In Presentation Zen, the ever-fabulous, ever-creative Garr Reynolds has been writing about creativity: who's got it (all of us), why we think we don't got it (parents, teachers, naysayers) and how to go about getting it back.
In his first post on the subject, he quotes Brenda Ueland, author of the book If You Want to Write, saying this:
When we teach someone something important to us, we are reminded why it matters, and the enthusiasm of the student -- child or adult -- is infectious and can energize us.
This brings to mind the reasons that many folks gave for engaging in social media such as blogging and podcasting (and, if I may stretch it a bit, presenting at trade shows). That is, by teaching or discussing a subject, they felt they could better explore and formulate their own thoughts on the issue.
And it's not just about sharing facts and formulating opinions; it's about sharing the enthusiasm of others for the subject, whether that subject be the power of social media, how the Cubs are doing this year or the benefits of your new product. It's about getting caught up in conversations with others who care just as passionately about X as you do.
This is why I get jazzed when reading others' blogs, so much so that I often run off and write my own entry. And this is why I find that giving presentations for my clients at trade shows energizes me, when it seems that giving up to 15 presentations a day would be intensely draining. Not at all! Why? Because I get excited about the products, and I get excited when people respond back with enthusiasm for the products as well. The energy is flowing and I feel unstoppable!
How about you--does teaching or sharing ideas bring as much enthusiasm and energy as it consumes?
