Deep thoughts on personal growth from designer Bruce Mau

Ever since reading Daniel Pink's book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future I've been working to appreciate the relevance and impact design has on my life. The book talks about six essential abilities that Pink claims we all need to succeed in the coming world - design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning. All of these are important, and I love that Pink has tied them together. It's a stimulating read; recommended.

I'll write more about the book another time (including tips like keeping a design journal, and increasing your "MQ" - metaphor quotient), but I today I just wanted to point you an article by designer Bruce Mau that I came across a while ago: An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. I think it's a terrific list.

1. Allow events to change you.
   
2. Forget about good.
   
3. Process is more important than outcome.
   
4. Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).
   
5. Go deep.
   
6. Capture accidents.
   
7. Study.
   
8. Drift.
   
9. Begin anywhere.
   
10. Everyone is a leader.
    
11. Harvest ideas. Edit applications.
    
12. Keep moving.
    
13. Slow down.
    
14. Don't be cool.
    
15. Ask stupid questions.
    
16. Collaborate.
    
17. ____________________.
    
18. Stay up late.
    
19. Work the metaphor.
    
20. Be careful to take risks.
    
21. Repeat yourself.
    
22. Make your own tools.
    
23. Stand on someone's shoulders.
    
24. Avoid software.
    
25. Don't clean your desk.
    
26. Don't enter awards competitions.
    
27. Read only left-hand pages.
    
28. Make new words. Expand the lexicon.
    
29. Think with your mind. Forget technology.
    
30. Organization = Liberty.
    
31. Don't borrow money.
    
32. Listen carefully.
    
33. Take field trips.
    
34. Make mistakes faster.
    
35. Imitate.
    
36. Scat.
    
37. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.
    
38. Explore the other edge.
    
39. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms.
    
40. Avoid fields. Jump fences.
    
41. Laugh.
    
42. Remember.
    
43. Power to the people.
    

Comments

[Joan]

Bruce Mau is an incredible designer. I have his colossal volume, Life Style, a never-ending source of inspiration and ideas.
Your blog is excellent —I have added a permanent link to Ideamatt in my own blog, a collection of drawings and articles related to GTD, called [ GTDrawings | http://gtdrawings.blogspot.com ].

[Matthew Cornell]

Joan, your comment really made my day - thank you very much! I really love your blog - I've been a subscriber for a while. I'm sure my readers would appreciate your GTD drawings: [ GTDrawings: December 2005 | http://gtdrawings.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html ] and [ GTDrawings: January 2006 | http://gtdrawings.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html ]

And thanks for the pointer to Mau's book. A good gift idea for a friend!

Finally, I think your idea of [ On My Desk: Creative folk share the stuff on their desks | http://on-my-desk.blogspot.com/ ] is brilliant. Reminds me of someone who did a whole picture book of "To Do" lists from people. In general, I love beautiful artifacts people use.

[Miles]

I wrote a post yesterday and featured an article you did on it as well.

http://www.positivefitnessblog.com/

Thanks!

Keep up the great blog, I'm subscribed.

[Matthew Cornell]

Thanks very much, Miles.