Coming from West Australia, arguably the state with the best beaches around the world, I've always had an affinity for water.
And then I was landlocked in Beijing for 8 years. Naturally, I sought out water ever since. Shanghai, Hong Kong, and through Thailand and Vietnam and back again. I can report that boating is the next frontier to explore. Where once pioneers climbed into a Chinese junk ship, or a Nordic longships for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare. When you think of ships as *being the destination itself*?
Well, the Americans mastered this on The Love Boat. Mark Twain loved himself a houseboat tale. This is personally how I understand the journey. The image of floating down The Hudson River towards Upper New York Bay and Lady Liberty? My dream boating trip. And there are so many. The moonlight is the destination. The gentle rocking. The ideas that one comes up with when in the company of the most brilliant and entertaining people that one is allowed by local laws and regulations to spend time with? Invaluable. Priceless.
If a wave rocks the boat just enough for you to bump your head and have your Eureka moment? Your next brilliant concept? (Given & assumed of course that you're someone who works and implements your very best ideas tirelessly until they're fully realised.) How much would you pay that wave?
And yet.
When you understand boating histories, cultures and histories? You can begin to appreciate boating futures. And the possibilities are quite endless. As were the form, function, and feeling of the world's illustrious and endlessly nuanced maritime traditions, cultures and histories.
'Sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream, discover.'
Mark Twain (Samuel Clements)
I dream of a day when business trips on boats are the norm.
Why?
Because if productivity is the end point? Then I want to be water, as Bruce Lee opined.
For me? I can be water when I'm in water. When I'm on water. ENERGY.
And so? I have my best Zen brainstorms around water.
Japanese designers will know what I speak of. Japanese aesthetics are deeply profound and have long inspired me. As have all aesthetic philosophies.
And, properly understood, I believe that aesthetic philosophies in corporate and business contexts will redefine how and why we go to work.
Why?
Simply put, we work better when we are stimulated. By colours, breezes, motion, scents, flavours, sunshine, fresh produce, dancing and feeling alive.
It's only the false understanding of dancing itself that tells us we can't do our best thinking and work before, during and after dancing. So often my best ideas come to me while I dance. I grew up with any number of Tangos. Argentine tango, ballroom tango - all 8 kinds. And when I listen to each one in a different setting with different motions, pondering different notions? Endless ideas. Creative ideas, business plans, and anything I care for.
What immaculate ideas do you dream of?
First futuristic 55ft Mirarri yacht, designed by award-winning Timur Bozca, will be built by Enata #foiler #theflyingyacht #enata https://lnkd.in/dsXt5FU