I admit that I am getting sick of the publicity that the new Pixar movie, "Up" has been generating. For the past month or two, it seems like every news source I read has been focusing on a different aspect of this animated film: the process, the marketing, the actors, the story, the development process, etc.
So when a good friend asked if we wanted to see
it this weekend, I reluctantly said, "yes." (I still haven't seen "Star Trek!" How can I live long and prosper if I don't see it?! Yes, I'm a geek). My one condition was that we see it in 3-D, since I haven't yet experienced the latest incarnation of that technology.
I didn't have high expectations about a movie about a cranky old man voiced by Ed Asner. In fact, I was worried that I'd drift into slumber like a wayward balloon. My gator brain was complaining as I paid the rather high ticket price ("I remember when movie tickets only cost..." wait, maybe I should have voiced the cranky old man!).
Well, I'm pleased to report that this movie lifted me like 10,000 helium balloons. I was moved to tears,
I laughed uncontrollably -- "SQUIRREL!" --, I loved that one of the dog's was named after my colleague Mr. Reid, I was inspired, and I found learning related to innovation.
The most important learning ("POINT!") for me:
be aware of what is going around you, rather
than focusing solely on what you think should be happening.
In other words, the innovation journey may be
more important than the destination. With the pressure to create new products/services/models/
businesses/distribution on to help us weather the storm of the economic climate, we sometimes forget that there's a nice side effect. When we're focused on the new, and being engaged in the behaviors necessary to bring innovation to the world, we frequently find ourselves being more open-minded, better communicators, having more fun, and accomplishing more than we thought possible.
This innovation journey is likely to create more productive working relationships and workplaces. When we look back on these times, we may find that they are the adventures of our lives.
Yeah, I was sick of the publicity. Worse, now I'm talking it...Up. Regardless, want to be inspired? Don't worry about what you think it will be about, or whether or not you like animation, or if you can find the time...go see "Up," and look for connections to your life and your work. You may find that it lifts you higher.
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