“We don’t know where we get our ideas from. What we do know is that we do not get them from our laptops.” – John Cleese
Really, we have no greater tool for distribution and change than the computer (even the one in your pocket) and the net.
It is beyond ridiculous how powerful it is.
However, for many of us we also have no greater tool for stifling innovation, connection and idea generation.
Finding the inflection point seems to be the key.
The point beyond which there is no more return for your behind-screen time investment.
Three things become apparent pretty fast:
a) It’s less time than we think. On an ongoing basis, there is a limited amount we can really “do” here on any given day. There is usually a lot of “dead” time.
b) Our ideas almost always emerge in the spaces – in the gaps, when we aren’t blinded by a glowing rectangle. Have a day offline, no internet. Go out and see what is happening. Look for inspiration in nature.
c) The cognitive load is high. The point of focus is too close, the eyes are strained and the physical body is compromised. We “know” this, but often having extended time away and realising how good we feel can be the only way to experientially understand it.
