This is Part Two of Ian Sanders’ inspiring interview with Dave Stewart.

This one is about how to put ideas into action and the value of collaboration. In Dave Stewart’s word, “I’d rather have 10% of something that took off than 100% of something that was still on the table”

The biggest takeaway…you don’t have to do everything yourself!

Watch and enjoy:

Related articles:
Part One: How to run an ideas factory

An absolutely brilliant and inspiring interview with Dave Stewart by Ian Sanders.

Who’s says you can’t have lots of ideas and act on them all?

If you are a Scanner you’ll love this interview. And, even if you don’t consider yourself a Scanner who wouldn’t love to have their own ideas factory?

A short video from Ted.com. You’ll be amazed at how much a man can say in 3 minutes and 55 seconds. Enjoy:

When I worked a full-time day job I had lots of time alone.

I spent sixty to ninety minutes a day alone in my car commuting to and from work. Time alone to listen to audio books and my own thoughts.

I had an office, not a cubicle and I spent most of my day working alone. Hours on end. It really was blissful.

Lunch times breaks were often visits to the bookstore.

On the way home in the evening if traffic was really heavy I would get off the highway and have a nice, quiet dinner alone, just me, a book and my journal.

Sometimes I’d stop at the bookstore or art store, just to wander around.

Now that I work from home, all of that free time and alone, at least most of it, is gone.

After four months I was beginning to feel like I was going crazy. Plus, I felt stale. My brain was feeling very dull and uncreative. I felt dull and uncreative. I was moody, depressed and just felt discombobulated.

This weekend I decided I just had to do something about it. For my own sanity and well-being I needed time alone.

I realized that if I am going to be successful working from home, that taking some time for myself is equally important as actually working. I have to learn to set boundaries and claim time for myself. I have to make scheduling some time alone daily and weekly a priority.

Then I remembered Julie Cameron’s artist dates.

“An Artist Date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative conscious, your inner artist. In its primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers. You do not take anyone on this artist date but you and your inner artist, a.k.a. your creative child.”

Right then and there I decided I was taking Monday all for myself.

And, I outlined a list of priorities and made a plan:

Minimum of four hours of uninterrupted time alone.
Travel time – at least 30 minutes or more in the car.
Beverage availability and clean restroom facilities were a must.
No laptop, internet, email, phone calls or text messaging.
Lots of light and places to sit, read and write.
And, it had to be peaceful, quiet.

Here is what I did…

I have to say, my artist date was an absolutely delightful day. I feel rejuvenated, re-energized and relaxed.

How do you spend your artist dates?

This short, three minute Ted.com video blew me away.

I’ve never seen anything like it.

I am in awe of the human capacity to create.

It moved me to tears.

(Why did I cry? Who knows. Music almost always make me cry. That’s why I don’t often listen to it, or I’d be walking around like a blubbering idiot all the time.)

Enjoy!

An example of great storytelling.

You will laugh.

You will cry.

You will ask why?

And, you will be inspired to make a difference.

JK Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure

June 2008, Harvard University commencement speech

I posted this all over Twitter and Facebook yesterday. But, the message is so important I have to share it again.

This is the most powerful & impassioned speech I’ve ever heard about food. It was given by James Oliver at the TedTalks.

James Oliver won the 2010 Ted Prize with his wish to “Teach Every Child About Food”.

The stories he tells will touch your heart. I had to stop watching this video several times because I was crying so hard. He delivers a powerful message and calls for a food revolution. I agree.

Watch it now if you haven’t already.

James Oliver’s Ted.com Speaker Profile

The first book I reviewed was Sir Ken Robinson’s The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. I think it’s time revisit this book and read it again.

You may have already seen this TedTalk by Sir Ken Robinson, but it, too is well worth revisiting. His insights are brilliant. His stories make you laugh, but they also help you to see and remember the observations he is making.

Just watching this talk again gave me goosebumps, chills and brought tears to my eyes. He simultaneously provides insights into what has gone horribly wrong with our modern educational system while at the same time conveying a message of hope.

TedTalks 2010: Sir Ken Robinson: “Our children spread their dreams beneath our feet. And we should tread softly.” Visit http://www.ted.com/

This is only my second video. The first one used pictures and music. This one uses video, pictures and a narrative overlay. Each time I attempt to make a video I have fun and learn a little more.

Today’s video will allow you to meet me and take a mini tour of my home office – The Dreaming Cafe World Headquarters.

A friend said to me, “Oh, I could never do that. [make a video of myself] I would be too self conscious.”

Well, I am, too. I don’t think a lot of people are naturally attracted to looking at themselves or listening to themselves. But, I am learning to just accept me, for me – both inside and out. Sometimes the ‘outside’ is a little harder. But, some of the ways I do this is by having my picture taken, having pictures of myself on display, making video’s like this and listening to my own voice. You can read more about my thoughts on this topic in this article, “Pictures of who you were, reflect who you are.”

So, what do you think of my second video, my home office?
(I say first when I am recording, because it is the first time I used my Flip Video camcorder.)

Books I am reading related to this topic:

I use a Flip Video:

And a Sony Cybershot:

Disclosure: All links are affiliate links for Amazon.com. It’s one way I make a little money.

TED Talks – Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off

Stefan Sagmeister’s Bio

There were two points that stood out for me while watching this video. First, have a plan for your sabbatical or your time off. Don’t just expect things to happen on their own. And, secondly, the amazing benefits of having the time to think and dream.

Now, you and I may not have the luxury of taking a year off every seven years, but what about a long weekend or a vacation?

I took a ten-day sabbatical in March and this is what I wrote when it was all over:

“It was an absolutely fabulous week. Fun. Productive. Exhilarating. Exhausting (in a good way). Relaxing. And Creative. I did just what I said I was going to do. I wrote every day, meditated every day, got my new website up and practiced living a new way.

I had a plan, stuck to it and experienced an incredible ten-days.

I think it may be time for another sabbatical.

How about you? Have you ever taken a sabbatical? If so, for how long? How did you approach it? What was the outcome? If not, can you? Even of it is only for a long weekend?