Lucas Clements: on Social Media & Design

Who gave the creative a box?

Lucas Clements — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:38:55 +0000

Think out of the box….When did the mind get shoved into the box? Who said that it was a box and why not bubble wrap or better yet a container full of styrofoam pieces that make a complete mess. Why would one want to say they got thinking within the box down pat? We should call for a meeting – who brought the sidewalk chalk – I feel like a doodle.

Cardboard box man

I am a creative individual who has been immersed in the online experience for over a decade. I have contributed by building, designing, engaging and marketing the web in one way or another and still find magic within the internet every day. I consider myself well tested in a multiple of environments (startups, mid-size, large corporations and also academia. I play nice with others and share well in the sandbox (no throwing sand or you’ll get boxed in the ears HA!)

All the usual tools of the trade i have tinkered with some of the heavies I like more so then others (Photoshop, Illustrator) BIG LOVE. I started off as a hand coder so yes i can see the code – more front-end then back-end. I am a visual person. By IKEA’s standards I wish I was born Swedish. I like using the online monitoring tools and have experience in social media marketing. I have been responsible for creating “fresh” content and optimizing it for SEO. I have instructed others on the benefits of social media both internally for employees and also to public audiences. I am aware of all the hype going on about the latest “social” service or network but if it doesn’t press the big red shiny button within, I will let other people get all wacky about it.

I am looking for a creative place, a place where when I walk in – the morning sings that 1950′s Leave It to Beaver jingle and then drops the bass like a fuzzy dubstep clip from Bristol. I know all agencies tout this mystical creative euphoria and most bosses declare that they let these creative animals run wild to conjure up the next “it” thing but I have yet to be a part of it.

The next time you see a homeless person on the side of the street roughing up the cardboard maybe, just maybe, its his day to make the best origami out of that cardboard.

Give this kid a chance. Kick a tire, not the kid.

Look me up on linkedin Lucas Clements and if that is not enough and you want to know more about me and what didn’t fit in the box then fill in the contact form.

Serious inquiries would be greatly appreciated.

If nothing else I hope it was entertaining.

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Stop, Drop & Roll……Breathe and Be

Lucas Clements — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:13:15 +0000

Contribute…

If you do this you will believe, beyond anything that you are wonderful at what you do instead of feeling inadequate. You will add happiness to all people, your personality will come out in your work. Your inner most strengths will shine through your actions

If you discard the weight of disappointment, as long as you are strong in conviction, you can do anything.

People are consumed by fear. Fear immobilizes a person into a retard like state. Fear cripples the belief structure and compromises personal ambitions.

Every person has a pinnacle point where they want better not more and feel accomplished and trusted in knowing that their day to day actions will add to and improve the well being of all people which then equals personal fulfillment.

To be unhappy and scared are two things that are no good for any person. A person requires, not wants or chooses, something to believe in – It is a sign you are human. Once there is belief, unhappiness and fear are manageable obstacles.

Its hard when you try to do everything right and be “good” and the result is you keep getting smashed down, challenged and pushed to the brink and eventually brought to tears. Don’t be ashamed of your tears. Tears are a sign that you do in fact, “feel”. It is a sign that you feel sooooo much and are passion filled.

Be very thankful and be it daily. The world is magical, amazing and fascinating in every aspect.

It is in the jaded, angry and pain filled messes that become of people who are beaten by circumstance, in which they forget these truths. People forget that existing is an awe inspiring daily gift.

Give us this day... by Mr. Kris, on Flickr

The ways that you can give back in thanks for such a gift are endless.

To smile, laugh, touch or listen to another person, be it a stranger or close friend, has immeasurable effects not only on that person but to countless others that are indirectly linked. Your acts of kindness echo throughout the world. The concept of universal caring and kindness, once truly grasped is limitless in magnitude when executed.

Sometimes people forget how great they truly are.

I believe….in what I have not yet become.

It’s not what you do, it’s not how much you make or what you wear that matters. It is the goodness which shines through the shell that we all wear. The size of an individuals warmth that is exuded toward others is the gift that all people can offer.

When a person is being genuine and true to their self they cannot lose. It is the only truth. The truth of who you are and who you are meant to be.

BREATHE. and BE.

The Breathe

When you breathe you accept the world for what it is. You accept its offerings. You need and require everything it has to offer for you to exist.

The Be

Each and every person has within them a song and a story. The song is a personal beat that is carried within, that drives each of us. This song I speak of contains an intro and verses, bridges and a chorus. It contains the complete spectrum of human emotion and lifts and lowers you through each of your own experiences. The story is one which has been already written and read and the one yet to be written or published.

By you being, it is your way of giving back and being honest and truthful and not lying to the power that gave to you the biggest most enormous gift you can never truly repay – The chance of living life and not just existing.

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All One

Lucas Clements — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:45:46 +0000

These lyrics are a build up of thoughts from how we treat one another both in a neighbourly sense as well as from country to country. Why is it that governments that are formed from a democratic process never represent the voice of the people that placed them into power to represent them. More importantly, why when they consistently lie or do a reverse 180 on the platform that they promised to upheld are they allowed to remain in power? The few dominate the many. I hope I see when that day will change

VERSE I

==============================

Do we really need a government that blatantly misrepresents

all of our intents to do what we said

We asked as you have said why now the government

cant we take care of our own yet

Ill hold the door for you and see no color as we should all see red

for the need for any difference

when we share the same subject

CHORUS

==============================

Let’s all hold hands and skip around

and throw ideas for free

Let’s all hold hands then sit down

and say not a thing

Or better yet I know what, let’s sit down

for the next 30

VERSE II

==============================

that one of life, happiness and peace

where him and you and me and the far west

to all points north south and east

brother to sister call a cease

keep your baggage and your bombs

at the corner across the street

so your lighter when we meet

all eyes will truly meet

all eyes for all our first times

will see

CHORUS

==============================

Let’s all hold hands and skip around

and throw ideas for free

Let’s all hold hands then sit down

and say not a thing

Or better yet I know what, let’s sit down

for the next 30

VERSE III

==============================

we all have needed help

from time to time

we are not our own island

we help when theres bad times but if it was always

maybe bad times, be less and less

for you and

for me

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Worn to wear

Lucas Clements — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:28:23 +0000

all your guidance, all your words

can’t tune out what you once heard

follow the path and you’ll get to the end

whats there when you arrive

you think its real, you think its pretend

you can cry alone and breakdown in a crowd

retreat in your head so you will never be found

hands held out as you watch them bleed

The best intentions sometimes ill-conceived

droplets point to where you have gone

the hue of red stains the walk you’ve been on

not all know of what you are yet to see

you are not perfect and this you taste

but future’s water washes the waste

hope hydrated for the day

when the walk leaves no stain and your words like painting, stay

They keep trying, gotta be better
Even when you’re smaller, even at your smallest.

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Privacy Settings – Are you for real?

Lucas Clements — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:41:17 +0000

I have been watching the last little while as some social networking hubs have been changing the way they deal with privacy control. I have to say it amuses me to think that the online community gets so bent out of shape every time one network changes the way they deal with them or how certain things are presented. If you are active online and have a few profiles on selected networks then really…How much privacy do you have?

You willingly offer up to a network your details, some much more than others. You provide demographic material, your likes and dislikes, the type of music you like, the locations you have visited, your location of origin or your current living vicinity. You openly state your opinion on a variety of topics and you post photos that are both time stamped and geo-tagged. So what on earth makes you feel that your “privacy” is in tact or has been for some time.

The easiest thing I have found to eliminate the anxiety of breaches of privacy is this;

Be the open book that you wish you could be – embrace the fact that if there is nothing to hide then nothing is a surprise

When engaging in the world of social networks or online communities of any kind be prepared to give a lot. The internet has memory and the people that you have “connected” with are aware of your behaviour, one way or another. So embrace the social aspect of this phenomena and share it.

You should have an opinion and I hope you do think of more then what your status on fb is or who would be good to re-tweet. Be a contributor to a more fluid and multi-channeled way of sharing information.

Let your guard down both online and offline and awaken the belief that we all started off with initially. The belief that people should be trusted first and not held to suspicion. I battle with this and the more times that I have just trusted someone on pure gut instinct the more I feel that I am closer to a bigger understanding of the inner workings of the life we live.

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Yestermorrow

Lucas Clements — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:12:19 +0000

Just havin a smoke in the back of a yesterday

oh how it was that day
When I was walking head filled with thoughts that I otta
be hands out beside
me takin it all in
Cuz it won’t always be so high
but then neither will I

Got my hands out to hold the ones
The
special
ones

Chorus
————-
For me
I’m just takin it in
Makin it
To the morning

For me
I’m just takin it in
Makin it
Till I’m soaring

Some days are sad
And for them I’m glad

Cuz I’m learning and yearning for more
Cuz I’m learning and yearning for more

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Mend & Defend

Lucas Clements — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:22:43 +0000

Been here before ‘cept this time the same ain’t quite what I remember
…That saying, forever
Mind is reeling much under the hood
Admittedly not much of it good
Brave face and the laugh is the same but all is gone, nothing the same
When I wake from what is not even past got a new life to live more to do more to give
But where is that familiar that time stand still
That piece less complete which reinforces will
Stories stop without ends
To help the mend
And defend its end

from me

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Sometimes a good kick to the head can help

Lucas Clements — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:26:34 +0000

Have you ever had a discussion with a person where you feel you have step outside of yourself and watched your outside person kick the one that is you standing there. Its moments like that which make you question…

What is it that you bring to the table? What makes you unique?

I was speaking with Andrew Ballenthin who hands down, was a great guy to talk with and had some real helpful insight for me on where certain propects in the marketplace are going. You should follow him @solsolutions. I posed some questions to him in regards to possible synergies in regards to my skill set and he said

Don’t reinvent the wheel, see how you can connect with like minds

In of itself not a very earth shattering statement but when put in the cloud of social networking it speaks volumes. It speaks to all levels of engagement regardless if your just an observer,blogger or a tweeter on amphetamines. You are connecting and filtering your online exchanges based on like minds or aspirations with others that have the same end in sight. A statement that Andrew can obviously attest to by the activity and engagement present on his Community Marketing Blog

Position yourself,learn and constantly evolve into a person that can assist yourself in your vocational engagements but also benefit others and then in turn yourself when you partner with other great people. Invest the many hours it takes to be focused and aware of all the different types of people and different lines of work because there will always be a common thread.

Another couple of great take away items from our telephone conversation was that

Listening and interpreting is an art form
Restating what the person said to confirm acknowledgment
More listening, less talking
Offer an honest opinion and explain the intention is to help not hinder
Before ending the conversation summarize topics discussed and any future plans

It was a pleasure and as most people will find if they are honest with themselves, striving to better oneself sometimes takes a type of person to really look at themselves and ask the 5 W’s

Have you ever had to take a hard look at your person or business and ask? Would love to hear your experience.

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Chapter I – Self dealt and busted

Lucas Clements — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:29:43 +0000

It is not an accident. It is not even weird right now that the conversation going on can not be heard at all even though there is a large crowd around you. You think that their are others that are watching your mouth move to the words streaming across your mind. You are wrong, no one detects anything except one.? You look across the vibrating wave of bodies at the outskirt of the dance floor to a set of eyes that are yours to match. A gaze that understands that music builds the self up and tears it down and the hypnotic nature of its core vibrates so that a union of sorts is made. No words necessary. Time is ignored as the beats roll and body pulses, the mind races and elation is experienced.

I will breathe. I will exhale.I will hum.I go by name of The Eug.

He was born Eugene Lasaro. He no more exists then you and I do. If you think about what makes you a person, now challenge that concept and more often than not and you will lose and yet people play it everyday. The Eug, half right in the head and as emotional on the left feels all things have being, no differentiators between a rock and Fluffy the hairless cat (no one owns one in this just a picture that needed a face). He was raised by his two twin brothers who couldn’t care less about why he gets called The Eug.

Worth a Fin Johnny and Mangus – Johnny never knew anything other then how to know nothing about everything. I mean nothing he didn’t know ever made him less then a fin – hence how he got dished the trophy. As he grew up with little to say but everything to gain he made a killing in the art of knowing – a thing Magnus should have picked up on along the way. Mangus was gifted in one way, the art of persuasion. At the tip of his finger he painted elaborate collages of lies and half truths till a learned person would question what he knew to be right in the beginning.

I could sit along the edge of the curb and watch life. I could feel the movement of the days potential give way to the depths of the afternoon and I try to make my imprint as I shave for the morning to come.

Walking out of my bathroom I place the song of the day at the beginning and I know that it will settle the score – It is Aphrodite – Calcutta

My feet are unaware that the floor should be an advisary in smooth movement but this feeling can be unmatched or beaten. That is how i leave this house today. I decide.

Lock door. Turn key look up.? Worth a Fin and Magnus hit me into the wall like a sally as I mutter some half-assed whine to show my loss of air. They shite kick me into 2:00pm just as the birds start chirping. This is the love only a brudder can understand, the sick, sad and methodical enjoyment of takin’ a piss. At causing displeasure at the cost of another – Not right definitely not sane like the ones without great clasped jackets just round enough on the edges to have you guessing if ever there will be a morning without the shite kicked out of you – that is what else every morning has to offer. Oh how i dream for change and at the same time welcome the smallest differences in the the everyday that most don’t pick up.

I will watch you watch me. I will hear it in your thoughts when it is not possible for me to know otherwise. I will question everything you say so that not one thing can be assumed to be what it appears to be. I have gained that perception. I have realized that quality many artists gravitate to. I am only as I can be right now with everything falling into place as it may or as i deem it possible.

You know Worth a Fin, could you just tap over here you missed a spot as i point to my ribs – acknowledging the tongue and cheekness of the comment he winds up and drops his right boot angled perfect to the bone as i name the brusie as it will appear later and we will become friends.

Many aspects of my accounting of this story takes plase as it happens and more than often the narration runs parallel to an event of no relation – scattered it is and busted it seems.

As i pick myself up of the front walk and spit out the copper reality that is my daily morning i hum the song of the hopeful. I carry the step of the aspiring to find and make what it is their mold to achieve.

A block away I stumble off the sidewalk and pass out only to be found by an elderly woman walking her scottie. This is what has become of me or is this what you meant for me to experience within my own mind so that the physical mirroring of the same sufferning is not experienced

The elderly lady says I was not making sense when she found me.

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Influence authoring – You choose as the story unfolds

Lucas Clements — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:29:27 +0000

Let me start by saying that this has been in my head for some time now. I feel that this concept has reached a point that it can be presented which could lead to some very interesting and unexpected developments.

Spit it out man! What are you trying to say?

There is a story that has been written but only the first chapter.

The reader’s comments guide how the story unfolds
The author drops all ego at the door
The author takes into account all comments made relative to the story and writes, influenced by public opinion
The story ends when the readers decide
All commenters will be acknowledge for their influence
The author does not dwell or refine the chapters – reactionary writing
The story just is

For everything I know I have everyone to thank. For every feeling I have it has been shaped by location, situation or person.

The only complete individual act I can think of is the instant life starts and the instant it ends, neither which I will be able to account for and really, does anything ever end?

"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." --Jean-Jaques Rosseau - provided by rocketship

I welcome all of you to chime in on the story as it unfolds and if the concept interests you then get in touch with me as I think many great authors could be challenged in a way that has not been done before. You are not a silo locked up in a room banging away – you are immersed with the people that resonate with you that feel you have something to say and want to assist or steer you in a way that you were not aware was possible or an angle that had not peaked your interest until someone mentioned it.

We have all become more social and love to contribute when we see fit to a cause we feel is worth it. I challenge that storytelling is the oldest cause worth fighting for because what is anyone without a story to tell.

The first chapter will be released in a couple of days. i look forward to reacting to each of you.

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