(Henry Ford, 1918)
Really Henry? Although Henry Ford's quote in reference to the production of his 'T-model' somewhat characterized the scientific management era of low-cost and mass production techniques. His quote punned on the fact that methods now produced standardized products which led to the fact that customers had a limited choice of alternative. I explore somewhat of a more post-modern and sociological argument in that people have what I call 'colour'. These are things that make them amazing. Things that are interesting. In short, although this Henry's quote may have been true for car production at the time; for people then, as it is now, I believe he was incorrect...
I really like the idea that people often want to show their lives off. They want to share something which they consider as entirely ordinary, a regularity, a familiarity and for a short period of time they share that 'colour' with you. It could be a passing comment, a second. Equally sharing it with you might be a commonality in its own right and how often we overlook it when people do! The amazing thing is that people share their 'colours' with you and I for one consider it entirely extraordinary, you to me can be extraordinary. It is a nice idea to allow others to view you in an environment, situation or place that simply shows your 'colours'. It shows your character. They say that sport does not build character, but rather reveal it...reveal it indeed. It is usually a side which is not seen unless that situation is provoked. One moment you are something, put in the right place at the right time and you go from normality to a fish in the water. The ordinary becomes extraordinary in an instance, a nano-second. Its a nice thought to think that if you push the right buttons that someone will produce or do something that a) you didn't know and b) you will find amazing, or interesting at worst. I recall a meso-philosophical conversation I had with my brother a few months back now. My brother, like myself, is a keen basketballer. When he plays, he plays with heart. He plays hard and I know that in that moment he is happy, entirely comfortable and at ease. He was playing down a local basketball court against some other recreational athletes of whom he didnt know before. Basketball, like any situation of triumph and tribulation, it soon provided gravitas for conversation and camaraderie and it turned out that one of the randomers he met that day was a barman at a local bar. Needless to say, the barman was a better drinker than a basketball player (most plausibly due to the excess alcohol consumption). As the game and the day wore on, the barman soon grew an admiration for the talents of my brother (standard dowling trait) which led him to the response after a left handed lay-up after getting fouled off a screen (excuse the basketball terminology; reserved for only true sportsmen) of "hey man, your amazing". This conversation is somewhat illustrative of what I certainly would consider one (of many) of my brothers true 'colours'. The interesting and somewhat of a paradox is the equal juxtaposition of the barman's 'colours'. The barman happened to be a manager of a very popular and trendy bar in town reserved for those with more money than sense (not less money and more sense...). Now, put my brother and the barman there...put them in that bar. Now the barman's 'colours' are shown. He flares, faultlessly and flawlessly, multitasks and serves with an admirable efficiency almost compared to German car manufacturing. Whilst the baller is firmly placed on the other side of the bar at the consumption end of a service and at a premium for it.
We all have diverse, multiple and often considerable compartments of 'colours' which constitute our character. Moreover those 'colours' are revealed given the right time and place. Given the right environment. I find this a rather intriguing thought with a number of implications.
Firstly, and despite my often cynical answer in this regard, it means that no matter who you are or equally of whom you see in front of you. You (or they) have something that paints the world a different colour. You have something about you that people didnt expect, something that is interesting. You all have something to offer, no matter how seemingly ordinary you feel they are; even in the illustration above playing basketball and working at a bar seem irrelevant in the 'grand scheme of things'. Well, no. I argue otherwise and that, but the brother baller and the barman I will assume to take what they do as part and parcel of their existence, they are right. But they are rather (un)blissfully aware of the beauty that they hold.
This rather aptly leads on to the second implication. I fondly recall the admiration of both men for each other. The barman admired the king of the basketball court, whilst the king of the bar was doted on with wealth for an exchange of a good beverage crafted with style and ease. Given a situation and the relevant cues which produce an emotional and physical response. People have more often than not either got a pure talent for something, gifted and innate, or they have spent a considerable time and effort to sculpt out a 'colour'. Either way, it should be admired and respected and in some cases even loved. Friends and relationships elicit these moments, time and influence. To be in a place where one is comfortable to share their true colours with you and in a humble and modest way, then they are a person I would wish to always and forever known. You may not be good at everything and indeed no one is. Those closest to you should provide that colour in your life and create something of a painting. No life is a masterpiece, yet we all try to learn to paint. My painting is vaguely metaphorically akin to a piece of modern art rather than a Monet, but I am working on it. When life feels a little grey, you merely have to look around you at the friends and loved ones you ahve to realise the sheer amount of colour in your life. Perhaps then you will realise your seemingly monochrome personality is not only surrounded but a spectrum and palette of colour, but also that indeed you drip with colour on others. For me the former part of Henry's quote is true. For me "you can have any colour...", you just need to look...
x9
I really like the idea that people often want to show their lives off. They want to share something which they consider as entirely ordinary, a regularity, a familiarity and for a short period of time they share that 'colour' with you. It could be a passing comment, a second. Equally sharing it with you might be a commonality in its own right and how often we overlook it when people do! The amazing thing is that people share their 'colours' with you and I for one consider it entirely extraordinary, you to me can be extraordinary. It is a nice idea to allow others to view you in an environment, situation or place that simply shows your 'colours'. It shows your character. They say that sport does not build character, but rather reveal it...reveal it indeed. It is usually a side which is not seen unless that situation is provoked. One moment you are something, put in the right place at the right time and you go from normality to a fish in the water. The ordinary becomes extraordinary in an instance, a nano-second. Its a nice thought to think that if you push the right buttons that someone will produce or do something that a) you didn't know and b) you will find amazing, or interesting at worst. I recall a meso-philosophical conversation I had with my brother a few months back now. My brother, like myself, is a keen basketballer. When he plays, he plays with heart. He plays hard and I know that in that moment he is happy, entirely comfortable and at ease. He was playing down a local basketball court against some other recreational athletes of whom he didnt know before. Basketball, like any situation of triumph and tribulation, it soon provided gravitas for conversation and camaraderie and it turned out that one of the randomers he met that day was a barman at a local bar. Needless to say, the barman was a better drinker than a basketball player (most plausibly due to the excess alcohol consumption). As the game and the day wore on, the barman soon grew an admiration for the talents of my brother (standard dowling trait) which led him to the response after a left handed lay-up after getting fouled off a screen (excuse the basketball terminology; reserved for only true sportsmen) of "hey man, your amazing". This conversation is somewhat illustrative of what I certainly would consider one (of many) of my brothers true 'colours'. The interesting and somewhat of a paradox is the equal juxtaposition of the barman's 'colours'. The barman happened to be a manager of a very popular and trendy bar in town reserved for those with more money than sense (not less money and more sense...). Now, put my brother and the barman there...put them in that bar. Now the barman's 'colours' are shown. He flares, faultlessly and flawlessly, multitasks and serves with an admirable efficiency almost compared to German car manufacturing. Whilst the baller is firmly placed on the other side of the bar at the consumption end of a service and at a premium for it.
We all have diverse, multiple and often considerable compartments of 'colours' which constitute our character. Moreover those 'colours' are revealed given the right time and place. Given the right environment. I find this a rather intriguing thought with a number of implications.
Firstly, and despite my often cynical answer in this regard, it means that no matter who you are or equally of whom you see in front of you. You (or they) have something that paints the world a different colour. You have something about you that people didnt expect, something that is interesting. You all have something to offer, no matter how seemingly ordinary you feel they are; even in the illustration above playing basketball and working at a bar seem irrelevant in the 'grand scheme of things'. Well, no. I argue otherwise and that, but the brother baller and the barman I will assume to take what they do as part and parcel of their existence, they are right. But they are rather (un)blissfully aware of the beauty that they hold.
This rather aptly leads on to the second implication. I fondly recall the admiration of both men for each other. The barman admired the king of the basketball court, whilst the king of the bar was doted on with wealth for an exchange of a good beverage crafted with style and ease. Given a situation and the relevant cues which produce an emotional and physical response. People have more often than not either got a pure talent for something, gifted and innate, or they have spent a considerable time and effort to sculpt out a 'colour'. Either way, it should be admired and respected and in some cases even loved. Friends and relationships elicit these moments, time and influence. To be in a place where one is comfortable to share their true colours with you and in a humble and modest way, then they are a person I would wish to always and forever known. You may not be good at everything and indeed no one is. Those closest to you should provide that colour in your life and create something of a painting. No life is a masterpiece, yet we all try to learn to paint. My painting is vaguely metaphorically akin to a piece of modern art rather than a Monet, but I am working on it. When life feels a little grey, you merely have to look around you at the friends and loved ones you ahve to realise the sheer amount of colour in your life. Perhaps then you will realise your seemingly monochrome personality is not only surrounded but a spectrum and palette of colour, but also that indeed you drip with colour on others. For me the former part of Henry's quote is true. For me "you can have any colour...", you just need to look...
x9
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