Matthew's Blog
Creativity And The Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle (roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes: a.k.a. the 80/20 rule) is a mental model that I use for my day-to-day work. But I wonder, is it applicable to the creative aspect of writing? For example, for the craft of writing, I firmly...
Be Like Disney: Market Yourself
My ambivalence toward Disney is well known (see my post; My Disney Ambivalence), but my gosh, I am in awe of their ability to retool content and amplify their brand. Look at this "Glacier Grape Scented Bubble Bath" in the context of their movie Frozen! Tear free—i.e....
What’s The Difference Between “Author” and “Writer”?
I don't know and I don't care. But what I do know is that if I am spending any 'neuron-energy" pondering this question then I am sure as heck not writing! For me, it's simply a meaningless, procrastination rabbit-hole (like this post?).
A Fond Farewell To My Disabled Parking Placard
This week I cut up my 2 month-old disabled parking placard. Since I am several weeks out from my hip replacement I no longer need it. For the short time I had my placard, it was helpful, especially with shopping. Yet despite this, I had mixed feeling using it. I...
Get Back: A Must Watch Documentary For Leaders
Anyone who is a creative, works with creatives, manages creatives, or leads creatives—which should be just about everyone—needs to watch the Peter Jackson documentary The Beatles: Get Back on the Disney Channel. Here we see the dynamics of four very special people...
Time and Positivity
I feel quite positive about my life over next 5 years. I don’t feel very positive about my life over the next 50 years. (I will most certainly be dead!) I don’t feel at all positive about the stability of human society over the next 100 years. (Global warming,...
My Weekly Hawaiian Writers Conference
I go to a writers conference every week, in Hawaii. How do I get there? I get there by walking into my front office, putting my "Do Not Disturb" sign on my home office door handle, sitting down at my desk, and finally clicking on the 4 pm Zoom link for the weekly...
The Joy of Yellow Legal Pads
Yellow legal pads are one of my favorite writing tools. I even like shopping for them. I think it’s because of their pure, untouched potential. I wonder how many ideas have been created on legal pads? How many of them have been great, how many have been average, and...
My Most Important Post in May
My most important blog post I wrote in May? Trust is aVector. I think conceptualizing trust as a vector—and conceptualizing trust between people and organizations (in both real life and through digital means) as a vector field—offers huge potential for understanding...