It’s that time again, with enthusiasms a-plenty! Let me know what you think via twitter at @jamiesmartcom, on my Facebook page here, or in the comment section. At the end, I’ll tell you how you can get one of your #enthusiasms featured in a future edition of The Thursday Enthusiasms (TTE).
1. A quotation I’m reflecting on this week
I read an article by Glenn Greenwald this week about the effect of state surveillance on people’s behaviour. Here’s the bottom-line:
“There is a reason governments, corporations, and multiple other entities of authority crave surveillance. It’s precisely because the possibility of being monitored radically changes individual and collective behaviour. Specifically, that possibility breeds fear and fosters collective conformity. That’s always been intuitively clear. Now, there is mounting empirical evidence proving it.”
2. An important article on some essential research
Here’s the article the quote above is taken from. If you’ve ever heard someone say “You’re OK as long as you’ve got nothing to hide”, here’s the research that shows why state surveillance is bad news for all of us.
3. A great new book
I’m in Lanzarote this week, getting ready for the annual Clarity Life Transformation Retreat. I’ve taken the opportunity to read an advance copy of Michael Neill’s excellent new book, The Space Within: Finding Your Way Back Home. It’s being launched this week, and Michael’s giving away lots of great goodies. You can find out more and get the book here.
4. A short, funny yet informative video I like
A classic scene from The Life of Brian was the inspiration for this brief, brilliant Patrick Stewart sketch: What has the ECHR ever done for us? The video is a little bit sneaky – the ECHR has existed since the 1950s, long before European Union was established, but the video has emerged during the Brexit conversation, for obvious reasons). Nevertheless, it’s damned funny. You can watch it here (warning: it’s a bit sweary).
5. This week’s 3-minute miracle
One Sunday morning in the early 1990s, I bumped into Thom Yorke (Radiohead singer) in an Oxford cafe, poring over the Sunday papers. At the time, Radiohead had just released their single, Creep, but hadn’t yet shot to international superstardom. We started chatting, and he told me how concerned he was about the number of CCTV cameras on the streets of Britain. He was worried about ECHELON, the massive surveillance system that monitors email, phone and other forms of communication. At the time, I laughed it off as “artistic paranoia”, but now I see it differently. Artists like Yorke are canaries in humanity’s coal mine, with a heightened sensitivity to subtle signals in the culture (Coal miners used to take canaries with them into mines. If the canary died, it meant poisonous gas had contaminated the air supply). Creep still sounds pretty fresh and raw today.
That’s it for this week. If you have questions, suggestions or want to let me know what you’re enthusiastic about, just tweet one of yours and put my twitter name @jamiesmartcom and the #Enthusiasms hashtag in there so I can find it. If I’m enthusiastic about something you’re enthusiastic about, it might just get featured in a future TTE.
Big love
Jamie
By the way, if you’re a transformation professional, then you may be a good fit for something I’m doing next month. Here’s what I’m looking for:
– You have at least one year’s experience of working with clients (either paid, pro-bono or both)
– You probably charge by the hour, but want to use a “coaching package” model to increase your income & make it more consistent
– You have space in your practice to work with at least one longer term contract client, starting in May
– You’re an enthusiastic, friendly people-person
– You have a coachable spirit, and are willing to step out of your comfort zone if necessary, and
– You can keep a secret
If that’s you, then just email me at jsmart@jamiesmart.com, and let me know where you’re located and a little about yourself (if you don’t know what to tell me about, look at the list above for inspiration). Make the subject line “Project Glasswing TTE”. I’ll be choosing people in the next couple of weeks. Talk to you soon!
Big love
Jamie