Patrick shows you the potential in the ordinary and the ability to make everything, especially yourself, better. He’s also a voice of reason for needing less rather than more stuff to achieve that better self. Without further ado, here’s a look at how Patrick Rhone, the creator of Minimal Mac and the thinker behind the enough book and podcast approaches his creative and productive pursuits.
Creativity
Have you always considered yourself a creative person? What mediums and inspirations do you gravitate toward to realize your creative goals? If you had to point to one thing, what specific posts or creations are you most proud of and why? That is simply the beginning of a story about my yard work from this afternoon. But, I also look for the often unseen connections between the mundane and the extraordinary. For instance, the story of trimming a tree in order to shape it and help it grow could easily be a metaphor for our lives and a possible path to self-improvement. Trimming the excess that is sucking energy from the trunk is a pretty good idea for our lives as well. As for mediums? Well, I like a saying a friend recently spoke to me which is “Paper is never passive”. I find much truth in this. Any suggestions for those who feel they may not be creative enough to unlock their inner artist?
Productivity
Can you describe your current personal and professional responsibilities? Creativity is not a blessing, it is a habit. How do you go about balancing the personal, professional and digital? Writer. Podcaster. Blogger. Author. Essayist. Speaker. Technology Consultant. Father (of three, two are adults). Husband. Homeowner (of 3 houses). Lover. Fighter. Buddhist. What tools and techniques do you find yourself counting on to get through your workload? What is the best starting point for the unproductive amongst us, who are looking to get more organized? OmniFocus for when things get to big for even pen and paper to manage. I try not to remember life before my iPhone. Featured photo credit: Mille Sanders via unsplash.com
