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Writer's pictureThomas Fox

A Gas Station Hot Dog

Happy Monday ya’ll. It’s mid-July 2020. I know you know the date, you’re very smart - but every few weeks I have to take note of the time totems myself, for personal reference, and for the smack of dizzy bewilderment that’s wtf is life right now? The big story we’re all sharing is in constant upheaval and, if I lived through it, I imagine I’d be able to account the weeks and months of 1944 an’ 45… the breath of moments that made a generation great, “the greatest” they say. I can’t help but feel as I glance at the calendar that this might be our time to be great if we only rise to the challenge for the days of 2020 an’ 21. Dropping the beat on that heavy hitter, have you ever heard the phrase, aggressive mediocrity? I admit, I may have made this phrase up, but I say it often to criticize what I consider poor leadership, and it kills me to see this now when we need so much for all of us to do the best work we can. When something is aggressively mediocre it is when we envision the future and put an asterisk RIGHT in the plans. For example “This will be the best ___ in Cleveland” is aggressively mediocre. Our aspirations deserve to be described with utmost hyperbole, not with built-in limitations. After all, isn’t it grand when the underdog, the unexpected participant takes the big prize? Can you imagine eating a great meal from a gas station? Probably not, but I tell you - a generous friend once brought me some fried chicken from a Valero in midtown, and it sparked joy in my heart to eat something so delicious from somewhere I’d never expect. That’s the power and potential of the underdog. In 2020 I want to reject the temptation of putting a *pandemic asterisk on my work, regardless of how reasonable it may be to do so. Our guest on CreativeMornings this month is awesome, a big dreamer and accomplished leader whose plans for the future are, I believe, just as excellent and limitless as they ought to be. Going forward I plan to set up the CreativeMornings zoom broadcasts from outdoor public spaces (weather permitting). Registration on our website is to attend virtually via zoom where the event officially takes place. There are no live event accommodations but If you’d like to sit in the grass and listen at a safe distance from any others you’re welcome to do so. I’ll wave back at a distance, across the field, or the miles of electrical transmissions… whichever you choose. There’s room for pitches if you’d like to share something you’re working on right now, priority to those who have never shared before. Everything planned is listed below. reach out if you want to participate in some way that’s not listed. Please feel free to share the links and invite others to join, virtual attendance is, virtually unlimited. Stay safe and have a great week guys, see you at the end. with love, T. Fox GREYT CULTURE + [About the Greyt Culture / CreativeMornings Team Email. This monthly(ish) email goes to regular CM participants and partners, event-specific participants and partners, and others I would like to be aware of the contents of upcoming programs. The Team Email is for Planning Purposes Only and treated as confidential/non-promotional/not to be distributed. Event details listed here are subject to change based on input back from recipients. Confirmed event details will always be listed through CreativeMornings.com/cle - recipients are added and removed periodically at my discretion. If you would like to be a permanent recipient or removed from future CM Team emails, reply and I will comply with kindness. Thanks for reading.] __________ CreativeMornings Cleveland JULY 2020 DATE: 7/17/20 THEME: UNDERDOG SPEAKER: Justin Bibb VENUE: Frank Novak Park (Carnegie West Cleveland Public Library) FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/811053009748159/ REGISTRATION: https://creativemornings.com/talks/justin-bibb BREAKFAST: na. BREAKFAST FEATURE: na. COFFEE: na. PROGRAM SETUP: na. PRINT: na. PHOTOS: ??? VIDEO: North Water Productions Team VIDEO EDITING: North Water Productions Team PODCAST TEAM: David Allen Moss, Dave Douglas LIVE TWEETING: ??? MUSIC FEATURE: Mike Bruckman QUOTE DESIGNER FEATURE: Mckenzie Merriman QUOTE DESIGNER ON DECK: Jess Telmanik ESPRESSO PITCH: Ash O'Connor ESPRESSO PITCH 2: ??? ESPRESSO PITCH 3: ??? AV: Thomas Fox Zoom Operator: Pauly Suchy

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