A Genius Manifesto Pt. 1: The Dollar & A Dream...

I guess you could call last night an "Epiphany" of sorts. While at the Common/ N.E.R.D. concert at The Rave I realized something about life...and it was as clear as day. In this society that we live we are taught to go after the "Almighty " dollar by any means. Sacrifice whatever, just for any opportunity to "Get It". Whether that means to be a lawyer or doctor when you really want to be a painter or designer; Or short changing your life dreams for the instant gratification of the elusive quick buck.

Everything we see in the mass media proposes success is instant; Rappers in Lamborghini's popping bottles, the models with beautiful bodies gracing sandy beaches, or the movie star spazzing out with the Black AMEX card on Rodeo Drive, shopping as if an Apocalypse is in a near forecast.

But hold up! Before we go any further and I start sounding like a "Lame" or even worse a "Hater" I have to commend all people that do their thing and make shit happen. I'm all for consumption, especially in the impulsive frivolous nature. Isn't that how our economy is supposed to go?...according to the GW Bush economic plan....Stop! No politics today we can only beat a dead horse for so long.

Bottom line what I'm truly getting at is this; How many people in the US do you think are truly following their dreams? Truly "Being in Genius" Living totally passionately in their personal "BLISS"? I'm a betting man so I would have to say not a whole lot. I read a blog just now, while trying to find stats on this question, let me quote this guy from his post called: When people Follow their Dreams.

"In conclusion, no matter how noble a dream is, there is still no way of getting out of the web of differences in people. Dreams will remain as dreams as long as humans are the way they are – a thinking species. Almost everyone will have their own idea on certain things. Thus, for everyone to follow their dream is to ask for chaos and disorder."

Respect his opinion?....NO!(must never had a childhood), but I think we are caught in a game of schematics here with the word "Dream" Lets get some clarification. Let's say Talent, or Core Genius. Meaning what you do best and what resonates with your true self.

So in a perfect world imagine, even just for a second what our world would be like if everyone or even half our population was truly living in their core "Genius". Think about the repercussions:

1. Less obesity.
2. Less divorces.
3. Lower drug, alcohol, & tobacco usage.
4. Creators over competitors.
5. Lower youth violence.
6. Lower jail populations.
7. World Peace....Yes I'm making that claim...

Look all this sounds good right? but most would say that this is the real world where people have to make a living, they have mouths to feed and gas to buy. No one can afford these days to chase a dream, but I say no one can afford not to. That's our problem, we are too busy making a living that we fail to build a life. Cause who wants to be on their death bed recalling all the hours they worked for someone else, or be telling stories of back breaking ball busting work to their great grand kids? What kind of example of life is that? A cop-out I think, Fear at its finest. A boat tied to the harbor can never experience the grandur of the open water. So what life will we choose? Will be become explorers of our own destiny or participate in the game of life where shoots and ladders are what we climb to realize that a rat race, is exactly what you get a box furnished with dead ends and a piece of moldy cheese.

Generation Violence...

I watched an interesting show last night called Generation Kill, this show depicted life for soldiers prior and during the invasion of Iraq. What was interesting to me was the interaction of the soldiers among themselves. It was as if they were numb to the fact that they were going to kill people, almost as if they wanted to kill people. In war I know death and violence are inevitable, hence the word "War", but with these young guys it was almost second nature to want to kill someone...or something, just to have the opportunity as one solider put it, "To let her breathe".

It began to make me think about how we are raising a generation of kids, teens, and young adults who are numb to consequence. They live in a society where they perceive a lot of false truths, and we all know that "perception is reality" for many people, including myself at times. These kids live in a time where famous people do whatever they want and some how come out untouched by justice, a place where we can go to war with no real justifiable cause, a place where video games numb them to violence and consequence, where music teaches them to "Get Money, and Fuck Bitches." By no means am I condemning these vices. I love my music including Hip-Hop, video games, and of course Hollywood gossip. But I have learned how to filter these entertainments . I think that is what these kids are really missing. The ability to filter what is real and what is just entertainment. Robin Sharma says that we all view life through a stained glass window, which becomes our paradigm on life. When we change the way we see the world, inevitably the world changes....Wayne Dyer said that one. 

What I'm getting at is that we must begin to wake these kids up...more over "WE" need to wake up! Like the famous Isley Brothers song "I got work to do". We as a society, a country, and a human race need to realize that we are what we think and the images that we put out there are inevitably whats going to become our reality.

Its not just enough to talk about a problem we must begin to formulate a solution. Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he was able to produce the first functionable incadescant light bulb, meaning we need to begin somewhere...and I believe the solution lies within the problem. Yes that's right, I think we can learn from these vices that have our community by the throat. We can learn new ways of marketing, product design, and ways of pushing an idea to a willing audience. Think about this. I bet you most high school students can recite their favorite song word for word, but would fail to name every capital of every state in the U.S. (well even I would), but the point is that these rappers, video game programs, and directors have found a formula to reach these kids. Something our teachers, parents, and administrators have been failing at for years. So what do we do?...Get MTV, play GTA, and listen to some Lil Wezzy. In the art of war you first must know yourself, then your enemy. Begin to take this like a war, begin to study your "enemies" methods and learn from him. Then incorporate that in your own "swag" and I think you are constructing a new formula for success. At the end of the day we are all spiritual beings having a human experience...so deep down there is a root of love. Our job is to dig deep enough to find that root and begin to bring it to the surface.

PS: Sorry for being so Sappy, guess its one of those days.

The Bad Guy....

I had the pleasure...or should we say the extended pleasure of watching the Batman Dark Knight sequel last night. Although very long and probably a tad dragged out it was very entertaining...Note to self: don't go see an action film at the oriental theater (sound quality reasons).

What was interesting to me was the superb acting of "The Bad Guy", Heath Ledger. He was able to take you deep into the mind of what we call a mad man...or was he really the most sane person in the movie? I was amazed at how all of his plans came to fruition. Although they were sinister he had the remarkable ability to make things happen. He compared himself to a dog cashing a car in what will definitely be a famous quote for a very  long time when he said: " I am a different kind of crazy, I'm just a dog chasing a car...I don't know what I'll do when I get it...I just enjoy the chase." 

When I heard that line it made me think of all of the times I just chased something I wanted, with no plans after I got what I wanted. Sometimes I really enjoyed what I wanted other times I just took it out of my mouth and threw it to the wayside. I guess in life the chase is always the reward. Like most guru's these days say, it's the journey that is important. The journey or chase, or whatever you want to call it, is ideally what makes us who we are. The final outcome is minuscule to what becomes of us during our journey. 

In the end I really respected The Joker and his perspective on the world, did I believe in his methods, by no means...NO!, but he really made a create case for being a bad guy.

Our Shooting Strazzzz.....

Last night while driving home from an excruciatingly painstaking project in Iowa, I just happened to look up into the sky. The song "Feel it in the Air" by Beanie Siegel was playing when I saw something bright in the sky. At first I thought it may be an airplane so I focused my attention a little more. To my surprise it was something that I think I have never seen before: A Shooting Star. As it passed me by I felt the excitement of a small child and immediately made a wish (can't tell you for what). Then it made me think. What are our Shooting Starz? What are those dreams, goals, & ambitions that we have? What are those things that bring us that childlike excitement and that ultimately will lead us to our passion?

The sighting really left me in awe of the magnitude of this Universe that we live in and made me think of the famous quote: "Sky is the limit, shoot for the moon and if you fall you'll land on a star." So let's today remember those shooting starz in our lives and pay homage to them by maybe giving some thought to really turning them from wishful thinking to wishful doing.