Path

We all have references, heroes, mentors. We choose careers and lifestyles with their teachings on our minds. Ever since I was around twelve years old, I have been looking for a path, a strategy that would take me to success. I have tried to come up with this life plan while being educated. This (mis)education, curiously enough, tried to steer me into another path, predetermined, normalized, accepted.

School grades were the first parameter that I could measure my success against. There was a linear, closed scale and an “unbiased jury” to ponder how much better I was when compared with other children. So I studied, and I always seemed to be quite successful, according to my grades.

University followed, but there was a twist. Whilst I usually found high school subjects to be generally appealing, my engineering degree seemed to be built exclusively on top of repetitive tasks, abstract thought and exams which evaluated how well you could adjust to conformity. My grades plummeted. I knew something was wrong. Something had to be. My classmates came to me with doubts and I had a sense that I was grasping the inner works of concrete structures and hydraulic networks. No matter, I was not successful throughout the university.

Ever since I started working as an engineering consultant, success came back. At least, according to the standard parameters: money and peer recognition. But does all this mean anything?

This inspiring presentation by Sir Ken Robinson conveys with great simplicity how creativity must be fostered.

To me, the message is simple: do not be afraid.

Bellow are links related to some of my heros, favorite books, presentations, references and examples. Some of these may help you find your path.

The art of looking sideways – A bible of sorts with millions of entries collected by Allan Fletcher throughout his career.

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