In the article, Brainwashed, Seth Godin discusses seven layers of reinventing yourself. Acknowledging the Lizard is one of those layers. This is commonly known as the easy way, the status quo, coloring in the lines. Fear of failure keeps us from taking a chance or a risk that could result in triumph. Ship is another layer Godin discusses. I’ve always heard that if you want something done, ask a busy person. In every family, there is a go-to person, the MacGyver. The person who sees what needs to be done and does what is necessary to complete the task, regardless of the roadblocks, despite the risk of failure. Be that person. Learn is also a layer Godin discusses. Becoming a lifelong learner is essential to reinventing yourself and living up to your potential. It is important to continue to challenge yourself. Learning shouldn’t end because formal education does.
The New and Improved Shelby
I think this exercise using Seth Godin’s Brainwashed will help to make me better in many ways. First, it may help make me a better student. In the past, I thought being a “good student” was studying for tests, completing projects, and making good grades. It didn’t matter what I took away from the class so much as what grade I made in the class. Material was presented, notes were taken, tests were given and ultimately most of the material was forgotten. Learning was something that was a short term process for short term goals. This exercise has made me see that just getting the grade is not enough. Learning needs to be something that is a part of your daily life both in and out of class. The process/journey is as important as the outcome. If the only thing I can away with from a class is a good grade, then I have failed. If my grade is less than impressive but I have grown as a person and truly learned something, then I have been a successful student. Don’t get me wrong, I want to get good grades but I also want to increase my knowledge and not just my grade point average.
Ship is something I definitely need to work on. It is sometimes easy to take the easy way out and not challenge myself. I have a tendency to do this at times. Too often, I listen to the voice of the lizard brain telling me it’s not possible, it won’t work. I need to learn to ignore the lizard and, if I can do this, I will definitely grow as an artist. Although I am largely at fault, I don’t take all the blame for this. We are always told to “think outside the box” but, when we do, we get our hands smacked and are told to get back in line. In Media Arts, however, I feel like I am encouraged to ignore the lizard and concentrate on my art. The assignments so far have encouraged me to look at my art from a variety of perspectives and to think about what I am trying to accomplish through the project. This class and this exercise may help me to quiet the lizard and begin to ship. To quit looking for excuses as to why I can’t do something and to just keep working to get things done, good or bad, succeed or fail.
No comments:
Post a Comment