DoctoredDesigns

passion + reason = the cat calendar

2009-05-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

The integration of passion and reason is how we create efficiencies in our life. A cat calendar is one of the smallest and most concrete examples that I can think of that clearly demonstrates the integration of passion and reason and the efficiency it creates. If you have a passion for something like cats AND you need a calendar to plan your life and stay organized, you will most likely identify the cat calender as an ideal tool to invest in because it provides you with both passion and reason. The structure and emotion you have are integrated into ONE thing and it enriches your life in some way.

Since the human brain can only focus on ONE thing in any given moment, the more you integrate passion and reason into ONE thing, the more brain time you free up to focus on integrating more passion and reason. The more you practice this, the better you get at recognizing opportunities for more integration and alignment. This is how you create efficiencies in your life and for your system. You will develop faster as an individual when you actively pursue your passions through a filter of reason.

What are examples, like the cat calendar, that exist in your environment? Did you identify something that already had your passion and reason integrated, or have you incorporated the two yourself into something you use daily?

Collaboration - Competition = Synergy

2009-05-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

System collaboration means integrating our traits and attributes with another in order to create a new reality that is greater than the sum of our individual systems. When we treat another brand as competition, we hinder the potential growth of a system that has similarities to our own. This is an example of thinking very small, and not considering the larger system we exist in.

I cannot tell you how many times I really disliked someone upon my first impression and later became best of friends with them because we actually had a lot in common. I think those commonalities are often seen as potential threats because that person is viewed as a competitor for the same, perceptibly scarce, resources. In reality, resources are not that scarce, and there IS enough to go around for everyone if we collaborate to create more, together.

Collaboration is how we develop our own passions with people who have similar interests and passions. Think of your passion as an industry. You are bettering your industry when you support others in the same, or similar, industry's, rather than competing and creating a win-lose situation. When someone in a similar industry loses, the larger system that embodies your passion also suffers. Collaboration strengthens your passions and opens the door up for more opportunity and competition weakens them and reduces the amount of resources available in the larger system.

When you support similar brands, or systems, you are ultimately supporting your own values in a way that allows for more growth in the larger system that you share. A person who is confident about their own skills, has a well-developed system and brand definition. They understand that the differentiation they created for themselves is supported by their life's work and cannot be replaced. They are not threatened by others in the same industry, instead, they reach out to similar brands in an effort to collaborate and strengthen the whole industry and further their own differentiation.

By strengthening the very industry that supports our passions, career, and livelihood, we make our own profession better and accelerate innovation within it.

Tony Robbins: Why we do what we do.

2009-04-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

PDA developer Jeff Hawkins talks about brain intelligence...

2009-04-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

creating tools to educate the public about critical thinking.

2009-04-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Being open-minded means willing to consider new ideas. Our progression depends on our willingness to learn. I'm thinkin' the community could benefit from a simple, educational video like this, but with the focus on using our reason/logic in conjunction with our passion. Instead of having an atheist "over-tone," the examples used to support the message could be concrete evidence of how we are using the two sides together effectively. We can show pictures that exemplify the process of integration in Fresno, within the city and within the individuals that live there.

I know the practice of critical thinking to foster progressive ideas is prevalent among our creative professionals in the community, and we could align to create the picture of what that looks like. The creative talent and evidence of progression is already here. What ideas do you have to show the reason, passion, open-mindedness, integration or progression that exists within our community?

how to make a free website

2009-04-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

how to make a free website

Create a free, quick website(blog) by following these easy steps...

1. Create a google email account by going to www.gmail.com and clicking on the sign up for gmail link. Complete the registration and be sure to choose a meaningful name that is easy for others to spell and remember.

2. Once you are in your new gmail account, find the very top set of tabs on the left and click on web. From your gmail account, you should have been navigated to your primary google page.

3. Click on the My Account link in the upper right corner of your main page. This is the list of your google services. Find the orange icon and click on the link that says Blogger. You should now be in your blogger dashboard.

4. Choose Create a Blog and complete the registration. Again, choose a meaningful name that is easy for others to spell and remember. If the first or fifth name you thought of is not available, keep trying out different names that tie in with your brand.

5. Choose a template and click on start blogging. Click on the Layout tab and then click on the Pick New Template sub-tab. For a website like this one, choose Minima Lefty Stretch, and then Save Template, or choose a template that represents your brand the most.

6. Click on the Edit HTML sub-tab to remove the navigation bar from your blogger website, copy the following code in blue and paste it before the /*variable definitions line within the Edit Template contents of your blog.

URL: www.stopdesign.com
Date: 26 Feb 2004
Updated by: Blogger Team
----------------------------------------------- */

#navbar-iframe { display: none !important; }

/* Variable definitions
====================

7. Save the changes you just made by clicking on the orange Save Template button. Adjust your fonts and colors by clicking on the Fonts and Colors sub-tab. Choose a color palette that is simple and ties in with your brand. Keep it meaningful and no more than five colors for a cohesive look.

8. Choose the Page Elements sub-tab to customize your site with useful gadgets that compliment the content of your new blog and your brand. Remove gadgets by clicking on the Edit link and then choosing Remove.

9. Your website is now set-up! All you need to do is create posts and upload/write your content!

how to make a free simple survey

2009-04-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

A great survey doesn't need to be long or complicated. The basic information most people need to know in order to improve is what they are doing right, what they are doing wrong, and what they could be doing. If you are asking someone to take time out of their life to tell you how to improve, you should respect their time in return by eliminating unimportant details and making the survey simple and easy to use.

An efficient, simple survey, can be created using the format below, originally developed by our friend, Strategically Creative. A free survey, with limited customization and options, can be designed using a site like SurveyMonkey.Com. We suggest offering something to your consumers, like an entry to win one of your products or services. The benefit of getting critical feedback can be tremendous and should be worth an opportunity to win a reward in exchange for the valuable time and feeback of your consumers.

Begin your survey with a short paragraph that is concise and direct in its intention. This is the introduction to the three main questions you should always ask to ensure quality feedback. The following questions are easy to prose and you should select the short essay format to allow your consumers to elaborate in their response. to see an example, check out the survey we posted here.

1. What should I be doing?
2. What should I stop doing?
3. What should I keep doing?

solving between polarized parts = progress

2009-04-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

The problem with polarized discourse is that the focus is on who is right and who is wrong, as opposed to what can be agreed upon by both parties involved in a conversation. This type of discourse is specially prevalent in politics. Politicians run their campaigns based on the extreme differences between parties in an effort to win and make the other person lose, rather than working towards a common goal that most people can find safety, happiness and comfort in. Our founding fathers tried to lay this groundwork and it has been skewed over time because competition has taken precedence over the common good. A great documentary on the subject of politics and polarized discourse can be found here.

If leaders spent more time focusing on the integration of these polarized views, they would be more efficient in working towards real solutions. It is the same as the cognitive dissonance that lies within us. As we develop our individual philosophies on what to believe and how to act, we discover new information and knowledge that often contradicts the former opinion we have formed. This is how we progress and how our philosophy gets refined.

For example, when I was in high school, the information I had available was limited (compared to now) and my beliefs were firmly rooted in the culture of being Mexican, catholic, and from a small town. Part of my belief system was based on what I learned from this particular culture, or structure, and it included the belief that people chose to be gay. Of course, I found the "evidence" I needed from sources around me to validate this belief, but it was not until it hit home for me that this belief was challenged. When my beloved cousin, who I love more than anything, came out of the closet... the family was devastated. More than the pain my family was "suffering" was the pain my cousin felt for being honest about who he was.

I remember immediately after the news broke out, I spoke to my cousin on the phone and I could hear his deep sobbing. I had never heard anyone in that much emotional pain and it broke my heart. He was so upset and ashamed for having to admit to himself and everyone else who he was. I could hear how hard it was. In his words and in his voice, I knew that he was even contemplating suicide to escape the pain of not being "normal" or accepted by the family he loved so much. It was in that moment that the lightbulb went off inside my head and I realized that no one would just "choose" to be something that would bring so much pain, prejudice, and fear into their life.

My belief system had been challenged because my cousin would have chosen to be easily loved and accepted by society rather than facing the more difficult, painful road if it was, simply, a choice. His testimony was all I needed to then be open to find and learn new evidence that supported the belief that homosexuality is, in fact, biological. I found evidence of hormonal differences and brain science that supported my new philosophy. His passion for being true to himself, even though it was painful, inspired me to grow and be more authentic. The more I accepted and loved my true self, the more I was accepting of others.

Having to solve between what I thought I understood, and the new, contradictory information I was receiving, caused cognitive dissonance for me. I was faced with having to make new decisions about what to believe, and became a better person for it. That event, 15 years ago now, led to a series of positive changes for me, the family, and my cousin. We were all more tolerant of change as result of his personal growth. His bravery opened up the doors for other family members to come on out of that dark, dingy closet. Now, I have to say, change was simpler for me than it was for some people in the family because I was not carrying any hatred or discrimination in my heart, I just believed it was a chosen lifestyle versus biological. The steps to change were a lot shorter for me than those who have to solve for a more extensive, contradictory belief system.

The road to solving between our polarized beliefs has to start somewhere and it requires a lot of love, patience, and tolerance for those who are ignorant to the solution. If someone was intolerant, or hated me back then for believing what I believed, I would have been more inclined to defend my position rather than being open to learn a better way. Loving someone through their ignorance is a hard thing to do, but it is certainly the most effective way to change something.

tolerance = withholding judgment

2009-04-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

Making value judgments about systems, or individuals, that we do not understand is an act of intolerance and ignorance. Power comes in teaching what you know, not in dismissing others because they do not have the same knowledge or experience. If you know something that others do not, develop evidence and methodologies for teaching that knowledge rather than criticizing those who do not have access to that experience, knowledge, ability to learn. True tolerance comes with patience and a willingness to teach rather than judge.

Every system, or individual, was born within a given structure and has unique resources available to them. People tend to act accordingly and do the best they can with what they know and what they have in order to develop their system and feed their passions. We each have 24 hours in a day and that time is spent using our unique set of resources to move through our unique structures. This why one person's complete value system would never be perfect for someone else to completely adopt. In addition, those values change and get refine as we mature and gain more knowledge. We learn from others and adopt values from other systems as we each see fit. The best way to show someone the benefits of your personal system values is to live by example and educate when asked.

The beauty of mankind is that we each have a unique role to play in the larger system and everyone's contribution has value. Our individual consumption habits are what drive human progression. The more knowledge we gain, the more we progress (as a whole) towards our preferred future.

balanced exchanges = increased system strength

2009-04-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

We live in a world where we are often exploited by others and the natural reaction for many is to balance this by exploiting someone else in return. The problem with this reaction is that we are reinforcing the injustice that was done onto us by repeating it.

In order to effectively correct this imbalance and work towards a real solution, we must continue making balanced, fair exchanges regardless of the injustices that were done unto us. As much as we will be exploited in our lifetime we have to, at some point, learn to stop perpetuating the problem in the larger system and become a real part of the solution. It takes practice, discipline, and an incredible amount personal strength.

Exploitation includes taking advantage of an individual's passivity or willingness to give. People often take advantage of more giving individuals in an attempt to feel powerful about themselves, but this is not real power, it is in fact, the weakest kind of power. True personal power comes from within and is developed by empowering others, not taking it.

What happens to the giving, or passive individuals of the world? They get exploited so much, that their systems are starving and their resources are often diminished. They are often left with a choice to become a taker like the individuals who have taken advantage of them, or to stick to the high road and be true to themselves by continuing to give all that they have in hopes that one day, someone will come along and balance the scale because it is just the right thing to do.

People who tend to take more than they give are contributing to the problem and people who give more than they take are also not part of the solution. Individuals who give too much are part of the vicious cycle of imbalance as well and need to learn how to receive as much as they are willing to give. Without this balance, their systems will always be short of the resources it needs to actually give more to others. When givers learn how to receive, their system grows more and the resources they so love to give will increase, resulting in balanced system growth for all people involved.

how to create your unique product or service

2009-02-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

how to create the right product or service
In order to create a product or service that is right for you, you must first have a good understanding of your unique abilities and interests.

1. There are several kinds of intelligences. Some are more easily recognized than others, but everyone has unique knowledge and skills that can be shared with others, including you! Learning how to turn your unique experience and knowledge into something tangible that others need is a process that continuously gets refined the more you practice. The opportunity to capitalize on your talents will be missed if you are not aware of your own value.

2. What do you know? Take an inventory of the things you see yourself as an expert on, no matter how silly or irrelevant you might think it is. If you are a master sandwich artist, then list your amazing sandwich-making skill.

3. Why do you know this? Support the knowledge you inventoried by listing your experience as it relates to the things you are an expert on. If you are a master at making sandwiches because you worked at Subway throughout school, then list that experience.

master at making sandwiches ---> employed as a Sandwich Artist at Subway

4. How can this knowledge help others and support your brand? If people are always asking you to create your special sandwich for them, then the process, the recipe, and the service has some value to others. Turn that information into something inexpensive and tangible so that you can start testing it. The goal is to find a product you are most passionate about that provides you a great return.

memberships

2008-04-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

Members receive quarterly newsletters designed to make the process of growing and changing simpler for human systems so that consumers can start planning and working towards their preferred future today. Through education, consumers can learn how to develop and organize groups within their community designed around The Science & Philosophy of Change.

We accomplish this by breaking down seemingly complex concepts into a form that can easily be digested, understood and applied. Using the process of systematic oversimplification, the science of change within the human system can be explained and taught in its entirety. By educating consumers about this process, we intend on showing them the evidence and tools they already possess to enrich their lives and create greater efficiencies resulting in more time for the things they love the most. We believe that everyone has the potential to do great things and every living system has the ability to change.

We strive to show consumers the value of their abilities and interests using organizational tools and a systematic process to foster independent thinking, passion, and reason. We teach people how to feed their passions by using creative critical thinking and a heightened sense of consumption awareness through system definition. Doctored Design is investing in a philosophy that supports positive system development through the efficient use of resources. Helping others discover inspiration and refine their system is a complimentary value to the Doctored Design brand and system.

People have the tools they need to change and succeed, they just need to see them and believe in them more than anyone else in order to make them work. By showing our consumers the evidence of their own mastery in life, they can see the value of their abilities and interests. When they see the value of their unique abilities and interests, consumers can better appreciate the path that led them to today and take a more proactive approach to planning their lives for tomorrow.

We will do our best to practice what we teach because we are passionate about the content of our work and believe that the best educational tool is to live by example. Our greatest passion is to help others live their passion by helping them identify and define the passion and reason that exists in their life and environment. We believe that respect and authenticity for one's own system and the systems of others is how we can maximize growth for everyone on the planet. We support growth and change for our consumers and for our own company. The more our consumers grow and succeed, the more our company will grow and succeed in a way that would allow us to help even more people across the planet.

the science of consumption: change & the human system

2008-04-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More career

services

2008-04-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

Free Workshops are offered every month in the Cultural Arts District!

A copy of the current flier is available below. Email doctoreddesign@gmail.com or fill-out our contact form to reserve your seat today!

Consumption Workshop
Part One - Monday, March 30th 6p-8p
Part Two - Monday, April 6th 6p-7p

Consumption Workshop
Part One - Monday, May 4th 6p-8p
Part Two - Monday, May 11th 6p-7p

doctored definitions

2008-04-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

passion

Passions are the intense emotions and curiosities that drives us to take action. Passion is our deepest desire, inquiry, enthusiasm, love, or compelling feeling toward a person, idea, or thing. Our passions determine the motivation for our behavior, and are shaped by the way we think about the value and meaning of our life.

reason

Reason is the mental process of analysis and logic. Reason is what we use to form good judgments and make reasonable decisions about what to believe and what to do. Using reason means taking an objective view and considering the evidence.

brand

Your true brand is the authentic, quantified summary of your system. Your system is the unique combination of passion and reason that has existed within you throughout your life.

consumption

Consumption is the reason and passion you include into your life (or system) from the services, products, people, and messages you encounter, seek, and exchange with others. Reason and passion can be found in tangible items, like a cat calendar, as well as intangible items, like words, thoughts, and expressions.

conscious consumerism

Conscious Consumerism is the act of aligning your system values of reason and passion with others during your daily exchanges. This is how you invest in complimentary brand values with the resources you have available, like time and money. Exchanging services, products, messages, or experience with systems who’s values align with your own are complimentary, or win-win exchanges. The more you invest in things that are sustainable, long-term, and satisfy both passion and reason, the more efficiencies you create for your life and your system. These efficiencies result in greater fulfillment and progression towards your preferred future.

resources

2008-04-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is a life inventory worksheet. Think of it as sort of a "lifetime resume," only this one is focused on the patterns of curiosities and passion that have been prevalent throughout your life. We remain consistent with the patterns that we get some kind of value from. By understanding the patterns of reason and passion in your life, you can better identify and start seeking similar patterns for your preferred future. Complete the worksheet by doing a ten-minute brainstorm and listing the things you loved and were most interested in as you were growing up. Identify the themes of passion and reason and plot the words in the circles below the time line. Themes of reason, like math and science, can be written within the blue circles and themes of passion, like art and music, can be written within the yellow circles.

critique us

2008-04-23T01:28:00.000-07:00

Help us become a better merchant to you!
Our simple survey has only 3 questions, designed to get the most out of your consumer feedback.

Upon completion of the survey, you will be eligible for our monthly giveaway that includes one free one-hour session with our consumption expert plus organizational tools designed to help you organize your passion!

Click Here to take survey

2008-04-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

ask us

2008-04-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

mission

Our mission is to break down seemingly complex concepts into a form that can easily be digested, understood and applied. We want to make it simpler for living systems to grow and change. Using the process of systematic oversimplification, the science of change within the human system can be explained in its entirety. By educating consumers about this process, we intend on showing them the evidence and tools they already possess to enrich their lives and create greater efficiencies resulting in more time for the things they love the most. We believe that everyone has the potential to do great things and every living system has the ability to change.

values

We strive to practice what we teach because we are passionate about the content of our work and believe that the best educational tool is to live by example. Our greatest passion is to help others live their passion by helping them identify and define the passion and reason that exists in their life and environment. We believe that respect and authenticity for one's own system and the systems of others is how we can maximize growth for everyone on the planet. We support growth and change for our consumers and for our own company. The more our consumers grow and succeed, the more our company will grow and succeed in a way that would allow us to help even more people across the planet.

vision

Our vision, and the dreams in which we were built upon, is to create a Utopian State of Consumption where every person on the planet has access to the resources they need to live a healthy, happy, safe, and sustainable life. Using the process of systematic oversimplification, we will continue providing products and services that sustain the lives of our consumers and our environment by developing the unique passion and reason that exists within each system. The ambitious goals for our company are to eventually create zero waste and be supplied by 100% renewable energy. We want to be a living model that inspires consumers to strive for greatness through practical and attainable goals.