Tea with McNair

• brainstorming tip, no.6 in a series

Number SIX? Hey, McNair, when did you post the first five?

I haven't, yet.

There's a New Year coming, a time for renewal and re-commitment. And I'm feeling generous. In one of my "next" books—my brainstorming book, TH!NK UP, Stop Arguing, Start Creating—I layout, chapter-by-chapter, my "7 Agreements of Brainstorming®" system.

The word agreements refers to my thesis that learning to do effective, powerful creative thinking (brainstorming) as a team event is merely learning to "play well with others." (We were supposed to have learned that in elementary school.) One of the key agreements is what I call learning to think like Walt (Disney.) Simply put, it means coming up with WILD ideas—the more hair-brained the better.

Every chapter of my book is filled with stories that are actual examples of the 7 Agreements in action with real clients I have worked with over the last several years. I also have been collecting great stories of these principles being lived out by great scientists, athletes, artists and others throughout history.

The chapter in TH!NK UP that explains developing WILD ideas begins with a simple, true, wonderful story. I use it in my live keynote addresses to corporate groups and seminars with business and faith-based workers.

I challenge them—and you—every time you gather to dream, solve, invent, design, create (brainstorm): "Have a contest,to see who will have the wildest idea during today's session."

You want to create lots-and-lots of ideas (hundreds, even thousands) so you will have plenty to choose from when time comes for the Critical Thinking phase. When you think you have enough ideas, add five more ideas from each person in the group. Do this in five minutes!

"Five minutes, McNair?"

Okay, three minutes!

Here's the opening of the wild ideas chapter in my book. The chapter is entitle, Donuts on the Moon.

 BUT, more is not enough. As you are creating a mountain of ideas, be on the lookout for a particular kind of idea. It is neither good nor bad. It is WILD.      

When a colleague of physicist, Niels Bohr, delivered an important speech to a group of their peers at the forefront of science, the speaker was curious as to how it was received by others in the scientific community.
    “Do they think I’m crazy?“ The young scientist asked Bohr.
    “We all agree that your idea is crazy.” Bohr told him. “What divides us is whether it is crazy enough.”

By-the-by, TH!NK UP, has been seen (and rejected) by more than a dozen major publishers. There were actually four editors who liked it a lot, but their marketing geniuses didn't get it. (Whats's the last great book marketing campaign you can remember? Can you recall one? Exactly.) If you are a publisher and would like to see and seriously consider my manuscript (fully illustrated with my cartoons and doodles)  email me and I will connect you with my agent—the indefatigable "Mr. O'Sweeney." (Email link at upper left under my photo.)

OR...I am open to a patron underwriting the cost of self-publishing the book. I am confident we will more than recover the cost in sales through my various websites and scores of speaking engagements.

Here's to a wild and creative New Year!

.

• the wexford carol (recording session video)

Here's link to video mentioned in post below. Yo-Yo Ma & Alison Krauss, The Wexford Carol. MP3 audio track is in the post below. Video takes a few seconds to load:

Yo-Yo Ma - The Wexford Carol (featuring Alison Krauss) Video - Contactmusic.com

• don't turn off the music

Is Christmas merely a date on the calendar, a day or two off from work, a reason for 40 - 70% off sales at the mall, a time to get deeper in debt? (Thank you Senator "Grinch" of Nevada.)

Christmas is a big time. It cannot be ignored. The lights, the Christmas trees—except in Washington state where it's a holiday tree. (What a bunch of kidders those Washington Idiocrats.)

 There was at least one television channel still running Christmas greetings in their commercial breaks today (26 December.) Guess who? Fox News...those radicals.

Are you still playing Christmas and other holiday music today, and for how many more days. I always play it until my birthday—and beyond. (It's the fourth day of the year, if you're keeping score.)

The wise men, according to tradition, don't even show up until January fifth. That's also the now-famous "twelfth day of Christmas" for Swedes and others who keep that tradition. (Today is turtle doves.)

If you think there's nothing new in the Christmas music department, grab Yo-yo Ma's splendid new CD, Songs of Joy & Peace (linked at left in Music list), wherein in the indefatigable cellist collaborates with a talented array of musicians from across the palette of styles and around the globe, including: James Taylor, Diana Krall, Edgar Meyer, Joshua Redman, Chris Boti, jazz legend Dave Brubeck (!) and my personal favorite Alison Kraus singing The Wexford Carol (track 8.) Remarkable. Have a listen:

Download 08 The Wexford Carol

(Video link, below.)

Keep the music playing, loud and long. These songs and carols are about far more than a holiday.

Do you hear what I hear?

I hope so.

[ See recording session: Yo-Yo Ma & Alison Krauss, ABOVE, in new post: "the wexford carol."]

• big news

.
Friday, December 4th, was my last day at Compassion International as a full time employee.

I was not fired and I did not quit. The job I was hired for turned out to be two jobs: Compassion Experience Manager (building tours administrator) and concept designer for the new traveling Mobile Compassion Xperience.

There was a learning curve re-entering the 9-to-5 world. Eventually I settled into a pace that worked—given the smorgasbord of details in scheduling 15 building tours, every week. I discovered a long-hidden ability: I can actually sit in an office and accomplish a dizzying amount of administrative tasks, for hours—five days-a-week. I tracked one day to see just how many “things” and logged 93 items—including two full building tours (more than an hour each.) Just another Thursday.
John Maxwell says:

85% of your life’s activities could easily be accomplished by a moderately intelligent high school sophomore.

My job was to manage (scheduling, coach, re-script...) Compassion’s 3x daily building tours—60-a-month. Plus special tours each week (school groups, VIPs, etc. ) The last tour I hosted, on my last day, was with 3rd graders. Perfect!

Managing the tour program was a very full-time job. I enjoyed every member of the tour team—terrific and delightful people all. I learned MUCH from them. But, we did not have nearly enough hosts. I recruited and trained more.

Before I was hired, there was modest interest in that position. When my position was posted recently they had more than 120 applicants and had not, yet, hired my replacement when I left.

I know that I made a contribution, but not nearly what I had hoped—especially creatively. I presented several ideas for adding new, immersive environments to our building tour, and received enthusiastic response from top leadership. Alas, there is “no money at this time.” I used my what freedom I had to change the content and style of our tour “script”—stories, not stats—and created a new FIELD GUIDE for Tour Hosts—a single document replacing a 3” notebook.

The big “bump in the parking lot” is that most of my time was spent on scheduling and detail management—little creative time. My supervisor shared my frustration at not having the resources to implement my concepts. He remains a big supporter of my creativity.

Mobile Compassion Xperience
Funds had been approved to develop a touring Compassion Xperience. Those funds have been canceled, for now. Here and there I created concepts which I left for that project. My boss hopes I can return for the concept, design, and launch of the Xperience. I remain very interested in that project. 

Next?
A silver lining to my year at Compassion is I now know I can spend hours doing the work (calling, emailing, etc.) to network, promote and create work opportunities. I know that the job of getting the word out about my services is mostly my responsibility. Spending a few hours each day connecting with former and potential clients WILL CREATE WORK.

I love speaking, coaching, and performing. I have done far too little this year—four times all year—only twice at Compassion, for two small groups. Like anyone, I need to be doing what I am best at and most passionate about.

Using the best parts of me, or not
 In October, I spoke to a group or Colorado dentists on “Recapturing Your Creative Spirit.” The reception was tremendous and we are planning a follow-up event for their staffers. This is a far better use of my skills, experience, and talents.

I departed Compassion knowing I made a worthy and creative contribution to their crucial work of “releasing children from poverty in Jesus name.”  Compassion is an excellent organization with high integrity. I will always be an advocate for and contributor to Compassion in my speaking and personal life.

Going forward
My plan is to remain in Colorado Springs for now, focusing on the work of building my speaking, performing, and consulting career.

I  am also in conversations with two successful organizations here in “Da Springs” that are interested in an on-going consultancy. I am open to more. I already have work in Dec., Jan., and Feb.

>> I am speaking at a conference 25-29 January in San Jose, Calif. area. I would  like to add churches or other speaking slots in Calif. on the weekends before and after that event. Email me TODAY!

Scribbling projects
My writing has never stopped. I have two new books that I hope to have in “proposal mode” in early 2010. (And I am still seeking a publisher for my brainstorming book, TH!NK UP, Learning To Play Well With Others. (Or . . . a patron to help self publish it, for now.) I will also pursue magazine work—writing and cartooning—to keep me creatin’.

Contacts and ideas are hereby requested
Mostly, I am interesting focusing on tomorrow and not obsessing on the details of the past. Yesterday really is “the place you can’t get to from here.”  (My HR file states that I am re-hirable at Compassion.) I had at least three senior management folks there ask me if I will be available for consulting. Yup, but not until tomorrow after 6 am.

I learned a lot, made a contribution, and I am ready to move forward, enthusiastically and energetically, to make much better use of the best of me that my Creator entrusted me to make good use of all the time.

Thanks for your support throughout all of this! If you have any ideas about engaging my services call soon. You can afford me.

Warmly,  McNair

email :: [email protected]

New Snailus Mailus ::
McNairWilson + 4419 Centennial Blvd./№ 252 + Colorado Springs CO 80907