Comments on: Just Wondering

By: Christopher Bailey

Christopher Bailey — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:39:04 +0000

Cyn, isn’t it a shame that daydreaming gets such a bad rap? It’s disturbing that we’ve become so focused on squeezing performance and efficiencies out of our kids, that our schools (at least in the U.S.) drop recess and gym class. Even playdates are structured. Thanks for being an inspiration for what daydreaming can do in our lives.

Jodee, the old “nose-to-the-grindstone” way of working did just fine when we were in an industrial economy. Now, we’re in a much different type of economy (post-industrial, service, whatever we choose to call it). Most organizations’ understanding of the types of skills needed still hark back to that earlier time. Fortunately, I think we’re starting to get it with the recent increased focus on bringing a right-brained artist’s mentality to our work.

Robin, I think it depends on how you look at it. It can be kind of like driving a car at 100 mph and hitting the brakes all of a sudden. Lot’s of not very good things can happen (remember to wear your safety belt if you try this). Or, we can take the foot off the accelerator and gradually brake. What I’m suggesting is that it might take time and small steps in order to make time for reflection and wondering.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 12:12:49 +0000

Thank you, Chris. Now we just need to figure out how to implement this. I think it’s all important, but we in go-go-go mode all the time. Thanks for reminding me.

By: Jodee Bock

Jodee Bock — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 04:29:38 +0000

I’m inspired, as usual, by your ideas, Chris – this time about dreaming and how we might be able to translate dreaming into productivity at work. It seems that so often we’re just stuck in that place where we’re living our lives with our heads down – focused on some far-out-there goal (that old “nose to the grindstone” story), while in the meantime the real world in all its beauty and glory is happening all around us. If we could just pull our heads out of the goal for a few minutes and look up, we might see all kinds of things that elude our focused gaze.

Thanks for the reminder, Chris!

By: Cyn

Cyn — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 02:29:52 +0000

Ahhhh! The art of day-dreaming! One of my favourite pastimes. When I think of ‘wonder’ I think of amazement, curiousity and mystery.

Cyn’s grade 3 report card:
“A very good student BUT tends to daydream too much.” (if it wasn’t for my daydreaming I doubt I would have made it through to grade 12, let alone university.)

Thanks for the WONDERful post Christopher!