Parrot Nation

Reinvention is always necessary in any product line, any field of thought, vision or interest.

With that in mind, I’ve been trying to open up my mind to new ideas, new ways of doing things and new products.

Doing what I do; writing, blogging, speaking, flying, has me at a keyboard at some pretty odd times. I get up an hour before I get my Greys up get the coffee going, take a shower and get dressed for work (or not) and sit and write or finish something I’ve been working on. I accomplish this sitting on my bed with my laptop between my knees as I sip coffee and listen to Mattie snore. It’s still quiet and the birds haven’t awakened. It gives me a chance to post something here, work on the book, finish an article or work on a Memo.

I call this time theft. It’’s my time and I’m using it in a very concentrated form.

I also steal time on the ground in Haiti while they’re cleaning the plane, hanging in a hotel room or sitting on the jump seat flying somewhere. I can  knock a lot of work out in a hotel room for some reason.

I was writing some stuff coming back from Raleigh sitting on the jump seat. I was so engrossed with what I was writing, the working Fight Attendant said, “You mind turning that off and stowing it? We’re landing.” I hadn’t even noticed and apologized profusely but he brushed it off. He understood. He smelled wood burning: My brain was on overdrive.

Over the years, I’ve had to adapt. In some ways this style of writing, this “flying by the seat of my pants” has served me well.

Anthony Bourdain wrote his book an hour at a time by getting up at five in the morning and sitting down to a computer and writing before he had to go to work at eight a.m. and cook or expedite in the kitchen until midnight.

I’m trying to do the same thing.

Maybe this idea can apply to everyone’’s life in some way, be it building a quick and dirty toy for your parrot, or getting up a bit earlier than usual and making your birds an omelette. How about getting something done early and getting the birds up for a little “One-On-One Time” before you go to work?

It seems to be working for me and I’m happy with the process. But I think I’ve found yet another use for that time.

I’ve been an Apple fan since 2008 when I got my first Mac products. I was appalled when I got home with my laptop because here was this absolutely gorgeous hunk of metal and I couldn’t do a damned thing with it.  
Turns out, I figured out I was using the wrong side of my brain and complicating things. Once I got the hang of it, it began to work for me.

I began to appreciate the nuances of the different computer programs: Pages, iTunes, and especially iMovie where I put together all of those videos.

I’m still learning and I’m sure my MacBook is sitting there like a Ferrari trying to drive on a course designed for golf-carts, with me at the wheel. I am fairly confident I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what this thing can do.

So you remember that time theft thing I have going on in the morning? Time to hit the tutorials at the online Apple Store. Maybe you can find an hour in the morning to steal some time and do something extraordinary. If you could manage it, to what would you devote that golden hour?