Introverts make the world go! /  by Barry Weatherall

Great story on NPR/TEDtalk show, definitely plan to get Susan Cain’s book ​

There's something about [solitude] in our culture that's... not permissable, or threatening, or not cool.

- Susan Cain

Although our culture undervalues them dramatically, introverts have made some of the great contributions to society: Chopin's nocturnes, the invention of the personal computer, to Gandhi's transformative leadership. Cain argues that schools, workplaces and religious institutions are designed for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy and happiness.

Check out the NPR link: http://www.npr.org/2012/06/08/154457233/how-do-introverts-share-ideas​

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Fiona Apple. /  by Barry Weatherall

Love her, hate her, there usually isn’t a lot of middle ground. I find listening to others and their creative processes reminds me of how similar and simultaneously different and deeply personal this passion/business/life of creating can be.​ 

Me, I love how she paints with words.​ click the photo for the interview:

​© 2010 Andrew Zuckerman Studio

​© 2010 Andrew Zuckerman Studio

it’s personal. it should be. /  by Barry Weatherall

​From my new favorite blog, Dan Waldschmidt:

http://danwaldschmidt.com/2012/07/attitude/yeah-its-personal​

YOU SHOULD TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

It’s hard not to let your voice crack when you talk about it.

You’re upset. You can’t just “get over it”.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

It just means you care more. It means that what you want is wired into your core. It’s part of who you are.

And that makes it deeply personal.

Your goals can’t just be a series of tasks you put on your checklist. A “bucket list” of thrillseeking adventures isn’t good enough.

You have to etch your dreams on the inside of your heart. You have to wear your emotions on the outside of your sleeves.

Because achieving success is personal. Deeply personal. There is nothing more personal.

To be denied your dreams is to be held in slavery. It’s unfair. It grinds against the core of who you are as a person.

So it’s time we talked about it. It’s time we stopped pretending like achieving our dreams doesn’t really matter.

It does matter. A lot.

So start acting like it

Care about you.  Give to others. Inspire greatness in others.

Live without regrets.  Apologize when you’re wrong.  Stop complaining when things aren’t fair.

Expect to be misunderstood.  Shrug it off when it happens.

Go the extra mile.  Than go a thousand more.

Don’t stop when you’re down. Keep crawling forward.

Follow your heart. Avoid the crowd. Believe you’re worth it.

The difference is your attitude.

Not the world around you.  Not your critics.  Not the media.  Not your family.  Not your friends.  Not a better education or a “lucky break”.

You are the only one who can make your dreams personal.

So live with a “chip on your shoulder”.  Expect the unexpected.

Cry when you’re down.  And thank those who make you successful.

Live each day as if it is your last.

Make it personal.

Identify this chair, win a billion bucks! (ok, kidding!) /  by Barry Weatherall

Seriously, no one from a royal family would sit here — but I do love this chair. We have several pieces of vintage furniture, I’ve been too occupied with other projects (lazy!) to turn it over and look for the artist signature. There’s a similar chair in the Milwaukee Art Museum collection. Anyone want to venture a guess? 

​...and NO, we don’t leave it outside in the elements...