Positive 6 Creative

New book coming out beginning of 2011

Well here it is! “Get it Done. Make it Great. A Decade of Creative Heroics” is looking to be completed sometime this fall with an early 2011 publish date. Writing about my career and work has been an interesting experience to say the least. I’m not much for puffery or self-promotion in general. But as I was updating my portfolio at the end of 2009 – sifting through over a decade of work – I began to reminisce about projects and the stories that are attached to each.

What I realized is that there is a constant theme of shoestring budgets, design constraints out the whazoo and deadlines that seem virtually impossible looking back. So I thought I’d tell some stories and show some work. What the heck? I think it could resonate with clients and designers alike. I have no real expectations about the book’s success. At this point it’s a completely self-indulgent project. But then what memoir isn’t?

More news on the book as it gets closer to completion. Also in talks with my friends at Monkey C to have a launch party and lecture with limited edition prints for sale at their gallery once this baby is published and available. Ooohh… Big time, baby! ; )

-N

A Tanzanian man rests momentarily during his work day of breaking rocks.

We’ve all done it. Complained and whined about having to get up and go to work. Ugh – another day at the office/job site/restaurant/retail store… We reluctantly get into our safe and reliable vehicles and drive down nicely paved roads. On our way we might stop at a coffee shop and be a little annoyed with the line at the counter – 5 minutes to get my coffee! Morning beverage in hand, we battle commute hour traffic in the comfort of our vehicles, listening to the radio/CDs/iPods… You see what I’m getting at.

Now I’m not going to rant here – this is not the forum. And I’ll be honest, I don’t complain about work. I’m incredibly fortunate to love what I do. Plus my parents brought me up to be grateful for the opportunity to provide a living for myself. But I am guilty of being petty and annoyed with the smallest of inconveniences from time to time. So as I was sifting through the volumes of photos from last week’s shoot in Tanzania, I was quickly reminded how FANTASTIC we all have it!

The attached picture is of a man taking a break from his work of busting rocks into gravel. He’s not a particularly young man – probably been doing this work for decades. I would also guess that he doesn’t much care for it, either. Who would? But he does it. I don’t know that he doesn’t complain, and I wouldn’t fault him if he did. Complain away my friend. However after meeting and working with Tanzanians for a week, my guess is he doesn’t complain. In fact he is probably thankful for the work. And there is something to be learned from that I think.

And so I sit in my comfortable, ergonomically correct chair, Starbucks in hand and music playing. I’m tired from jet lag and 12 hour days. I would like nothing more than to take the rest of the day off and go home for some rest. But I won’t. I also don’t feel guilty, bad or self conscious about the comparatively luxurious life I lead. This is what our ancestors sacrificed for and it would be inappropriate to think that way. But I do have a renewed appreciation for it, that’s for sure. And in about 3 hours when I’m completely exhausted from jet lag and work, I will go for a short walk, wake myself up a bit – maybe another cup of coffee – and get back to work. Because no matter how tired I may be, it’s not the same kind of tired that a man feels busting rock all day in the African heat.

Have a good day – I know I will!

-N