While searching for a certain reference, I came across the quote of the Irish play writer George Bernard Shaw. He stated at one point: “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.”

If, at this point, you would feel offended, there’s a lovely quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that might cool you off: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

And if that doesn’t do the trick, let me state it loud and clear. This isn’t about you. It’s about me.

How so? Well, I teach creativity. I train people how to be more creative, in business mostly, but still. I teach people the skill of applied creative thinking. Shaw’s quote puts me in front of the mirror and demands to answer the underlying question: And what about you, Karl? What do you DO with what you teach others?

I could say that I pinch ostriches. That would seem the obvious thing to answer. Yet it appears, that it is anything but obvious. I haven’t met anybody yet thinking and saying, sure that’s obvious. No surprises there. It is quite the contrary.

From the very first moment I started to think out loud about Pinching the Ostrich, I’ve heard two different types of reactions: “That’s inspiring” reations, or “That’s mad” reactions. Which, if you were to look at the reasons why one person would find something inspiring while the other wants to put you in a straightjacket, chances are they are the exact same thing.

Why is that? If a chemistry teacher were to have a little lab of his/her own in the garage, would you think he or she completely lost it? If a doctor puts a band-aid on his kid’s knee, would you think that is absolutely brilliant? If a preacher prays, would you get him to take his medicine? Then why think differently about putting the applied in applied creative thinking, when pinching ostriches?

Pinching the Ostrich is no more, no less than applying what I know. But to many people I know – and I take it the same goes for you – therein lies the magic. Applying what we know, acting on what we know. It would seem to be anything but obvious.

And that is so puzzling, so intriguing, such a shame and a source of awe at the same time. Because, have you noticed how much people know? People really know so much about a great number of things. Once you have a good conversation going, it’s just mind boggling to witness the knowledge so many people have. Most people are also very eager to share their knowledge. Once they come to the point where they feel they can speak freely about what they know – or even think they know – they pin you to the wall. And that includes yours truly.
Yet at the same time, there’s this collective, deeply rooted inability to put that knowledge into practice. To really make the most of it.

For example, if you’re trying to loose weight, you do know that drinking a soda light to wash down your hamburger isn’t going to do the trick, right? Please, tell me that, deep down, you do know that. Then why don’t we all do something with that knowledge?

We know so many things and would seem to do so little with it. Why is that? And when someone does, we think of that person as inspiring or plain mad. Why is that?

Why do we think it’s the bravest thing we ever heard of when someone goes on a sensible diet, when someone quits smoking, when someone finally applies for that job we all know he or she was born to do… From a distance, it all seems so obvious. And at the same time, it’s so inspiring.

We all believe everyone should have the right to make most out of his or her life. Then why are we so surprised when someone chooses to exercise that right? 

Somewhere, somehow, the obvious has become the exceptional. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Or would it suffice if I just were to continue to teach what I cannot seem to do?

Just a thought,
Karl

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