Storm

Ready, set, storm! Everyone was running towards the water. My heart was beating like crazy during my first triathlon this weekend. I kept thinking about those butterflies I talked about in my first post. And yes, they were there all along, up till the finish line, where I raised my hands up to the sky and smiled.

I learned a thing or two during this week. I learned that a good brainstorming is all about an open mind. You need to be cooperative with your team mates and be ready for the craziest ideas ever. You need to stop being realistic and suggest everything that pops up in your mind. Some of the most non-realistic ideas may lead to the best ideas you have ever imagined. Don’t be afraid to open your mind, but be aware of the fact that you need to be able to focus on the best solution for the problem you are trying to solve. It’s funny that when asked to draw a picture best describing a brainstorm, most people will draw the sun, not much of a storm image is it?! But if you think about it in a more abstract way, some people may say that a process like brainstorming enlightens you, so the sun makes sense in a way

Dream On – About Innovative Thinking

There is no such thing as a recipe for innovation – that is what I always thought. Amnon Levav from SIT (Systematic Innovative Thinking) taught me different. We had a great session about innovative thinking this week at the media lab. It made me wonder about the mistakes I make in my thinking process:

First mistake: When trying to think about a new innovative idea you always try to find a need that doesn’t have a good solution yet, apparently that’s not the right way.

Second mistake: As a computer science student I’m always bothered by the technological difficulties that might pop up. This, force me to change my idea and some-times lose my direction.

Third mistake: Now when you have an idea - try to kill it! Try to find all the possible disadvantages of your idea.

I’m a drimer. No this is not a spelling mistake, this is my new last name since I got married. If you look carefully on all three mistakes you may jump to one main conclusion – don’t be afraid to dream! And dream high. Don’t try to limit yourself when dreaming, like finding a solution for some need. Don’t be afraid from technological difficulties, everything is possible. Most importantly, don’t kill your dream before it had a chance to become a reality, try to find the advantages before finding the disadvantages. If you don’t have many maybe it’s not such a good idea after all, but if you do, disadvantages are only a small stumbling block on the way.

Be your own pacer

I’m a runner. I like running, I think I always have.

I enjoy the running itself and not only the great sensation one has when it is finished. I like the enthusiasm and the thrilling adrenaline during minutes before I start, the feeling of my blood moving through my muscles, the moment I realize my body is worm enough to keep on going without trying too hard, my strong heart beats and yes, even the sweat. As I said - I like running.

The only problem I have with running is the pace. The enthusiasm I enjoy so much, is actually, the one problem I have. If I’m not excited enough I’ll have a slow run, but if I do, I usually start too fast and then, after a short time I get tired. Ironic? The same thing that gives me the power to run is the one taking my power away when I really want to go on and some times, even when I have to go on. It is possible that the problem is mainly in my head, I don’t know if my legs are tired or if my breathing is bad, all I know is that I want to stop, and for someone who likes running, such as myself, that is not an obvious thing.

For me, the main secrete for a good run is a good pacer; someone that can run along with me and help me control my excitement. Never starting too fast is one of the most important rules for me, not only in running but also in life. Regulating my enthusiasm is not an easy thing to do, but one need to understand what kind of excitement contributes to ones success and what may as well destroy it.

If I have a running partner every time I run, I may succeed to keep my strengths until the very end at each and every run. But like everything in life - there are no guarantees. At one point of my life I will need to learn how to control my enthusiasm and how to find the right pace for myself.

Finding my own pace is not an easy task at all. Life experience is one of the biggest factors in this equation. When starting a new project or thinking of a new amazing idea is the same as starting a run – if you won’t feel any excitement at all you may as well stop before you started. But if you feel those butterflies in your stomach every time you start talking about that subject you are working on, you know you are on the right track. Now all you have to do is make sure you’ll keep those butterflies until you get to the finish line.

The difference between dreams and reality can be radical in many cases, but that doesn’t mean a person can’t have dreams. When you have a dream, it doesn’t matter if it’s an innovative idea or just a foolish wish - you have to work hard to get it but know when and where to let go. Your dream may not be perfect but it doesn’t mean you don’t need to keep on dreaming and do your best.

As for me, I started this blog not too fast but with the same butterflies in my stomach, and now… I think I did quite well.