Where in the world am I today?: Brazil Mostly – San Paulo and Forteleza.

“I refer to jet lag as ‘jet-psychosis’ — there’s an old saying that the spirit cannot move faster than a camel“

–Spalding Gray, American actor (1941 – 2004)

Addendum…

“So much of today was spent in planes and airports that I’m not really sure which time zone my body will eventually settle in.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

It was one of those very very long days of travel. Flew from Vancouver to Toronto yesterday on an afternoon flight, then from Toronto on to San Paulo, Brazil on an overnight flight, then a nice four hour layover in San Paulo before hopping onto a flight to Forteleza. Got in to the Hotel around 9:30 PM local time, grabbed a bite to eat then headed to my room to pass out… I’ll be joining the GRAND Princess tomorrow and expect it’ll take a couple of days for the camel to catch up with the rest of my brain/spirit… Thankfully I don’t think I have to perform immediately upon my arrival to the ship, but if I do I will… Just part of the job…

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”

–Michael J. Fox, Canadian Actor (1961 – )

Addendum…

“The pursuit of perfection is usually so time consuming that it prevents you from enjoy so many other things that life has to offer.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I’m pretty sure I inherited a streak of perfectionism from my Father. Though it pushes me to make what I do the best it can possibly be, it also ends up being such a ‘time suck‘ that I need to remind myself that it’s better and quite often happier to shoot for ‘really gosh darn good’ as opposed to ‘perfect.’ Most people will never no the difference and the amount of time it’ll save you will likely mean that you’re able to pursue far more interesting projects than just getting bogged down with one. I know this in my brain, but sometimes I still get stuck on trying to make things ‘perfect.’ Every time I catch myself doing it I remind myself to let go of my iron grip of control, for control really is an illusion…

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”

–Lily Tomlin, US actress & comedienne  (1939 –  )

Addendum…

“The RAT RACE eh… Aren’t their better races to be running in the first place?”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

While in Miami recently I got together with a friend from High School for a drink. Hadn’t seen them for years but through the marvels of Facebook we had been reacquainted. Catching up face to face was great, but I was struck by the fact that they perceived my life to be a success not because I’d taken the path most travelled or chased the goals that so many in our society are obsessed with, but because I had taken an alternate route and still managed to quite happily survive… To them this was a success worthily of celebration. I never really thought about it because I’m too busy simply trying to keep up with what everyday presents, but perhaps there’s something to it.

Where in the world am I today?: At Sea aboard the EMERALD Princess

“Don’t rule out working with your hands. It does not preclude using your head.”

–Andy Rooney, US news commentator (1919 – )

Addendum…

“I love to juggle because it keeps my body busy and somehow focuses my thoughts”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

When I was growing up our house was right next to the High School I attended. Early on in my High School Career I figured out ways to get two lockers side-by-side and would put my school books in one and a collection of juggling equipment in the one next door. The halls of the school were well lit and a great place to practice and I’d often spend a couple of hours after school working on various tricks and skills. I have vivid memories of juggling before exams because the act of juggling was almost meditative. Instead of getting all wound up with nerves before the exams, the juggling actually focused my thoughts and allowed me to write a better exam as a result.

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“Your idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours alone. The more the idea is yours alone, the more freedom you have to do something really amazing. The more amazing, the more people will click with your idea. The more people click with your idea, the more it will change the world.”

–Hugh Macleod, American cartoonist, blogger and author (1965 – )

Addendum…

“The search for those gem ideas isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth while… Stick with it and you’ll be amazed with where those ideas will take you .”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

Geoff Cobb and I became so discouraged by formulaic street shows that we went as far as to write The Book about what we perceived to be the ultimate in ‘stock material.’ We then built a show that spoofed the idea of the formula while at the same time presenting original characters following a stock formula… It was a weird twist on the idea of being original, but a great adventure on all sorts of levels…

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”

–Fulton J. Sheen, American Bishop (1895 – 1979)

Addendum…

“Being jealous of someone else is to waste time that could be spent developing your own genius. Get creative and rise above the temptation of mediocrity.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I got to enjoy being a part of the Creative Mix Ideation Conference this past week and thoroughly enjoyed being around such a great group of amazing people (inventors, architects, online publishers, photographers, interior designers, and music executives to name but a few) who rely on their creativity to make their living. Perhaps one of the biggest things that I took away from the conference was the concept of surrounding yourself with really great people because greatness inspires greatness. Instead of being jealous of someone else try to take the energy that you would have used being jealous to either spark your own genius or support the genius of those around you and be a beacon of inspiration to others.

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“Sometimes it’s good to contrast what you like with something else. It makes you appreciate it even more.”

–Darby Conley, US cartoonist (1970 – )

Addendum…

“Life is full of dualities… Hot and Cold, Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Love and Hate, Work and Play… No… Hang on… Work and Play are the same thing… At least for me.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I wake up everyday and thank my lucky stars that I happened to fall into something that makes me enough money to have a comfortable existence that I derive so much enjoyment from! When ever someone asks me how a show went my typical answer is – ‘Sure beat’s working for a living!’

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“What I look forward to is continued immaturity followed by death.”

–Dave Barry, US columnist & humorist (1947 – )

Addendum…

“If you’re able to recognize you’re strengths (and your weaknesses for that matter) you can really tap into the fun that can be had! I count a certain degree of immaturity as one of my strengths (and perhaps one of my weaknesses).”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

My wife is originally from Japan and she told me once about a grading system that girls in Japan have for guys – level one guys, level two guys and level three guys. Level one guys aren’t very good looking and don’t have much in the way of personality. level two guys are good looking, but lack that ‘cool’ factor that makes them the most desirable and are often clowns. Level three guys have it all, the looks, the money, the cars etc. My wife once said to me that I could be a level three guy if I could just learn to keep my mouth shut… In spite of that I get the impression she’s happy to have chosen a level two guy to marry… Phew!

Where in the world am I today?: At Sea Aboard the STAR Princess

“It is how people respond to stress that determines whether they will profit from misfortune or be miserable.“

–Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Hungarian psychology professor (1934 –  )

Addendum…

“It’s sometimes hard to remember that from adversity comes opportunity but when ever possible try to find the path that leads you in the more optimistic direction.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I think we’re all tested at times… Moments in life when we have a choice as to how we perceive a situation and on a certain level given the choice as to how we react to those bumps along the way in the road of life. The way were ‘wired’ which comes as a result of one’s upbringing, environment, perceptions on the world, personality quirks etc. usually dictates how we react in the face of stressful situations, but it’s always important to remember that there is a choice and that it’s your choice. It may mean going against your regular ‘programmed’ methodology, but profiting from these ‘opportunities’ far outweighs the option of letting them create misery in your life.

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.“

–Donald H. Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense (1932 – )

Addendum…

“I used to hide from the critics, now I seek them out… I listen, I learn, and try to remember that not all criticism is constructive. Often the comments that are less useful say more about the person who’s giving than they do about me and what I’m doing, but even in that there’s learning to be gleaned.”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

From one quote to another… My Grandfather used to tell me that –

“Everyone can teach you something even if it’s what ‘not’ to be like.”

Criticism in what ever form can be incredibly useful if you’ve got the right ears to actually hear what’s being said and from whom it’s being said. If you can develop a tough enough skin to listen to the critics and glean what them what is useful while disregarding the rest then you’re likely super-human. The rest of us can at least attempt to not have the critics effect us too much!

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“Do something. If it doesn’t work, do something else. No idea is too crazy.”

–Jim Hightower, American Radio Commentator, writer, public speaker (1943 – )

Addendum…

“Eventually, if you keep throwing crazy ideas out there like throwing spaghetti on the wall, you’ll be amazed at what sticks…”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I think one of the things I liked most about doing the new Hot Dog Show at the PNE was the fact that I gave myself permission to try just about anything. Because I didn’t really have any pre-conceived notions about what ideas would work and which wouldn’t I tried just about anything to get a response from the audience. Along the way I was amazed at which things ‘worked’ and equally surprised by the things that didn’t. Not so much a case of teaching an old dog new tricks as it was a chance to play with a mind wide open to what ever opportunity presented and the wonderful gifts I received everyday from the audiences that watched my shows.

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.”

–Douglas Adams, English humorist & science fiction novelist (1952 – 2001)

Addendum…

“Now only if my suitcase could say the same thing…”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

With any luck it will end up saying the same thing, but as I write this, the black Samsonite suitcase I travel with when doing cruise ship jobs is somewhere other than in my hotel with me… This is only mildly disconcerting… I’ve got bits and bobs enough to make due with out the contents of my suitcase, but I would very much like to get it back. My hope is that I’ll get a call in the morning from the front desk letting me know that the case has been delivered… Alternatively I’ll call the airport to see where things are at… Not much I can do about it currently though, so sleeping on it seems like the best option.

Addendum… Called in the morning and apparently the airline luggage tag came off the suitcase and they didn’t know where to send it… Hopefully by the time this goes live I’ll have my case back!

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

–Phyllis Diller, American Comedienne (1917 – )

Addendum…

“Pick your battles wisely and when in doubt smile…”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

My wife started a job about a year and a half ago and came home a bit disillusioned during her ‘training’ because she didn’t feel that anyone was actually teaching her anything. It was rather an on-the-job immersion into what she’d be doing with very little in the way of instruction. She made every attempt to learn, but found it rather odd that long time employees didn’t give her much in the way of instruction. She made several mistakes during her first few training sessions, but when others scowled at her she’d just smile and amazingly the scowls would disappear. She came home saying that when she really didn’t know what to do next she’d smile and that smile won people over enough so that they’d explain how to do things… The power of a smile is awesome!

Where in the world am I today?: North Vancouver, BC, Canada

“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.“

–Victor Borge, Danish comedian, conductor and pianist  (1909 – 2000)

Addendum…

“Never is this truer than when you don’t actually speak the same language. Laughter is universal as is the joy of sharing a laugh!”

–David ‘checkerhead’ Aiken

I’ve been fortunate to take this performing thing I do to various locations around the world, often to countries where I don’t speak the language, but as soon as I do something silly that gets a laugh I’m surrounded by new friends. I think this is probably the greatest currency there is.