Cultures
Photo by Ethan Weil
People love the idea of standing out, being unique or different. There is nothing wrong with that but, in some sense, it goes against all that globalization stands for. Mastering your niche and having a strong brand is one thing but knowing that a popular opinion is really good and not believing in it simply because it's popular is another.
That being said, I do not believe so much in trends - things, styles and ideas that are in vogue. I believe in cultures; and there is a difference. Trends are fleeting and ephemeral, cultures persist and enrich.
Social media is a good identifier of trends. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat - and the lot - they have those pages, plugins and email blasts that show you what is trending at the moment or by the day. Twitter created the
tab specifically for that. The whole idea of hashtags is based on trends. There is a short lifespan to every trend. It's a now thing.
Cultures last. They are a way of life that is not regulated by time. A progressive culture involves like-minded individuals chasing a belief to develop themselves and secure a better future. It is greater than one person.
Over time, I have come to appreciate the creative culture on which Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Inc. Apple devices are products of a culture that is all about generating and gathering diverse ideas to make lives better.
I recently stumbled on a Macintosh Plus (released in 1986) and it got me thinking about how far this company has come. I wondered if at the time (30 years ago), the founders and employees knew they would, someday, become digital leaders in a technologically advanced world.
Regardless of how they saw things then, they must have known they were part of a creative culture and that must have been enough to keep them going.
I want to be part of progressive and creative cultures. I want to connect and build networks with creatives - people that yearn for ideas and innovation. Creators never die.
Base your life's work on a culture (not trends) you strongly believe in.