Purchase the book on the iBookstore
“iPad Design Lab” trailer on Vimeo.
The EPUB version of book is HERE:
To all of those who are writing to let us know that you can’t buy iPad Design Lab: Storytelling in the Age of the Tablet, in your countries, or for your tablet or phone, the good news is that we have completed the EPUB version and it is ready for download via Amazon.com for Kindle:
Read the Society of Publication Designers’ review of The iPad Design Lab here:
http://www.spd.org/2012/10/must-read-ipad-design-lab.php
Read the review from Dr. Pegie Stark Adam in her blog
http://pegiestarkadam.com/
TAKEAWAY: This is part 25 of my occasional series 40 Years/40 Lessons, which I call a sort of career memoir, capturing highlights and reminiscing about what has been a spectacular journey for me, doing what I love most. Today’s segment: Those butterflies in your stomach before a presentation or at the start of a project are a good thing.
Illustration by Ana Lense Larrauri/The Miami Herald
Illustration by Manoj Sinha, Hindustan, Delhi, India; read about Manoj’s talent here—http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/manoj_sinha_and_the_art_of_the_caricature
Recently, at a Society of News Design conference in Cleveland, I was invited to participate in a closing ceremony “game” in which three of us panelists were up on stage and had two minutes to explain what we considered to be an something that is always present.
The audience, of course, designers, editors and students. I thought a lot about what a pivotal story would be for me. After 40 years of a professional career, I did not need to think too hard about this one. For me, it is butterflies.
Not the colorful ones that appear unexpectedly to surprise us when we are running outdoors.
I am talking about those butterflies that reside in your stomach.
The type of butterflies that remind you that you are nervous and tense about whatever the business at hand is: it could be a first date, a job interview, or, in my case, a presentation before 50 or 500, or that first briefing meeting on a new project.
Let those butterflies appear
There is nothing to be ashamed of when those butterflies appear.
In fact, butterflies in your stomach can do a lot of good to lead to better preparation, a more focused approach, and a reminder that success is not necessarily guaranteed by experience and even superb preparation.
People often tell me that I don’t appear to have any thoughts about taking to the stage to do a presentation. Of course, I have practice , and I sometimes do a presentation per day for different audiences.
Nerves? Not at all. It could be that I started as a child actor at the age of 8 in my native Cuba, for which I am thankful, as it prepared me for the stage and for audiences.
However, no matter how many times you go on stage for a presentation, there is always that butterfly that lands in the center of your stomach perhaps five minutes before your session begins; in my case, it dissipates quickly; the butterfly flies away the moment I utter the first line and see the audience. The fun begins then.
The same applies to projects: after having completed hundreds of projects, I always get a butterfly or two when faced with the task of starting a new project. Will I be able to grasp the essence of the project? Of what the managers want to accomplish? Will I create something that has a positive effect on the audience?
The value of butterflies
Again, those butterflies guarantee that you are on your toes, that you pay attention and that you listen to the briefing.
Butterflies are a magnificent guarantee that you don’t rest on your laurels, a reminder that perhaps you need to go back and prepare some more, or that you are as vulnerable to circumstances as the next guy.
I value my butterflies. My butterflies do not render me incapacitated; instead, they prompt me to stand in attention. I don’t let them reside at the center of my stomach for too long, but I welcome their ephemeral stop there.
They make me improve what I do, no matter how many times I have done it, and guarantee that I will remain at the top of my game.
Welcome, butterflies.
1.Mirrors.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_1—a_look_in_the_mirror
2.Refugee.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_2—refugee
3.Teacher.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_3—teacher/
4.Mentors.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_4—mentors/
5.Consultant.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_5—consultant/
6.Eagle.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_6eagke
7.Abroad.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_7._abroad
8. Books
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_8_books
9. Luck
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40years_40_lessons_9_luck
10. Positive.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_10positive
11. Culture
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_11_culture
12.Adapting.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_12_adapting1
13.Dreams.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_13_dreams
14. The Pitch.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_14_the_pitch
15.. Ethics.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_15_ethics/
16. Time.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_16_time
17.Pause.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_17_pause/
18.Stories.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_18_stories
19.Boss.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_19_boss
20.Bubblies.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_21_bubblies/
21.Age.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_21_age/
22.Competition.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_22_competition
23.Heart.
http://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_23_heart
24.Teddy bears.
http://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/40_years_40_lessons_24_teddy_bear
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