Tag Archives: Motivation

Blogging Builds Brains

Posted on by under Life, Networked Media

Stars and a power pole. What’s more inspirational than that man? Photo: Lisa Ng

Clever alliteration. Thanks, I know. With the assessment for the blog due in a week, I have been putting some thought into why I blog and what I gain from it. Obviously as part of the requirements for the class, the purpose of the blog is to engage with the relevant content and topics in a thorough and speculative manner. I’d like to go a step further than that and look at the greater and wider purpose of my blog. There’s got to be more to life right? Some divine purpose, holy mission, etc, etc. There is. As I celebrate my 40th blog post, I’d like to think that blogging helps me to reach that purpose.

So, at the end of semester one, I knew that my time had come. It was time to do that thing that so many people do. Defer for a year. Why didn’t I do it straight out of school. I think I wanted to get my degree over with as soon as possible. So why don’t I think that any more? Well, I don’t want my degree to end. Don’t take it that way, I actually do, but I don’t think I’m ready for it yet. I feel there’s a lot more I can put into this degree, and at this moment in my life, I’m not ready to engage with the degree in the most beneficial manner. So I’m going to take a year off. Find my passion, invigorate my brain, get some real world experience. It’s not that I’m not enjoying the course, or doing well enough in it. I’m not happy with doing well though. I want to take advantage of every opportunity that is available to me in this course. Kevin is someone who has done the hard yards, and is willing to get into the mix. He dives right in. To his credit, this is something we can all learn from. It’s something I feel I need a little more confidence to do first. So that’s what I’m going out to do.

Anyway,  let’s nut this down to the point. What this blog has done has created an opportunity for me. Someone who can often have trouble expressing things in face to face communication, this blog has really helped me become more expressive and literate in my communication. It’s also shown me the power of being connected and involved in the network. It’s helped me find things I love, express how much I love them and share it with other people. Sure, it might get 15 views a day. But those 15 views are irrelevant. It’s how it makes me feel on the inside.

I feel empowered at the moment, with a whole load of positive energy. This course has got me thinking differently about everything. I speculate, appreciate, evaluate. I plan, I take more risks and I think of things in a long term sense, rather than acting quickly and irrationally. Everything I do, I put more thought into and notice more. The set up of this class has really helped me and my brain. We’re in a good place now, me and brain.

So you might ask, why defer now when you’re feeling such good vibes man? That’s exactly why I’m going to take a break. I’m taking these positive vibes and continuing to work with them. I’m putting them into life, instead of just my studies. My plan is to continue to use this blog, over the next year and throughout my degree and career. Overall, I feel the best way to use this positive energy is to do some hard work, build some resources and get myself involved with my craft and what I love. I need to produce some work, gain some experience and really stretch myself to explore my potential. When that’s done and the year is up, I’ll come back refreshed, keen and eager. Just as I am now, but with a little bit of confidence, a little bit of experience and a little more backing.

For me, this blog has given me a little bit of confidence and a few handy skills, but most importantly it’s helped me feel creative and find my passions. I love to write, so it works well. How well I write will change as time goes on. Things can only get better. But we’ll see if my plans are a golden dream or whether I can make them happen.

Who am I kidding. Of course I can. I’ve got this, man. Anything’s possible (be realistic). Let’s do it. Thanks Kev for the inspiration.

 

Innovation, Progression and Invention

Posted on by under Life

Sleek, innovative and successful. Photo: firemen.cn

 

After taking a break from my blog while I sorted out some unattended assignment business, I’m back. Here’s something interesting which helps yield a little bit of information into how we progress and what drives our innovation and creativity. It’s long been noted that innovation can stem from conflict and competition. While I’m not going to go on record and promote warfare to drive the creative forces of the world, I am adamant that competitive sports and competitions assist us in achieving our best in the world of technology and new ideas. Audi agree with me too. (Here’s the original press release from Audi for anyone interested in some further reading).

Audi have attributed their gains in the auto market (Gains indeed, they have certainly been impressive in the past year or two) to the new and innovative technologies that they are incorporating into their products. Where does this drive for the creative edge originate? Their racing work. Long associated with performance vehicles and motor racing, Audi have had dominance in this area of sports for years. They are constantly vying for ways that they can improve their cars and give their drivers an edge over their competition. Fame, fortune, renown, trophies. Sure you could pin it to that. But this competitive nature of the auto sports has some seriously positive real world implications. The technology that Audi comes up with for its racing vehicles? That ends up on the high end cars consumers get their hands on. Improved efficiency, safety, handling, stability. Comfort, even. They are all technologies that were made to win races. Now they’re giving me and you better cars, safer cars and more comfortable cars.

While sport is great for entertainment and keeping society engaged and content, it also seems to drive real world technologies to the next level. You can apply the same logic to other sports. Those complex fabrics and materials that the better clothes and equipment on the market are made from? Chances are that they were originally developed for professional athletes, or the military. Microwave, internet, GPS, Jeeps and the fan favourite; cargo pants. All military. LED lights on cars? Racing. Breathable fabrics that sporting and outdoor clothes are made of? Professional sports.

Competition and conflict help to drive humanity. We creative and innovate in order to stay ahead. In times of peace and perfection, the only motivator is money and fame. But they’re not as powerful as the competitive drive we experience when facing opposition or conflict.

Setting Goals: Basic Tasks and Assignments

Posted on by under Life

Map those goals. Photo: Angie Torres

I am someone who can struggle with honing in on something, I tend to be like that in all areas of life. Whether it be an essay (What’s a word limit?), or trying to complete study tasks, or even getting something done on the job. I can’t work without tangible outcomes and goals. I need some sort of direction to perform my best work. Yet so often – in fact most of the time – I fail to set goals for myself, no matter how big or small. I’m also a big thinker. Often I’ll think a lot about things and never put them to paper (or .doc for that matter), and I spend a lot more time thinking than I actually do, doing. What’s more, when I face busy and stressful times I am better at getting work done. But I don’t often get it done how I’d like to, or too my potential.

Focus is something I need to think hard about, and notice when I’m slipping off the wagon. One of the best ways I can combat this is by setting goals. Why don’t I do this more often? I don’t know. Probably, almost certainly, it is to do with will-power and motivation. Something that can be very hard to moderate and control, especially if you don’t pay attention to your behaviours and habits. I guess this is where it all ties in, once again, to what we’ve been learning.

For me, this is as much a self-directed journey of personal development as it is a class to be educated in – or rather, to learn in.

So what do I do to make things easier for myself?

  • Make goals.
  • Break tasks down into bigger tasks.
  • Attempt to complete tasks before procrastination hits; ie try and use my free time to tackle tasks straight away, rather than doing something fun and then trying to complete the task.
  • Wake up earlier and go to bed earlier. Make good use of my morning will power while it’s still at its fullest.
  • Don’t be afraid of being wrong – nothing is going to be perfect off the bat. It’s all about taking small steps to craft your product or creation.
  • Think of tasks as on-going. Improvements can be made. Modifications can occur. Not everything has to be instantaneous. (This is another big problem I have that I will address at a later date.)
A big list of things to do, to pay attention to. But it can be done, it’s an ongoing process that can be worked on. As for having a bit of direction in my life. I think I am finally finding what I want to do. I am noticing where my interests and passions are directed and what is attracting them. Time to do a bit of life planning. The best things you can take away from planning and direction are: confidence, organisation and success. That’s exactly what I want in life.

 

Rising Early

Posted on by under Life, Networked Media

The world is more prosperous and beautiful in the morning. Photo: Ferdi de Gier

Networked Media has had a positive effect on my life after not even three weeks, even if it is just being able to publish and create online media more effectively. The subject has invigorated my senses and enticed me to become more actively involved in my learning, rather than playing the role of the sponge (or in this case, a sea sponge). With my motivation levels at all time highs, I am bursting with useful energy and will power to do extraordinary things, the first of which is something I have never been able to do.. Study.

That’s right, I’m one of those slackers who make it by cruising along without doing anything. I’ve tried to fix the issue before, but I have never been successful. This is different though. I’m feeling rejuvenated and energised. Regardless of other changes and possibilities, having an alternative method of learning introduced has simply increased my energy levels and made me interested in my learning.

What has this done for me? Well, I’ve started waking up earlier. I’ve started going to sleep earlier. My whole day has shifted backwards four hours. This morning I woke up at 530, and hope to do so every morning from now on. After honing in on my habits and my brain function and noticing, I realised that I do my best work in the morning. My brain is fresh and alert and has just come off a nice rest. Perfect for learning, perfect for remembering, perfect for creating. In the evenings, I’ve been through a day of trials already. My willpower is gone.

This morning, before I left for University, I managed to get done more work and note taking then I have achieved in the entire semester so far. Thinking, noticing, adapting, creating. Four things that are essential aspects of not just the world media, but life in general. That’s what I’ve got out of this so far.

Perhaps this style of learning is not for everyone, maybe it is when given a chance. It’s a kind of learning you have to want to do, and invest in. If someone else reads this and realises what I have too, then I guess I’m doing them a credit. Because it really is a positive change to life.

Here’s a bit of reading and advice that won’t go astray:

Morning and Evening Rituals

Arriving on Time

Posted on by under Life

Train train go away. Photo: Leon Rice-Whetton

For the first time this semester (on Monday), I made it to the train station on time for my 1030 Lecture. What was different? I had to get ready a little earlier to give someone a lift to work. But I woke up late.

Interestingly enough, I still made it there earlier than before. But why? I think it’s because I had an external source of motivation. Someone else was relying on me to take them to work on time. The increased responsibility allowed to me act more responsibly towards my own needs as well as the needs of another. Knowing this, perhaps I am externally motivated more so than internally. This is something that I can work on in the future and at the present.

For now, I can reap the rewards of getting to the train on time; sharing a seat with the Award Winning Youtube Superstar Comedian, Mark Koh.

Disclaimer | Background image: Emma Gawen
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