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I know, sounds a little funky. But in a moment I’ll provide a crystal clear explanation for your perusal…

I’ve been listening to this tune since the movie Vanilla Sky was released. It’s used in a portion of the film where Tom Cruise is in suspended animation and his support software glitches. Well worth a view.

(I just realized what a killer soundtrack runs through the whole movie).

OK, back on topic…

Listen carefully for the Crop Circle Smoke within the first minute of the tune. It’s just underneath Thom Yorke’s “Everything …” vocal line. (Oh, and it’s brilliant songwriting as well).

Hear what I mean? This is true genius… and also maybe a happy mistake.

So, when you’re in the process of brainstorming, sometimes a nice quiet place is not what you need. Sometimes you need some syncopation to snap the neurons from their regular pathways. It’s these types of influences that are often the triggers for phenomenal creative “a-HA!” moments.

In the past I’ve mentioned running over “road turtles” to drive an alternate rhythm to the roar of the engine and the wind in your ears. The syncopated rhythm of the bumps under your tires dududat-dududat-dududat provides a new rhythm to excite those long-dormant brain cells to new heights. This can be either the LEAD rhythm, or a secondary rhythm in your mind to help get things moving, dislodging old memories, colors, visuals, sounds and putting them to work on new ideas.

This is closely related to a concept described as “3rd Gravitational Bodies“. If you want to learn more about 3rd Gravitational Bodies, I encourage you to visit Austin Texas. It is there you’ll find The Wizard Academy and Roy Williams (as well as a world-class staff of instructors, business leaders, communicators and media professionals). Roy is a master instructor, mentor and all around deep thinker.

Enjoy! And feel free to share your own examples of how a subtle tone/visual/expression has returned to you some epiphany of real value.

To your creative genius,
Mark Alan Effinger

BTW: This was uncovered by one of my favorite all time people, Olivia Dae, my 11 year old daughter. I’ve heard the tune over 100 times and never heard that portion so clearly.

She discovered it on the way to school, and after getting home and listening 3 times, she came out with a clear “Crop Circle Smoke”. Out of the mouths of babes.

Remember: everyone is seeing the stuff inside the lines. Outside the lines and underneath the water is where 90% of the real innovation takes place. Whether you’re going for a job interview, or trying desperately to drive the next revenue opportunity for your company, this insight is a key.