Out of The Box

The other day I was thinking about a friends website, http://www.anengineeringmind.com, (where he posts videos about engineering, it is very funny - if you are into that sort of thing.) Anyway, I mentioned to him earlier that day that I loved his site and that he was doing a great blah blah blah - he then said if you have any ideas I can cover let me know... So I was just getting ready to dose off and there it came, a thought for his website. Marketing Speak. I am thinking to myself he has to cover that that would be so great. (As a reference I did check and sure enough he had just posted one about marketing words - it is brilliant.)

When I say marketing speak, I mean words like 'Traction', 'Marketechture', 'Synergy', 'Best in Breed', 'Scope', 'Leading....' and my favorite 'Out of The Box'. I think that these terms are generally over-used. They actually make me quit listening because when hear them they are audio or visual clues that the presenter or speaker really has no clue what they are saying and are not going to give me anything of substance. I have to admit I have even used some of them when, A) When I was talking to some folks that were not following my technical jargon, and B) when I did not know what I was talking about. Sorry if you use them, but GOSH DANG they bug me... Keep in mind I have worked at some big marketing companies like IBM and Dell, which may be why I have an aversion to such speak.

But that is not the reason for this post, and I have to admit it was inspired by 'Out of The Box'. As I was thinking about all these words that one phrase rang true at that moment for me. Have you ever had one of those moments? Like all of a sudden a light comes on and the planets line up and something clicks in your heart. I had one of those moments about that phrase. Generally it is accepted that Out of The Box means thinking or doing something unconventional or creative.

I am not sure what the technical or phsycological term is but I will call it flow of consciousness, where my mind took off and all these thoughts came to me about that phrase. Basically I looked at my computer and realized it was a box, then I started thinking about the other boxes in my life and how we all should live 'Out of The Box'.

As stated above, the first thing that came to mind was my computer then then next logical was the T.V. I am especially guilty of this. I tend to come home sit in front of the T.V. with a laptop on my lap finishing up some work or surfing the net for that next cool thing or even watching my friend's videos. None of these things are inherently bad, just we (I) have been boxed by these things.

Another box is our cell phones. I can't leave the house without it, I look at it all the time. Chrissta is on hers all the time as well. What did we do before cell phones? Oh yeah we talked face to face and interacted at dinner. Kids are texting 100 people at a time and not interacting with others. I know a kid, very well, who burns over 14,000 messages a month think he is in a box?

Have you ever looked at your car? All they are are boxes with wheels. I have two cars, and two car payments. We need cars to get to work and stuff and we did just 'help the economy' and bought a Ford - but this is not your dad's Ford -its a Flex. Have you seen them? They are nice. It looks great, fantastic lines, dark windows alloy wheels, Satellite radio, Microsoft Sync, blue tooth - uh see what I mean? Its a fancy box.

What about work? The physical building is a box, how late do you stay in that box? What time do you leave there? How much time to do spend thinking about it when you are not there? How much does a bad day at the box effect your mood or interactions with your wife, kids, friends and or extended family?

I look in my wallet and there are a bunch of flat boxes called credit cards in there. Their physical shape is flat but for many the hidden part is not flat - they are huge. I am surprised that some still fit in my pocket. These too could be why some feel boxed at work.

Then I looked at the house I live in it is a box with a pitched roof. I talked to a friend today and they are looking for a new box. I used to think that living in a box was bad, but I just realized I do too. Who am I to judge others for living in boxes whatever or wherever they may be. But then there are those that have bought too big of a box and can't pay for it anymore.

I have another box that is an issue for me. The fridge actually the freezer that not so ironically has another box full of a creamy frozen treat. For others it may be the box of cigarettes other harmful substances that are sold in a box that may be an issue.

I told a co-worker about my ideas and he added church, which I thought was interesting and I liked the idea but I could not figure out why. Then this evening I picked the older kids up from youth group at the church and when I saw the church building I realised it is another box only it has a steeple. I was then hit between the eyes with a huge question? Do I worship or live my religion in that box only? or do I live outside the box? Thanks Page!

I am sure there are more. But I realized that I need to do better at living Out of the Box and maybe other do too. I am sure I will have more thoughts about this so stay tuned, and please share your thoughts about the boxes we all live in. Later!