🪄 The Magic of the Doodle

🔮 STOP PREDICTING, START CREATING 🦄

FIVE MINUTES OF FUN 🥳

Do yourself a favor and take five minutes today to go through this interactive and nostalgic newsletter I’ve crafted just for you. My hope is that it will help you embrace more time for creativity, and release some of the pressure of productivity.

HAPPY B-DAY, GOOGLE! 🎂

25 years ago today, Google Search launched from a garage in a California suburb. I use this search engine multiple times each day for information and inspiration. But there’s an endearing quality that has been front and center of this company, one that I’ve paid attention to and have enjoyed for these many years … the Google Doodle.

Now, before I continue with fun Google Doodle nuggets, let me say this … I used to get into a bit of trouble for my doodling ways. Mostly because I found myself doodling during math or science classes.

It often went something like this: "Mr. Stromme, unless you're planning to doodle some numbers that add up, I'd advise you to put your pencil down." - Mr. Downs / HS Geometry Teacher (RIP)

The first Google Doodle was created in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google. The Doodle was a simple image of the Burning Man festival's iconic stick figure logo, which was used to notify users of their absence during their visit to the festival. This was done as a playful way to let users know that they were "out of office" for a brief period. Hilarious!

Over the past 25 years, I’ve kept a keen eye on the Doodle which changes frequently, to learn about something or someone, or to marvel at the creativity that went into the design. Here are five of my favs, I think you’ll enjoy:

1. Ice Cream Sundae (foodie fanatic)

2. Pac-Man Fan (first interactive Doodle)

3. World Wide Web turns 30 (entrepreneur's playground)

4. Under the Sea (move the lever)

5. Zamboni on Ice (nod to my hockey heritage)

See all 5,000+ Doodles here: Doodle Archive

Have a good idea for a Doodle? Email: [email protected]

WHAT ARE MARGINS FOR? 🐭

Doodling, duh! Well, actually, margins were originally made to prevent mice from munching through your important notes, as they'd often find their way into libraries to fill up on paper. Gross.

I use the margin of my notepad for doodling thoughts and ideas (including a future logo for Five Words In), not due to boredom, but because I need a tangible representation of what I’m thinking of.

Dream It → See It

I’m quite certain you have doodled a time or two in school, church, on the bus, in your diary, or during Saturday morning cartoons. The question is, why did you stop?

Perhaps it’s because you deemed it lazy, time wasteful or someone like Mr. Downs told you to just knock it off.

You are a creator. Be creative. Create!

Truth is, if I'm not careful, my readings, writings and reasoning begins to focus solely on “getting things done”, and my “dreaming of things” muscle begins to atrophy. Use it, don’t lose it.

So, from my heart and notebook to yours … doodle away, whenever you feel so moved. It just might lead to something great. Or it might not. Either way, you win.

WOULD YOU, COULD YOU?

Would you be willing to share this newsletter with someone in your life who could use some inspiration, encouragement and support as they build/grow their business? Thanks! 🥹

Have a blessed day, friends! ~ Brent 🦄