long-lost Ark of the Covenant), that when we completed it we ate next year’s Thanksgiving dinner. It really did take hours. And though I got some nice stuff (not in my color), I expected none of it.

After dinner, I expressed gratefulness for being completely welcomed into this great family. I really did like them all. But “I must confess, I don’t think next year, we will be able to afford doing all this again.”

A modest proposal: “Next year, might we, along about Thanksgiving, exchange names amongst all of us. Then, if I draw, brother Eddy I will think hard and get one great gift just or him. Eddy might draw Gram, and she might get ...whoever. NOW: nuclear families can and will still exchange gifts with each other, but as an extended family, just one gift. The surprise of finding out who your Secret Santa is will be an added treat.

“My family moved to California long ago—only going back to Minnesota every three of four years. Yet every year since then, we exchanged gifts using this secret method—among more than thirty people. My brother and I knew that every year there would be a gift for each of us—under our Christmas tree in Pasadena, or San Jose, from a different cousin, uncle, of aunt. It never mattered what it was, it was from FAMILY.”

PAUSE, then ...“What do you think.” I was hesitant. They were silent. Thinking.

“Well,” My new mother-in-law was first to weigh in. “I would like to buy something for each of my Grand kids.”

“And you can DO THAT ...if you’d like. But we will each, including all the kids. have ONE name for whom we will buy one great gift. (We all know that a "great gift" is often not an expensive gift.) That way we spend less time trying to quickly grab something for everybody. So, if I get Uncle Lou next year, I'll do my homework and spend time and good greenbacks just on Lou.

Uncle Lou perked up, “Who can I bride to make sure McNair to gets my name?!”

This was a very new idea, but after less discussion than I expected, all agreed.  The following Christmas was no less joyful, but dinner was hotter and much earlier than the year before.

THIS SAME SYSTEM - - 

Can (and has been) easily be applied to workplace—a small department within a large organization or, in a small company, the entire company participating. Imagine the treat of being the one who draws the boss’s name or, more interesting, has the boos shopping for you. 

The other option is for everyone to buy a nice (or fun) gift suited to both male and female coworkers and at the staff party, draw numbers for the order in which each will select a gift from the pile of pretty packages. (Next number can take a new gift or select from those already open.) Either way each person only buys ONE gift. (And, YES, you can still get a personal gift for a good friend or two with whom you have have a particularly good relationship.)

A final thought: NEVER shop with the thought in mind that anyone might be giving you a gift. Christmas is not a contest.

P.S. One More Gifting Practice

Throughout the year, I keep an eye out for odd little gifts for close friends and grab them as I discover them ...even in February at a garage. This includes used books online. I love used books, especially a “former library copy,” with marginal notes and other markings from previous visitors. Christmas shopping all year is especially fun when you know the hobbies and collecting habits of good friends. Occasionally I get a Bullwinkle surprise or Man from U.N.C.L.E. item from friends who know my collecting habits. (Also presidential campaign buttons and unusual hats.) Again the date to remember is January 4th. 

Please share—in the comments section below—any tricks or personal practices you’ve devised to make the season of giving less stressful and less expensive, and still thoughtful. And read my friend Rose's system for exchanging gifts among a growing family.

• all i want for christmas is ...

lots of people reading my new book, HATCH!—and giving at as a meaningful gift to friends and coworkers.

In the early 1990's Tom Peters, author of the monumental best selling business book In Search of Excellence, said that in the coming century, the companies that will remain on top will be those that can encourage, inspire, harness, and equip their employees to expand and use their creativity. These companies will win. [In his own words]

My favorite clients are companies where, among employees, there is a sense of empowerment to take risks, try new methods (a.k.a. innovation), and pursue the impossible (we have no idea how to do this, but we're gonna give it our best shot ...to get it started.) These are are my favorite clients.

What if we fail?

Count on it!

Babe Ruth was not only the Home Run King for decades (38 years), he was also the leader in strike outs. The Babe's secret: he swung at the ball more than anyone. He was pretty good at connecting wood to leather. (And not to shabby at missing.)

If you don't think you can, you probably won't.

HATCH! was written after years of people in my seminars, workshops, and keynotes, asking, "When are you going to put this in a book that we can have to use everyday." (Very few asked "if" I was going to do a book on the subject.) The answer to when is 17 September 2012.

I have been so excited that these 208 pages are having the effect I hoped for as I spent a good bit of a full decade working on it. There were five major re-writes, several title changes and, as you know if you've read HATCH! or followed this blog, eighteen rejections from big time publishers. (Several editors liked HATCH! a lot, but could not convinced their marketing or sales geniuses to give it a thumbs up.)

That's why I went the "DIY publishing" route—at the insistance of my equally frustrated literary agent. This gave me —for the first time in my five books—total control over the content and, more importantly, the look of the book from cover to cover, every page, and even the eye-catching-can't-miss-it-on-a-book-shelf-from-across-the-room striped spine. (Reproduced at right) This design motif will also appear on the next two books in my creativity trilogy.

The comments on Facebook, the personal emails, text messages, blogged reviews (here's one from Ken Davis) and the 14 of you who have weighed in on the HATCH! Amazon page are all proof to me that HATCH! and the 7 Agreements of Brainstorming (the first half of the book) work on their own, on paper—without me in the room to add my own song and dance. The more the one hundred sketches and doodles are the "dance" in HATCH! 91.52% of the art is lifted or reworked from my years of sketchbooks and are included to add more snap, crackle, and kaboom to the words.

[If you have still not gotten your own copy, you need to know that there is even an entire chapter—The Doodle Factor—that will teach anyone how to draw: McNair's Fearless Field Guide to Doodling & Visual Thinking. People are already sending in the surprising (to them) results of playing with the Field Guide.]

Several have written to say that even before reading the whole HATCH! they jump back on line and ordered additional copies for their staff, coworkers, boss(!), and friends.  Those are among my favorite reactions.

My publishing partner tells me we still have some of the autographed copies—available through their online store www.BookVilages.com—and you can also get HATCH! through Amazonk.

If you have read (and enjoyed) HATCH!, please add you thoughts and reviews to the growing list on the HATCH! Amzonk.com page, HERE.

If you post a review of any length on your own blog or other social media sites, please send the link!

[If you did not like it, just sit quietly and rest.]

You can also download a FREE PDF of the complete opening chapter at the top of this blog. 

By the by ... what's one of your favorite lines, quotes, or sections of HATCH! Readers seems to be struck by a wide array of all the stuff in HATCH!

 

• creativity is stronger than knowledge

"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
 ~ Eric Hoffer, authore of The True Believer

In solving problems in design, innovation, marketing, product and service developement the best answers are rarely in a book or the theories of ivy-brained academicians.

In the video below my long time friend and cohort at Disney Imagineering, Max Miller, talks of creativity in it's role in the classic "hero's journey."

Max is creating a wonderful series of brief video-casts on transformation in business and personal pursuits. Watch them all ...or as many as you can, on Max's author Facebook site: Max J Miller, Author.

Max also uses the video to review my new book HATCH! (ordering info and downloadable FREE PDF, above.)