Comments on: You’re Not That Smart! Accept This Fact First. http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:39:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Natalie Brahan http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-59479 Natalie Brahan Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:09:04 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-59479 this post inspirits me to work on my listening. I like your idea to ask somebody directly instead of spending hours on seaching the internet this post inspirits me to work on my listening. I like your idea to ask somebody directly instead of spending hours on seaching the internet

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21844 Michael Stelzner Thu, 31 May 2007 21:13:39 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21844 Kate - Great insight and thanks for providing it! - Mike Kate - Great insight and thanks for providing it! - Mike

]]> By: Kate Hinton-Burnette http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21836 Kate Hinton-Burnette Thu, 31 May 2007 20:46:43 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21836 Keeping a sense of openness to all possibilities is the key for me. There is a magical video from the photo-journalist Dewitt Jones called " Everyday Creativity." In it he presents a powerful concept he calls, "The Next Right Answer. " It illustrates that there is always more than one "right" approach to anything, and often our best ideas are the ones where we reach past the first solution we find. I keep this thought in mind whenever I am faced with learning about something new It helps me dig past the surface information I may come up with and keeps me open to fresh ideas. It reminds me that although I've been doing what I've been doing a long time (which upon more than one occasion has erroneously led me to think I know what I'm talking about); each person's journey in life is unique and therefore we can learn something from everyone. Staying open is essential. You never know when the thread of someone else's knowledge can weave into the cloth of your own ideas and make them stronger. Keeping a sense of openness to all possibilities is the key for me.

There is a magical video from the photo-journalist Dewitt Jones called ” Everyday Creativity.” In it he presents a powerful concept he calls, “The Next Right Answer. ” It illustrates that there is always more than one “right” approach to anything, and often our best ideas are the ones where we reach past the first solution we find.

I keep this thought in mind whenever I am faced with learning about something new It helps me dig past the surface information I may come up with and keeps me open to fresh ideas.

It reminds me that although I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing a long time (which upon more than one occasion has erroneously led me to think I know what I’m talking about); each person’s journey in life is unique and therefore we can learn something from everyone. Staying open is essential. You never know when the thread of someone else’s knowledge can weave into the cloth of your own ideas and make them stronger.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21776 Michael Stelzner Wed, 30 May 2007 20:37:41 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21776 Hi Dianna - You are smart. Why? Because you acknowledge your need to keep reading. Thanks for stopping in Dianna. - Mike Hi Dianna - You are smart. Why? Because you acknowledge your need to keep reading. Thanks for stopping in Dianna. - Mike

]]> By: Dianna Huff http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21766 Dianna Huff Wed, 30 May 2007 19:19:34 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21766 Michael, Excellent question. One thing I do is read -- I read *everything* -- even stuff that at first glance as no bearing on my life or my job. I find just about everything of interest. Right now I'm following the sub-prime lending mess. Fascinating stuff! But I also know I don't know everything -- and am not afraid to ask questions. Michael,

Excellent question. One thing I do is read — I read *everything* — even stuff that at first glance as no bearing on my life or my job. I find just about everything of interest. Right now I’m following the sub-prime lending mess. Fascinating stuff!

But I also know I don’t know everything — and am not afraid to ask questions.

]]> By: Kelly Stevenson http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21750 Kelly Stevenson Wed, 30 May 2007 14:30:01 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21750 Interesting post, Michael. There's so much fascinating information and insight out there for me to learn (and experience) that I generally don't know where to begin: the Internet, the library, the people around me, continuing education courses. One of the things I love most about being a writer in the software industry is that I have the freedom to explore and learn new things every day. I'm surrounded by many wonderfully insightful people and have many new avenues to explore; I sometimes find it difficult to get down to business and write about the stuff I already know about. Interesting post, Michael. There’s so much fascinating information and insight out there for me to learn (and experience) that I generally don’t know where to begin: the Internet, the library, the people around me, continuing education courses. One of the things I love most about being a writer in the software industry is that I have the freedom to explore and learn new things every day. I’m surrounded by many wonderfully insightful people and have many new avenues to explore; I sometimes find it difficult to get down to business and write about the stuff I already know about.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21749 Michael Stelzner Wed, 30 May 2007 13:53:20 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21749 Hey Mike; Interesting strategy. You must listen to a lot of 80's music. I used to listen to Pet Shop Boys far more than I care to admit. But I never saw the split test. I guess I need to turn on my radio. :) Mike Hey Mike;

Interesting strategy.

You must listen to a lot of 80’s music.

I used to listen to Pet Shop Boys far more than I care to admit.

But I never saw the split test.

I guess I need to turn on my radio. :)

Mike

]]> By: Mike Sigers http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21720 Mike Sigers Wed, 30 May 2007 02:18:20 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21720 Thanks for the link leak Mike. To answer your last question, I never go looking for inspiration or ideas. Never. That kind of pressure is what slows down my system. What I do is let my mind know what to look for, what I need it to find an answer for and then I let it go and wait for it to find it. That's how I end up finding split testing advice in a Big 80's song and all the other simple, yet effective, solutions I come up with. There's good and bad there. The bad is no Fortune 500 company will ever pay me for my marketing advice. The good is no Fortune 500 company will ever pay me for my marketing advice. Thanks again for the link and I appreciate you reading my blog. Thanks for the link leak Mike.

To answer your last question, I never go looking for inspiration or ideas. Never.

That kind of pressure is what slows down my system.

What I do is let my mind know what to look for, what I need it to find an answer for and then I let it go and wait for it to find it.

That’s how I end up finding split testing advice in a Big 80’s song and all the other simple, yet effective, solutions I come up with.

There’s good and bad there.

The bad is no Fortune 500 company will ever pay me for my marketing advice.

The good is no Fortune 500 company will ever pay me for my marketing advice.

Thanks again for the link and I appreciate you reading my blog.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21716 Michael Stelzner Wed, 30 May 2007 00:12:42 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21716 If Seth sent you a copy of his new book, you must be a smart guy in his eyes :) He was conveniently "out" of reviewer copies for me. Thanks for stopping in Steve and I hope you will come again. Mike If Seth sent you a copy of his new book, you must be a smart guy in his eyes :)

He was conveniently “out” of reviewer copies for me.

Thanks for stopping in Steve and I hope you will come again.

Mike

]]> By: Steve Olson http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21715 Steve Olson Wed, 30 May 2007 00:03:39 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/05/29/not-that-smart/#comment-21715 Michael, Thanks. I needed to read this today. I'm always beating myself up for not coming up with something new and creative, and then I watch people succeed using tactics and information I've read a 1000 times. Why don't I use the same tactics and information? Probably because I'm not as smart as I think I am. :-) Michael,

Thanks. I needed to read this today. I’m always beating myself up for not coming up with something new and creative, and then I watch people succeed using tactics and information I’ve read a 1000 times. Why don’t I use the same tactics and information? Probably because I’m not as smart as I think I am. :-)

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