SHUT UP AND WORK!

Shut up and work. We all get frustrated. We feel impatient. We feel discouraged. We try to shift the pieces so they make sense. The belief that the world is a puzzle for you to decode is discouraging, demotivating and just plain inaccurate. Shut up and work. All that noise feels like progress but in actuality becomes wasted energy. The bottom line is to do what you are good at. And do it a lot. Never stop. Don’t get too hung up on the results of the work because the act of working consistently with commitment yields progressively improving results. The act of work creates opportunities and is the birthplace of innovation. Trust that putting your energy into something will lead you to where you need to go. Shut up and work. Stop trying to second guess your progress. Stop talking yourself out of taking chances. Stop placing judgment on the validity or value of your work. Stop fighting the richness of your capacity. Shut up and work. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll get better. If you’re great at what you do it will show. Do what you are good at. And do it a lot. Never stop. Shut up and work. Nothing will fall in your lap. Keep your eyes open for opportunities and act on them. Nobody owes you any favors. It’s up to you and me to shut up and work.

Communicating messages through art

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, was commissioned artwork for the church. He was asked to paint most of his well-known work by the church in much the same way our client's commission marketing work from us.

Illiteracy was very high In the 1500s. The only way for the church to communicate the words in the Bible was using artwork. Much like we use print media such as billboards or e-newsletters, the church used paintings and sculpture to communicate its vision to the masses.

I still find it fascinating that the most prolific and talented artist in our history was, in essence, a graphic designer whose work communicated the vision and voice of his client, Pope Julius II. I like to think that the relationship we have with our customers is healthier than the one Michelangelo had with Pope Julius II. They were always arguing over payment and creative vision.

Michelangelo did, however, sneak in his agenda whenever possible. It’s cleverly portrayed in his most famous painting in the Sistine Chapel depicting God touching the finger of Adam. This painting was to illustrate how God gifted man with a soul. Michelangelo disagreed with that premise. He believed God gifted man with the ability to reason and think. That is why he cleverly painted God’s robes in the shape of a cerebellum. You can see it in the photos. I had the chance to see the painting first hand on a trip to Rome. We are drawn to it and find a need to understand it. It’s a powerful communication tool in the right hands. It has shifted cultures and documented history. And that’s cool in my book.