D0 you have those days when you just read something and it makes you go – Ohhhhhh!
Well today was definitely one of those days. I was reading some of the blogs that are on my “feedburner” and ran across a blog called In Worship and on it was a Post called “Are you a Consumer.” I want to make sure that credit is given where credit is due, so I believe this blog pointed back to this web page. This being fair and nice to each other thing can be time consuming and tedious and a real bit of work, but it’s what we are supposed to be all about – isn’t it? Well with all of the official business out of the way – and a special thanks to Brett and Joshua for being my inspiration today.
Let’s talk about Production vs. Consumption –
Ya-ttitude Style!
The “thought-inducing” quote was simple – by Albert Hsu.
“The opposite of consumption is production. It takes far more time and energy to create something than to consume something. It takes a novelist a year to write a book that someone can read in a few days… [Often] our only recreational activities are actions of consumption.”
Now that statement taken at face value might just be a “pat on the back” for Mr. Hsu and the amount of time it takes to write is book(s) and the amount of time he believes it takes to read them. Or maybe he was trying to create that new Buzz word that is all the rage – Prosumer – the combination of Producer and Consumer – but then again – depending on the person using it and the article you read – sometimes it means Professional and Consumer and that would just throw that whole idea out the window – so damn him – what was he trying to tell us?
Prosumer – the combination of a producer and consumer – shouldn’t that be what we are all about? Well we all have to consume to live – and we all have to produce to live – so be we all prosumers? The real big question here is what are we consuming and what are we producing. I have read the phrase “crap in – crap out” a few times over the last day and a half, as I thought about how to write this and what I wanted this to be written about. And I have decided that in all its simplicity – it is quite the statement.
The Golden Rule notwithstanding – there is some definite thought-inducing magic in that simple quote (both perhaps).
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”– A definite Prosumerish statement.
Think about it - if you consume all good things - shouldn’t you be more than able to produce “good things.”
Production: In the simplest of terms we were “produced” and given life.
How we consume our lives and how we allow our lives to be consumed is much deeper a statement.
What we consume during our lives and what we allow ourselves to consume is a much more important statement.
Are our lives consumed with positive thoughts, creating positive results making a positive world?
Are we consumed by negative thoughts, always dwelling on the negative, spewing negative ideas and being the downer who needs the over-abundance of cheap hooch to temporarily delay the inevitable?
Remember – Negative begets negative – do not be negative – stay away from the negative words, thoughts and people. Give those negative vibes a positive spin, make sure you surround yourself with positives, as much as you possibly can. (Hey – I live in the real world too – I know that it is possible – give it a try and see for yourself)
That may be the difference between the products that are the result of our consumption.
Is what is left over after our lives are consumed pure waste material – or is there something special there – something that will live on.
Have you allowed you life to be consumed by a plan, an aim or a goal to leave a mark on society; a bright, cheery and positive mark?
Have you gone out of your way to make a difference, lend a helping hand, volunteer or spread a positive outlook.
Have you consumed positive energy and given back positive energy. Do you surround yourself with all the good things that life has to offer and in turn produce within yourself the greatest gift you can give back – a fantastic relative, friend, associate and human being.
Remember if you are consuming more from society then you are giving back – there will be a shortage, so be sure to spread the wealth! Give back as much – Give back more than you consume – It is the one thing that opens the door (no KEY needed) to your success – to your future – to your BRIGHT and SUCCESFUL Future!
BTW: This can be as simple as saying “Bless You” when someone sneezes or “Thank You” when someone holds the door for you. It does not have to be grandiose – it has to be genuine. It starts with the right Ya-ttitude – a Positive Ya-ttitude.
And then grows and develops into a YA-TTITUDE!
Interesting concept… Indeed
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Well said, my friend…thanks for the insight and bringing us back to the simple basics.
Have a most excellent day!
jody
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You are most correct Jody!
Simple Basics seem to have that way of making us think straight again
Ben
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Yes…Yes…Yes…
As I said yesterday, your thoughts on this are spot on. Great expansion on your comments to me.
I am glad you spoke to “waste”. We leave a legacy…period. What will it be? That is completely dependent on what we’ve consumed and what we’ve produced.
A thought popped up on my post this AM, that spoke to America’s change in economical perspective. Here was the quote,
“It used to be that the country’s economic health was measured (in part) by its Gross National Product (GNP) or simply by what it produced. Today this economic indicator has been replaced (really superseded) by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This indicator is comprised of such components as consumption (personal spending), investments, and government spending.”
This implies to me, that for us to survive, we have to be more consumers driven. In turn, less will be produced, or less will actually be doing the producing. Inevitably we become more lazy and comfortable in our own selfishness.
That scares me!
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Thanks for the comment Brent.
I do not know if I actually agree with how you have understood the difference. Just because we are becoming more consumer-driven - does not imply that we produce less - or that less will be doing the producing. And even if it does - It is the quality of the production (or the mark we leave - or the things we do) not the quantity. Do we become more lazy or comfortable in our own selfishness - or do we use the “extra” time created by these “luxuries” to create a better more positive world. Nothing has changed - it is all about the Ya-ttitude and how you perceive yours!
Benny
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I gotcha Benny, maybe I wasn’t clear, but my thoughts were more inline with the idea that our manner of consumption is changing in America. I agree that the quality of production (which works both from the producer and consumer perspective) is key!
We seem to be headed towards a style of living that leads to more consumption.
Kind of a “The One with the most toys wins” mentality and that more and more people are buying into. We want things faster and we want it now. I see more people consuming and less producing. And people are happy with that. I guess that is where my thoughts led me
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That is very true – but not so new. We live in a world of Immediate Gratification. I want it now and I want it for less is a definite issue.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
First of all, thanks for the super comment! After living So Cal - surrounded by chaos, it’s always refreshing to find other people looking for the positive!
Keep up the awesome work - and thanks for checking out The Neatos.
=D
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Thanks for stopping by. I like what the Neatos have to say!
Ben
April 11th, 2008 at 6:23 am
thanks for dropping by my blog and thanks for the insights! i totally agree… it’s all about our ya-ttitude. =)
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Thanks for the positive words!
Hope to see you often!
Ben
April 15th, 2008 at 6:27 am
interesting….
one of the principles of Meta Mind Management (a concept and framework for personal and professional excellence) states that there is a Law of Cause and Effect.. for every cause there is an effect, and for every effect, there is a cause. Positive thoughts –> Positive efects… Negative thoughts –> negative effects… what you produce is what is available for consumption too na? so how different is one person in these 2 roles?
April 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am
When the system is working as it should - all producers must be consumers and all consumers must be producers as well.
Think about it this way. I want to be surrounded by positive - in people, work, actions - everything. When I can accomplish this - I will become a container of positive. I will then put forth positive in relation to what I absorb. I will completely shut off the negative intake which will in turn allow me to no longer produce anything negative. Others will absorb my positive and spread it to others and so on and so on and so on. Sounds like an old shampoo commercial – it is also the theory behind viral/ word of mouth marketing – and what makes you tube what it is today but when this is happening - it is an amazing thing to be part of – be positive – give positive – make positive!
April 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hey Revathi, I think the cause and effect thought is huge. It is real. As a Christian, I can see how my mind can be the key ingrediant to everything I am and do.
You mentioned 2 things.
#1 “what you produce is what is available for consumption too na?”
Yes, but I wouldn’t see ourselves consuming our own product as much as others consuming our product. So cause and effect is at play here in that whatever we do…effects others…as well as ourselves.
#2 “so how different is one person in these 2 roles?”
I am assuming you are speaking to the positive person and the negative person as the 2 people. And you are probably referring to how each produce and consume. But I have to look at what is produced. Although both produce…although both consume…there is a hug difference between what is produces and then allowed for others to consume. That would always be my concern.
I am definitely not speaking aginst you here. I am in agreement with what is being thought through. these are just the thoughts and concerns that come to my mind as I read.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hey Brett - as usual - great stuff.
I think though - we can consume our own product. If we are surrounding ourselves with positive and absorb the positive from others we are basking in our own positive products.
It is important to produce only positive so others can consume from our production, but nourishing ourselves by thinking positive and keeping a positive light on everything has no downside at all!
April 15th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Ya, I should have said that better. I believe, as you have said, that we can consume our own production. I just believe that it is more important to know, what we are producing and how that is then consumed by others.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Gosh I don’t know I might have to disagree with this…I am watching American Idol right now and it is a live show so I am consuming at the same rate that they are producing…oh dear I didn’t take in to account the week of preparation and what not that went in to making the show…so I guess your theory is in true factual…LOL
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April 17th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Thanks for stopping by and adding your special bit of humor to the “theory” - I’d love to claim ownership of the theory - but I cannot…
Benny
April 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
[...] you get positive, you will be able to give positive. You need to remember it is all about the Give and Take in life, which is that which will get you to where you want to [...]
May 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
hey b,
i totally agree with you about perceiving things with a positive attitude and think that if more people were able to laugh at themselves and things around them, this world would be a far better place.
humor and not taking oneself too seriously seem to be traits lacking in the new generation. most young people today seem to have no problem making a jackass of themselves and thinking that is humorous, but being able to recognize when they’ve made a mistake, laughing about it, learning from it and then moving on with life seems to be beyond most of them.
hence their mistakes seem to be repeated over and over and over with no change in sight. if people aren’t even willing to make a change in their own behaviour to achieve a result THEY ACTUALLY WANT, how can they pay attention to what they are spewing back into the world?
can you tell i have a twenty-four year old?
keep up the good work my man,
linda
May 9th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Thanks Linda,
I have recently tried to focus some of the work I do and the consulting I give to my regular clients towards younger adults (my 21 year-old son has actually turned a corner here and is seeing the light). Because they (no knock here) do not realize how much they need it. Those of us who have passed the big 3-0 and big 4-0 seem to understand much better. But how great would it be of the kids at the small 2-0 and 2-1 could get the same dose of success-energy earlier in life.
Ben
I am trying - not easy - they are not as adaptable and pliable as the world would have us think they are…
May 15th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Benny - Spot on!
You asked me, at the comment on my post here, http://outsidemybrainagain.blogspot.com/2008/05/if-you-dont-stand-for-something.html if you were thinking along the same lines, in this post, as my post.
I suppose that in terms of being SOLD versus BUYING something (no one wants to be SOLD… but people love to BUY things) you could make a parrallel that no one wants to merely be taken from they also like to recieve… same principle, we shouldn’t just consume, we should also produce or give back.
I am going to continue the discussion with getting people to understand how to better put people in a “buying” situation rather than making them feel like they are being “sold” something, whether it’s an idea, a belief or a product.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this post with me. I look forward to seeing you over there again.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Thanks for the visit - I think we are moving along the same lines there… Great Positive stuff!
May 18th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
so true…well said…mirrors my thoughts!
Cheers…
May 18th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I am glad we are on the same wave-length…
what you give is what you get
what you get is what you give
Ben
May 19th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Hey Benny, great contents and keep spreading the positive attitude message.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
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