I had retreated to the woods of Minnesota hoping for renewal through community and yet, in the first exercise of the weekend, I was encouraged to do nothing. It wasn’t encouragement to engage in leisure. It wasn’t an opportunity to take a nap. It was an exercise in doing nothing…which is remarkably difficult for me.

It had been almost 15 years since I had sat in a chair as a (temporary) college dropout and just stared at the wall. At that point, I was heartbroken and hopeless, and the world had come to a crashing halt. For 15 years after crawling out of that hole, I had done everything in my power to do something. Anything, really. And often, everything. I was terrified by the nothing.

So, on Saturday, I retreated to my room, sat on the bed and did nothing.

For a couple minutes, I rambled through my worries – my kids’ future, my wife and marriage, my family, and my health. I worked through my to-do lists – my clients, my current book’s marketing, my next book’s writing, my bills, my kids, my marriage. I counted the the wood beams and boards across my ceiling. I thought about how I would write this post. I did so many things.

At some point, though, my thoughts transitioned and the noise in my head began to quiet. I could hear the wind, the dogs down the block, and my own breath. I could feel the sun making its way across my room. I was rushed with a sense of gratitude that had nothing to do with fear or obligation, but with a simple sense of appreciation for all I had been given by my wife, children and family. I, at once, felt completely alone in my nothing and deeply connected to those around me. I felt comforted and comfortable.

In short, in the nothingness, I found some peace and a deep sense of possibility. And, what a gift it was.

Exercise for you: Set aside 30 minutes. Shut down all distractions. Just be.

The post Do Nothing. appeared first on Hugh Weber.

With his latest book, The Icarus Deception, I feel like he’s finally and fully resonated with my soul. I come from a culture of “don’t fly too high” and live with the insecurity of wondering whether I’m “flying too low.” In Icarus, Godin challenges us to fly higher, make better art and be bold.

He wraps up his book with a chapter called Fourteen Real Artists. I was humbled to have the efforts of so many people on OTA (http://ota.is/) featured as one of the fourteen. It’s a real pleasure to share the unedited text of that section below.

Building A Movement Out of Town

Hugh Weber understands that not all big ideas, not all important art, and not all movements start in big cities. He’s the founder of OTA, a creative collective based in South Dakota that is nothing less than a catalyst for a regionwide explosion in creativity and possibility.

When he started, he thought that he’d have to single-handedly build this movement himself. What he discovered, though, was, “I’ve been forced to recognize that I’m not in this alone and that I can’t do it alone. The people who have stepped forward to support, engage and help lead this effort have humbled me and transformed my perspective on community.”

The hard work, it turns out, isn’t in booking gigs or being brilliant. The hard work is in persuading others to see the same vision, to use the same can-do attitude that grew up on the farm and apply it to building an eclectic, creative community. “I think the primary difference is simply a perspective of possibility. Our region is remarkably well suited for problem solving. When there’s a flood, blizzard or fire, everyone comes together, works together and survives together. But when we think about something bigger, innovative or possibility focused, we seem to believe that has to happen alone in our basement.”

The connection economy amplifies the makers of change. These are people in the community, even in the flyover towns that New Yorkers sneer at, who are just waiting to be asked, just waiting to exercise their ability to be weird. The job of the community organizer is simple: not to find the right answer but to find the right audience, the right segment of the community. Connect them, amplify the positive outliers, and repeat until change happens.

The post Icarus appeared first on Hugh Weber.

There’s a great deal of talk these days about standards in education. I believe that it’s time for a new type of standards. I’ve attempted to put together a set of 10 belief statements that highlight the positive perspective of Emerson’s education and my own learning experiences.

I didn’t set out to write statements that are exclusive to Montessori, but rather aspirational for the schools that I hope will help Emerson become the best possible version of herself.

***

I believe children deserve a PERSONALIZED and PURPOSEFUL education. They should be free to do INDEPENDENT, SELF-DIRECTED and FASCINATION-DRIVEN work. The classroom should be an ENVIRONMENT OF BEAUTY that allows for FREE MOVEMENT and COLLABORATION. A commitment to EXPERIMENTATION and DISCOVERY during childhood will create a foundation for lifelong learning.

1) PERSONALIZED – I believe that a child deserves an education that is responsive to his or her individual spirit and learning style, utilizes all of the senses, and focuses on his or her dynamic development as a whole person (i.e. emotional, physical, social, spiritual, aesthetic and intellectual.)

2) PURPOSEFUL – I believe that a child with a positive conception of purposeful and concentrated work is prepared to be present and satisfied with his or her life’s work.

3) INDEPENDENT – I believe that a child provided an environment for independent decision-making is also prepared for responsibility in an ever-changing world.

4) SELF-DIRECTED – I believe that a child who learns the value of self-direction and self-correction will develop a positive self-image in a world requiring self-motivation.

5) FASCINATION-DRIVEN – I believe that a child with freedom to concentrate on his or her fascinations develops a capacity for both self-discipline and self-initiative.

6) ENVIRONMENT OF BEAUTY – I believe that a child who is taught the value and responsibility of learning in an environment of beauty and harmony will appreciate the value of beauty and harmony in one’s life.

7) FREE MOVEMENT – I believe that a child requires purposeful movement and activity as an integral component of realizing his or her full intellectual potential.

8) COLLABORATION – I believe that a child engaged in a classroom collaboration of diverse ages and cultures gains an open, empathetic, and respectful perspective on participation in a community.

9) EXPERIMENTATION – I believe that a child who is free to exercise critical thinking, experimentation and creativity will have an appreciation for the world of entrepreneurship and innovation in science and art.

10) DISCOVERY – I believe that a child started and supported on a journey of self-discovery will also discover the possibility of self-fulfillment and a lifetime of learning both inside and outside the classroom.

Is there something missing? Is something not clear? Does something seem misplaced, overstated or uncomfortable? Don’t worry about formal remarks. I’d just love some kneejerk wisdom from others who care as much about education as I have grown to.

Thanks to Bobby George and many others for feedback on this draft.

The post Manifesto For Education appeared first on Hugh Weber.

The adjacent possible is the available next step in innovation. It’s the combinations and outcomes that exist with the given set of components or knowledge or abilities. The Gutenberg printing method wasn’t possible without the wine press it was built out of. The computer could be imagined but not built before the existence of the vacuum tube. The adjacent possible are the doors leading out of our current room.

Too often in innovation and in our personal lives, we know where we want to go, but its hard to see the first step. It’s hard to know which doors we’ll need to open to get to the room where the adjacent possible is actually the things we’ve been dreaming about.

The secret to this conundrum? The solution? Start opening doors. Start taking steps.

The post Adjacent Possible appeared first on Hugh Weber.

“When things get tough, I try harder.”

This concept of mindsets comes from a fantastic book by Carol Dweck called, appropriately, Mindset. The basic premise is that individuals develop established mindsets as children, either fixed or growth, that impact their tolerance for challenge, risk and success.

A fixed mindset dictates that talents are set and unable to be improved. You’re born with it or you’re not. Every situation validates whether you have the gift or not. You avoid challenges out of fear of failure. Your worth is dictated by your latest success…or disappointment.

A growth mindset suggests that abilities can be improved through hard work and resilience. There are not failures, only opportunities to improve. When they find challenges, they rise to meet them. They exhibit this resiliency in relationships, work, and play.

The silver lining of Dweck’s book is that you can change your mindset at any age. I’d suggest starting with Em’s mantra.

So, which mindset are you? Are people born smart or creative or inspiring? Can you learn these skills and abilities? I’d love to hear your perspective.

The post Em’s Mantra appeared first on Hugh Weber.

This isn’t easy to answer. My wife and mother likely would struggle. So, I decided to try a picture instead.

Here’s what I do.

[This is Version 3. Thanks for the input, friends.]

Now that we’ve cleared that up, what do you do?

The post What Do You Do, Hugh? appeared first on Hugh Weber.

So, I seek out a designer or a developer or a filmmaker or a printer for the practical matters. And, I reach out to the well-read misanthrope at the bakery, my middle school teaching wife, or my electrician dad for a reflection from the world. And then, we create.

I choose to build my teams like I imagine Mr. Ellis Marsalis builds his jazz ensembles. The night I sat for hours in his dimly lit club in New Orleans he led a ragtag trio that included a noteworthy bass player and a very young drummer. I couldn’t help but notice the glee Ellis had as he kidded and played and toyed with the drummer and the fiery intensity he displayed while improvising around the bass player. Ellis Marsalis, 80-something and prolific, built a collaborative team that would both amplify the joy of his youth and inspire the fighter inside.

So, if a jazz quartet is my preference, what’s the other option? A drum corp.

Perfection, precision, attention to detail, narrow focus, and unity. Only the best of the best. Very impressive. But is it creative? And does a standard of perfection encourage or inhibit possibility?

Because this seems to be the focus of modern creativity and innovation. How can we limit the mess of the creatives? How can we operate in lockstep? How can we remove feedback and dissonance? How can we build efficiencies and metrics and ROI? And how can we move forward as quickly as possible?

There’s nothing inherent wrong with this and I’m certain it leads to results, but in creative endeavors, innovative design, and dynamic teams, I can’t believe that quick and clean ultimately leads to deep and long relationships, lasting experiences, and ultimate transformation.

Oh, I’ll take notice of the drum corp. I’ll be impressed by their skills. But I’ll never dream about them. I’ll never close my eyes on the hard days and find myself back in their presence awed by their art.

The post Building a Jazz Ensemble appeared first on Hugh Weber.

Most times, I respond in shorthand, simply saying, “I was raised a child of possibility.”

But when I’m feeling spirited, I tell the full truth, responding, “You’ll often find that kids who have fathers that are grocery store clerking, lumber yard foremanning, electrical contracting, trophy and award designing, hardware store owning, operations managing, fireworks selling, halloween loving, school board membering, community sandbox filling, April Fools prank pulling, cannon building, peacock raising, customer service mastering, Discovery Channel watching tinkerers, inventors and do-gooders (deep breath) and mothers that are insurance company typing, hamburger waitressing, small town newspaper reporting, piano teaching, church organ playing, Creative Circle and Tupperware selling, community serving, opera and theater loving, non-traditional college degree receiving (twice), language arts instructing, middle school principaling, angel tree buying, exchange student hosting, Chamber of Commerce volunteering, personal passion encouraging, all-around caring nurturers, thinkers and life-long learners (second deep breath) … well, you’re just kind raised that way.”

The post A Child of Possibility appeared first on Hugh Weber.

1. my son’s healthy left kidney
2. my daughter‘s depth of emotion
3. the Brooklyn Blackout cake at Queen City Bakery
4. the breakfast at Kempinski Residence & Suites in Doha, Qatar
5. the love my parents have for each other after 36 years
6. a completed Dude to Dad manuscript
7. impromptu dance parties with my girls to “Call Me Al.”
8. the West Wing on Netflix…finally.
9. holding my daughter’s hand as she falls asleep
10. watching four generations bake family recipes
11. the musical gifts of Chris Thile
12. holding my wife‘s hand on a snowy day
13. the sunshine on the prairie
14. new friends
15. old friends
16. firsts – like Em’s first basketball game, my first camel ride
17. Jiro, Jay O’Callahan and other masters of their craft
18. my wife’s love of teaching & my daughter’s love of learning
19. full days watching squirrels
20. chasing hot air balloons & shooting rockets
    
21. quick reads & Field Notes
22. red shoes
23. spraypaint art
24. Self portraits by Emerson
25. the power of story – remind me to tell you the one about fishing on the Persian Gulf

….A life filled to the brim with possibility

Finally, thanks to Instagram for making a tool that allows me to share so many wonderful moments.

The post Gratitude. appeared first on Hugh Weber.

Mindfulness. Awareness. Attention. In an attempt to follow my fascinations, I often end up distracted and diminished. I don’t expect a full conversion to meditation and yoga, but I do expect an attempt to be more present for my wife, children, friends and clients. A critical part of ‘presence’ will be found in my attention to parenting my daughter (age 3) and son (due 4/6/13) with my lovely wife.

Deliverables: Monthly “digital detox” of 48 hours. Regular business hours.

Parenting.

According to the gospel of Wikipedia, parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. I believe that I have been an engaged parent, but I don’t believe I’ve been the kind whole-minded parent this definition requires. To me, this includes individual quality time (that doesn’t involve a screen), outdoor activities and a focus on education. It also requires an effort to provide support to other parents and children where I can.

Deliverables: Monthly Daddy day trips. Fitness efforts that I can share with my children. Further exploration of Montessori, its integration into our household and awareness around the world.

Portability.

After over 15 moves in a decade, I have spent the last several years in one location. This has meant the accumulation of ‘stuff’ and ‘things.’ While I don’t anticipate a household move in 2013, I do hope to develop a more portable, perhaps even minimalist, lifestyle. The three most immediate areas for improvement are books, ‘stuff’ and physical health.

• Books. Last year, I purchased well over 150 books. These are added to the 100s that have already accumulated in our home. Now, I love books and plan to continue to read aggressively, but I believe I can do this without purchasing any books in the next 12 months. So, as of 5:30pm last evening, Mrs. Dude changed my Amazon password. There will be books purchased this year for OTA and other events, but Mrs. Dude is the gatekeeper.

Deliverables: Read, review and release 100 books into the wild in 2013. Develop a library concept for books that I can’t give up.

• Stuff. I have an unwieldy collection of thousands of pieces of political and historical memorabilia ranging from Dakota Territory to the JFK administration, which I have been collecting since age 8. Sadly, because of the size of the collection much of it occupies boxes and bins in the basement and my office. None of it is bringing joy at this point for myself or others. In the next 12 months, I hope to ‘share’ much of the collection. I’m not certain what this means as the idea of selling or giving it away is horrifying, but I know that something needs to change.

Deliverables: Distribute or display a large portion of my ‘stuff’ collection. Inventory collection for purposes of insuring or sale. Give away the clutter.

• Physical Health. This past February, I ended up in the ER convinced I was having a heart attack. I laid on the table getting stripped, shaved and scoped while my three year old sat nearby eating cookies. In the end, it wasn’t anything more than an extremely expensive wake-up call. It’s important now for my children that I dedicate to a daily focus on health and the development of healthy eating habits. Over the past 9 months, I’ve lost over 50 pounds. That’s only a good start.

Deliverables: My goal is to lose over 100 pounds by December 31, 2013.
 

Possibility.

Much of my life has been tied up in a framework of ‘potential.’ “You have so much potential,” “You need to go away to an East Coast college to reach your potential,” and worst of all, “You’re not living up to your potential.” A life of potential is often defined by others and requires a lifelong commitment to one path. What happens when the athlete with great potential wants to become an artist? Disappointment. What happens when the high potential artist want to commercialize his or her work? Sell out. Over the past few years as I’ve worked through my own issues with “potential”, I’ve stumbled upon a much more rich and rewarding perspective and posture of “possibility.” Possibility is limited only by creativity, curiosity, connection and community. I can’t wait to share this perspective with the world.

Deliverables: Share the principles of possibility with the world. Launch the institute. Release Work, Play, Do Good.

Perspective of Plenty: ota.

Many of you know about my work on an organization we named ota. Since 2009, ota has served as a creative collaborative offering extraordinary experiences and engagements that educate, empower, and serve as catalysts for community-builders and change agents to improve the lives of all people living in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. This entire effort is built around the belief that we have everything we need in this region to become a global hub of creativity, innovation and change. For generations, so much of our culture has been based on scarcity or what we’re missing – population, capital, etc – and ota is based on the amazing abundance and plentiful talent and resources we do have.

It struck me over the holiday break that there was almost certainly a translation for ‘ota’ which comes from the Lakota-originated state names of (S&N) Dak’ota and Minnes’ota. It turns out there is a translation and it couldn’t be more appropriate.

In the Lakota language, ota simply means ‘many, plentiful, abundant.’ Amazing how the answers are sometimes hiding in plain sight.

Deliverables: Take the steps to share the message of ota/abundance with the entire three state region. Host the most successful ota event to date on March 15. Complete an initial community map of 1,500 ota-ns.

///

Enough from me. You’ll hear plenty more about all of this throughout the year.

What’s your focus for 2013? How can I help you reach your goals?

The post Five Focuses for 2013. appeared first on Hugh Weber.