Shiny Things
For a long time now I've struggled with one "failing" in my life, completion. It has always felt as if I've got hundreds of open ended, unfinished thoughts, ideas and projects, just waiting for me to get back and wrap them up.
Apparently I'm not the only one! This weekend, while attending the Seed Conference, I heard Jim Coudal speak to this very issue during his talk. He played a short film called 'Regrets' (it's ok, I'll wait while you go watch it, it's only a few minutes long). To summarize what he said on the subject, these moments of pursuing the shiny things aren't a weakness or failing at all. They are a powerful spark that can trigger an even greater creative endeavor. It is in our best interest to follow them where the might go, even if that's no where. We may be on to something pivotal and not even realize it yet. If that is not the case then you gain something valuable by learning from or through the experience. Thus our goal is not to "wrap things up" but to passionately go after the current idea and see where it leads you. It's ok to leave some things in life as loose ends, "unfinished" as it were. They are only failures if you choose to see them that way.
Contrary to my previous belief I'm not alone in my pursuit of the next shiny thing, and so as Gary Vaynerchuk put it, I'm embracing my DNA. Yup it's gonna be shiny thing after shiny thing, and hopefully learn something new along the way.
June 8th, 2008 / 226 Comments / Trackback