Jump David Jump

UnThink Cancer

Erik Wahl and I have been in cahoots for nearly seven years now. He is an author, astonishing graffiti artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a corporate keynote speaker who travels the world sharing his undying love for the act of creation. 

In the past ten years, he has shared his incredible message with the largest and most influential companies (Google, AT&T, Microsoft, NBC, CNN, Forbes, xPrize) in the world, leaving behind his prized artwork as a reminder of his passion for breakthrough thinking. He truly is the Warhol of Wall Street, the Renoir of ROI, and the Picasso of Productivity.

As his bestselling book, "UnThink" states, his goal is to teach these employees how to "unlearn" their typical corporate creative ruts and inspire them towards new innovations and superior levels of performance. He's got a million stories, but the one I love most is when a Microsoft employee who, in the middle of Erik's talk, was inspired to create an entirely new idea netting the company $20-$30 million dollars! 

Here's a great photo (and video) of when my company, Dot&Cross, filmed Erik using everyday garden mulch to create this incredible reproduction of the Mona Lisa in the middle of a California desert! 

 

Recently, Erik entered the following video to the American Cancer Society as part of his application to become their national spokesperson for 2016. And he was selected! In fact, as part of his deal, he strongly desired to have me present with him at a few of his upcoming events since, as he says, I have served as an inspiration for him! So in early August, I will be in Dallas, on stage with Erik at the 2016 Nationwide Relay For Life Leadership Conference!

 

Erik, you deserve a massive thank you, but in addition I have to declare a GIANT SHOUT OUT to Tasha, his wife! I have never met a woman who works half as hard as she does to promote her husband's message to the world. She is an unbelievable wife to Erik and still outruns her three soccer playing, song writing, world traveling boys! Trust me, these two working side-by-side makes them the power couple of the year... I love you both!

If you are new to this site and are interested in my current KickStarter project or interested in what Erik has offered you for your support, click here!

Jump David Jump

Here we go. At this very moment I am as raw, naked, and open as I ever have been with you, the public. My only prayer is, should this book be completely funded, it will walk alongside you if you've ever encountered cancer, divorce or unexpected surprises. That you would know, as I have learned, that God is yet to leave you by yourself.

I've come to the edge and I'm choosing to jump. I have absolutely no idea what happens next. I'm either going to fly high or die on impact.

Either way, Jump David Jump.

View my KickStarter page.

(*A special thanks goes to Gorilla on their partnership to create my video*)

Or Whatever.

I am so thrilled my friend Ben just recently launched his newest line of products, "I'm Sorry". It has been both a joy and a struggle watching him create over the past five years.

 

INPUT!

I have to admit that I love the end of the year because you start to see everyones' "Best Of..." lists. One of my favorite publications, PASTE, always does a great job of this and this morning I've been catching up on their Top 25 Music videos of the year. 

Usually when I'm sensing a lack of creativity, I know the first place to look for the problem. What's my input? If we expect to have good 'output', we need good 'input'. That principle pretty much goes across everything in life. Want to cook a cook meal? Use good ingredients. Want to be a good friend? Hang out with good friends. Want to tell good stories? Read good stories. 

It's a very simple principle that we often forget. So... as you look to whatever endeavors you are planning for next year, check out the best of what happened this year. Then practice the creative art of stealing. That's right, every artist steals. You can either be a 'dirty thief' and plagiarize or you can be a 'proper thief' and follow this pattern.

"Suck. Mimic. Innovate."

Take in good input. Process it. Then make something better. 

This is the process behind the creation of every new idea you and I have ever had. Now that you know the process, you can become better at it.

Here's some good input from 2010. Check out PASTE's top 25 music videos here, or see their complete list here.

Here are a few videos that inspired me in strange ways and made me get out my pen to start writing...

Boxed Water

Want to take this chance to congratulate Ben and his team on their new project.  After debuting last week, Boxed Water is exploding!  His product has already been picked up by some of the major product packaging sites. like thedieline.com and it's no surprise why.  On top of the great design, he's giving back 20% of the profits to water and tree reforestation projects.  This is truly a fantastic product and I suggest contacting your local grocery stores and get them to carry it.

This reminds me of a great quote by Buckminster Fuller. 

"When I am working on a problem I never think about Beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it's wrong."

I can vouch that Ben was probably pretty concerned about beauty while solving the problem but nonetheless...  I think Boxed Water is doing both. Helping solve a major problem in beautiful fashion.  Top notch.

To keep up with Ben and his online gang of misfits, stay tuned to The Brilliance.

Sunglasses (minus large logos)

Barton Perreira is a great new Los Angeles-based Sunglasses company created by two people who defected from Oliver Peoples.  Love the fact they don't have a logo on them.  I wouldn't exactly call them understated but, like all good watches, you don't need a logo to recognize quality.

BONUS**  While checking out Oliver People's dope site, they've got some great branded content with a short film they put together.  You can check out the trailer on the site.  Not to mention some incredible music by BitterSweet Faith and Thievery Corporation on the site.

Still like the Barton Perreira glasses better...

Makes my head hurt...

One of my favorite places to spend time on the web is at TED.  Ted is a technology / education / design conference held out in California that places the superpowers of the creative universe in one room, gets them all hyped up on coffee and lets them share their crazy ideas.  Recently, I came across a video that was so unbelievable I had to watch it twice.  The concept is how we will manage information in the future and also more directly, how we can manage massive amounts of seemingly random unrelated information to form cohesive synergistic and properly 'tagged' information.

Since my wife is a brilliant photographer and shared a link to my blog today, I'll return the favor and provide a video for her and her photography cohorts that I think will thoroughly blow your minds, as it did mine.  After learning about Blaise Aguera y Arcas's "Photosynth Experiment" you'll never look at Flickr the same way again...  Enjoy!

Calling all Designers / Models...

Love it.  Check out this brilliant site for Designers Slash (/) Models.

"Perfect people create perfect designs."

"Design can change the world, I think crop circles prove that."

"You have to be beautiful to create something beautiful."

WTF?! Earth to LONDON!!!

Well, London has announced and 'unveiled' their new logo...

Congratulations London!  You've officially designed the most hideous Olympic Logo to date.  Strike ONE!