I’ve been running for almost as long as I’ve been a creative professional and I can’t help but notice ways that running fuels the creative side of me. Here are a five ways I think running is good for the creative spirit.

Have a finish line.

I don’t like running on the treadmill or running laps. It’s too easy to quit early. That’s why I like to run out and back or in a big loop. Once you’re miles from the finish line, there is only one way to get back, and there is no copping out.

I find the creative process parallels that desire to bail before the finish line. I get tired of tweaking, changing, refining, etc. To avoid that “good enough” mindset, I set myself clear goals – as clear as I can make them. It gives me something to aim for. Goals keeps me accountable.

It’s not always pleasant, but push through.

When you put that running gear on and head out the door you’re making an agreement with yourself. You’re acknowledging there is a good chance this could suck, and you’re OK with that possibility. When I set out to run I know I’m going to have a bit of knee pain, maybe some blisters, it might be bloody hot outside, and the list goes on.

In the same way, when I sit down to create something new, I’m making the same sort of agreement with myself; this process may be ugly, painful, and down right taxing.

Developing the discipline to PUSH THROUGH the unpleasantries is vital to both running and the creative process.

Feel something different.

I run in Vibram Five Fingers for several reasons, but one of them is because I love the feeling of earth beneath my feet. Feeling something different or out of the ordinary engages me as a runner. I often take notice of what is “different” from my everyday routine while I’m out running. I notice the slight pain in my knee, my elevated heart rate, the heat of the sun, or the bitter cold chill of winter. I notice the sights, sounds, and smells that are different than spending most of my days indoors – behind a computer. I try and take note of these differences, and I let them drawl out thoughts or emotions that might otherwise be trapped by they everyday routine of life.

Engaging the different or new has a direct impact on my creative process. The “different” brings new aspects or elements into the process that might not otherwise have been there.

Discipline the mind.

I swear, running is 90% mind games. Sure, it takes a bit of effort to get your body to comply with what you’re asking of it, but that’s such a small part of the process. It’s a mind game convincing yourself that today is a good day to run, that it’s going to be worth the effort, that you really can do this. Shutting up all the little voices that tell you otherwise is THE name of the game.

I’ve been a full-time creative for almost 15 years, and I still have to fight off those little voices that tell me I can’t bring something new and innovative to the table. The discipline of controlling those thoughts and looking for solutions is vital.

Finding reasons to keep on task, pressing forward, and finishing is a powerful way to combat all the reasons not to.

Consistency matters

While in Tampa I joined a running group that started their daily miles at 4:30am. During one of our morning jogs one of my fellow runners asked me what the difference is between taking 3 weeks off of running and 3 months. His answer: not a damn thing.

Consistency counts in running, just like it counts in the creative process. Sure, runners need time for recovery and creatives need time to decompress, but checking out of either disciplines for months at a time can really throw your rhythm off.

When I need time to recover after a race or injury I find other ways to keep my cardio up and my body active (swimming, cycling, weight training). When I need time to decompress from the design process I’ll often take on a project in the wood shop or throw my creative energy behind the lens of a camera.

Diversifying ways of staying creative can help avoid burning out.

One of the brightest individuals I’ve ever met approached me a few weeks ago about joining him for an innovation bootcamp of sorts. He’s hand picked 2 other co-workers as well, and we’re essentially going to be soaking up as much knowledge from this individual as we possibly can over the next nine months. I’m honored and completely thrilled to be on the team.

We had our first session this week, and I thought I would post a few things I find particularly insightful as we go through the process.

The question came up, does innovation come from intuition or inspiration? He walked us through some ways that both intuition and inspiration both can spur innovation, and how to look for ways to cox it out of either.

One idea that surfaced in the corse of this discussion that I just loved was that inspiration requires you to be open to surprises. Let that one sink in – it’s a gem.

Politics aside, I was saddened to hear that Senator Ted Stevens died this week.

He held the senate seat for the great state of Alaska long before I was born there and long after I left. While at GSL Solutions I had the opportunity to design Senator Stevens’ Web site. The contract came in, and because of my affinity for Alaska, I was eager to work with his staff.

The irony of Mr. Stevens’ comments regarding the internet as a series of tubes was not lost on the small, but talented, group of Web developers. We had a lot of fun with the project, and the folks on Capitol Hill were all very good sports.

My boss, at the time, ended up buying me a t-shirt with a series of tubes on it. Classic.

Here is an old screen shot:

My favorite lunchtime pizza place went out of business a couple of weeks ago. I knew it was too good to be true. They had the best pizza in town (New York style thin crust), and the prices were a steal.

I had a hunch when I first stepped foot in the place a little over a hear ago that they would most likely end up like the majority of newly established restaurants, and go out of business within the first few years. Sad story.

One of my first real jobs during high school and college was working at a local pizza place, in the small town I grew up in. To this day, it was one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had.

I started out dressing pizzas and graduated to running the ovens, and then on to pretty much every aspect of the place. I loved it, and I’ve always wanted to open a pizza joint ever since.

I know the odds of winning at the restaurant game are NOT good. So for now, I’ll put that distraction aside and just morn the loss of good local pie.

R.I.P. New York Pizza

Microformats Book Specification

The book specification is an extension of the hProduct draft schema for Microformats. It should should be subject to, and likewise inherit, the guiding specifications for hProduct schema as it continues to solidify.

Table of Contents

• ISBN-10/ISBN-13/EAN.UCC-13
• Title
• Subtitle
• Contributor name(s) and role(s)
• Publisher/Imprint/Brand Name
• Price
• Product Form (Format/Binding/Packaging)
• Publication Date
• BISAC Subject
• Language
• Series Name and Number Within Series
• Edition Number
• Edition Type and Edition Description
• ONIX Audience Code
• Age Range of Target
• Territorial rights
• Weight and Dimensions
• Page Count, Running Time, Extent
• Textual Description
• Summary or Synopsis
• Cover Thumbnail
• Working Example

<p>ISBN-13: <span class="isbn isbn-10">1585425885</span></p>
<p>ISBN-13: <span class="isbn isbn-13">978-1585425884</span></p>

<p>Title: <span class="title">The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life</span></p>

<p>Title: <span class="title">The Power of Kindness: <span class="subtitle">The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life</span></span></p>

<p>Author: <a class="vcard contributor author url"><span class="fn">Piero</span> <span class="n">Ferrucci</span></a></p>

<p>Publisher: <span class="vcard publisher"><span class="fn org">Tarcher</span></span></p>

<p>Price: <span class="price msrp">$13.95</span></p>

<p>[<span class="product-form">Paperback</span>]</p>

<p>Publication Date: <span class="pub-date">October 4, 2007</span></p>

<p>Subject: <span class="subject PHI015000">Philosophy / Mind & Body</span></p>

<p>Language: <span class="lang eng">English</span></p>

<p>Series: <span class="series">The Way of The Buddhist Series</span> Book Number <span class="series-number">7</span></p>

<p>Edition Number: <span class="edition-number">3</span></p>

<p>Edition Type: <span class="edition-type lte">Large Print</span></p>

<p>Primary Audience: <span class="audience general">General</span></p>

<p>Age range: <span class="age">18+</span></p>

<p>Territorial rights: <span class="rights world">Whole World</span></p>

<p>Size: <span class="dimensions"><span class="width">6</span> x <span class="length">8</span> x <span class="depth">0.9</span> in.</span> <span class="dimensions">152 x 203 x 22 mm.</span></p>
<p>Weight: <span class="weight us">1.09 lb</span> | <span class="weight metric">494 gms</span></p>

<p>Page Count: <span class="page-count">368</span></div>
<p>Run Time: <span class="run-time">01:05:05</span></p>

<div class="description">	
	<p>Piero Ferrucci warns against the dangers of "global cooling." As the pace of living grows faster and the impact of new technologies more insistent, communications become hurried and impersonal. The drive for profit overrides the heart. Warmth and genuine presence fade.</p>
 
	<p>The Power of Kindness is a stirring examination of a simple but profound concept. Piero Ferrucci, one of the world's most respected transpersonal psychologists, explores the many surprising facets of kindness and argues that it is this trait that will not only lead to our own individual happiness and the happiness of those around us, but will guide us in a world that has become cold, anxious, difficult, and frightening.</p>
 
	<p>In eighteen interlocking chapters, Dr. Ferrucci reveals that the kindest people are the most likely to thrive, to enable others to thrive, and to slowly but steadily turn our world away from violence, self-centeredness, and narcissism-and toward love. Writing with a rare combination of sensitivity and intellectual depth, Dr. Ferrucci shows that, ultimately, kindness is not a luxury in our world but rather a necessity for us all.</p>
</div>

<p class="summary">Citing a global phenomenon of impersonal human relations and materialism, a respected transpersonal psychologist argues that individual happiness can occur only through acts of kindness, in a resource that explores eighteen expressions of kindness while demonstrating how kind people are the most likely to survive and thrive in a hostile world. By the author of What We May Be. Reprint. 50,000 first printing.</p>

<img src="../images/978-1585425884.jpg" alt="The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life" class="cover thumb" />

Working Example

<div class="product hproduct book">
  <img src="../images/978-1585425884.jpg" alt="The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life" class="cover thumb" />
  <p>Title: <span class="title">The Power of Kindness: <span class="subtitle">The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life</span></span> [<span class="product-form">Paperback</span>]</p>
  <p>Author: <a class="vcard contributor author url"><span class="fn">Piero</span> <span class="n">Ferrucci</span></a></p>
  <p>List Price:<span class="price msrp">$16.99</span></p>
  <p class="summary">Citing a global phenomenon of impersonal human relations and materialism, a respected transpersonal psychologist argues that individual happiness can occur only through acts of kindness, in a resource that explores eighteen expressions of kindness while demonstrating how kind people are the most likely to survive and thrive in a hostile world. By the author of What We May Be. Reprint. 50,000 first printing.</p>
  <div class="description">	
    <p>Piero Ferrucci warns against the dangers of "global cooling." As the pace of living grows faster and the impact of new technologies more insistent, communications become hurried and impersonal. The drive for profit overrides the heart. Warmth and genuine presence fade.</p>
    <p>The Power of Kindness is a stirring examination of a simple but profound concept. Piero Ferrucci, one of the world's most respected transpersonal psychologists, explores the many surprising facets of kindness and argues that it is this trait that will not only lead to our own individual happiness and the happiness of those around us, but will guide us in a world that has become cold, anxious, difficult, and frightening.</p>
    <p>In eighteen interlocking chapters, Dr. Ferrucci reveals that the kindest people are the most likely to thrive, to enable others to thrive, and to slowly but steadily turn our world away from violence, self-centeredness, and narcissism-and toward love. Writing with a rare combination of sensitivity and intellectual depth, Dr. Ferrucci shows that, ultimately, kindness is not a luxury in our world but rather a necessity for us all.</p>
  </div>
  <p>Publisher: <span class="vcard publisher"><span class="fn org">Tarcher</span></span></p>
  <p>Price: <span class="price msrp">$13.95</span></p>
  <p>Publication Date: <span class="pub-date">October 4, 2007</span></p>
  <p>Subject: <span class="subject PHI015000">Philosophy: Mind and Body</span></p>
  <p>Language: <span class="lang eng">English</span></p>
  <p>ISBN-13: <span class="isbn isbn-10">1585425885</span></p>
  <p>ISBN-13: <span class="isbn isbn-13">978-1585425884</span></p>
  <p>Series: <span class="series">The Way of The Buddhist Series</span> Book Number <span class="series-number">7</span></p>
  <p>Edition Number: <span class="edition-number">3</span></p>
  <p>Edition Type: <span class="edition-type lte">Large Print</span></p>
  <p>Primary Audience: <span class="audience general">General</span></p>
  <p>Age range: <span class="age">18+</span></p>
  <p>Territorial rights: <span class="rights world">Whole World</span></p>
  <p>Size: <span class="dimensions"><span class="width">6</span> x <span class="length">8</span> x <span class="depth">0.9</span> in.</span> <span class="dimensions">152 x 203 x 22 mm.</span></p>
  <p>Weight: <span class="weight us">1.09 lb</span> | <span class="weight metric">494 gms</span></p>
  <p>Page Count: <span class="page-count">304</span></p>
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I’m also haunted by the fact that once you put something online it has a way of sticking around and defining your future to a degree – even if the moment that you captured was purely a moment and nothing more.

So I find myself looking for something “professional” to write about, because writing about friends who bail on you, struggles at work, questions about religion, or some other random “conflict”, all seem to create a negative space around you that just gets glued to your ‘digital self’.

For me, the ‘social web’ has turned into a mechanism used, for little more, than defining your online persona. It tires me out, after all, I’m an introvert by nature.

I think part of the success of the social web is that it feeds our inherent desire to be known. It lowers the threshold for most people to share just because they want their voice to be heard.

I think it’s a bit of fools gold though – at least it was for me.

The litmus test was to just stop talking and see if anyone notices. I had my hunch – which was confirmed when I stopped writing “meaningful” blogs and closed my Facebook and Twitter account.

Virtually no one noticed – which is probably more of an outliner than I would like to admit. Either way, it’s telling.

Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull – May 1st and 2nd, 2010 from Sean Stiegemeier on Vimeo.

Last Minutes with ODEN from phos pictures on Vimeo.

Heart wrenching short film shot on a Canon EOS 7D.

The Productivity Myth

via HarvardBusiness.org

Awesome never dies…

If you work in an office, watch (listen) to this!!

Further inspiration:

• 43folders
• Personal URL

Owl City

What struck me most about his presentation was his ability to talk about Web design and user experience in a narrative. The narrative involved the relationship a user has with a site, and how the site aught to seduce the user – which is not the point I’m trying to make though.

The real beauty, in my opinion, about his story was that he was able to tap into the wealth of knowledge, experience and insight that he’s gained over the years, and package it in such a non-technical presentation.

That kind of knowledge only comes with a deep understanding of your craft. It surfaces in the subtleties of conversation, in the details of your work, and in the quality you’re able to deliver.

His talk fueled the desire to continue to own my craft. To know it inside and out.

Further Reading

• Andy Budd: Blogography
• Andy Budd: Founder at Clearleft
• An Event Apart
• An Event Apart: San Francisco 2009

Update
Andy’s talk on Seductive Design

Andy Budd – Seductive Design from Build on Vimeo.

Andy Budd speaking on Seductive Design at Build — http://buildconference.com.

Amelia picked up the running shoes where I had left them. She’s gone from anti running to hardcore runner within the last year. She’s been accompanied by a good friend and running partner, and together they banged out several races last summer – one of which was a half marathon. They are both training for a 25k this spring, and I would be surprised if they didn’t run a full marathon by the time summer is over.

Historically, I was the runner in our family, which isn’t saying much. The longest road race I’ve ever been in was a 5k, and that was last summer (which hurt far more than I care to admit). I ran a 10k as part of a triathlon, but that’s the extent of it.

Amelia and Jen have been a bit of an inspiration over the past year. They ran through the cold winter months, and they are both in great shape for a rockin racing season. So, a few weeks ago I picked up the running shoes again in hopes to tag along for their 25k. So far, no real knee pain to speak of, and my heart is playing nicely again. Two thumbs up.

Amelia and Jen just started a running blog. Be sure to check it out: www.torunisfun.com

Their first half marathon

I’ll be honest, I felt like a fish out of water. Both Retha and Jean are pros, so I was the rookie on the team. Plus, most of the photography I’ve done has been candid, due to the fact it usually involves children running around. So working with models was a stretch for me. Lucky for me though, Joey and Gina were easy going and a pleasure to work with. After watching Retha jump in and make a few shots happen I found enough courage to make a few of my own.

I had such a great time shooting this weekend that I’m going to organize something similar on the west side of the state for late February. If you’re interested, please let me know!

Event Photos

Horsing around in Photoshop

Major thanks to Retha for putting this event together and to Joey and Gina for standing in for us!!

Be sure to visit:

Moments Captured by Retha

Mathewson Photography

Krow Photography

Click here to view the iTunes source.

If you missed the holiday giveaway, then click here.

Switchfoot has been my favorite band since they’re debut album “Legend of Chin“.

There is a different vibe this time around. This album feels more personal. It tires me out when people try and inject meaning into art that may or may-not be there – but this album is incredibly deep.

Love seems to be a growing theme in Jon’s lyrics – the idea, theology, practicality, loss, hope… however you want to pin it. I first noticed it in his solo albums, and was pleased to hear it echoed in this new record. It’s not for pop radio and way too deep for church radio to grasp.

There are some albums in life that are better left un-diluted by pop and church culture. This is one of them.

I hope you buy this album. It’s an investment into yourself you wont regret, and shouldn’t live without.

Mess of Me