Why the creative hub?

I thought it was about time I introduced some visual interest to this blog, after all this is a primarily visual medium, and what better way to demonstrate the analogous nature of the project's title than with this picture of a cartwheel. I was told recently that the Wheel is the Taoist symbol for leadership, and it is the hub, or more precisely the hole in the middle of the wheel that defines its very nature. Sure, the wheel in the picture doesn't have a hole but that is because it is filled with the axle (what with it being a cartwheel an all) The other more obvious analaogy is that of a transport hub, a central point where travellers from different places cross paths on their way to different destinations. So you see, it works on both levels as both a metaphor for my possibility as an inspiring leader and the creation of a space in which connections can be made. Not at all random then...

Hiding in plain view

The interweb is a wonderful thing, so private yet so very public at the same time. Here I am, posting daily on a blog about my project and talking as if to an audience of readers. I might as well be talking to myself, after all..I have absolutely no idea who is reading this. If I am going to spread the word I have to up my visibility, I have got me a Technorati Profile. I am not sure what that does but it sounds great.

Eating the elephant in your living room

Now I don't mean to mix my metaphors but I think that this title is quite appropriate. Let me explain...
Two things are at play here: The massive issue that is being ignored (the elephant in your living room) and the need to approach a large task one step at a time (Q: how do you eat an elephant? A: bit by bit)
Some of my contemporaries have been expressing a sense of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task (i.e community project) that they are undertaking, to the extent that they get nothing achieved. Time to break it down into manageable chunks and get some help, me thinks.
As for me, I am suffering from the opposite, in as much as I get so bogged down with minutiae that I loose sight of the bigger picture. I can feel it happening with this blog. The intention was to keep a record of progress with the creative hub project but it is turning into a daily sermon. I have attached too much significance to making daily posts to the detriment of my bigger picture of creating a new future. Could it be that I am missing the elephant in my living room?
Hmmm..somebody hand me that big fork, I'm in the mood for some trunk.

Who's on board?

Thank you to Lee Chalmers for providing me with the quote for the last post, powerful stuff.
One line that stands out is The time of the lonely wolf is over! Gather yourselves.
Asking for help can be one of the hardest things. I am one of those people who always wants to do it on their own, to prove that they are capable of rising to any task. Invariably there comes a point where I make a mistake and all the toys get thown out of the pram. If I am doing it for myself by myself, it is down to me when I lower my standards and say that'll do, and if it seems insurmountable, it is me who decides to give up or maybe,not even try.
But what if I did ask for help at the start? What if I was able to gather a team of people who I trust and admire to help me realise my ambition? What if I had someone to share the responsibility and hold me to account? Perhaps we would see extraordinary results - after all two heads are better than one.
So I am pleased to say that I have done just that and enlisted some help. Two friends have now said YES to the possibility.
The wheels are turning..

A Message From the Hopi Elders

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.

There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel like they are being torn apart,
and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off toward the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history,we are to take nothing personally,
least of all ourselves!
For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey
comes to a halt.

The time of the lonely wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Where to start?

There comes a point with any project where you have to stop TALKING about it and start DOING something about it. Keeping this blog has been good for me, it has served to keep the project at the front of my mind all the time, but as long as it stays up there it is only ever going to be just an IDEA. Now is the time to take action, after all I haven't really acknowledged what a huge resource I have at my fingertips... Let's get busy.

Build it and they will come

The creative hub project has been approved. Yay!
What comes next is down to me, I have to start spreading the news and telling more people about it, more importantly making contact with the people who could become involved in the project. What is still a little vague is WHY would anyone want to be involved? Will it be a sufficient draw to talk about such an abstract concept as sharing inspiration? It think so..Perhaps I want to pitch it somewhere between social and business networking.
Maybe I should start by looking at what I want to get out of it?
The creative hub project was borne out of a feeling of isolation, working in a tiny studio in the suburbs I felt that I was missing out on something, that it was always going on somewhere else. I was always going to be on the periphery unless I did something about it, so I put it out there that I wanted to set up a forum for people to meet and share ideas and within no time people were approaching me, asking to get involved. Perhaps it really is that easy..
(in case you were wondering about the title, its from Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner, mmm cheesy!)

The creative hub ONLINE...

...It really is quite amazing how quickly you can achieve something when you put your mind to it.
I had thought that it would take a bit of time to sort out a web presence but I was wrong, I registered a domain name last night and there is a page up already! Just like that!
Of course, now I have to make the site, which is the hard bit (but judging by the speed of progress so far, it might not be!) After all, I will certainly NOT be taken seriously by my peers in the design community if I do not have a kick ass website. In the meantime you can visit it here and bookmark it for a later visit.

Asking BIG questions..

...and getting unexpected answers!
This project is all about stepping out of my comfort zone and thinking a bit bigger.
I thought I would share an astounding thing that happened today. I was challenged to make a speculative enquiry to a company who's work I admired but for whom I couldn't imagine working. Just find the address, find out who I should write to and ask them for an interview. It was essentially to be an exercise in getting a NO - just send it and not be worried about whether they respond or not, the most improtant thing being: WRITE A LETTER AND POST IT. So I did...and do you know what? I got an email today from the very person I wrote to inviting me to call to arrange a time to bring my portfolio in. OMG!
Now where's that portfolio...

The creative hub manifesto

Well now, the idea is taking shape..what I need is a manifesto, some guidelines and promises, something that I can be held to account for.
What I really need are some specific measurable results.

So here they are the SMRs for the creative hub project:
1. An event to be held in central london on 26.10.06
2. 60 registered guests attening from creative backgrounds
3. £1000 worth of corporate sponsorship for the event
4. Two high profile speakers from the design industry
5. 50% of guests register interest in attending a second event
6. A website supporting the project with a messageboard

I invite you to keep watching this space to check how I get on.

What is the creative hub?

At present it is an idea, but it is gradually becoming more real with every word that I type or person that I talk to. it is essentially a forum for creative people to meet and share inspirations. Its not the greatest innovation and I am not a pioneer. What I am is a possibility, the possibility of inspiration. Being inspired by others and being inspiring to others.
JOIN ME..

A journey of 1000 miles..

...starts with one step.
It's just like passing a door that you have passed many times before, except this time you decided to stop and walk through it.
It didnt take any more effort that any other action I have taken before, except this is the action that has set in motion an unstoppable surge of momentum that will see extraordinary transformations happening around me.
Here I stand, a clearing for inspiration in my community.

So Mr Humphrey...will it be the red pill or the blue pill?