Anh HoàngThe Unexpected Sources of Inspiration
Happy fall, and happy learning! Today, I want to share a story that has helped me see the possibilities for learning and getting good at things in a wider perspective.
The Normal Steps to Get Better
We all have things that we want to improve or master, whether it's for our work or for fun. To get better at these things, we usually take the normal steps: we look it up, take a class, practice, ask people who know how to do it, and so on. For example, I wanted to learn filmmaking, so I went to film school, made YouTube videos in high school, and watched some movies and read books about film. You're all familiar with this process.
The Story of the Juggler
The story I want to share comes from the book "The Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell. The author, in addition to being a game designer, is also a juggler. He tells the story of when he was 14 years old and went to his first juggling convention. At the convention, he met a juggler who stood out from the others. This juggler, an old man in a powder blue jumpsuit, had unique tricks that were not like the others. Jesse was fascinated by the man's tricks and asked him why they looked so different. The juggler replied that it's not about the tricks themselves, but about where he gets his inspiration. He said that most jugglers get their tricks from each other, which is fine, but it will never make them stand out. Instead, he looks everywhere else for inspiration.
The juggler showed Jesse some of his tricks, which he had learned from unexpected places, such as watching a ballet in New York, a paper punch machine, and even a flock of geese taking off from a lake in Maine. He said that his inspiration comes from everywhere, and that's what makes his tricks unique.
The Lesson Learned
I remember finishing that story and thinking, "This is so wild!" As a teacher, filmmaker, and YouTuber, I realized that I was learning from a game designer who learned from a juggler who, in turn, learned from geese. This story made me think about the importance of looking beyond our own field for inspiration and learning.
Don't Just Copy, Be Different
If you're trying to get good at something, whether it's making YouTube videos or something else, don't just copy from others in the same field. Instead, look outside of your field, study within your field to get competent, but study outside of your field to get different. Watch movies, read books, talk to interesting people, and go to different places. You might learn something new and unexpected, just like the juggler learned from geese.
So, what's something you're trying to get good at, and what's an unexpected place you've learned something from? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for watching, and I'll see you next time!
