Category: Bits and pieces (Page 28 of 47)

There is a crack in everything

March 16, 2009 /

I am a fan of Leonard Cohen and there is a part in the Anthem lyrics that means a lot:

There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

In other words, we need to be open to let the light in – and to let our own light out.

Added in a comment by Sue James

Perhaps another way of expressing this can also be found in the words of another poet – Kahlil Gibran:

“Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.”

This was originally posted at another (now extinct) blog of mine.

The World Clock – Time Zones

March 11, 2009 /

The World Clock – Time Zones is a great tool if you need to check time in other places. The starting page lists many but you can also create Personal World Clock with just the cities you need.

There is The World Clock Meeting Planner.

Need to make a call to someone far away? Need to arrange a videoconference, telephone- or net-based meeting with several people spread around the globe? This utility should help you find a convenient time, so that no one has to be up during the middle of the night.

Another tool is The Fixed Time World Clock.

Have you planned a web cast, online chat, teleconference call or other event where users from all over the world might participate? The Fixed Time World Clock can help tell your users when this event will happen in their local time zone

There is also Time Zone Converter, do time zone conversions between two cities.

Benjamin Zander on music and passion

March 10, 2009 /

One of my favourite TED Talks is Benjamin Zander: Classical music with shining eyes. Do not let the title fool you, the talk is about music and passion but also brings up leadership.

Benjamin Zander has two infectious passions: classical music, and helping us all realize our untapped love for it — and by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences, new connections.

What stuck with me is his comments about when he considered that as a conductor he makes no sound. Instead his role is a leader, to have the ability to make other people powerful and to awaken possibilities in other people. Benjamin also says that a leader shall never doubt the capacity of the people he is leading.

Benjamin Zander mentions that he measures success in how many eyes are shining. My eyes were shining bright after watching this talk.

This was originally posted at Forty Plus Two, another blog of mine.

A different way to think about creative genius

March 5, 2009 /

At TED Talks there is a terrific talk by Elizabeth Gilbert: A different way to think about creative genius.

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

I like this talk a lot and am also very impressed by her presentation. No PowerPoint or other stuff, “only” her talking and I am spellbound. There are lessons to be learned.

Update April 17, 2009
Men With Pens write about How to Stay Sane and Alive if You’re Creative.

Update November 20, 2009
Marion Chapsal has posted a great analysis of this presentation at Olé to You! Don’t Be Afraid, Just Do Your Talk!

Update January 4, 2010
At Lateral Action is a great post about Elizabeth Gilbert: Is Creativity Divinely Inspired?

This was originally posted at Forty Plus Two, another blog of mine.

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑