Always mind...

Monday inspiration

Developing myself...

An important thing is that you concentrate on developing yourself. Whatever others may say or do, those who have established their own solid identity will trimph in the end. The great japanese author Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962) wrote in his novel Miyamoto Musashi (an account of the seventeenth-century master swordman of the same name): rather than worrying about your future, thinking  "Perhaps I should become this or perhaps I should become that", first be still and build a self that is a solid and unmoving as  Mount Fuji.

Nota: Recebi por email e desconheço o autor, mas gostei!

Incomplete Manifesto for Growth by Bruce Mau

Achei este manifesto do Bruce Mau o máximo e muito alinhado com o que tenho aprendido na minha vidinha. Entao, ei-lo abaixo transcrito e tambem @ http://www.brucemaudesign:

Allow events to change you.

You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

Forget about good.

Good is a known quantity. Good is what we all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you stick to good you’ll never have real growth.

Process is more important than outcome.

When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).

Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the long view and allow yourself the fun of failure every day.

Go deep.

The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value.

Capture accidents.

The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the process. Ask different questions.

Study.

A studio is a place of study. Use the necessity of production as an excuse to study. Everyone will benefit.

Drift.

Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.

Begin anywhere.

John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

Everyone is a leader.

Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead.

Harvest ideas.

Edit applications. Ideas need a dynamic, fluid, generous environment to sustain life. Applications, on the other hand, benefit from critical rigor. Produce a high ratio of ideas to applications.

Keep moving.

The market and its operations have a tendency to reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your practice.

Slow down.

Desynchronize from standard time frames and surprising opportunities may present themselves.

Don’t be cool.

Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.

Ask stupid questions.

Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

Collaborate.

The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.

____________________.

Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.

Stay up late.

Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you’re separated from the rest of the world.

Work the metaphor.

Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.

Be careful to take risks.

Time is genetic. Today is the child of yesterday and the parent of tomorrow. The work you produce today will create your future.

Repeat yourself.

If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.

Make your own tools.

Hybridize your tools in order to build unique things. Even simple tools that are your own can yield entirely new avenues of exploration. Remember, tools amplify our capacities, so even a small tool can make a big difference.

Stand on someone’s shoulders.

You can travel farther carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And the view is so much better.

Avoid software.

The problem with software is that everyone has it.

Don’t clean your desk.

You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.

Don’t enter awards competitions.

Just don’t. It’s not good for you.

Read only left-hand pages.

Marshall McLuhan did this. By decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called our “noodle.”

Make new words.

Expand the lexicon. The new conditions demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of expression. The expression generates new conditions.

Think with your mind.

Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.

Organization = Liberty.

Real innovation in design, or any other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth of a split between “creatives” and “suits” is what Leonard Cohen calls a ‘charming artifact of the past.’

Don’t borrow money.

Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline, and how many have failed.

Listen carefully.

Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.

Take field trips.

The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.

Make mistakes faster.

This isn’t my idea — I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.

Imitate.

Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You’ll never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable. We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique.

Scat.

When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up something else … but not words.

Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

Explore the other edge.

Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.

Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms.

Real growth often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces — what Dr. Seuss calls “the waiting place.” Hans Ulrich Obrist once organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of a conference — the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals — but with no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned many ongoing collaborations.

Avoid fields.

Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life. They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold, complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and cross the fields.

Laugh.

People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I’ve become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves.

Remember.

Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.

Power to the people.

Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can’t be free agents if we’re not free.we’re not free.

Resumindo e concluindo!

Pois e, esta semana rolou um misto de mau humor, tristeza e privação de sol... o que me deixa uma pessoa péssima.

E uma melancolia que se abate sobre esta pessoa, quando volto de lugares que gosto. Mas já passou! 

O domingo

Sol. Amigos. Livros. Cinema. E as minhas lindas flores.

Como organizar um brunch, jantar ou high-tea?

Gosto de receber meus amigos em casa para um brunch, jantar ou tea / high-tea. E um velho habito, de longa data. E para ajudar na organizao fiz uma check list que compartilho aqui.

Também ja organizei alguns "cafés da manha" no escritório, no Brasil e aqui na Suica. E todos foram um sucesso!

Crie o ambiente: Mesa, decoração (incluindo a da mesa, pode ter temas), musica

A mesa: Set the table!

Toalha (branca ou com estampas simpaticas, de linho, renda, organza, etc). 

Guardanapos (brancos de linho, simpaticos coloridos de diversos tecidos e texturas e de papel mesmo, as vezes)

Louça: Serviço de jantar, de cha e de cafe

Talheres

Travessas, saladeiras, baixelas, terrinas, prato de bolo, pratos grandes, etc de diferentes formas e cores

Copos: Champagne, cachaca, caipirinha, agua, vinhos, cerveja, refrigerante, long drinks

Jarras, bules, leiteiras, vasos e afins
Mesa e aparador

Gosto de usar pratos brancos e abusar da criatividade nos copos de diferentes formas e cores (os copos de agua e suco, claro!) e nas travessas / baixelas.

Dica valiosa: Arrume a mesa com bastante antecedência! 

E preciso ter:

- Uma toalha branca, de linho ou renda. Se a sua mesa for quadrada ou retangular as "mini-toalhas" cruzando a mesa sao fantásticas! Um toque cool, moderno. Eu adoro toalhas (herdei este gosto da minha mae) e tenho uma vasta (e crescente!) coleção delas.

- Um jogo de jantar, cha e cafe branco basico. E se voce assim o quiser, um jogo Vista Alegre e / ou Royal Copenhagen. Os dois estao na minha "wish list'!

- Um jogo de copos de vinho / champagne. Riedel e Leonardo sao ótimas opções. E ha também ótimas opções de Bohemian Crystal da Republica Theca que adoro. Tenho vários. Claro, tenho um tombo pela tcheca Moser (para ocasiões muito especiais!). 

- Copos diversos. Gosto da dinamarquesa Iittala, da turca Pasabahce 

e a Ikea sempre tem ótimas opções a preços honestíssimos.  

- Travessas, saladeiras, baixelas e terrinas de diversos materias, formas e cores. Adoro garimpa-las nos flea markets, antiquários, feiras de antiguidades, etc. E nas boas lojas de homeware. O mesmo vale para jarras, bules, chaleiras, leiteiras, vasos e afins. E para um toque de modernidade, temos a dinamarquesa Bodum.

- Faqueiro / Cutlery: Boas marcas: Christofle; Villery & Boch; WMF (e o que tenho); Alessi; e Georg Jensen. E as preciosas antiguidades garimpadas nas feirinhas / flea merkets!

Bem, a maioria das marcas acima tem um ótimo mix de homeware, incluindo louças, copos e faqueiros. Ha que explorar!

Decoração

Da mesa

Da casa

Do banheiro / lavabo (toalhas, sabonetes simpaticos)

Flores na mesa e estrategicamente espelhadas pela casa

Menu 

Paes

"Couvert": Frutas secas, pastas / pates, queijos,  produtos de charcuteria, manteiga, manteiga com sabores, legumes em palitos, etc
Entrada: saladas, sopas, massas

Prato Principal 
Queijos diversos

Sobremesa:  frutas (frescas e secas) e/ou doces (geleias, compotas, bolos, tortas, pudins, mousses, etc) 

Chocolates para servir com o cafe / cha

Este e um menu de almoço/jantar. Ha que adaptar para o brunch e o high-tea!

Dica: e preciso saber se algum dos convidados e vegetariano e/ou tem algum tipo de alergia/intolerância, ou restrição religiosa para poder adaptar o menu, sempre!!! 

O mesmo vale para a empresa. Quando organizar um evento, ha sempre  que checar as restrições dos convidados! 

Bebidas

Champagne ou Espumante

Vinhos

Cerveja

Sucos

Agua

Aguas com sabores (misturas feitas em casa com frutas e ervas aromáticas, sempre!)

Refrigerantes

Cha gelado

Cafe, capuccino, cha
Destilados diversos o que inclui cachacas, para degustação

Musica

-Brasileira (MPB: Joao Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso,  Seu Jorge, Marisa Monte, Vanessa da Mata, Bebel Gilberto, Maria Rita, Ana Carolina, Maria Gadu; chorinho)

-Francesa

-Latina: Buena Vista Social Club (Ibrahim Ferrer: Dos Gardenias para ti)

Havaianas

Para as pessoas se sentirem confortáveis

40 under 40

Estórias inspiradoras. Muitos, muitos mesmo nomes do  Silicon Valley, incluindo o Larry Page (Google), a arrojada Marissa Maeyer do Yahoo (former Google), o Mark Zuckerberg (of course!!), etc, etc, etc. Mas tem também  o Dolf van den Brink da Heineken, a  Libby Wadle da J. Crew (famosa pelas aparições da Michele Obama com seus modelitos), o Kevin Systrom  do Instagram, as irmas Ashley & Mary-Kate Olsen, o Aditya Ghosh da indiana IndiGo, responsável pela maior ordem da aviação comercial - 180 Airbus A320 ($15.6 bilhões!).

Palavra de ordem entre praticamente TODOS - Inovação e determinação!

Tudo aqui.

Site: http://cnnmon.ie/odmFWS

Felicidade é...

Um bate-papo com uma menininha (de chapeuzinho com flores e cesta de compras) suica que cantou "Makuna Matata" para mim na parada do tram

Sábado e domingo de muito sol a temperaturas a rondar os 40 C

Massagem

Comprar flores: lindas dalias da estação

Ir ao Farmers market para ingredientes frescos e deliciosos: verduras deliciosas, maças, e as primeira mirabeles da estação, alem de encontrar amigas queridas para um cafe

Descobrir um excelente Cafe que eu nao conhecia

Explorar a cultura suica em lojas super simpáticas

Brunch de domingo com uma amiga querida

Horas de tranquilidade a beira do Reno

Milho cozido para o lanche da tarde e melão com folhas de melissa para refrescar

Organizar quase tudo que precisava ser organizado em casa

Lição muito bem aprendida: Keep Going!

E preciso saber o que se quer. E traçar um plano para chegar la. Mas este plano dever ser sempre muito flexível, porque, inevitavelmente sera preciso ajustá-lo no meio do caminho. O ambiente é mutável, e será preciso se ajustar as suas mudanças. No caminho também conhecemos novos personagens, que podem mudar tudo. Tudo está ligado, conectado! E quando sabemos exatamente o que queremos, a dinâmica da vida faz acontecer. A network se desvenda e as coisas acontecem.

Em resumo, é preciso dar o pontapé inicial, é preciso começar a caminhada e isto ja e 50% para chegar onde queremos. Os outros 50% vem de esforço e trabalho árduo (sobre a parte do esforço, o livro "Outliers" valida minha teoria!).

Image: Wisdom From The Ninja Village: Keep Going

Simples assim...

Happy Pills

Calor
Sol
Chuva
Menos calor
O Reno
Blues
Insenso de jasmim
Um lenco amarelo
Jazz
Vinho branco gelado
Um cachorro lindo e querido

Image: Google Images

Best Advice From Johnny Depp

Primeiros Erros by Capital Inicial

...Meu destino não é de ninguém & eu não deixo os meus passos no chão...

Meu caminho é cada manhã
Não procure saber onde estou
Meu destino não é de ninguém
E eu não deixo os meus passos no chão
Se você não entende não vê
Se não me vê não entende

Não procure saber onde estou
Se o meu jeito te surpreende
Se o meu corpo virasse sol
Se a minha mente virasse sol
Mas só chove, chove
Chove, chove

Se um dia eu pudesse ver
Meu passado inteiro
E fizesse parar de chover
Nos primeiros erros
Meu corpo viraria sol
Minha mente viraria sol
Mas só chove, chove
Chove, chove (2x)

Meu corpo viraria sol
Minha mente viraria
Mas só chove, chove
Chove, chove
Meu corpo viraria sol
Minha mente viraria sol
Mas só chove, chove
Chove, chove

Para alegrar o meu dia by Tie

Para alegrar o meu dia by Tie. Veja aqui.

O importante e alegrar os meus dias, ultimamente cinzas! Cade o verao?

E nesse espirito, fiz brigadeiro de Ovomaltine.

Imagem: Google Images

It's Friday...

Image: Google Images

The Best New Way to Bring Your Lunch by The Daily Muse

Source: The Daily Muse / The Best New Way to Bring Your Lunch

Caprese Pasta Salad

2 tbsp basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
1 cup cherry tomatoes

1 ½ oz fresh mozzarella, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 oz cooked penne pasta
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup fresh basil, chopped

Chickpea Salad

2 tbsp easy lemon vinaigrette (see below)
1 cup chickpeas
½ cup sun-dried or oven roasted tomatoes
¼ cup spring onion, chopped
¼ cup red onion, chopped
½ cup olives, chopped
¼ cup piquillo peppers, chopped
½ cup fresh spinach

Greek Pasta Salad
2 tbsp easy lemon vinaigrette (see below)
1 cup cherry tomatoes
¼ cup red onion, chopped
1 cup cucumber, chopped
½ cup feta, crumbled
2 oz rigatoni, cooked
½ cup mixed greens
½ cup fresh mint, chopped

Easy Lemon Vinaigrette
(will make enough for 3-4 mason jars)

Juice from one large lemon
½ cup olive oil
Good pinch of salt
Couple of grinds of black pepper

Shake all ingredients together in a small container. Speaking of shaking, try to remember to leave room at the top of each jar. Don’t worry if you get a little over zealous (I usually am!) with your ingredients though—just shake the jar like crazy when you’re ready for lunch, eat a few bites, then shake some more once there’s a bit more room!