A crash course in changing the world.
LEARN1: Lessons from a tiny theatre in Wellington
I used to work in a tiny, under-funded, unkempt theater which consistently proved my theory that "poverty forces innovation". Some of the best shows I've ever seen were produced in this small, dilapidated space, not despite but because of their limitations.
The worst show I have seen in recent years had a huge budget, incredible cast and crew, awesome producers, enough technology to fly us to the moon and back - and no constraints. With all the resources they could ever want or need they were unable to find a focal point for their energy and it dissipated in to a lavish set with no soul.
I don't work in theater any more and I hadn't remembered to apply this principle to any other area of my life until I read Ethan Zuckerman’s first tip:
By working with my perceived limitations I am more creative, more resourceful and more grateful person.
Limitations provide an immediate focal point for energy. As soon as you are given a constraint you begin to innovate to either mitigate or work within it. As our Urgent EVOKE progresses, I'm going to try to embrace the limitations and constraints of our work because I'm certain that's where some of our most innovative work will come from.
The worst show I have seen in recent years had a huge budget, incredible cast and crew, awesome producers, enough technology to fly us to the moon and back - and no constraints. With all the resources they could ever want or need they were unable to find a focal point for their energy and it dissipated in to a lavish set with no soul.
I don't work in theater any more and I hadn't remembered to apply this principle to any other area of my life until I read Ethan Zuckerman’s first tip:
Innovation (often) comes from constraint (If you’ve got very few resources, you’re forced to be very creative in using and reusing them.)
By working with my perceived limitations I am more creative, more resourceful and more grateful person.
Limitations provide an immediate focal point for energy. As soon as you are given a constraint you begin to innovate to either mitigate or work within it. As our Urgent EVOKE progresses, I'm going to try to embrace the limitations and constraints of our work because I'm certain that's where some of our most innovative work will come from.
Views: 1
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Comment by Bruce Haynes on March 4, 2010 at 10:26am -
I lOVE quote that Mia, "Poverty forces innovation"! I have power voted you for resourcefulness, I look forward seeing to your future evidence uploads:)
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Comment by TracyEloise on March 4, 2010 at 11:13am -
Hey that's awesome! =D
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Comment by Jake Baird on March 4, 2010 at 1:19pm -
I also gave you resourcefulness. Some of the best times I have had in life did not involve money. It really does show that life can be better without it. Just have to use the brain everyone was given.
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Comment by John D. Boyden on March 9, 2010 at 9:52pm -
+1 vision. You went beyond knowledge share to self application(courage) to providing a spark to encourage others to self-examine and hopefully apply the concept to their own lives which can result in an increase in thheir effectiveness.
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