REPOST: How To Be Interesting

REPOST: I posted this in November 2006. I came across it and thought I would share it again. Some people have appreciated these reposts. Others perhaps not. But as I said when I began BarryBlog, this is a place to help me remember things I find of interest. And since I forgot this, I imagine you may have too. The reality is you've probably never seen it, as in November 2006 I had my dad, and two other people stopping by.

So here goes, again:

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As I ponder my career to date, the people who’ve impressed me the most are also those who I found to be the most interesting. So is there any formula for being interesting? Probably not. However in this article by Russell Davies, there are a few things which might help.

Be interested • Interesting people are good at sharing • Take at least one picture everyday. Post it to flickr • Start a blog. Write at least one sentence every week • Keep a scrapbook • Every week, read a magazine you’ve never read before • Once a month interview someone for 20 minutes, work out how to make them interesting. Podcast it. • Collect something • Once a week sit in a coffee-shop or cafe for an hour and listen to other people’s conversations. Take notes. Blog about it. (Carefully) • Every month write 50 words about one piece of visual art, one piece of writing, one piece of music and one piece of film or TV. Do other art forms if you can. Blog about it • Make something • Read.

Jen's Distracted.

Previously I shared how Ben Workman is Desperate. Now I must tell you that Jen's distracted. And like Ben's predicament, it sounds like you can learn something about yourself from her distraction. I know I did. Jen shares...

He delights in mercy and overflows with grace. He likes to give us good things–deserving or not. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were yet without strength…Christ died for the ungodly. Death as a gift. The gift that brings life. I love the paradoxes of truth.

( via finding jen's view )

Business of Design: Business Upturn

According to Gordon Kaye, editor of GRAPHIC DESIGN USA newsletter | March 07, one of the dark little secrets that everyone who writes about design knows is that graphic designers tend to be pessimistic by temperment, and to downplay their successes and prospects in business. But the conventional wisdom is turned on its head by the upbeat findings of a Winter 2006-2007 survey by The Industry Measure.

Specifically: 78% of all creative professionals reported that business conditions are as good as or better than in the past 12 months. And the number who said business was poor or very bad fell a few percent.

Solid and positive all around, even a bit sunny. Not to worry, though. This was all before the recent stock market slide so, hey, relax; you can still find something to fret about if that makes you feel comfortable.

Fellow blogger and graphic designer Chris seems to mirror this finding in this recent post as well as this one regarding new work.

( via GDUSA Newsletter )

Blogger Woes

I've been without the ability to update my blog for several days. Based on the fiasco I've been through, I am nearly certain this will happen again, so I'm taking this opportunity to let you know why the blog's not been posted to recently. Stay tuned and thanks for your readership. In the meantime, I'm experimenting here.