JONGSON PARK

Problem: 25% of the population are intuitive types. Intuitives are less likely to have been provided the tools, mechanics, mindset and accommodations to build the basics and foundations to function in a more results-oriented, competition-based workspace. It is a painstakingly lonely journey for intuitives to go through the challenges and growing pains of learning to deliver results. Intuitives want the same successes, validation, value but in a way that aligns with what they bring to the table and how they bring it, but somehow it always feels like a compromise and neglecting, abandoning, forsaking their intuition for results-oriented or analogous-driven delivery.

Intuitives tend to rely on first-principles thinking to guide decisions, actions and outcomes and let the results speak for themselves. Intuitives tend to be thought creators, creatives, artists, writers, but mostly anyone that relies on their intuition to lead them. Intuitives, therefor might conclude that they might not fit in or must compromise to work in a corporate or business environment. There is also usually a friction in sharing that intuition with others, could be internal friction or external friction, imaginary or real.

Purpose: I want to share what I’ve learned and experience to help intuitives create their own space in an anti-intuitive culture to thrive, find success, happiness and alignment with their inner-self and outer-self. Encourage intuitives to lean into their intuitive abilities, not to be ashamed of it or view it as a weakness but to see it as an asset, strength, value and advantage that others will see as a contribution, necessary, essential to the team, company, product, business. That there is a place for intuitives in a business, corporate environment. How to harness intuition and learn that intuition is based on insight, instincts and intelligence, relies on preparation, experience and expertise. Intuition isn’t relying on signs, feelings, zero self-awareness, unsupported hunches or not relying on feedback for accuracy.

Promise: I will share what I’ve learned and what I know for the benefit, wellbeing, growth for others – Give generously, unashamed, unjudging, compassionately, unselfishly, fearlessly, unceasingly. Articulate the intuitive process in a very actionable, practical, process-oriented way. Demonstrating a repeatable, sustainable, reliable method for work, results and achievements. Explaining pillars of principles like mindsets, progressions, getting into flowstate, managing energy, first principles thinking, progressions, etc… Build the process. Be the process. Show the process. Share the process. Find the mesh point between the abstract and the explicit. Take on the responsibility and work to carry the message to where it can best be heard. Abandon the attitude of you meet me here, take on the attitude of I will meet you there. Which requires empathy and understanding, and attuned to the reciprocation – the exchange of energy.

The loudest voices are driving the conversation, and usually the loudest voices come from the most fearful places.

Calling on all of you, all the creatives, the intuitives, the thinkers. It’s you turn. It’s your time. We need you to carry us through this crisis of chaos, crisis of uncertainty. The uncertainty, feels like nihilism. The unknown – an overwhelming anxiety. Can’t see beyond today, because of the shadow cast by tomorrow. But you will bring us through. The burden of resolution, the responsibility of conviction. When humility is seen as a weakness, but is actually true inner-strength. When curiosity is seen as lack of conviction, but is actually the only way forward. When openness is considered a liability but will be what truly connects us.

I’m calling on you to create a space. A space for yourself, to be your self, your best self. Connected to who you are. Connected to everything you do – to bring your whole self to what you do. Let your intuition thrive. Please don’t underestimate your intuition, even though not everyone sees it, not everyone appreciates it. It’s little known, undervalued, invisible, soft spoken. Uncomfortable at times. Please get comfortable in the uncomfortable. Show us how. Show us it’s okay. Show us there is power in the unseen. Intuition the spontaneous creative collision of instinct, insight, intelligence. We need you to do that for us.

Then, once you’ve created that space for yourself, create a space like that for others. In the judgment-free silence of open space. A space for humility, a space for exploration, a space for discovery.

Creativity. Insight. Instinct. Art. Writing. Movement. Momentum. Inspiration. Value. Hope. Faith. Empathy. Openness. Understanding. Listening. Curiosity are your super powers. But not exclusive super powers. Please show us, teach us how to use ours. Not exclusively yours, it’s not exclusively anyones, but a shared experience, shared existence, shared ideal, shared perfection.

That idea, that thought, that curiosity, that inspiration. Just a seed. You’ve been given a responsibility to bring it into the world. It won’t be easy. Won’t be perfect. Nobody will understand it at first but it was given to you. The power of creativity. Bringing into reality what was just a thought, will require many iterations, reinventing, setbacks, perseverance – and maybe through the process achieving one thing…

Fearlessness. The absolute absence of fear. Not courage. Not confidence. But absolute zero fear.

I was recently described as, “Leading from behind.” I think it’s true. Something that I’ve always felt but never really explicitly coined like that. Now that I think of it, maybe it’s intentional. I let the person who wants to talk, talk. I don’t seek the recognition, although I do acknowledge the importance of its utility. Staying employed, promotions, credibility, etc. I’m content with not speaking. I know people feel uncomfortable in the silence. I’m fine with the pregnant pauses. If I have nothing real to say, I’m fine with not saying anything. I tend to speak when it’s necessary not because it’s expected.

Maybe this is how it shifts? Usually someone will speak first, then when I’ve found the words to say, it usually opens up a space of curiosity, people seem receptive to it, open to it, ready for it. Is this leading from behind?

As a “leader” I feel more compelled to follow curiosity and intuition rather than certainty, process and pretense. I start from the place of not knowing anything and follow the thread where ever it may lead. And it usually pays off, this method is definitely not for those that need certainty and process. I look at the projects we’ve accomplished in the past few months, although I haven’t lead from the front I see my intuition, curiosity, vision in them. Following a hunch. Following an intuition. Leading from behind. My contribution, expressing the abstract in material words. My thoughts, conversations, input, insight, intuition shared with intentionality, directional but open, abstract but precise, curious but with conviction.

Curiosity. Intuition. Conviction.

The initiative, developing a new brand identity iteration. The challenge here is different opinions, aesthetics, viewpoints. Everyone brings a different story to the company, to the product. Everyone has their own story, how they relate to the product, company. All valid and each their own.

As I’ve come to experience or maybe come to realize is that companies, maybe good companies are more than a machine of process and systems. Well, maybe companies that have already forged their way are more so systems of efficiency, optimization and productivity. But companies that build their reputation on a culture are much more than process and product – the culture is the people. This is what I’ve come to appreciate about my company and grateful to be at. It is a people-centric culture, we are expected to bring our whole self and connect to what we do. Group of individuals taking on the culture, but operating individually, our abilities, insight, experience for the whole of the group. We value creativity. Insight. Pushback. Opinions. Thoughts. As a startup we are on the forefront of a new space, creating knowledge and in turn leaving a trail of process. Left to be refined on the next iteration, revisions.

The obvious direction for developing a brand… make it quality, unique, beautiful, distinguished, perfect… results-oriented focus on the quality of the design aesthetics. But brand identity is more than just design and aesthetics, brand identity is the visual connection between company and people. But how do you do that?

This is where I’m planting my flag. As the directing creative, my purpose is to build the brand to embody, tell the visual story of the culture, the people, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it. Bold but humble. Simple but aesthetic. Unique but familiar. Create an open space for exchange, transmission and reception. An interchange of ideas, thoughts, creativity – openness for questions and critiques. Capturing the identity of the our culture and telling it through our brand identity, visual story.