A crotchety presentation about the need to resist easy generalism and the belief that we can learn anything in 21 days. A reaffirmation of the fun, power, importance and necessity of going deep into you craft if you want to great work.

1. The well-made box: the (annoyingly) (persistent) importance of craft in the digital age Kip Voytek TEDxKent January 18, 2010

2. not too keen on generalism Hipster image

3. Generalist proof point #1

4. Generalist proof point #2

5. Generalist proof point #3

6. But . . . Collection of book covers blog headlines about being a generalist and become an oncologist in 21 days. Building a skyscraper for dummies

7. Embracing the T Source of Ideas Source of Ideas

8. weasel words have emotional throw weight sound important almost demand acclamation … but means nothing

9. can’t do it alone

10. we need it for survival

11. allows us to do things better

12. the fundamentals

13. cooperation to collaboration

14. pleasure of critique reverent iconoclasm cognitive empathy centrifugal mind

15. pleasure of critique

16. embrace your own ignorance and discomfort

17. “ The core skill of innovators is error recovery, not failure avoidance.” Randy Nelson Pixar University

18. go forth actively looking for the holes

19. and have fun while you’re at it...

20. separate yourself from the work show often/show early want to contribute, not own learn to be a good critic

21. reverent iconoclasm

22. first principles inspire

23. atoms and molecules “ Bird liked to take one tune and play it for a couple of hours. Then he would know every nook and cranny of the melody and the chords. He was very scientific about those things....”

24. Always approach the rules with Devotion and Heresy

25. Going deep (in a reasonable time) Expose your biases Teach/write about your discipline Invite heresy

26. cognitive empathy

27. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/

28. crossing minds

29. concrete cognitive components Categories & Cell Units Altitudes Rhythms Metaphors & Frameworks

30. Getting into other people’s heads Do different things (for even a day) Follow the brain health trends Read memoirs/bios of different people Be curious when you see passion

31. centrifugal mind

32. exhibit B exhibit A centrifugal centripetal

33. centrifugal thinking… =

34. no ready answers?

35. “ more patient, less deliberate modes of mind are particularly suited to making sense of situations that are intricate, shadowy or ill-defined.”

36. not knowing = opportunity

37. no starting point listening to what’s there building on what’s given Improv

38. has no fear in exploring the outer regions of possibility derives insight from multiple sources is purely in the moment the centrifugal mind…

39. seeks a clear path to solutions looks for ways to align/recombine is critical/reflective in its approach the centripetal mind…

40. final thoughts

41. be nimble

42. Devotion Advocacy Hammer Centrifugal Heresy Critique Nail Centripetal

43. be foxy

44. “ The hedgehog knows one big thing, the fox knows many things.” - Archilochus

45. The Twitter/140 Version To get the most out of working with the rich diversity of talent around - to collaborate - be nimble, be foxy. (110 characters, room to RT)