Novelty is an interesting concept if we take the position of, say, a child. In creativity research, it can mean that an idea has sprung from a connection that has never been made or is new to an individual but may be otherwise widely known.

atomization encourages us to reduce multivariate experiences, often the most important parts of life, to their single most obvious element

Fitness has been atomized: it is no longer part of a cohesive whole life. It’s a separate thing you have to try to “find time for.” When someone says they “don’t have time” to work out, they’re both stating their priorities (obviously, everyone has time)1 but also stating something about their life. It does not have fitness incorporated into it. 

There are at least two kinds of fun: Type 1 fun is fun in the moment. Watching a movie, playing a video game, scrolling TikTok, reading a book. You want to have fun, you do the fun thing, and voilá, it is fun. Type 2 fun is fun in retrospect. Running a marathon is mostly un-fun from moment to moment; you’re often either zoned out or in some form of pain. But in retrospect, it was fun. 

If you don’t see people enjoying pushing themselves, you might not be motivated to keep doing it, even if you enjoy it.

As kids, we were drawn to these kinds of challenges. We’d make up random dumb ones if left alone with minimal stimulation. They were part of how we played. They were part of how we figured out our limits in the world.

Bear in mind that “system” is just a fancy way of saying “habit”. But I think it’s a better word because “habit” has lots of negative connotations that make it feel like a drag.

I’m beginning to understand that the work of an artist isn’t in whatever finished pieces they produce, it’s their system, their practice.

The ripples of our emotions flare out and become the world we live in. A virus becomes a pandemic, a feeling becomes a movement, a crime becomes a law—when it touches other people.

The funny thing is, sitting alone thinking doesn’t “look” like work. Even more so if it’s away from your computer. However, my own process for brainstorming and ideating often looks like this: Load my brain with all the context of a problem. Step away from the computer and go live — do the dishes, go for a run, vacuum the carpet. Once potential solutions distill in my mind, go back to my desk and write them down or sketch them out. Prepare a presentation, demo, or prototype to convey my idea to others and gather their feedback. Rinse & repeat.

We feel guilty if our hands are not typing or our mouths are not talking. A long walk alone is such a difficult activity to imagine & do. Clarity of mind needs a lot more attention than we can afford to provide in front of a screen. Comment if you’ve any tricks to make it happen.

In fact, it's common for B2B suppliers to have repeat loyal buyers due to these strong relationships built on trust.

So what’s left? I think it’s going to be a little like photography. Fifty years ago you had to have a lot of expensive equipment and skills in a dark room to be a great photographer. Today, everyone is taking professional-grade pictures all the time. There is still a distinct difference between a professional photographer and someone who takes pictures of their friends at a party. But professional photographers are better than they were 50 years ago, and getting close to the level of a professional photographer is much more attainable for everyone else.