The Power of a Blank Paper and a Pencil.

As a person with very poor art skill, I have always admired people who can make a beautiful (or even any) drawing in a blank paper since I was a little kid. Though I suppose God may not give me such talent in my remaining years, I still have a desire to build such skill at some point thus once requested my birthday gift of drawing pencils and sketchbook.

Apart from my simple admiration on arts, I also find my work as a business person also is highly related to such drawing. It is of structuring my thoughts and ideas, and then communicate what I drew effectively, though it may be far off in aesthetic sense. Not that I have done or would do such approach in each occasion, but that I think it is quite effective to have a deliberate imagination of blank paper and drawing, as it does help the whole process of structuring thoughts and of communicating the outcome.

Even if you get frustrated on a poor outcome, such practice itself help you face how your thoughts are ready to be delivered, and even more on how much difficulties would the other person (or party) may have in understanding your points. Thus it is worthwhile investment of your time, a paper, and a pencil, even if you don't show the drawing to anyone.

Once you put such efforts in a meaningful cycle in your daily work, then there are a few questions that help the process. It is similar to the "basket theory" process I once wrote in Korean earlier and this article is an extension of the thought. (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/%EC%9D%BC-%EC%9E%98%ED%95%98%EB%8A%94-%EC%82%AC%EB%9E%8C-%EB%B0%94%EA%B5%AC%EB%8B%88-%EC%9D%B4%EB%A1%A0-basket-theory-hanjun-kwon)

What to put in which basket? Or how big will my circle be including what? I hope such drawing (whether imaginary or actual) would show below clearly.

1. Similarities vs. Dissimilarities :

I truly believe smart people read quickly and accurately what are similar among seemingly dissimilar things (Leonardo Da Vinci was a good example), and what are dissimilar among seemingly similar things. The importance of learning history, other academic field, completely different industry is, I believe, to build such capability.

2. Controllable vs. Uncontrollable :

As I get maturer, I find it more and more important not to get stressed out on things I cannot control. A leader should be able to discern how these two categories are drawn, so that all can focus on what we can change.

3. My action vs. Others action vs. Team action

The most important step on the drawing exercise comes into how the action part can be drawn. Issue identification and idea development steps are, in comparison to the action development, rather simple. Once put sufficient efforts in earlier steps, be clear what action falls onto whose circle of action, while let all see how the pieces of drawing eventually build what collective image.

While somewhat limited in my own interest and talents, I find the tremendous importance of practicing the skill of "expression", whether coming out through writing, speech, art, dance, or music. As I cannot afford to spending time on pondering what I am not capable of, I may simply pull out a blanket paper and draw something today.