"If you're interested in the model of education, you don't start from a production line."

- Sir Ken Robinson

This video deserves to be seen by more people.

I recently filled out an application that asked what I would do if I had a million dollars and six months to work on whatever I wanted.

This was super-fun so I thought I'd share this startup fantasy with you people.

I'd call it Creativity on Loan.

Being in/around the ad scene for a couple of years, I've noticed an amazing surplus in creativity. I suspect this is the case almost everywhere. When they aren't doing client work, The agencies devote their creative teams to working with a non-profits, pro bono or some other awesome display of creative flexing. 

This happens for many reasons but I'd like to think it's because ad agencies employ some of the most creative people on the planet! They're itching to dream of things that seemed un-dreamable. They want to take these crazy notions and watch them hatch to life, not unlike Lady Gaga.

Switch gears. You've heard of Kickstarter right? It helps people increase funds and awareness for their artistic dreams. These are all the relentlessly pro-active thinkers and makers in garages. It's helped to collectively fund movies, iPod watches, and -- lock-picking tools? Overall, it's a fantastic idea but focuses on artists and not social issues.

And now comes the ham sandwich. I'd create an organization that connects awesome creative agencies with the geniuses online that have an idea -- design, objects, education, programs, fundraising events, architecture, art, galas. There's one catch. These ideas have to make the world a better place. The organization would have a website that functioned similar to kickstarter where you could build awareness and funds for you idea. Then, it would connect you to an ad agency who signed up to participate and offer their creative services…

When it comes to making the world better, it doesn't matter where the idea comes from. All that matters is that it's executed marvelously. 

Maybe someone has an idea to stop gang violence in a bad neighborhood. Maybe he/she has an idea to make LoJack for bicycles. Maybe the idea will educate people about misconceptions of ethnic groups in the news. Or maybe the idea is to design a way to help homeless people take their lives back.

Sure there are holes in this idea but if it was easy, we'd already be doing it. Either way, ad agencies have tremendous power with their creative department and I would like let everyone have a chance to utilize that power for good. 

If you like this idea then "like" this idea. And Tweet it.

~Tim Brown, Change by Design

I cannot, for the life of me, remember who said this quote but it really stuck with me. I know that I read it in Nicholas Carr's book called The Shallows but I haven't been able to dig it up again.

I am the type of person who never did well on tests. It didn't matter if I studied or if I was familiar with the materials or not. I just have a hard time memorizing lots of specific data.

I worked much better in situations that required collaboration and on-the-spot thinking. It wasn't really valuable because test were always worth considerably more points than the in-class assignments. 

Such is the nature of higher education.