Richard Hawk’s Blog

Hello Again,

Last week, I traveled to Oakland, CA. On the second leg of my trip I sat in the coveted last seat on the plane (aisle). Next to me was a newlywed couple on their way to Hawaii for a 10-day honeymoon. They were both showing the typical affection young lovers do in public (holding hands, giggling, looking adoringly at each other, etc.) However, the husband, Jeffrey, was a bit agitated because he had to check one of their bags before getting on the plane. He got over it quickly and we settled in to an uneventful flight—until just before we landed when Jeff looked at the baggage tag and realized the destination city written on it wasn’t in Hawaii! 

Jeff quickly summoned a flight attendant and they discussed his problem at length. She told him that “Yes, the airline representative had written the wrong airport on the tag on his luggage. And yes, it will probably not be forwarded to Hawaii.” Jeff was livid! He was totally absorbed in the fact that he might not get a piece of luggage for his 10-day honeymoon in Hawaii.

The couple were young, healthy, in-love, had enough money for the vacation (I got to know a bit about them and both were successful young professionals—the new bride, Julie, was starting her internship as an internal medicine doctor and Jeff was an executive at a large business firm). Yet, Jeff was on the way to letting a “bag” cloud the joy of his wonderful situation.

Normally, I don’t give people advice on-the-fly unless they ask for it (or pay for it). But I couldn’t resist at least letting Jeff know that “it is just a bag.” That’s what I told him a couple times. “Jeff, you’re going on an incredible honeymoon with the woman you love and just married and you are going to let “a bag” put you in a bad mood. He turned and looked at me then exhaled and said “yes, you’re right, it’s just a bag.”

I don’t know if Jeff ever got his luggage but I sure hope that if it was wrongly routed that he didn’t let it mar his honeymoon. I do know the experience helped me realize even more that every day is as important as a honeymoon because it could be the last one I experience here. That’s why I plan to keep in mind that when I don’t get what I expected I’ll consider it “just a bag.”

Last week I finished reading The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle. http://eckharttolle.com/the_power_of_now  I enjoyed it. There were parts that didn’t do much for me and a few explanations didn’t seem to have much science behind them. Overall, though, it was worth the time and attention it took to read about such a vital topic in our fast-past, multi-tasking, hurry up society. It also helped me continue to realize that most of my supposed problems and irritations are “just a bag” 

’till next time

Richard

Is that how you feel? That you are not a creative person? I hear people make that proclamation sometimes during my Spice It Up! seminar when I ask the audience to come up with creative ways to connect themes or object that aren’t normally, if ever, connected. (i.e. using cockroaches to symbolize boring safety meetings or fishing as a metaphor during a blood borne pathogen class.) And most times the folks who tell me they are not creative don’t come up with any creative ideas.

One of the first, and most important steps to coming up with fresh ideas for your safety and health meetings (or any presentation you give) is to believe you can imagine and create. You can. We all can. I wrote earlier that “most times” the folks who tell me they are not creative don’t come up with any creative ideas. Not every time though. When I can convince someone that they can (and have many times in their life) come up with creative solutions and ideas they often surprise themselves and come up with an innovative safety theme. You don’t need to be a special type of person to be creative. You have to let your mind open up and don’t doubt your creative ability.

Practice helps of course. If you’re looking for ways to stir up your creative juices and get better at being innovative here’s a site I recommend:

http://www.creativethink.com/

It’s Roger von Oech’s home page. I also highly recommend his book A Whack On The Side of The Head. It’s fun to read and gives you practical exercises to stimulate your creativity.

I know for sure that even “safety professionals and engineer types” can be creative because I just published a book with 250 creative ideas all contributed by subscribers to my “Safety Stuff” e-zine. (250 Super Bright Safety Meeting and Promotion Ideas)

http://www.makesafetyfun.com/250-bright-ideas-p-12.html

In fact, every week I get new ideas sent to me from all types of industries and people with mostly technical or production-type jobs. So, start believing you ARE creative. That step alone will boost your imagination.

Then, come up with a cool idea and send it to me.

‘till next time.

Richard

www.makeyourmessageclear.com