Comments on a Few Change This Manifestos

A very long time ago, I blogged about Change This, a website which provides regular and free manifestos or documents in pdf format, on topics on everything from business blogging, to marketing, to creativity. Some famous peeps (Craig’s List, anybody) are providing manifestos on Change This.

I have to comment on a couple of nice ones (from my perspective) of recent times, I really do.

A Posi+ive Attitude by Dan Auito.

Some of us always need the occasional reminder on positivity. Sometimes that comes with something like Katrina (or the latest earthquakes in Pakistan), and sometimes it comes in a listing or document. Dan Auito’s A Positive Attitude is a reasonably simple document with a few lists and writings on how to maintain a positive attitude.

Me, I have issues over positivity, as you may have sometimes noticed. It comes from being a realist, and from my own career objectives. I believe in honesty and integrity, and telling it like it is. But that often gets me in trouble, which gets me down, and then I could be quite easily convinced of my negative attitudes. I prefer the phase, "Realist, but with a soft heart and hope".

Dan’s Manifesto is more about friendships and first impressions, but he does make a point. I’m lousy at maintaining friendships. But then, so are my friends, lol. Sometimes technology and distance don’t seem to meet. My best friends don’t have email, and live 12,000 miles away. And they seem to have a problem using the phone also - but that’s a distance factor also, due to timings.

The manifesto suggests that others think of us as we see ourselves. That may be a little confusing when you’re dealing with someone like me, who regularly undergoes the Gemini Complex of having to re-find themselves or their centre more often than an increase in dress size. What you make of me over that would be interesting to hear. Little writing - don’t tell me!

The manifesto also offers up a gem - the sharper you look, the sharper you’ll be. Interesting - in my business world I always dress in business attire, and more formally than most of my subordinates. But in scrapping - how do you look sharp virtually? Or are we now taking this into the blogging / website look and feel world? And as to my weekend attire…the least said over that the better. Suffice to say, it’s not so much sharp as frumpy. Sans makeup, also.

Click here To Download the A Posit+ve Attitude Manifesto.

Shhh! The Society of Handheld Hushing

This manifesto is a series of small cards you can print out and take with you. They’re for all those times when you’re on a train or in the public and someone in front of you has a loud and dreary conversation on their mobile phone. I love this idea, and hate mobiles with a passion, and people who use them. .

And people, in particular, who have them switched on in business meetings, and actually answer them. If they’re important enough to be attending a meeting, then they should spend that meeting time actually attending it. This is a very English thing to do, unfortunately. They seem to think it makes them important if they are on call with their mobile during meetings. In New Zealand, no one ever went into meetings with a mobile switched on. Ever. It was seen to be rude.

Of course, I’d never have the courage to hand these cards out. In Britain, where mobile phones switched on always seems to be religiously encouraged, even in a business environment; then you basically have any rights stripped away from you in objecting to the noise pollution of some senseless babble about someone’s dinner preparations  in public anyway.

But they’re worth a laugh.

Click here to download the Shhhh! Manifesto.

Escape Adulthood Manifesto, by Jason Kotecki

Now we’re talking. The link into any seri-arse scrapper’s identity - the ability, just for a bit, to escape adulthood, remember your childhood and simply "to play".

The subject of childhood - fantasies, and what we were good at in childhood being what we are gifted with doing in our adulthood - has been a local topic of interest to myself and other scrapbookers and mixed media artists for some time now.

Here is the author’s definition of something -

Adultitis

A common condition occurring in people between the ages of 21–121, marked by chronic dullness, mild depression, moderate to extremely high stress levels, a general fear of change, and, in some extreme cases, the inability to smile. Patients can appear aimless, discontent, and anxious about many things. Onset can be accelerated by an excess burden of bills, overwhelming responsibilities, or a boring work life. Generally, individuals in this condition are not fun to be around.

Sounds fun, doesn’t it? It pretty much describes a lot of my life. And more so my hubbie - who’s into financial worrying bigtime.

The manifesto has identified several points including (bracket contents are my scrapping interpretation)-

1. Delight in the little things (take photos of the small details of life)
2. Dream Big (Submit, learn, encourage other scrappers)
3. Get curious (Discuss the industry, explore other creative outlets)
4. Live passionately (Scrap passionately - throw paint on the layout, screw up your rejects - it’s only paper!)
5. Play (Play - and not just with your stash. Play with your kids, your cat, or your partner too. )
6. Be Honest (Be Prepared to have an opinion about your craft)
7. Have faith (Crafting is spirtual - you’re putting something of yourself into it. Have faith in yourself, and in your family to see the beauty of it)
8. Maintain Perspective (When it comes down to it, it’s a hobby. Don’t spend more time in your scrapping room, and miss out on actually living the life with your family which you’re trying to scrap)

Click here to Download the Escape Adulthood Manifesto

Goto the Escape Adulthood website.

Comments

[Dan Auito]

Thanks so much Michelle for helping to spread the Posi+ive attitude around to all who come in contact. Every little bit helps in making our world a happier place.

Now If WE could only figure out a way for everyone to get hold of this wonderful state of mind EVERYONE would be that much better off!

Thanks again! Dan

[Dan Auito]

Thanks so much Michelle for helping to spread the Posi+ive attitude around to all who come in contact. Every little bit helps in making our world a happier place.

Now If WE could only figure out a way for everyone to get hold of this wonderful state of mind EVERYONE would be that much better off!

Thanks again! Dan