How High Will You Fly?
Seth Godin begins his latest book by recounting the myth of Icarus. Legend has it that Icarus and his father fashioned wings affixed with wax to flee from Crete. Icarus’s father warned him not to fly too close to the sun because the wax would melt. Well, Icarus was so entranced with flying that he disobeyed his Dad and fell into the sea, drowning as a result of his own hubris.
Godin tells us that there is another part of the story that is not often told. Icarus’s father also told him not to fly too low because the water would hamper the lift in his wings. This book, The Icarus Deception, argues that we often fly too low, playing it safe and not reaching our potential. Moving forward and living the life you were meant to live requires having the qualities of an artist – comfortable with change and taking risks.
Our industrial economy is fading fast and the connection economy needs artists. By artists, he means those who challenge the status quo, create meaning, and connect the disconnected. Godin cites James Elkins on the three components necessary to becoming an artist.
1. Learn to see the world as it is, without labels.
Our preconceptions and our fear conspire to make it difficult to see the world as it is. ~ Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception
2. Learn to make something that reflects what you see.
The agenda will increasingly be set by those who create connections, not widgets. ~ Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception
3. Be a blank slate (tabula rasa). Make it original.
There is work that you (and only you) can do. ~ Seth Godin, The Icarus Deception
The potential here is tremendous, not only for artists, but for the people they touch. I see my job as teaching myself and others how to see (#1 above). To do that, I practice photography, write about what I see, and create workshops or experiences to help others learn to see. Once one learns to see, they can create their own art based on what they see.
How high will you fly?
Seth Godin is one who thinks and creates as an artist. He has one of the most popular business blogs in the word, is the co-founder of Squidoo, and wrote this book after launching a Kickstarter project which reached its $40,000 goal in less than three hours. You can purchase The Icarus Deception here.
** Books mentioned have Amazon affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.
Thanks for exposing me to Seth’s latest work. I have been thinking about the idea of “flying too low” since reading your post. Much thinking going on here in response.