How a plan comes together.
1. "The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
Eden Phillpotts
I have a friend who finds everything interesting. You meet for a coffee and he's fascinated by every item on the menu, the design of the chairs, the colour of the lampshades, he's intrigued by the shape of the cups, and wants to know why they chose that specific font for the sign in the toilets.
He's hard work. But he's also one of the happiest people I know, because he's always present, always engaged, always taking an interest. And I've always wanted to be a bit more like him.
2. "The more you know, the more you see."
Aldous Huxley
It's not a coincidence that he's also a very knowledgable guy, as it's easier to find things interesting if you can actually comprehend and recognise what it is you're looking at. So what's the quickest way to contextualise something?
3. "You do not really understand something unless you can build it."
John von Neumann
There's no faster way of immersing yourself in a topic than trying to make something.
So each year I'm going to pick two topics to learn about, then I'll design some original new products based on what I've discovered, and produce an experimental batch of them, to be sold on the website.
4. "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly."
G.K. Chesterton
The caveat is that I don't actually know what I'm doing - I don't have any design or engineering knowledge, I'm not a particularly creative person, and I'm fairly useless with my hands.
However, I am going to try my damnedest to make these products as unique and professional as possible.
5. "No mind is complete by itself."
Buckminster Fuller
And, thankfully, I won't be struggling away entirely on my own, as I've also talked a number of talented pals into lending a hand, offering their feedback and expertise along the way. They'll be forming a network of good eggs I can fall back on.
In return, every other member of the network is also able to take full advantage of this wellspring too - the valuable resource of having a gang of friendly, insightful people, who are always eager to help.
6. “There is a quiet dignity in the extra effort that no one asked for.”
George Orwell
I've also been asking these good eggs for their recommendations (books, films, music, products, facts, quotes) to compile an ever-growing database of interesting things you might have missed. I really hope you find something you enjoy, and feel part of this little network.
“We do not need a crowd; we only need a few who see the world at the exact same angle.”
E.M. Forster