Why are you so upset with me? Because you left! Yeah but I'm back now! Yeah but you still left. But surely you know we can't stay side by side forever? We'll have to part company eventually. Yeah I don't get it either.

What I need is a team of clones! If only I could replicate myself ten times then we could get the job done. Then everything would run smoothly and I wouldn't have to tear my hair out watching others make the simplest of mistakes. ... I hope they never perfect cloning! That way the control … Continue reading Team of clones →

When creativity and practicality are divorced you get gaffes like dissolvable swimsuits or irate employees trying to deliver triangle tires. If the requested budget for your film is ludicrously high then you ensure the film never gets made. If the success of your project depends on working 25 hours a day then let's call it … Continue reading Creativity-practicality divorce →

'You're producing too much, people are going to get annoyed!' A sly justification by the resistance to keep you in your comfort zone. Facts that are contrary to the above italicised statement: Robert De Niro has made over 100 movies and is still considered one of the best actors in the world. Pablo Picasso created … Continue reading Creative overproduction →

Louis Theroux is a documentarian and in the year 2000, as part of his 'Weird Weekend' series, he did an episode on rap. In this episode Louis spits a few lyrics of his own invention. You can watch a clip from the show that was uploaded to YouTube in 2008 below: https://youtu.be/sSLQbafBipw Then Louis goes … Continue reading My money don’t jiggle jiggle →

If you're a caring parent/sibling/friend you just have to hope they make the right decision. Telling them what to do risks resentment. Shaming them into an option is unhealthy. Up steps hope. Maddeningly uncertain hope.

I think you need to establish credibility before you can shock people. I think the listener has to believe you to be a beacon of truth before you can surprise them. If they judge you to be an exaggerator or a teller of tall tales then they'll flick the internal switch to show polite intrigue … Continue reading Credibility before shock →

I love sporting intelligence. Brute strength and power is impressive to see. But it's nothing compared to careful delicate planning. It often reveals itself when the game is balanced on a knife edge. Then one plays blows a huge difference between the teams and leaves the loser nameless and the winner famous. It may have … Continue reading Sporting intelligence →

The enemy of the questioner is a vague presentation. How can we dig in and scrutinise your PowerPoint when it's so high level? But then again maybe that's the intention.

If you find yourself faced with a day of back to meetings I think you don't need to fret, there is a way to get through it. It involves discipline. Leave the meeting as soon as the clock strikes the hour (or half hour). By all means preempt the departure with I have a hard … Continue reading Enforced hard stop →