|
 |
|
hdr.jpg) |
||
|
|
||
| Interview With Lee Silber Conducted By Richelle Dorfman 
 Right-brainers can do as much as their left-brain counterparts (maybe more) but prefer to do it in their own unique way. Despite the negative bias against right-brainers as unproductive, undisciplined dreamers, they can get things done and have some fun doing it. The right brain is artistic (can draw and paint), intuitive (perceptive and receptive to hunches), rhythmic (can see and feel patterns), fun (spontaneous, with a keep sense of humor), visual (nonverbal), spatial (it's the part that works jigsaw puzzles), nonjudgmental (sees and accepts different points of view), imaginative (creative and makes odd associations), metaphorical (uses imagery), emotional (people oriented and empathetic), holistic (sees the big picture), divergent (deals well with more than one thing at a time), sexual (just thought you'd like to know that), nonlinear (likes to jump around rather than follow a step-by-step approach), illogical, irrational, and persuasive, too. This is also the site of the unconscious mind (where dreams reside). Right-brainers may be unpredictable, impatient, sloppy and offbeat. They loathe routines, lack follow-through, abhor structure and rules, take a wait-and-see approach more often than not, juggle several tasks at once, and deal well with change. Organizing comes natural to them (stop laughing) but not organizing that anybody else might recognize as such. They want to have fun and are freewheeling rather than focused. They are daydreamers and their thoughts tend to wane and wander--often. They are oblivious to time. They are very visual but lose things easily and frequently. Most see tidiness as a waste of time. Right-brainers are independent, impulsive, flexible, easygoing, dramatic and actually like to have drama and chaos in their lives. They are also wonderful. Do left-brainers have the exact opposite characteristics? For the most part, yes. The left hemisphere of your brain is the timekeeper (linear awareness), logical (just the facts, please), analytical (good with relationships, abstractions), linear (prefers a sequential, step-by-step approach), critical (judgmental), verbal (language and speech and spelling), compartmentalized (likes to do things one at a time, keeps home and work separate). It's also the memory center (names but not faces). People who are left-brained are usually good at researching and retaining information, fact gathering, math, tidiness, and written instructions. They are responsible, good at organizing, obessive, compulsive, dislike change, are easily overloaded, can be seen as dull, into conformity, controlling, and may be insensitive at times. They can be strong finishers; focused; perfectionists; detail oriented; goal oriented; list makers; orderly; stable; punctual; decisive; cautious; successful and productive. They are also amazing. How do these traits influence the way right-brainers organize? Wow, that’s a great question. Well, for one thing they have to deal with left-brainers being critical of the piles of paper on their desk. They are used to hearing comments like, “A messy desk is the sign of a messy mind?” The reason right-brainers like to leave things out is that they are visually oriented. Right-brainers will drive those around them nuts with their wait-until-the-very-last-minute-to-get-something-done approach—and that goes for every one of the several projects they are currently working on. The reason for this is they are process-oriented rather than goal-oriented and their minds word like a CD player set to “shuffle” play. If you turned on their computer and looked at their hard-drive it would likely look like the top of their desk—things all over the place with no rhyme or reason? The reason for this is they believe that filing anything away is the fastest way to lose it. The explanation is this, Right-brainers are very curious and open-minded and are likely to look at a lot of stuff on the Internet and being pack rats, will want to save it all. They are also willing to try any new software that comes out and they may have ten programs that all do essentially the same thing. The traits that make someone creative would seem to be counter productive when it comes to becoming organized. I have found a way to work with the natural tendencies of right-brainers to get organized in a more natural way. That’s why I decided to write a book about organizing. I found most books on the subject are boring, confusing and frustrating—not to mention unrealistic. These books almost all said the same thing—in order to be organized you to put everything away and to throw out anything you haven’t used in a year. Yeah, right. These books were wanted to change people from right-brainers to left-brainers. Changes that are that drastic nearly never last. Do you think there are a lot of right-brainers who are struggling with this area of their life? Literally hundreds of thousands of people out there are dealing with organizing problems. Good people—creative, innovative, imaginative people who simply find it hard to get organized. People like you—and me. Sadly, there are no little elves that will magically clean up and organize the clutter in their life. That doesn’t mean they can’t be organized. With a right-brain approach it will feel right and fit in with their style. They’ll wake up each morning excited by how their environment reflects who they are and how it is organized in a creative way that works the way they do. This is the book they have been waiting for—to finally organize everything. I’m not going to make anyone clean off their desk or tell them that they can’t continue to pile your papers. I’m serious. Come on, really? Want proof? I wrote the opening sentences to my book on a napkin while performing on stage with my band (between songs) and then later piled them with my other notes. I sat behind my drums wondering if having our gear neater and more organized would make us play any better. The answer was—No! (Nothing would, ha, ha, ha.) However, I also knew that without some organization we wouldn’t have landed the gig in the first place, let alone had a set list or the equipment connected correctly. There has to be a balance between being overly organized and being able to find what you need when you need it—despite what it may look like to others. Any tips for people who prefer to pile paper? Here are some creative ideas to make piling an art form. Check off the ideas you will try on your piles of paper. 1. Focus on the positive. A pile of papers on your desk can be a distraction as it gathers dust (especially when they are unfinished or unresolved). Here's a great idea. Put some kind of positive reinforcements on the top of each pile. 2. Get a spine. When you have stacks of paper and files for various projects and purposes, wrap a large piece of paper around each grouping and create a spine. Now you can label each area of your pile and with a quick glance get a clue of what's in the stack. 3. Clipped. For a lot of loose pieces of paper, use a clip board. You can have one for each area of your life or each project you are working on. Label the clip so you know which is which and hang them on the wall. Underneath the various (but related) scraps of paper clipped together can be a pad of paper which acts like a master list of things to do and remember. 4. In the zone. Divide your desk into quadrants and pile by zones. For example, a pile on top of a filing cabinet are folders and papers waiting to be filed. This way the pile is in a place that makes sense and they are moved closer to their final resting place. You may also want to designate different drawers to throw papers in. Label and limit each to one topic or type of information. You can control the chaos by setting some parameters for height and space designated for each pile. Maybe you keep piles limited to one table, for example. When it starts to spill over, go through and thin out, throw out and straighten up the piles. Designate one space for unfinished projects and the papers that go with them. Everything that goes there isn't hanging over your head this way. 5. I can see clearly now. Put piles in clear containers. This works because you can see what's inside, they are portable (take papers with you to tackle at home or at the beach, park,) and piles don't topple over when you put the lid on. With containers you can sort papers by action, project, priority or whatever you want, and left-brainers honestly believe we are neat and clean. Ha! A clear plastic rack on the wall puts papers up where you can see them and clears off counters and other surfaces. You can also achieve similar results by placing wicker baskets on top of your desk or on the floor. 6. Think inside the box. Author J.K. Rowling (Think: Harry Potter) puts her papers in open boxes and marks the outside (with a numbering system) so she knows basically what's inside. Rowling likes this system because she still has to shuffle through the papers in each box to find what she's looking for, which will usually trigger an inspiration or idea. Anyone can use boxes for managing overflowing papers. Put projects in progress in a series of bins and boxes, do the same for things that are completed and need to be archived—just be sure to label the outside. For current papers an open box close at hand is best. For long-term papers create a dead storage like the police have for old case files. The papers are still there if you want to "reopen a case," but they are not taking up valuable space "in the precinct." Only "open cases" are kept in your office. you want even less paper in your life, enter this information on a sticky note inside your computer. 7. Undecided. In publishing editors create what is known as a "slush pile". This consists of unsolicited manuscripts (those not sent in by literary agents). Every once in a great while these manuscripts are read and a bestselling book is discovered. Anyone can create a "slush" pile. This is where you throw papers you don't think you will want again, but aren't absolutely sure yet. Keep a box near the door—which is one step closer to the trash. Go through it from time to time and pull out anything of value, but basically this is where your junk papers go to die. 8. The pending pile. Here's how to have a clutter-free desk, the right-brain way. Using a box or a big drawer, drag everything on your desk into it at the end of the day. Put the most important stuff on top to begin the day with. If that seems too crazy, leave papers out on your desk but keep them in file folders so that you appear to be living with less clutter. 9. The basics. The same rules apply to piling as they do in the rest of the book. For instance, when making a pile put the larger stuff on the bottom (book or binder) with the smaller stuff (disk or sticky note) on top. Group like things together with everything related to a person, project or thing in one place (a pile or file). If you are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of paper piled up around you, tackle it one pile at a time. 10. Keep out. Put a sign on top of each pile that says something like: “Right-brain approved, stay away.” What are some of the universal rules of organizing? Use these basic organizing rules to help you get a handle on almost any mess. 1. The easier you make something to put away, the more likely you will. 2. Things that are used together, should be stored together. 3. Loaned out means lost. 4. Store things near where they are used. 5. Leave projects-in-progress and often used items out—store everything else out of the way. 6. If it’s not on a list, it doesn’t exist. (Write reminders down.) 7. Label everything. 8. Store and file things where you will likely look for them—no matter how unorthodox that may be. 9. Assign parking places for permanent stuff—keys, glasses, remotes. 10. Less stuff makes it easier to organize and clean. How did you come to write this book? One of the first things you notice when you walk into my office or studio is how organized it is. I have developed right-brain ways to find a place for everything and put everything in its place without compromising my creativity. This system is colorful, visual and VERY unusual. And it works! Everything looks nice and neat—and it is—but it is also set up to work in concert with my style, not in conflict with it—switching off from task to task, project to project. It allows for things to be out without being a distraction. I discovered that I was able to find creative ways to take control of the information, papers and projects that flow in and out of my life. This wasn’t always the case. I have come a long way and learned a lot about being organized despite my natural, right-brain tendency to want to hang onto everything I have ever owned (or borrowed) and keep it out where I can see it. Can you give us your life story in one hundred words or less? While growing in San Diego, California I started his first business at age eleven (repainting my neighbors’ mailboxes.) Torn between my drive to succeed and surfing, I had a revelation—combine the two. Along with my two brothers, we started a successful chain of surf shops called Waves & Wheels Surfcenters. It was during this time that I was asked to give motivational speeches at areas schools. This led to the next phase of my career—professional speaker. Since most speakers had a book or two, I self-published my first title, The Guide To Dating In San Diego. Three books later, I landed an agent and a book deal with Random House. My series of business books for artists were a major success—four books, six awards and seventeen printings. After touring the country for four years with SkillPath Seminars, I signed with St. Martin's Press to write my eleventh book, Organizing From The Right Side Of The Brain. After the success of my businesses and books, I bought a house steps from the surf in Mission Beach, California. How can people contact you if they want to know more? All major bookstores, Amazon.com, www.creativelee.com or by calling 858-488-4249. Interview With Lee Silber Topic: the Study Of Success How are you able to achieve success in so many different arenas, music, speaking engagements, authoring books? It would seem that someone with so many different things going on is spread to thin. But wait, there is a method to my madness. All of these seemingly unrelated areas actually all have one thing in common. Actually, two things. One, they all fall under the same category, creative endeavors. The other is, they all reach the same people. When I am speaking I am promoting and selling my books. When I write books it leads to a lot of positive PR which means more speaking engagements. When I perform with my band it keeps my hand in the creative arts which means when I write my books and give talks about how to make it in the business side of the arts, I am doing it myself. The lesson is, if you are a true creative person there is a good chance you are interested in a lot of different things and could quickly end up spread too thin. If you do like to dabble in this and that, try to do it in way that support one another. How do you prioritize your talents? Someone once said to view your life like a stove top with six burners. This way you have six things you can handle/juggle at once. If you want to ad one more thing to your life, that means one has to go. With the six burners, make three “front burner” things you want to focus on (for now) and give these the most time and effort. The other areas are still important, but on the “back burner”. I also recommend you make a list (I know this is a linear, left-brain task, but it works) of things you COULD do with your talents. Now rate each one like you would a move. Next to each talent put checkmarks—five if it has a big chance to pay off financially or one it is a long shot. Use hearts depending on how deeply this area touches you. Use stars for other intangibles. Give the things with the highest scores the bulk of your efforts. Do you plan your day, as to what you want to do around the things that you must do, or do you pretty much fit your creative desires among the necessities of your career? I am a big believer in making things happen rather than letting things happen to you. Where someone is in their life is a result of the decisions they have made over the years. One of the most important choices we make every single day is how we spend our time. If a person would take control of this area of their life everything would improve. I believe the only way to manage the clock and calendar is to plan your day. How someone does this differs. Of course there is the classic things-to-do list, but a pile of papers in the middle of your desk that represents your key tasks to get done is fine, too. Did you have any mentors? When I was eighteen-years-old I wrote up a long letter about how I wanted to learn the success secrets of the rich and famous. I made copies and stuck them on the nicest cars in the most affluent part of San Diego. I offered a free lunch for anyone who responded. That was how I landed one of my most important mentors. When I was twenty five I wrote a book about the most successful people who live (or lived) in my hometown. This led to my meeting a lot of important people I could call on for advice. Finally, I contact the Service Core Of Retired Executives and was assigned a SCORE counselor who knew a lot about my area of business. His advice over the years was invaluable. I also have mentors I have never met. Huh? I chose a famous person I admire who is doing what I want to do. I then learn everything I can about them. I now have a proven path to follow—and I do. If you could mentor for someone what would you encourage him or her to do? Set written goals and a plan to achieve them. This is THE most important thing a person can do to become more focused, motivated and successful. The following interview of Lee Silber was done by Felicia Borges on the topic of creative kids. What are some common misperceptions about creativity? There are many myths that surround creativity. One of them is that ideas and insights are something that just happen magically. It's true, leaps of insight and ideas seem to come to us from above. But I believe you can put yourself in a position to be more creative by making creativity a part of your everyday life. Creativity is like a muscle. If you don't use your creative brain it gets out of shape and flabby. I think that we should look for ways to flex our creativity every single day. Even if it's just to ask ourselves, "Is there a better way to do this?" for every task we take on. Or do ordinary, every day things with a little creative flair. Write out your things-to-do list upside down, draw your tasks for the day or sing them into a cassette layer for a change. In fact, shaking up your life a little helps to give you new stimuli and from theat comes more creativity. Maybe you rearrange your desk, take a different way home from work or listen to an odd radio station (for you) for a change. The more you use your creativity, the sharper it becomes. Why is it important for children to have an opportunity to develop their creativity and to learn creative problem solving skills? Some people believe that only painters, writers, musicians or actors are creative--people who were berets. The truth is we are all creative. At least we all were when we were kids. Think about it, when we were in elementary school we used crayons--64 different colors of crayons. By the time we finish high school we are using a pencil or a pen with only one color of ink. Something happens to us as we grow up that limits our creativity. Some of us slip through the cracks with our creativity in tact, but others who don't use it, lose it. I think it is better to be an idea person, even if classic schooling isn't your forte, than a person who is book smart. ALL of the great things that we enjoy today are the result of creative people. Movies, music, books, technology, innovations--all come from creative people who applied their ideas and insights to making this a better world. Kids should be encouraged to embrace their creativity side because it could make them very wealthy one day. Many kids are graded based on tests that quite frankly favor left-brainers. I only hope that parents and teachers will accept that some kids simply aren't good at math but instead have an artistic streak or don't do well in history but have an ear for music. We shouldn't want to turn all kids into doctors or lawyers (even though those professions may pay well) but instead let kids with creative ability pursue a creative path if it's what they want. More and more artists of all kinds are able to succeed now in film, literature and music like never before.How does this prepare them for the "real" world? How can creativity become part of their future? As you know I write a series of books that teach the business side of the arts to creative people. I think the popularity of these books is due in part to the lack of training kids (and adults) get in school about how to turn creativity into a career. It is the creative prson with some business skills that has a HUGE advantage over others who can come up with ideas but don't know how to implement them. I believe we all learn better when we understand how we can apply what we learn. If you look at some of the most successful recording artists for example, many are also astute business people as well--Madonna, KISS, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett and others all have been smart with money and not afraid to market themselves and profit from their efforts. There IS money to be made in that arts for those that know how. In addition to learning how to paint, write or play music I'd like to see creative kids learn a little about the business side of the arts. What can a parent or teacher do to develop creative problem solving skills and help foster creativity in the life of a child? When I was younger I was highly creative. I can recall building elaborate structures with Lego and recording my own songs at age eleven. I also loved to doodle and write short stories when I was in class. My report cards all read the same from those years--"Lee is a smart boy if only he would apply himself." The fact that I would get A's in English and Art classes were overlooked because I was getting C's in Math and Social Studies. I wish someone would have said to me, "Focus on what you like to do and do best" instead of making me feel like I wasn't smart. As I look back I realize I was as smart as the other kids, just in a different way. I was NOT encouraged to go into the arts by my parents, teachers or careers counselors. But it is in the arts that I have built my career (a successful one) as a writer, graphic artist and musician. What are you doing to promote creativity? I hear over
and over again that there is no money in the arts yet in 1999
over $3 billion dollars was spent on art. There is money in the
arts and there are a LOT of artists who are thriving doing what
they love to do and do well. I like to share success stories of
creative people who have had success to show that if they can
do it, you can do it too. I am not saying that everyone who has
some artistic talent should drop everything and try to make it
in the arts. I am saying that there is room for everyone who wants
to turn their creativity into a career whether that is a full-time
thing or just a part-time expression of their art. I truly believe
that there is nothing worse than being a talented creative person
with no outlet for that creativity. Since we spend so much of
our lives working I would hope that a person would choose the
path or employement that makes them happy. If that includes creativity
but doesn't make you wealthy that's better than making a lot of
money at something you hate. Through my books, website and workshops
I try to encourage and educate everyone who wants a career involving
creativity to go for it and show them how. Hmmm. Money management and artistic people. Can the two go together? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Many creative people are what are known as right-brainers. We use the right hemisphere of our brains most of the time. When it comes to creating, this is a good thing. The right-brain is the artistic, visual, big-picture side. It allows us to take giant leaps of insights and to make odd connections that become new innovative products, services and creations. When it comes to money the right side of the brain can come in handy, too. We can come up with clever ways to save. We can be very resourceful when we have to be. We can also hit it big with one of our inventions or creations. I could mention a few negatives with being a right-brainer, but I won't. Okay, okay, just two. One is we are fun, spontaneous, impulsive, emotional, live-for-today people. Now give that same person a credit card. Yikes! That's why I wrote my book to make use of our strengths and to minimize our shortcomings. You can be who you are and still make and manage money. That's good to hear, isn't it? Most creative people have picked up a financial book or two in the hopes that they'll be inspired to better manage their money. I'm willing to bet most of these same people never finished the books or changed their habits. How is your book different? Like a lot of creative people, my mind is always going in different directions (it's called divergent thinking and not scatterbrained, by the way) and it's hard to sleep when you have all these ideas floating around in your head. What I am getting at is I have mild insomnia. But not anymore! I found a cure. I started reading OTHER money management books in preparation of mine and let me tell you, they put me right to sleep—every time! I made sure my book was interactive, fun, full of examples and stories, lots of cool quotes and most of all—usable, practical, realistic, right-brained solutions to our money issues. This is NOT like any other money book, I promise. It is NOT boring at all. What are the three biggest problems most creatives face in managing money? Not charging enough for our time and talents. That subject alone is a whole chapter in the book! Not being prepared for the rollercoaster ride that is a creative career. There are ups and downs, twists and turns and some harrowing plunges that one must be prepared for and most are not. We are genrally NOT planners and we take things as they come and this can cause some problems when it comes to managing our money. I can't believe you just asked for three. I could go on, but the fact is many creative people survive and thrive and have found the freedom to create what they want, how they want, when they want and do art full time despite some of the potential pitfalls that slow others down. What this means is, if they can do it, so can you. You can earn a nice living as an artist, you don't have to starve. If someone else has made it then there is always hope. Most financial advisors will tell you to save a percentage of your salary each month for retirement. That's the point where most creatives nod off. What's your advice? I actually agree with that point but I also know we are part of the "Royalty" family. What I mean is, we can create things that will pay off for years to come. A book or song you write that does well can earn royalties for you and your heirs. Maybe you invent and patent something and it becomes a big hit. Money rolls in from it well into your golden years. If you build a business you can eventually sell it and use that money to retire on. So, we can do it the old fashioned way or we can be the rebel, unorthodox, off-beat people we are. Either way, you need SOME money to avoid being a bag lady—it's up to you how you create and stash it. How's that for some strange advice? What do you say to someone who's $40,000 in debt after attending an MFA program in painting who assumes she'll never pay it off so why try? I think I'll pass on this one. When I think about
my own problems in money management (and there have been many!)
I think I spent a lot of time in denial. I'd charge a trip or
supplies or clothes because I worked hard as a writer and, dammit,
I deserved it. Is this "sense of entitlement" syndrome
common? Many creatives are intimidated or put off from investing in stocks or bonds, particularly because most of us have a liberal arts background as opposed to a financial one. What sort of investments make sense for creatives? Invest in what you know. For example, you should read up on a company and it is a WHOLE lot EASIER when you are interested in it. I am an Apple computer user and if I were to buy stock I wouldn't mind studying about Steve Jobs and Macs. I'm not saying Apple is a good investment, but they make a GREAT computer! Go with what you know. People often say, "Do what you love and the money will follow." It's equally true, though, that not every artist or musician is going to make a ton of money or even enough to live on. What do you say to people who've been struggling for years to make a living on what they love? The dreaded day job is a reality for the creative person who is one hit from making it big. There are two ways to look at this issue. One, you get a day job that is flexible, fun and allows you to move closer to your dream by taking advantage of your talents and puts you in contacted with people who may be able to help you with your goal of doing your art full-time. Two, simply your life so you don't need to make a ton of money just to pay the bills. This frees you up to spend more time on marketing, performing, creating, practicing, networking, and so on—the things that will help you make it as an artist. Jewel quit her day job, got rid of her apartment so that she wouldn't have to work all day just to keep a roof over her head and moved into her van by the beach (down the beach from where I live). This sounds crazy, but because she lived simply, she devoted all of her time to writing, performing and marketing herself and who can argue with the results? Where do most creatives overspend? Gear! I am a drummer and there are all kinds of neat things I want. Do I NEED them? No. But boy is it tempting. Many creative people buy all kinds of things like computers and software for example to help them with their work. This is fine if you can afford them. If you have to go deep into debt to do it then you made a msitake. As a freelancer you can write these items off your taxes but it is NOT dollar for dollar. It's more like 20-40 cents on the dollar. Build your business with as little debt as you can. Think big, but start small by making do with what you have and renting, borrowing or bartering for what you don't. Do you have any advice on taxes for freelance professionals? Find a system that you will use to make record keeping and organizing easy. The easier you make something to do, the more likely you will do it. There is nothing to fear from the IRS if you are honest and keep good records.
Email: leesilber@earthlink.net |
