THE PROVERB PRACTITIONER

Last week in the blog entry Small beginnings make great endings we discussed the idea of using proverbial wisdom to guide a project. Today it is time to consider: what, why, when, where and how?

The longest journey begins with the first step, but if you wanted to climb Mount Everest you wouldn't just take a deep breath and charge up. It takes long and careful planning, training, acclimatisation, setting up of base camps and proceeding in careful stages.

Where there's a will there's a way, but above all is the determination to get to the top and the confidence in your ability to do so. From little acorns great oaks grow helps to visualise the end result as it is important to have a clear goal. Millions of people over many centuries have used these sayings as a spur to achievement, and so can you.

What should the project be -- how to chose? The dog that runs around finds a bone. So, with growing confidence and determination the "Proverb Practitioner" must scout (or sniff) out the possible options.

The vast cavern of the Internet caters for just about any and every human interest -- lots of "bones" here. Many people are looking to make money, find friends, achieve personal goals, learn an instrument, language or skill. There is unlimited choice.

However, Don't flog a dead horse. It must be something that will enthuse, excite and prove beneficial. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. If it doesn't arouse some passion the result might be boredom and a temptation to give up. Stick with what you know sounds like good advice. Why reinvent the wheel?

Have fun searching out your own project, but this "Proverb Practitioner" is an enthusiastic poet and songwriter and sniffing around his own "bone yard" has found a collection of song demos made and forgotten.

One of the problems of being creative is the tendency to want to move on to the next new thing, to procrastinate over doing something with what you already have. Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Perhaps it is time to take action. The usual route is to send a song demo CD to the Artist and Repertoire people of record companies and hope they like you. But they are very busy and you are lucky to get a good hearing. Trial and error constitutes a wasteful method -- try thinking first.

BRIGHT IDEA: We are now in the age of mass participation so why not let the people decide?

But don't be dumb, you can't send the whole world a CD! So, what can be done?

Think! Fortune favors the bold. (Several hours later) How about a video on YouTube with a song embedded -- nothing fancy that requires techie know-how (this is on a shoestring budget) just enough to give people an idea if they think it is cool. After all: Nothing ventured nothing gained.

That then is the 2008 challenge, no more faffing about: take a song from zero to hero by years end. Mistakes, errors, blunders, frustration, procrastination, temptation and gremlins of all sorts will try to get in the way but with a cry of: If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again and Who Dares Wins it is onwards and upwards.

Have fun.
See you soon.

William

Definition: Proverb Practitioner, someone who guides their activities with the wisdom of proverbs.