Get busy living or get busy dying

In 2011, the evidence of how businesses have fallen by the way side are all around us. While unavoidable economic hardship may be the culprit, many of their failures are no more than a lack of innovation. At one time they were on top and thriving! Yet, like all living things, unless it innovates and rejuvenates it will then begin the process of dying. As the line goes in the movie the Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living or get busy dying." The dilemma is that while humans are naturally dreamers and creators, we are also addicted to predictability. The reason being is that predictability provides a well known landscape for our daily living. While you may not be content with it, at least you know it. Knowing something well then provides a sense of confidence and comfort. The irony of this mindset is that knowing something so well that it lacks all creative breath is fundamental to a presumptive life of perpetual motion. Get busy dying.  



The thought of innovating can cause a great deal of stress, since in its negative connotation, innovation is perceived it as a knock on our current state. It can be perceived as a shot that we aren't good enough. Even more, instinctively we know that when we try something new we will most likely fail in the initial process as we learn. This in-turn spells trouble for the fragile ego. Innovation is the essence of living life creatively!  As we live life creatively we mature our current giftings and discover new ones along the way. Moreover, our ability to embrace innovation will expand our capacity for life and influence. Isn't this the person that we dreamed about becoming as kids. Somewhere along the way the sucker punches and drudgery of life have stolen our creative essence. Life keeps moving and innovation will keep happening no matter what our take on it is. The challenge for us all is that what we think we are can tend to be a reflection of what we think we were. No matter if this self-perception is positive or negative, we are all free to grow and reinvent. No one is anchored to the past. 

I recently viewed a video interview of Jeff Dyer, the co-author of The Innovator's DNA, in which he outlines 4 ways to challenge our innovative thinking. The video is focused on the innovation of business leaders, but the principles are applicable to everyone trying to lead their own creative life. 

Win Today!

Victor