30 Unanswered Questions

by Tara Joyce | Apr 14, 2009 | My Journey | What's On My Mind

Creative Commons License photo credit: CarbonNYC

I got the idea from Dave Pollard author of the blog, How to Save the World. He got the idea from Beth Adams. Basically you sit for half an hour and write 30 thoughts/questions that enter your mind. It’s a fun exercise but beyond that I’m not sure what value it creates. I wrote my questions over Pho at my neighbourhood Vietnamese restaurant.

What is the line between empathy and judgment?
At what point did human’s start ignoring that they are animals too?
Why do some people take pleasure in others’ pain?
Why are people fearful of that which is different?
Why do we want to feel superior to others?
Why is the mainstream media so mindless and ill-informed?
What causes someone to become more conscious?
Do I deserve to be happy?
Why do people think that they have to ‘work’ for happiness?
When did ‘fun’ become a bad word?
Why do people push their expectations on others?
Why do some women glare at other women?
Why do we focus on our weaknesses?
How important is human reproduction? Is it necessary that I reproduce?
Why do people wear sunglasses indoors?
What makes someone love their life? Hate their life?
What is the real colour of my hair?
Does history matter?
Why don’t we realize how insignificant this moment in time is?
What/who caused the Big Bang?
Where is line between crazy and genius?
Why do people think love = sacrifice?
Why do we try and change each other?
Will we ever ‘wake up’?
What is the next natural disaster to happen due to climate change?
Why are people so f’ing lazy?
Why is there no public recycling in the United States?
Will there be any animals left when it is all said and done?
What happened after this shot was taken?
Why do most people think more about what they are putting on their body than in it?

Shoot First, Think Later

by Tara Joyce | Apr 14, 2009 | Cultural Creativity, Self/Business Growth

Creative Commons License photo credit: monkeypuzzle

How often is a movie filmed without first writing a script? How often is a book jacket designed without first writing the content?

A website is no different. It tells a story. One of the most common mistakes I find business owner’s make in their website development is creating the design before writing the content.

Your website content isn’t there to fill up your design space. Determine what you are saying and to who before you find a design to compliment it. The worst thing you can do is write web content for the singular purpose of filling up space. Decide what content is important first and then create a design that highlights and compliments it.

Your story, your purpose, your message is the best design inspiration there is.

The Weight of the World

by Tara Joyce | Apr 8, 2009 | My Journey | What's On My Mind

Creative Commons License photo credit: normalityrelief

I had one of those days yesterday. One of those days where the sadness of the world seems to be weighing down on me. I expect you have them too.

On these days I wish I could turn off my beautiful gift for empathy. Sometimes I don’t want to feel everything so deeply. Sometimes I don’t want to hold the pain of others within me. Sometimes my own pain is more than enough.

There are so many terrible things I want to change but I know I can not for I can not single-handedly save the world.

I have to be happy with my contribution, authentically given.

And most days I am. But on the heavy days, the days that weigh on me, it just isn’t enough.

Here’s to the Crazy Ones

by Tara Joyce | Apr 8, 2009 | Innerpreneurship

Creative Commons License photo credit: -raggie-

The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Courtesy of Apple with thanks to Michael Yanakiev and gulliver for the education.

How Do You Define the Achievement of Success?

by Tara Joyce | Apr 3, 2009 | Featured, Innerpreneurship

A few months back I was helping to design the header graphic for a new blog that was being launched. The blog’s content focused on how to achieve ‘success’ in business. And while trying to design a logo that communicated ‘success’, I realized that I had no idea what the heck ‘success’ meant.

I mean, I knew what it meant to me personally but I doubted that the client viewed ‘success’ in the same light that I did. I realized that the term ‘success’ means absolutely nothing unless you look at its owner.

Success According to the Dictionary

By definition success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. So unless you know what purpose was trying to be achieved, you can’t possibly know if something is successful.

Take Twitter for example, the company has millions of users and most of us would argue that the application is a ‘success’. But if the purpose of Twitter was to generate money, the endeavour is not a ‘success’ as they have not yet figured out how to make it profitable.

Making Money ≠ Success

It seems like more often than not the media uses the term ‘success’ synonymously with money. If you make money you are a ‘success’. I say bollocks to their short-sightedness.

You are a success if you achieve your purpose, regardless of whether money is involved. That is why it is so important to take the time to know what your purpose is. If you don’t know where you are going (purpose), you’ll never get there (success). Money, of course, will be a part of it because we all need to live, but where does it sit on your lists of motivators? How do you define the achievement of success?

My Success = My Purpose Realized

Success to me is:

Personal growth
Authentic expression
Making a difference and helping others
Ability to travel
Income generation

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