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2011-06-23T07:29:00.001-07:00

Need input blog has moved! Visit my new site at http://www.needinputblog.com.

Five Lessons Your Dog Can Teach You About Blogging

2011-06-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

There's a reason why dogs are so often called man's best friend.

They're devoted to us. They make us laugh. They're always there to greet us after a long day.

In fact, dogs can teach us a thing or two about blogging. Or more specifically, five things:

1. Loyalty

Any dog lover knows that one of the best things about the furry creatures is that they're incredibly loyal. They'll stick by your side no matter what.

This same lesson can be applied to blogging. If you're loyal to your readers, if you stick with them through their ups and downs, and pay attention to their comments and concerns, they'll return the loyalty.

In turn, this loyal readership will translate into higher traffic numbers, greater RSS/e-mail subscription rates and if you offer products or services on your blog, higher sales.

2. Personality

Though she may annoy me at times with her constant need for attention, my two-year-old Beagle, Rocket (pictured above), is never short on personality. She has an endless number of quirks, and I would never mistake another dog for her because of these easily recognizable traits.

Similarly, you need to insert your personality into your blog. Your readers want to get to know you, and will relate to your posts much more if you talk about your kids, the terrible day you had yesterday, or of course, your pets.

Just make sure you relate your experiences back to your blog topic so your readers don't get lost.

3. Humor

Another reason dogs make great companions: they make us laugh.

Dogs have all sorts of funny habits that make us humans smile even when we're having a bad day. My dog does this thing my husband and I call "flat dog" - she lays on her belly with all four legs extended, seemingly defying the laws of physics - and it never ceases to get a chuckle out of me.

Add humor to your blog posts! Humor lifts the mood of any writing, and can be especially beneficial to lighten up a more boring, informational topic, but adds value to any post.

4. Playfulness

Rocket is always ready to play. As a Beagle, she's not as into playing fetch as other breeds, but one of her favorite activities in the entire world is to go to the dog park.

She'll run in circles and play with the other dogs for as long as I can keep myself from getting bored (I know, bad owner).

Add a sense of playfulness to your blog posts.

I realize this isn't possible with every topic and every post, but readers will be much more likely to want to come back if you add some fun here and there to your writing rather than keeping it all doom and gloom and seriousness.

5. Forgiveness

Going along with their loyalty tendencies, dogs have a wonderful ability to forgive, no matter what.

For instance, I just gave my dog a bath - her least favorite activity in the world aside from being in a car - and though she was not exactly happy at the time, she quickly forgave me and is now laying at my feet while I write.

Forgive your readers if they don't like your post.

Or if someone makes a mean comment you don't think you deserved, or don't comment as often as you'd like.

Or, simply, if they choose to not come back.

You can't please everyone all of the time.

Just do your best to keep readers as engaged as possible, and don't take it personally when someone criticizes you or doesn't like what you have to say.

Similarly, forgive your fellow bloggers for their bad days as well - no one is perfect!

So the next time you're looking for blogging inspiration, look no further than your four-legged friend. That wagging tail may be just the push you need to spark your creativity and get your blog to the next level.

Why the World Needs Introverts

2011-06-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Did you know that around 60 to 70 percent of the world population considers themselves to be extroverted?

(These numbers may vary and were based on none-scientific Googling, but still!)

That means that the majority of humankind is outgoing, and therefore tends to be energized by people, loves being around crowds, feels depressed when they don't have constant human interaction, etc.

What about the other 30 to 40 percent of us?

We are introverts.

I am an introvert.

This means I:

Feel most comfortable by myself
Though I enjoy interaction with others, need time to "recharge" after even a few hours of being with people
Feel drained rather than energized by parties or large groups
Am particularly selective about who I spend time and don't want to "waste" time with people I find uninteresting

In short, I find being around people tiring. Not that it's not worth it at times, but even the thought of being around too many people for too long makes me anxious.

Understanding introverts

To an extrovert, these qualities no doubt sound crazy.

Extroverts are adored by society, seen as loving, friendly, warm, approachable, etc.

Introverts are often misunderstood and even looked down upon because of their strange and perplexing qualities. As Jonathan Rauch, well-known self-proclaimed introvert and correspondent for The Atlantic says, extroverts have little understanding of the introvert mentality:

"Extroverts have little or no grasp of introversion. They assume that company, especially their own, is always welcome. They cannot imagine why someone would need to be alone; indeed, they often take umbrage at the suggestion."

Extroverts dominate the social scene. They are better networkers. They make friends quicker.

I've often felt left out as an introvert. I've never been an instant hit at a party. I've never wowed the room with jokes. I envy the people who do.

Rauch says being an introvert is even more difficult as a female, as women introverts are more likely to be perceived as timid, withdrawn or haughty.

Damn, sometimes, I wish I was an extrovert.

The world needs introverts

Over the past 24 years of my introverted existence, I've had many people tell me that I'm hard to approach. That maybe I come off as being "snobby" at times. I've never known how to change it - I'm simply a person who likes to observe, rather than initiate conversation. I'm introverted.

Introverts think before they speak. They are pitiful at small talk, gravitating instead toward meaningful conversation. They often are able to more deeply understand others because they spend so much time observing them.

In short: we need introverts.

Introverts listen. They have quality conversations. They feed the extroverts' need for attention.

But it's not easy to be an introvert.

So if you're an extrovert, understand that the person next to you at a party might not be rude, snobby or even shy - they may be an introvert.

Understand that we have a place in this world, too.

Though you may dominate most of public life, we are here, and we are making a difference in our own way.

And as Jonathan puts it:

Being an introvert "it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation."

Read Jonathan Rauch's full article on introversion here.

Focusing on Strengths Rather Than Weaknesses

2011-06-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

As a society, we devote most of our energy to focusing on our weaknesses when we should instead be embracing and improving our strengths.

As adults this habit comes naturally to us, and we're accustomed to concentrating on our faults the majority of the time. This leads us to spending a disproportionate amount of time fretting over the skills we are "bad" at: public speaking, organization, time management, (insert thing you'd like to be better at here), etc. because we think we need these skills to be a successful person.

This obsession with weakness has been ingrained in us since we were little kids, where we were taught that our strengths just don't matter as much as our weaknesses. This was reinforced by our teachers (through no fault of their own - they are just following the system), and usually through our parents as well.

An A Doesn't Matter as Much as an D...

Think about it.

If a student brings home an A in science class, but a D in English, he is told to focus solely on improving his English grade - while ignoring his obviously natural ability for science.

If a JV basketball player is an incredible defender, but misses every free-throw shot she takes, she is instructed to spend all of her time practicing her free-throws, not further developing her defensive skills.

If a shy teenager is forced to take part in the school's debate team in the attempt to make him a more outgoing person, this is ignoring his natural strength to quietly observe and connect with others in a calm manner.

This is not to say that there is no benefit in having some level of ability to do a lot of things - from a young age onward, kids should be learning a variety of different subject matters and acquiring many different skills through their education and outside activities.

But young people shouldn't be punished because they don't have a natural ability for something. They shouldn't be required to spend all their time improving their skills on a subject or activity that they have no interest or natural talent in. Instead, they should be given ample time to focus on improving what they already have an innate ability for - and so should we.

Stop trying to be average at everything

As an adult, it's highly counterproductive to focus only on our weaknesses.

Even if we spend hours, days, even years trying to develop our perceived faults, we will only ever really become mediocre at these weaknesses (or they wouldn't be weaknesses, would they?). By spending all of our time attempting to improve our public speaking ability, we will generally become an average public speaker, never an outstanding one.

But what if we took that same drive to improve and put it towards our innate writing ability instead? We would then have the possibility of becoming a fantastic writer, rather than a tolerable speaker.

Discover your strengths...and work to improve them

There is an entire book devoted to the subject of discovering and improving upon your strengths aptly titled, Strengths Finder 2.0. It's an overall interesting read and discusses further why you should focus on your strengths, but the most useful part of the book is its Strength Finder assessment. The test uses a series of proven questions to determine your top five strengths.

For example, my top five strengths were:

1. Learner: I have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve.

2. Futuristic: I am inspired by the future and what could be.

3. Individualization: I am intrigued by the unique qualities of each individual person and can figure out how people who are different can work together productively.

4. Input: I have a craving to know more and tend to collect and archive information.

5. Command: I have presence, can take control of situations and make decisions.

Of the five strengths listed in the Strength Finder results, the last one - command - was the most surprising to me.

I've never thought of myself as a person in control, someone able to make decisions for myself or others.

Obviously, this is a strength that is largely undeveloped, giving me a lot of room to improve upon. Which is kind of exciting. (Me? Have presence? I like the sound of that...)

Finding your own strengths

There's no need to buy Strengths Finder 2.0 if you don't want to spend the money (if you're interested though, you can buy it here through an affiliate link). All you need to do is to start becoming more aware of your own abilities and ask yourself these questions:

What have you always felt that you were "naturally good at?" Helping others? Leading? Coming up with great ideas? Focusing?

Do you take the time to practice and improve these areas that you're already strong at, or do you focus instead solely on areas of weakness?

If you asked your friends and family what your strongest attributes were, what would they say? (If you don't know, ask them!)

Once you have your answers, take the time and create a plan on how to further develop your strengths. They are likely your best attributes, and will lead to greater success and confidence if you take the time and effort to develop them.

This Year's Top Five Inspirational Books For Your Summer Reading List

2011-06-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is scorching hot (seriously, fellow East Coasters, what happened to spring?), we all could use some new reading material. Here are my top five books from the first half of 2011 that will inspire you as you huddle by your air conditioner this summer:

1. Poke the Box by Seth Godin

Seth Godin has incited a following (or Tribe, as you might know it as...) for a reason: he's incredibly inspiring. His latest book, published under his new experimental publishing platform, The Domino Project, falls nicely into this category of inspiration.

Poke the Box is a quick read packed full of ideas about how to stop asking for permission and just do. It will call you to action and encourage you to take initiative.

So shake up your life and read it!

2. Do the Work by Steven Pressfield

Do the Work is Steven Pressfield's followup to The War of Art, the book where the thought-provoking author introduces the concept of Resistance to the world.

This new manifesto is designed to take you through a project from A to Z, helping you work through the entire process of its creation - from the inevitable sticking points in the middle to the fear-inducing shipping point at the end. Do the Work will inspire you to not only do your real work, but to finish and ship it as well.

3. Evil Plans: Having Fun on the Road to World Domination by Hugh MacLeod

I love this book. Read it. Enough said.

Just kidding. I'll give you a little more information - but I do just absolutely love Evil Plans.

For one thing, the title rocks.

And the book itself is incredibly inspiring. It introduces the idea that everybody needs an EVIL PLAN to get away from boring, dead-end jobs they hate, and to start doing something they love.

Ignore Everybody will inspire you to do something that matters - and to have fun along the way.

4. Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions by Guy Kawasaki

For anyone interested in business (and we all should be - who really wants to be a starving artist?), the newest book by Apple's former chief evangelist is a must-read.

The book outlines Kawasaki's method of how to enchant and draw customers into your business by using technology, and emphasizes trust and likability as key points on the road to success.

Whether you're part of a small business, an artist or entrepreneur, Kawasaki's art of how to influence others is a fascinating, inspiring read.

5. Bossypants by Tina Fey

Yes, I realize this book doesn't fit in exactly the same category as the others. It's not a self help-book, and won't tell you what to do to change your life. But the 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live star is insanely funny, and hey, everyone needs a good laugh sometimes.

Plus, Tina Fey's story is incredibly inspiring - being a woman comic takes balls (chuckle), and she's got 'em. While you may not be itching to become a comedian superstar anytime soon, her life may just infuse you with so much warmth and fuzziness that you become motivated enough to do what you were always meant to do in this world.

Become a Creative Doer, Not Thinker

2011-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves a great beginning.

At the beginning of a new diet, it's easy to be motivated (not so much so after a few weeks).

At the beginning of a new relationship, both people easily look over one another's faults, spending their energy instead on the intoxicating feeling of new love.

At the beginning of a road trip, driving sounds fun (not so true by the end).

Let's face it: beginnings are exciting.

And the conception of a new idea is one of the most exhilarating beginnings of all.

But when it comes to ideas, not only is it important to be passionate and motivated at the start, it's crucial to stay enthused throughout the process of making the idea happen, or you'll risk turning into a thinker, not a doer.

Committing to an idea

When creative people first conceive a new idea, the idea is treated as if it's the most brilliant, exciting thing ever dreamed up. As someone with an idea, if you're really passionate about it, you may find yourself jumping up and down, telling all your friends and family, and becoming obsessed with the idea. It's going to be the greatest business/book/website/product ever, you'll tell yourself.

But as the reality of actually doing the idea sets in, your enthusiasm will most likely fade.

You'll realize it's going to take a lot of work. It may also take time, and money, and make your friends and family mad at you because you no longer are focused on them, and take away any social life that you previously had.

In fact, after giving it a lot of thought and maybe even trying out the beginning stages of creating your idea, you may start to doubt that this idea was ever that good in the first place.

If you're a freelancer, or thinking up a project outside of your normal workplace, you'll become highly aware of the fact that you are trying to tackle this idea on your own, with no one to be accountable to, no one to tell you what to do, and worst of all, no outside support. You may suddenly realize what you hadn't fully thought of before: it's all on you to complete this idea.

As if all that isn't enough, you'll also become hit with the reality that this idea, if you actually try and do it, will take over your life, leaving you no room to tackle any other brilliant ideas that may come your way. Everything else will be put on the back burner - this idea, if you make it happen, has the potential to take up months, years, even decades of your life. (Whoa!)

Facing Resistance head on

The actuality of completing an idea and all the work that you'll need to put into its creation is scary enough in itself, and Resistance doesn't make it any easier.

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, explains Resistance as the negative force that keeps you from doing your real work.

Resistance will undoubtedly show itself differently to different people, but here are some of the ways Resistance may show up when you try to make your idea happen:

You may all of a sudden think you're not a good enough writer/artist/musician/businessperson to complete your idea
You may be so obsessed with being "perfect" that you never actually ship your idea to the world
You may encounter writer's block (if you're a blogger, novelist, etc.) or a block in your creativity
You may become deathly afraid of failure
You may become deathly afraid of success

Resistance can show its head in countless other ways, but it always acts as a form of doubt - the voice inside your head that tells you that you can't do something.

Don't let Resistance steal your dreams

Don't give into the Resistance. Yes, attempting your idea will take a lot of work, time and maybe even money, but if you're really passionate about it, if you really believe in it - it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.

Don't think. Do.

The world needs you to make your idea happen!

T-Shaped Creativity

2011-06-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

Image by David Armano

As a creative generalist, I pride myself on my tendency to pursue multiple interests and attain a range of skills rather than focusing on one specific expertise.

But we all have strengths in certain areas - there are very few of us who are actually jack of all trades. T-shaped creativity is a way to showcase these core skills against the secondary skills and knowledge that make us unique as creative thinkers and doers.

T-shaped individuals

I first learned about the concept of T-shaped creativity through Mark McGuinness's Creative Pathfinder course, but IDEO's Tim Brown is also a big proponent of the idea.

Basically, the T-Shaped model takes creative generalism a step further, essentially suggesting that we're all both generalists and specialists. The simple design is a way to map out core skills next to the knowledge and secondary skills that help make these base skills so meaningful.

So, if you look at T-shaped creativity in terms of an individual's skill set, the vertical stroke consists of specialist skills and knowledge while the horizontal stroke comprises generalist skills that allow the individual to position his or her specialism in a way that's useful and desirable for others.

For example, while I typically categorize myself as a creative generalist, I specialize in the following areas:

Writing
Health and Fitness

These specialties are the vertical stroke of the T, my core skills and knowledge. My generalist skills are:

Journalism
Copywriting
Freelance writing
Blogging
Photography
Entrepreneurship
Marketing
Non-profits
Technology
Research skills
Travel expertise
Personal training

My (doodled) T-Shape, therefore, would look like this:

While my skill set is fairly well-rounded as-is, I'd ideally add a specialty or two and several generalist skills (as well as strengthen some current ones) throughout my lifetime.

T-shaped creativity in the workplace

Companies like design and innovation consulting firm IDEO are making a concerted effort to put together teams of T-Shaped creatives in order to cultivate a more experimental, curiosity-driven workplace.

David Armano of Edelman Digital explains the concept of T-shaped team building and how it can fit into a workplace environment (described in more detail in a post on the Marketing Profs Blog):

The notion is simple - cultivate people on your team that have a core competency, but can easily branch out (like the shape of a T). They ideally possess traits such as curiosity, empathy and aren't afraid to ask why. And there is a distinction between this type of individual vs. a jack-of-all trades. The core competency and branches are complimentary, with branches being secondary strengths. It represents breadth and depth of skills.

His image of how a T-shaped workplace can be applied to the creative process of interactive marketing and experience design is shown above.

Everyone is a generalist

The T-shaped creativity model suggests that while some of us may have a longer vertical stroke (suggesting more of a specialist mindset) and others may have a longer horizontal stroke like my T example (indicating more of a generalist mentality), we are all generalists and specialists to some degree.

What does your T-shape look like?

Why Creativity and Sales Must Co-Exist

2011-06-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that most creative people hate sales.

In fact, I have little doubt that when given the choice between life in jail or a job as a traditional salesperson, most creatives would choose jail. At least then (many would say), they could still keep their soul.

But what is it about sales that creative people find so abhorrent?

Memories of sleazy door-to-door salesmen stick in our minds

I, too, long held onto the idea that selling was a near reprehensible enterprise. I can't help but think my viewpoint might have been encouraged by the fact that Hollywood has always portrayed salesmen (yes, in movies they are always men) as sleazy bastards trying to sell innocent people something that is either overpriced, will likely break in a day or two, or both. This pop culture representation of salespeople contributed to my idea that:

Salespeople = sleazeballs

Which in turn meant that:

Selling = evil

Selling doesn't have to mean selling out

The problem with this outlook is that it doesn't apply to the majority of salespeople. Sure, you'll always get a few products here and there sold by disreputable people who want to rip you off or don't care if you suffer as long as you put money in their pockets.

But the truth is that in today's post-recession world (some people might insist we are still in a recession), shoddy products, information and services simply will not last long. Think about the last defective item you bought. Or the last crappy restaurant you went to. Or the last how-to book you purchased that had great, enticing headlines but shallow content.
Would you spend your money on any of those products or services ever again?

Of course not. People are smart, and we don't want shitty things. So next time a shady salesperson tries to sell them to us, we'll know better not to buy.

On the other hand, think of the last piece of electronic equipment (Apple, anyone?), clothing brand (Nike comes to mind), or retailer (a.k.a. Amazon) that you just loved. Chances are, if there was someone selling you that product, they didn't have to work very hard to convince you to buy it. The product itself was so good you may have even found yourself thanking the salesperson for giving you the opportunity to spend your money on their product or service.

So all it takes is a quality product and the evil salesperson image is shattered.

The romantic myth of a starving artist

I can tell what you're thinking. That's great for Apple and Nike, you say, but I still refuse to sell. I am an artist, after all.

That's pure bullshit. (Yes! I said it.)

You may be the most talented artist on earth, but if no one knows about you, you might as well not exist. Your paintings, novels, blog posts, computer programs, logos, etc. may as well not exist either.

You probably have an image in your head about the life of a starving artist as a romantic, strangely enticing way to live until you reach stardom (or die, and then your work becomes famous). So you sit at home eating nothing but Ramen and waste your days away, or worse, work at a coffee shop or wait tables while not actually doing any of your true work, just hoping that one day you'll run into someone who will discover you and turn your world upside down.

That too is bullshit.

There are too many people putting themselves out there, too many people in the world in general, for you to be "discovered." (Let's put it at a .001 percent chance - not impossible, but extremely unlikely.)

The answer?

You have to sell something.

Yes, you! You will become a salesperson. And a damn good one, at that, if you want to compete in this world of other salespeople and artists.

You will sell your products, your brand, yourself - so that the world is aware of your existence. So that the world can experience what you have to offer, try your products, see your art.

The good news? If what you're selling is truly valuable, you'll have no problem. This is not to say that it won't take you a while (the chances of overnight success are probably a great deal less than .001 percent), but if you really are selling something great, the world will be on your side. And then, just like dedicated Apple addicts do with new Mac products, your customers (or readers, viewers, etc.) will be lining up on your doorstep just hoping that you will allow them to buy your product.

The Voices Inside My Head

2011-06-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

The title of this post probably makes me sound crazy.

(I am, but that's besides the point.)

The voices I'm referring to are our creative voices (or images) - the ones that give us ideas for our creative work.

In my case, the voices come out in the form of a story, a manifesto, or something writing-related.

Non-writers may instead see logos they want to design, images they want to paint or computer code they want to program.

All that matters is that these voices exist, and that you listen to them.

There was a time in my life not very long ago that I ignored these voices. I thought they were stupid. I thought I was stupid. I forgot I was a creative person and instead shut myself off to the world.

The result: I was miserable.

Now that I've opened up my creative mind again the voices are almost screaming at me. I have so many ideas they crisscross one another and fight to get out. If this were a sci-fi movie, I would just insert a USB drive (or whatever the new technology will be in the future) into my brain and the thoughts would flow right out of my subconscious before I forgot even one precious word (more thoughts on computerized brains in this post I wrote).

Alas, technology has not come to that point yet. Now, whenever the voices strike, I am forced to scurry to my computer/iPhone/notepad and type/write as fast as I am capable of before I forget their existence.

How do you respond to the creative voices in your head?

Writing Challenge: Trust Yourself

2011-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

To my fellow writers and creative thinkers out there:

I've made a commitment to take on a writing challenge inspired by the great Ralph Waldo Emerson himself. The challenge encourages you to look within and trust yourself, and will act as an opportunity to reflect on the now and create direction for your future.
The #Trust30 challenge starts May 31, 2011 and continues for 30 days. Here are the rules:

Each day a prompt will be posted (and e-mailed to you if you need a reminder) by an original thinker and doer on http://ralphwaldoemerson.me.
Fill out the pledge on the challenge website to commit to participating.
Blog, journal or create something on each of the 30 days.
Tweet using the hashtag #Trust30 to show your support and involvement.

Pretty cool, huh?

I will be using Twitter to post my daily prompt responses but I will also use this site for longer thoughts.

Join me in this challenge!

Why You Need to Stop Being So Stubborn

2011-05-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Anyone you ask will tell you that I am a notoriously stubborn person. I am highly aware of this, and, admittedly, even a little proud of it at times.

Ask me to do something and I will undoubtedly want to do its opposite. The words you have to do/try/read/watch/etc. are my biggest turn offs; the second they come out of someone's mouth I completely shut down. This is true even when I know that person has my best interests at heart, and yes, even when I know that I probably will like the food/blog/film recommended to me.

I just don't like to be told what to do.

Stubbornness as an asset

I know I'm not alone here. I come from a bright and incredibly stubborn family and I'm convinced that Westerners in general are a dogged breed. Also, my generation (Gen Y) has a reputation for being ornery, spoiled brats (it's true).

Without a doubt, there have been times where my stubbornness has helped me. Like my refusal to sign on to a boring, unchallenging job/career where my soul will slowly be sucked from me. Or when I decline to eat meat even though a good friend tells me I just have to try it (I've been a vegetarian by personal choice since I was six years old). Or when I use my stubbornness to stand up for what I believe in (the environment, politics, religion, etc.) and refuse to give into other people's views.

I'm sure you've had times like these too. This is when stubbornness is at its best, blending with morality to give you your unique personality and views on life and humankind.

When stubbornness is a liability

Though it can be a useful attribute at times, stubbornness in its usual form is disadvantageous and leads to a negative outcome. Being bullheaded just for the sake of not giving into someone else's desires is more often than not detrimental to a person's own well being.

Sound familiar?

How often have you not tried a bite of food that actually looked pretty good just because the person offering it to you was being over-the-top pushy?

Do you ever refuse to do something that you actually want to do because another person (your partner, family member, friend, etc.) wants you to?

Have you ever protested against reading to/listening to/watching something just because it was popular or "everyone liked it" even though you actually wanted to read/listen/see it?

I have.

Stubbornness can hurt you - literally!

One of the things I've been most stubborn about for years now is doing yoga. I've rallied against it, refusing to practice it myself and even telling others that it was lame and not to do it. Yes, I had some legitimate reasons to avoid it (it doesn't burn many calories, should not be a person's only form of exercise, etc.), but I was mostly just stubborn.

Well, my avoidance of yoga and most recovery-centered exercise came back to bite me in the butt. Doing only intense (HIIT) exercise six or seven days a week broke my body down and left me with injury after injury - shin splints, a misplaced rib, pulled muscles, even a broken bone in my foot. My stubbornness was literally hurting me.

So I gave in. I've been doing a little yoga here and there, no 90 minute classes, mind you (I can't think of a worse torture), but some stretching and poses a few times a week after my other workouts or on rest days. I still find it boring, and would much rather be doing something more active, but I will freely admit that I am less injured than I was without it.

I let go of my stubbornness, admitted my inflexible view on yoga had been pure bullheadedness, and felt a weight lift from my shoulders in the process.

Admitting you're wrong

Letting go of your stubbornness can be tough.

Admitting you were wrong to be stubborn in the first place can be even harder.

But the next time you're feeling stubborn, ask yourself, am I standing up for something I believe in, or just being stubborn for pride's sake? If the answer is the latter, try to budge a little and admit your mistake. You'll become a better, more open-minded (and happier!) person because of it.

PS. Smiling helps too - a smile can help you realize how ridiculous you're really being and lighten up the situation (my go-to method for letting go).

Associating Yourself With the Right Groups to Encourage Your Inner Genius

2011-05-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Human beings are pack animals by nature. Most of us gravitate toward groups of some sort, whether they revolve around family, church, education, work, partying, sports, etc.

Some people stay in the same groups their entire lives, while others move around, eager to discover and be a part of many social crowds.

The groups you choose to associate yourself with can have a profound effect on your life, and may either prove to be the main advocate of your inner genius or oppose everything you've ever tried to do, bringing you down and killing your creativity in the process.

Positive vs. negative groups

When groups are good, they're really good. They can offer all sorts of benefits and change your life for the positive. For example, they can:

Be incredibly supportive.
Be a place to bounce off ideas and become a starting point for creative thinking.
Create love, friendship, etc.
Create healthy competition and collaboration between group members.
Challenge you to be the best/most creative/most innovative person you can be.

On the other hand, if you associate yourself with the wrong groups, you may find yourself in a downward spiral of negativity. These detrimental groups can:

Create unwanted peer pressure and make you feel worse about yourself due to unhealthy competition and/or push you in a direction you know isn't right for you.
Be unsupportive and bring you down.
Take away your creativity by convincing you that you are not a creative person.
Lead you down a path that will make you unhappy and unfulfilled, ultimately crushing your dreams.

The danger of dodging groups all together

I've avoided groups most of my life out of fear of being stuck (a recurring fear of mine) and getting pulled into a negative community.

While this has allowed me to stay away from unfavorable crowds, it has also kept me from getting the full advantages of being part of a positive group, and has left me feeling pretty lonely over the years.

I also believe that straying from the natural congregative nature of human beings has stifled my creativity (since I've had no one to bounce ideas off of) and created a lot of self doubt (since I've had no outside encouragement).

Lately, I've been thinking I need a group.

The closest I've come in recent years is being part of a gym (before this it was high school sports). CrossFit offers a place where everyone is extremely supportive - there is friendly competition but little criticism. As a CrossFitter, you're always wanting to be better because everyone around you is encouraging you to challenge yourself - and that's the best kind of group.

Yet as much as I love CrossFit and its caveman style workouts, I know I need to find these types of positive groups in all areas of my life so I can continue to challenge myself and push my creativity to the limits.

What group are you part of? What draws you toward a particular group?

Baring it All

2011-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

There's something incredibly scary about sharing yourself with others.

I'm certainly not immune to this fear. Anyone who knows me will say I'm a pretty reserved person, and have been since I was a little kid. I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but something early on in my childhood taught me that my personal life wasn't of interest to others. So I kept quiet.

This introverted nature has, in my mind, cost me a lot over the years - friendships, relationships, probably jobs. Growing up, I was always aware that my shyness was possibly holding me back, but I didn't know how to change it. It was just who I was.

Recently, I came to the revelation that I am not an inherently 'bad' person and that I do have something worthwhile to say (more on this in an upcoming post). This, as ridiculous as it may sound, opened up a whole new world for me. As a lifelong shy person, it meant that I could finally start to be myself and share that person - all the good and bad parts - with the world.

Now, this being a recent discovery, it's more talk than action at this point, although I did force myself to face my fears and attend a social event by myself the other day (scary!). Saying it out loud (or in words) still feels foreign and unnatural and I impulsively want to retreat back to my old, hermit-like self. And although I have no qualms about anonymous readers finding this out about me - I most likely don't know you personally, after all, or ever will - it scares the shit out of me that someone I actually know could be reading what I have to say.

And, with that being said, here are a few quirks about me (full disclosure):

I eat popcorn like a lizard (this is highly embarrassing to my husband)
I will do anything for food, including work out for three hours a day
I am obsessed with fantasy worlds and wish I would wake up one day in a Harry Potter book
As a kid I used to think that everyone could read my mind so I would try as hard as I could not to think about bad things
I am scared shitless of staying in one place for too long (the reason why I move every year or so)
I wish I hadn't tried so hard to be 'good' growing up and actually gotten into some trouble as a kid
I am a complete bitch when I don't get enough food (see how much of this is centered around food?)
I will never go into a store if there is no one else in there out of fear someone will notice me, or worse, talk to me
I am still bitter that I wasn't born a man
I will not answer the phone if you call me after 9pm
I have always wanted to be a crazy mathematician/scientist
I much prefer animals to humans

And the list goes on.

Do you find it difficult to share yourself with others or can you talk about yourself all day long?

Note: The above photo of me was taken while in the Harry Potter exhibit at Disney World - needless to say, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.

Running Out of Ideas

2011-05-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think I will wake up one day and I will have no more ideas.

That I will have used them all up.

Or maybe that there is an expiration date on my ideas and if I don't get them all out by a certain date they will all just run out of my head into someone else's head and I will be left idea-less.

But then I remember this quote, and realize I'm not alone, and I feel a little better:

Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually. Inspiration precedes the desire to create, not the other way around.

- Ignore Everybody, Hugh MacLeod

The Most Effective Way to Face (And Conquer) Your Worst Fears

2011-05-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

Last night, I did something I never thought I had it in me to do: I went to a Meetup.com event. By myself.

The event was part of Worldwide Linchpin day, part of Seth Godin's brilliant plan to get creative and innovative thinkers to come together and make connections with one another.

I heard about the meetup a couple of weeks beforehand through Seth's blog, and clearly marked it on my calendar. But as the day grew closer, I continuously found myself making up excuses of why I wouldn't be able to go.

Seth won't even be there, so why go? I thought.

The event isn't organized - what will I possibly get out of it?

The thought that most often came into my head: Everyone will hate me.

Conquering your childhood fears

To someone without an extreme social anxiety disorder, my fear of going to a harmless three hour event in a bar no doubt sounds silly and baseless. But I've been shy since I was a little kid, and though I've working on becoming more outgoing over the years, I still freak out before I have to go meet new people, go to a party, or do anything that involves me talking (I much prefer the written word).

It doesn't help that I have a quiet voice and no one ever can understand that my name is Krista not Christina, Chrystal, etc. Or that I am often still carded at bars because I look young and prefer dressing like a teenager rather than getting done up (I'm lazy and just don't care enough).

To me, going to an event without using my husband as a crutch or hiding behind my family members was just about the scariest thing I could do, aside from public speaking. It meant exposing myself to others, and my biggest fear - saying something stupid. The latter was an even bigger risk in a group full of Seth Godin fans since I assumed they were all bright, talented and successful people who would hate me (here we go again) if I said something less than brilliant.

Facing fears head on

I ended up dragging myself to the event, though I nearly stopped myself at the front door. I'm sure I ended up saying a few stupid things, but I'm also pretty sure no one cared. I freaked out a little when everyone else had business cards and I didn't (what would they say? Creative generalist?), but I even let that one slide, realizing it really wasn't that big of a deal.

Overall, it went pretty well. I even talked to people. A lot of people. I got some business cards and e-mail addresses and actually intend to e-mail the people I met in order to try and keep in touch instead of pretending like it never happened and officially turning into a hermit.

Whoa.

It's not as bad as you think it will be!

I came home from the meet up glowing. I had done something really scary. I had proved to myself that I could actually function in a crowd of smart, interesting people and not come out looking like a total idiot. No one called me names, no one judged me or made fun of me when I explained what I did with my life. Only one person even mentioned my age, and that wasn't even a big deal. I had faced one of my biggest fears - social interaction with intelligent people - and survived.

Having an irrational fear of something usually means it's something that we need to deal with. Whether you're afraid of heights, public speaking, being creative, or asking that cute guy/girl out for coffee, the best way to get over that fear is to actually face it head on. It may seem like the worst thing you could ever imagine, but once you do it, even if you fail you'll realize the world won't end. You'll come out okay, and gain a newfound confidence in the process.

The best thing is that once you realize you can get past these big fears, the little things won't bother you as much anymore. You'll be able to do anything, and fear won't hold you back any longer.

Go face your fears. You'll be amazed what you can do.

A Letter to New York

2011-05-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Dear New York,

It's been quite a year. I know a lot of people love you, but honestly, I think you're a bitch.

Here are my biggest complaints about you:

Your winters are hell. Seriously, six feet of snow? For months on end? I've never hibernated so much in my life.
Your summers are also hell. Being covered in sweat and dirt with a blanket of humidity for months on end does not appeal to me. And you should cover up that awful pee smell that permeates your alleyways and subways for most of July and August.
It is way too expensive to do anything in NYC. You bled my pockets dry.
1,000 square feet is not a big apartment. Us native West Coasters would like some breathing room, please.
Central Park does not qualify as nature. It's manmade!
New York is no place for the extremely claustrophobic folk (a.k.a. me, and my dog). I feel like I'm in a video game when I try to navigate your streets - always trying to make it to the end of the game before I am trampled by mobs of people (who don't give a shit about me).
Your garbage-laden, bum-filled, nature-barren streets do not bring me joy. On the contrary: they actually crushed my dreams.
All anyone does in New York is work, sleep, drink, eat (optional), repeat. This is not a life.

I'm being harsh. It's not like I haven't gotten anything out of the experience.

In fact, I want to thank the forces of the universe a thousand times for bringing me here. I've learned several incredibly valuable lessons during my stay (but am so glad it was only for a year):

I am not a person who needs seasons. I would be incredibly happy with mild, sunny weather all year round. F#*& winter.
I like people. I just don't like swarms of them.
I do actually crave being around nature. And by nature I mean mountains, lakes, rivers, and deserts, not Central Park.
I want to have hobbies and a life outside of my job, not just be so depressed by the work I'm doing that I drink myself to sleep.
Having a car is pretty damn convenient sometimes (sorry, environment - I went carless for three years, that counts for something, right?).
I like the idea of being around creative, interesting people, but I think I could find those in San Francisco, or in just about any other metropolis in the world and not have to live in the hellhole that calls itself New York.

Sorry, New Yorkers. Feel free to stay in your beloved city. I'm off to enjoy better things!

PS. Someone really should do something about that pee smell. It's damn disgusting.

How to Rediscover Your Creativity

2011-05-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

I've spent a good part of my life telling myself what I wasn't.

I am not an athlete.

I am not a good public speaker.

I am not good at math.

I am not creative.

That last one, boy did that last one get to me. As a kid, I was an artist - I drew animals, I painted (though not very well), I did oodles of craft projects and wrote tons of children's books (I even won some small awards for them).

But somewhere along the way I decided I was no longer creative. Somewhere between junior high and my sophomore year of high school, I lost the passion I'd once had to change the world, and along with that, my desire to create.

Not doing anything creative was boring and uninspiring. But it was the belief that I wasn't creative, that I couldn't be creative - that's what sucked the life out of me.

Until a few years ago I was left with nothing. I was no longer anything, or open to becoming anything.

Open yourself up to the possibility of being creative

I know I'm not the only person who has gotten the creativity sucked out of them over the years. As kids, we all used to do something artistic, whether it was to play an instrument, color with chalk on the sidewalk, or make amazing sprinkle-laden desserts (my specialty as a 5-year-old). But at some point, most of us decided that following those creative passions weren't realistic enough. So we gave them up, got 9 to 5 jobs where we're told what to do every second of the day, and live our lives in a slumber.

I credit much of this dysfunctionality to American-style schooling, where we are given confusing messages about following our dreams and passions while being encouraged to fit in and follow a stable career, preferably one in the field of law/medicine/business.

Athletes are given an exception, since our society loves a good sports story.

Creativity is left out of the mix almost entirely. As students, we are given support to follow our creative passions - as long as they're on the side.

You're good at painting? That's great, do it on your own time.

You're a singer? Join the choir (you'll have to get up extra early since choir these days tends to be in zero period, sorry those of you who aren't morning people). But don't plan on making a career out of it - that's ridiculous.

Cartoonist? Musician? Creative writer? We are taught that these are not legitimate careers, that sure we can keep them as hobbies but if we want to survive in this world we have to get a real job.

Go back to your creative roots

Pick up your old guitar. Start doodling again. Anything you can do to get yourself out of this non-creative rut.

Take small steps.

Rediscover your creativity, and you'll find your lost self in the process.

Does Our Need For Constant Input Hinder Our Creativity?

2011-05-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

Blogs, music, e-mail, television, radio, news, apps, video games, social networking... the amount of input we consume on a daily basis is astounding.

I'm almost always reading or listening to something. I'll have a podcast playing on my headphones when I'm walking my dog. Or the news on in the background when I'm washing my dishes. And I always have a book with me just in case I'm stuck waiting in line with nothing to do (and, as a backup, my iPhone).

Technology has made leaps and bounds over the past few decades, allowing us more access to constant input than ever before. This works out great for me, since I love learning (thus my blog name, need.input).

So much input, so little time

But this endless information could be cramping our brain's natural creative thinking process: daydreaming.

Think about it: in this day of incessant information, how often do you simply look out a window and think? Or sit around and do nothing for a while?

My answer to this question is almost never, and I'm guessing you're in the same boat.

Daydreaming encourages creativity

Contrary to what our teachers told us as kids, letting your mind wander is actually a productive use of your time. Studies show that letting your mind wander is integral to the creative thinking process and that our minds are more active during daydreaming than when doing analytical thinking, what most of us consider to be hard work. Plus, daydreaming is what leads us to those Eureka or 'aha' moments all creative people hope for (if you're interested in a more scientific explanation of exactly why daydreaming is so crucial to creative insight, I highly recommend this article by Robert Lee Hotz).

But just like anything else, we have to make time for it. Start by trying to carve out a few pieces of your day where you have absolutely no input (obviously this means intentional input - you can't stop the cars from honking outside your window or your dog from barking). Turn off the TV while you're making dinner, go on a walk without your headphones (gasp!), do a mindless activity such as cleaning the house with nothing on in the background... you get the idea. It may seem a little boring at first for those of us used to constant input, but your brain will thank you for it.

Important note: this does not give you an excuse to daydream all day long. You still have to put in the hard work to get the creative process started, or your brain will have nothing to say 'aha' about.

Are Computerized Brains in Our Near Future?

2011-05-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

As a creative generalist who constantly needs input, I want to know as much about everything as humanly possible. Yet, while reading a book on design today, I constantly found myself zoning out and thinking about other subjects (I took a break to write this post).

Damn ADD.

But it got me thinking: how far away are we from computer chips in our brain? Will Matrix-style learning be possible within my lifetime? Is this ethical?

As much as I want knowledge, I'm not sure if I'd trade the process of learning for pure information.

What about you?

Why you Should Stop Focusing on Being Original

2011-05-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

Most of us assume that all the great ideas in the world came from brilliant thinkers who had only original ideas.

This is intimidating. It means that the rest of us need to use our average minds to come up with an equally dazzling idea that no one has ever thought of before.

But this way of thinking stops any of us from even trying. It's too big. Too scary. Too impossible.

Pablo Picasso famously said, "Good artists copy, great artists steal."

It's okay to take ideas from other sources. Pick out things from movies you love, books you've read, other people you've talked to and put it all together to make your own creation. It will be original because of the way you put it together, not because the idea itself never existed before.

After all, Apple didn't actually invent the computer, they just made it better.

Anonoymity vs. Familiarity

2011-05-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

There are two main groups of people in the world: those who want to be known, and those who want to remain unknown.

Public figures, movie stars, and CEOs all fit into the former category. It's fairly obvious to tell these types of people: they are most often outgoing, friendly, driven, and popular.

The latter category of people can be harder to distinguish. Nerds, photographers and librarians can all easily be part of the unknown group. Those obsessed with Second Life most definitely are (although they are often channeling their lifelong desire to be outgoing through their Second Life avatar). But really, anyone who likes to stay behind the scenes desires to remain anonymous most of the time. I should know; I've been this way my entire life.

The downside to being known is that you have a lack of privacy. This is most obvious with celebs and public figures but can be true for anyone who puts themselves out there and has some sort of success.

The downside to being unknown is that when you have something to say, no one is there to listen because no one knows you exist.

Learning to Fail, One Step at a Time

2011-05-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

I moved to Amsterdam three years ago full of dreams of how I would spend my time there, yet it took only a year of constant failure to make me feel like a worthless human being.

I had certainly run into my fair share of bad luck. My husband worked for Nike at the time, and we moved over there thinking I'd have no problem getting a job (a bright young college graduate with exciting ideas - who wouldn't want to hire me?). But I had plenty of factors going against me:

The recession had just hit the US and was quickly radiating to the rest of the world, including Europe.
I didn't speak Dutch (this turned out to be a much bigger issue than I'd thought)
Being a relatively recent college graduate, I didn't have the mandatory 3-5 years of experience required by most of the companies there.
I didn't have an area of "specialty."

Combine these external factors with the reality that I didn't know what the hell I actually wanted to do with my life, and it's pretty obvious why I may have had a lot of failed attempts.

Try and try again

Though I had been a journalist before moving to the Netherlands, I realized pretty quickly after moving that I would have to be open to different opportunities.

So I tried getting a job at my husband's company. No dice (not enough experience/no specialty).

I tried working as an English-language correspondent for a Dutch newspaper. They told me I needed to learn to read Dutch better - though I thought I could do the job just fine using a dictionary and Google translate (if you're wondering, I did take Dutch lessons, but it is not an easy/desirable language to learn).

I got my personal training certification and tried working at a gym just to have something to do. Again, not enough Dutch (mind you, every Dutch person can speak English, they are just stubborn about it because they know Dutch is a dying language).

I applied to every job I could think of with no luck. Eventually I just gave up.

Learning to fail

Giving up was the worst thing I could have done. It made me lose my hope and my passion for life. It made me think that I was worthless, that I used to be smart/interesting/ambitious/creative but that somewhere along the line I'd made a wrong decision and there was nothing I could do about it. I was doomed to live an unfulfilling life. In short, I was screwed.

But of course I was having a tough time. I was living in a foreign country where I had no contacts, resources or people to help me. I missed my family. I was lonely. The worst recession since the Great Depression had hit just as I had graduated college. It was a tough time for a lot of people. It still is.

Things gradually started to pick up for me, but only after I started accepting the following:

That I never want a real job (I define a real job as a 9 to 5 job at some sort of company or corporation, involving lack of freedom, creativity etc., but feel free to add your own interpretations).
That I actually am a creative person, and I do have something to say and contribute to the world.
That I haven't chosen the easiest path, but ultimately it will be the most fulfilling.

Everyone fails. The key to success is to keep trying and to learn from your mistakes.

I know I'll get it right eventually.

Breaking the moving habit

2011-05-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

There's something thrilling about moving.

I've moved three times in the last five years - from Portland, Oregon, to Amsterdam (yes, that Amsterdam), to New York City. And that doesn't even count the times I moved within each city, or the five different colleges I went to across the country when I was still a student.

I just found out I'm moving again.

Here is what immediately pops into my head:

New opportunities
New things to see
New people
New hobbies
New adventures
An opportunity to start over and be who I really want to be, to do what I really want to do

Etc.

My heart beats faster just thinking about it.

Obviously, there is a strong theme of "new" centered around my views of moving. For some people, staying in the same town, the same house, having the same friends, even staying in the same job - those are signs of safety. Moving is scary.

To me, moving is a crutch. I use it to get out of situations that I'm not in love with. It's safe.

My career isn't working out how I wanted it to? Move.

I haven't met as many friends as I would like? Move.

The opportunities (to travel, join book clubs, play sports, insert whatever you want here) aren't there? Move.

But this time, my gut tells me it's going to be different. My husband and I are moving to San Francisco, not because anyone is making us go there, but because we want to go there. His best friend lives in the city, and we've both always wanted to live in California (I lived in LA for a brief period during two of my educational excursions, but that doesn't count). He's going to want to stay.

I can't wait to move. But the staying scares the hell out of me.

It means I will finally have to face my fears and stop hiding behind the excuse of 'constantly moving' as the reason why I never have a chance to do what I really want to do (write, create, etc.).

It means I will have to start being ok with being a regular at coffee shops and grocery stores. It means I will no longer be anonymous everywhere I go. It means I will have to start making meaningful friends - and keeping them. It means I will start having to take risks and face inevitable rejection and failure.

It means I will have to start contributing, to start living, and stop hiding.

Wish me luck.

The Struggle of Balancing Life and Your Creative Passions

2011-05-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

It happened again this week.

This was the week I was going to get my act together. I was going to finally do all the things I've been wanting to do - things that will help to satisfy my creative cravings and get me closer to a creative career where I'll be able to do big things and actually make money from them.

But then life transpired.

Obstacles, obstacles

Yesterday, my husband woke up sneezing like crazy. It's officially allergy season in New York City, and he decided it would be best to work from home.

Of course, in our tiny New York apartment (tiny is a relative term - our place may seem big to native New Yorkers but seems small to us native West Coasters), two people working from home causes problems. And since he's the one with the job that actually brings in the money to pay for our New York lifestyle, he gets priority.

By the time I cleaned the house (to help stifle his allergies), took the dog on a few walks (since we don't have a yard), took care of some boring adult responsibility stuff, and made a meal or two, my workday was shot. Sure I got some reading done, and worked on my website a bit, but nothing that took a lot of deep thinking.

I gave it another try today. I got up bright and early thinking I would slam some stuff out before the rest of the household woke up. I put on some oatmeal to cook, turned the teapot on, and sat down to work.

But of course that didn't happen. One thing popped up after another - responsibilities that had to be dealt with, lest our little family be thrown out on the street with no place to go because we couldn't manage our bank account, pay our bills, etc. Before I knew it, it was 11 am and I hadn't gotten any actual work done. I still had to exercise, grocery shop and meet a client in just a few hours. Creative work would have to wait.

Where does the time go?

Finding a balance between life, work and creativity is not an easy thing to do. And especially since because my creative interests are not bringing in the dough (yet!), they're usually classified as second priority.

Logically, I know the answer is simple: make time.

There are plenty of authors and famous artists with day jobs and families. They often get up at 3 or 4 in the morning, sacrificing their sleep (and probably health and longevity) for their art.

But extremes have never worked out well for me. I know myself well enough to know that if I start trying to get less than six hours of sleep each night I will get burnt out quickly, and everything - my work, my creative drive, as well as my responsibilities - will go to shit.

The most puzzling thing to me is that I don't even do the things that "normal" people tend to do. I don't go out much. I don't have much of a social life. I rarely watch TV (with the exceptions of 30 Rock and The Office). I could cut back on the amount of exercise/dog walking I do, but those are the things that keep me sane, so that would probably be a bad idea for everyone.

I haven't figured out the solution yet. I'm sure there will be a lot of trail and error. But I'm determined to find a balance, and not let life's responsibilities get the best of me.

How to Survive in New York

2011-05-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

I've lived in New York for almost a year now, and anyone who has met me knows I'm not the biggest fan of the concrete jungle.

This paragraph written by Hugh MacLeod, author of Evil Plans: Having Fun on the Road to World Domination and former Manhattan resident, perfectly sums up my feelings about living here:

In New York, you always think that if you try harder, work longer hours, make more money, spend more time at the gym, put more effort into networking, read more books, go to bed earlier, drink less booze, avoid negative people, be less shallow about the whole sex thing, be more supportive to your close friends, eat more vegetables and stop smoking so many damn cigarettes, you will eventually be able pull off that great Miracle Of Miracles i.e. you’ll finally, finally, finally be able to live in Manhattan while simultaneously leading a healthy, productive, emotionally-balanced life.

- Hugh MacLeod