Tag: Clay Shirky

Cognitive Surplus, by Clay Shirky: Frozen accidents do not stay frozen forever

Gelezen: cognitive surplus, Claus Shirky
Cognitive Surplus - Clay Shirkey

TV killed the creative potential, almost

As we have gotten more and more free time over the past century, courtesy of the 40 hour work-week, we created a surplus of human potential and creativity. This surplus remained more or less invisible because we spent most of that free time watching TV, religiously. And somehow, we thought that was the way it was supposed to be. We forgot about the stuff we did before TV: social interactions in clubs, sports, hobbies, etc.

Frozen accidents do not stay frozen forever

Internet and Social Media changed all that. We now know that we do not have to live in a world where a small group of professionals decide what we will watch, thereby ignoring most of our individual needs and interests. The TV construct apparently was a frozen accident, something that we came to consider inevitable

Instead, Social Media brought us ways te connect, share and create in a truly interactive way, liberating us from the inbalance of the traditional Media world. We can now once again create, interact and find uses for our cognitive surplus.

Watch Clay Shirky talk about Cognitive Surplus:

More links:

Cognitive Surplus on Wikipedia

Cognitive Surplus on Bol.com

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What I will investigate in 2011, on a personal level

Yesterday, I asked you to tell me what to write about.

  • What topics would you like me to cover?
  • What knowledge do you think I can/should share with you?
  • How can I help you?

But I also mentioned that some topics were already coming up that I personally find interesting. I decided to use this blog to investigate these topics publicly, as I believe that these question are not just restricted to myself. I expect that my writing on these topics might also interest and/or inspire you.

What is my worth or value?

And I am not just talking about financial worth or value. Obviously, coming up with a concept like Twitterfountain.com and championing Speakonomy.com might (and should) lead to financial gains in some form, but they are expressions of something deeper: my creativity.

As Clay Shirky references in ‘Cognitive Surplus‘, information is not very valuable in itself. Knowledge is, and the ability to combine information and knowledge is what makes us the creative species we are.

So, wherein lies my knowledge and creativity? What makes people appreciate me, and turn to me for specific questions or challenges? That will be topic number one in 2011.

What is my ultimate work/life balance?

If we define ‘work’ as the things you do in order to create a living, I love to work. At my company (De Ondernemers BV) we do very exciting stuff, and I get to work with marvelous people as well. But I also work to love, and live. I need to set time apart for my girlfriend, family etc. I need to be able to kick back and reload. Just making lists in a GTD-app is not enough.

In 2011, I would like to further investigate how to create an ultimate work/life balance.

How do I love?

This feels like a risky subject, because in my world of reference, it has all sorts of mushy, non-factual connotations. But it is the ultimate driving force in everything anyone does. It drives my passion for music, and as a result my interest in what happens in the music industry. It drives my need to come up with new, innovative concepts for events and speakers. But I believe I hardly have scratched the surface of truly understanding what drives me.

What do I love? What do I love doing? How do I express that love? I will try to find out in 2011.

What drives you?

I would love to hear your thought on these topics. Leave them in the comments.

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