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The Hero's Odyssey in Art, Entrepreneurship & Technology.
Used with Tom Parish's (http://tomparish.com) permission: http://web.archive.org/web/20130729204509id_/http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail1887.html
Artistic Entrepreneurship & Technology 101
Talking Portraits with Tom Parish
52 minutes, 23.9mb, recorded 2007-04-09
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Elliott McGucken
Tired of being a starving artist? Dr. Elliot McGucken's Artistic Entrepreneurship & Technology 101 puts together a new approach to entrepreneurship and the arts through a fascinating application of the classic odyssey of mythological heroes. McGucken, a physicist, has taught the class at both UNC Chapel Hill and Pepperdine, and has expanded the concept through blogs, a festival, and an upcoming book.
In this interview McGucken describes how the course applies the structure of the monomyth, the fundamental pattern of the great hero narratives throughout history, from Odysseus, Jesus, and Buddha to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and The Matrix. McGucken even takes it a step beyond, using examples from modern real-life success stories like Richard Branson and Kid Rock.
McGucken explains why the web's democratization of both the means of production and distribution can be used by the big companies to continue to exploit artists, or instead used by indie artists themselves who preserve their own rights in their successful journey. It's your choice, if you take it.
Elliot McGucken was born in Ohio, and grew up outdoors except for when he was sitting in front of a computer. He received a B.A. in physics from Princeton and a Ph.D. in physics from UNC Chapel Hill where his dissertation on an artifical retina for the blind received several NSF grants and a Merrill Lynch Innovations Award. The retina-chip research appeared in publications including Popular Science and Business Week, and the project continues to this day.
In 1995 McGucken founded Classicals & jollyroger.com LLC as a technological tribute to the great books, and he has spoken at the Harvard Law School concerning his authena.org project for Open Source software for managing digital rights for artists. McGucken, known as "Dr. E" to his students, teaches physics and programming at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has published a poetry book, a novel, a collection of essays, several scientific articles, and poetry in The Wall Street Journal.
McGucken founded the Hero's Journey Entrepreneurship Festival in Malibu, CA. Keynote speakers have included John C. Bogle, the founder and former CEO of Vanguard, and William Fay, executive producer at Legendary Pictures. The festival pays homage to the Hero's Odyssey in all walks of life.
Resources:
elliotmcgucken.com
artsentrepreneurship.com
jollyroger.com
This free podcast is from our Talking Portraits with Tom Parish series.
For The Conversations Network:
Post-production audio engineer: Tom Parish
Website editor: cat mcconnell
Series producer: Tom Parish
Hero's Odyssey Podcast # 2: Dr. E & The Hero's Odyssey @ Bijoy Goswami's Bootstrap Network!
Dr. Elliot McGucken on The Hero's Odyssey for Bijoy Goswami's Bootstrap Network! A big thanks to Bijoy for permission to share this podcast! :) Find out more about all of Bijoy's wonderful and inspiring work here: http://blog.bootstrapaustin.org/ http://www.bijoygoswami.com/
Professor Elliott McGucken joined the Bootstrap Book Club to share his perspectives on the entrepreneur's odyssey as a hero's odyssey.
Both of the above Podcasts are based on Dr. E's Hero's Odyssey outline, which followed the structure of the heroic Monomyth presented by Chris Vogler in his book The Writer's Journey:
What is "Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship?"
from Dr. E's The Hero's Odyssey in Art, Entrepreneurship & Technology
Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship pervades the exalted form of all noble and lasting endeavors in the arts, culture, government, academia, blockbuster movies, and business--all of which are characterized by the individual, creator, and innovator's will to serve--both the higher ideals and the end customer. So often it is that Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is characterized by an indie entrepreneur or a rugged band of revolutionairies, such as the Founding Fathers, who penned that business plan of all business plans--The United States Constitution. John C. Bogle, the founder and former CEO of Vanguard, reflects upon the nature of entrepreneurial Fellowships in his speech: Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.
Just as heroes are so often the least likely suspects in movies--such as a Hobbit named Frodo in Lord of The Rings, a farmboy named Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, and a common cubicle worker named Neo in The Matrix, so too are entrepreneurs most often humble heroes. They embark on great odysseys by simply "doing the right thing," while serving with a better way and new day. They end up leading and creating wealth not by degrees and titles, but by innovation, common sense, and humble service. They may seem rebellious, but look closer, and one shall see that they are extremely loyal to higher ideals, and they have the ability--the Classic Character--to render those ideals real in any arena they partake in. As William Wallace said in Braveheart, "men don't follow titles--they follow courage." And courage is not the absense of fear, but the ability to hold true to one's convictions and ideals while facing down the bureaucracy that inverts entrepreneurship's fundamental premise of service.
A vast demand exists for the classical ideals performed in the contemporary context--for honor, integrity, courage, and committment--on Wall Street and Main Street, in Hollywood and the Heartland, in Academia and Government. And thus opportunity abounds for entrepreneurs who keep the higher ideals above the bottom line--for humble heroes in all walks of life.
Check out the "Hero's Odyssey" in John C. Bogle's Career and Vaughan Penn's Ready to Rise video, shot in the originalArtistic Entrepreneurship & Technology class. From the call to honor & action, to the refusal of the quest, to crossing the threshold, to the road of trials, to the showdown, and the return with the elixir, it's all there. You might recognize Ready to Rise from Gray's Anatomy, Laguna Beach, and Roller Girls.
Inspired by the Hero's Odyssey Monomyth, Hero's Odyssey approaches life as an Epic Story, wherein the rugged innovator, inventor, artist, or entrepreneur embarks on an odyssey to realize their dream--to render some ideal real.
Definitive aspects of the entrepreneurial odyssey can be seen in Epic Poetry as well as in movies ranging from The Matrix to The Lord of The Rings to Star Wars--the call to honor & action (seeing an opportunity), refusal of the quest (it's too hard--somebody else would have done it--working a corporate job is safer), meeting the mentor (finding the angels/professors/books/coaches/leaders/entrepreneurs who can help), crossing the threshold (the point of no return--signing the lease/hiring employees), seizing the sword from the stone (getting the patent/raising funds), the showdown/ordeal (facing down competitors), tests, allies, and enemies (collaborators and competition). And even after all that, even after the patent has issued and the funds have been raised, there's still the classic road on home (getting the product to market!) and the return with the elixir--the exit strategy. And too, there's the belly of the whale (Steve Jobs being kicked out of Apple by the MBAs and into the darkness of NEXT) and the resurrection (Steve Jobs returning on home, reinventing Apple with the iPod, and leading it to new heights). And it's always the least likely suspect--the reluctant hero--who somehow succeeds--Frodo was just a little Hobbit, Neo was a lowly cubicle worker--and Jobs, Branson, and Gates have not a college degree between them.
Failure isn't always failure, so much as a small step along the greater odyssey. Frodo and Neo both appeared to be dead at one point. In tirelessly testing different filaments, Edison said, "I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is a philosophy of life--ideals are real, and they're not just meant for epic myths of yore and the silver screen. Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is all about recognizing the true nature of risk, calling the bluff, and reaping the higher rewards. Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is a class, a festival, a blog, and a couple upcoming books. It's about taking ownership in your dreams--your most valuable assets--and making your passion your profession. An outline of Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship, complete with useful resources for patents, trademarks, and incorporating, may be found below.
In this day and age, there exist all-to-many of sales-pitches designed to diminish your dreams, take your money or creations, and all too often place you at risk or in debt to fund someone else's ventures. Whenever someone on Wall Street, or at a Record Label, or at a University, tells you they are managing your risk, they are generally bluffing, as pointed out by Bogle, Buffett, and Mark Cuban, who states:
"Risk is what Wall Street lies about every day. Risk is what they try to sweep under the covers knowing that we all are addicted to the dream of financial freedom. Risk is the poison that is masked by the commercials. . . You Inc. is the best stock you can ever buy... if you are willing to do the work."--Mark Cuban
The bureaucracy--be it the Mutual Fund or the Record Label or Web 2.0 company--is generally transferring the lion's share of the risk to you and the lion's share of the wealth to themselves. HJE is where the risk-takers--the artists, creators, and entrepreneurs--get the reward, as set forth in the United States Constitution. HJE salutes Nobel Laureate economists such as Friedman, Hayek, and Schumpeter--all of whom recognized the indie innovator--not the bureaucracy--as society's natural fount of wealth, and thusly held the notion of property rights in high regard.
Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is about calling the bluff and reaping the rewards of your innovations. HJE is all about investing your time, your energy, and your money into your own passions and dreams--for there is no better investment. The resources throughout Dr. E's books are dedicated to giving you the tools for your odyssey.
Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship is not so much about making money as it is about creating wealth. For money derives from wealth, and following your dreams is a vast payment in and of itself--that type of payment, that as Herman Melville said, "Cannot be counted down in dollars from the mint." HJE seeks mentorship in the classics and contemporaries--in the words of Socrates, Mark Cuban, John Bogle, Richard Branson, the Founding Fathers, and Homer.
Hero's Odyssey Entrepreneurship manifests itself in many forms natural path that an idealist usually follows en route to rendering their ideals real, from Homer and Moses on down. "The Hero's Odyssey" provides the plot outline for blockbuster movies such as Exodus, The Matrix, Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, as they are all about the battle of good and evil--the lone cowboy facing down the Agents, the Empire, or the Orcs of Mordor. HJE is about taking those classic ideals and rendering them real--in your very own ventures. You are the director, and you are the star--you take the risks, and you get the reward.
Here's a brief outline, inspired by Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey, that Dr. E presented at SXSW. It contains a few invaluable resources and links for entrepreneurs:
HERO'S ODYSSEY ENTREPRENEURSHIP OUTLINE
1. The Ordinary World: You awake each day to the routine, rise, and leave your dreams behind.
Blog your dream. Set it down in a notebook. Take ownership in your ideas with blogger.com or wordpress.org.
2. The Call to Adventure: A more vivid dream--a flash of inspiration. You can't shake the feeling--the wave is real, though they can't see it.
Register those copyrights. File that provisional patent. Register that trademark. Voyage on out to your bookstore and cruise the section on entrepreneurship. Check out the USPTO. Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution--they were written for you.
3. Refusal of the Call: Voices tell you that you aren't good enough. Friends, parents, teachers, bosses, and your own internal voice.
Seek mentorship from those who have done, for they will say, "yes you can."
4. Meeting the Mentor: With newfound energy you seek mentorship--you turn to the Great Books & Classics--The Odyssey &The Inferno--Shakespeare & The Bible, Franklin, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Mentorship surrounds us. Wisdom comes from all walks of life. So listen, watch, and read. And then read some more--for those books which have lasted have lasted via the profound mentorship they provide.
The USPTO has resources dedicated to artists, musicians, authors, and creators.
Nolo.com has wonderful books for artists, authors, and creators. Two of my favorites are Patent it Yourself and Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights.
5. Calling the Bluff: Nobody knows the hand you hold. And you can't see theirs. But it seems--yes--they're bluffing. So you call 'em and raise 'em, and you let them see the .45 revolver by your side--the Truth of the Great Books and Classics. You're going to surf that dream on home.
Dr. E added the "calling the bluff" stage to Vogler's outline. You gotta call the postmodern bluff. Postmodern Wall Street transfers the risk to you and the wealth to themselves. Postmodern academia sells expensive degrees that often don't teach much of value, instead teaching the exact opposite, opposing classical entreprneurship. Postmodern politics and literature have replaced plot and character with hype, and Hollywood has replaced Epic Story with reality TV and remakes of seventies sitcms.
Call the bluff, live the renaissance, and vast wealth will be yours.
6. Crossing the Threshold: And so you set out, crossing that point of no return. You have no choice but to succeed. Once you're on that wave, you've got but one choice--ride it.
Suddenly the words of the Greats take on a new, more immediate meaning. Watch Braveheart, The Matrix, The Outlaw Jose Wales, and A Fistful of Dollars. Take those ideals off the silver screen, take them out of the books, for ideals are most useful tools in reaching your most valuable assets--your passions and dreams.
Incorporate at bizfilings.com. As of today, you are your own business, and you can take Mark Cuban's investment advice--"invest in You, Inc."
7. The Road of Trials: It ain't easy out here. Some statistics say that 90% of small businesses fold in five years. An infitesimal percentage of novels are published and screenplays optioned. But you do it anyway, as did everyone who ever suceeded. So you patent it, trademark it, copyright it, and live it.
"Every fighter has a plan," Mike Tyson once said, "until they get hit." But that's the joy of battle--for out here alone do we ever find our true constitution--our ability to innovate and think on our feet, and still prevail. So follow your dream, and tell the world, "My name is __________."
8. Tests, Allies, Enemies: Even when your business is launched, when your screenplay is being produced, there will yet be those forces that oppose and sabotage. But too, loyal friends will emerge, and a Fellowship will form.
And you shall find those best of friends that one only finds away out here, along this odyssey--they too left the ordinary world long ago and set off to follow their ideals, and Destiny brought you together.
9. Supernatural Aid: Away out here, something magical happens. A stroke of luck that only means something because of the risk you took. You took a chance, called the bluff, and caught the wave just right. So it is that "God helps those that help themselves."
Open source software, in all its robust freedom, can provide that seemingly supernatural aid. Software is labor immortalized, and open source has bestowed us with not only LAMP (Linux, Apache, MYSQL, PHP/PYTHON/PERL/RUBY) servers, but it offers free and robust solutions for ecommerce, content management, blogging, alubum hosting, and more.
Fantastico allows for the quick and easy installing of leading open source spplication such as wordpress (blogging), joomla/drupal/postunke (content management), and cubecart/oscommerce/zencart (ecommerce). Hostgator accounts come with Fantastico and the intuitive cpanel interface. Also check out hotscripts.com for more free software.
Don't be afraid to get under the hood and "teach yourself" linux/php/mysql/apache in ten minutes, twenty-four hours, or fourteen days--you know those books. Hard work and studious industry is the best supernatural aid there is!
And now it's your turn to give someone a break--to provide trusting mentorship. Should you ever find yourself waiting around to be helped, reach out and help someone--give 'em a break.
10. Stringing the Bow/Seizing the Sword: Degrees, money, and titles mean little out here--victory goes to those with integrity--those with honor, courage, and commitment. For ideals alone can string eternity's bow.
Ideals are your most valuable asset--they are those entities which inspired those dreams that awoke you long ago--the dream that haunted your days, always beckoning you to embark on this odyssey.
11. The Showdown/Ordeal: It's been a long time coming. You just wanted to live in peace and harmony, but that boss/bureaucrat/outlaw antagonist just wouldn't let you. But you call them out, and now you get to stand toe-to-toe; face-to-face with a new book, or invention, or film, or venture that serves the world in a better way.
So often it is that entrepreneurship is opposed. "No good deed goes unpunished." Socrates and Jesus were sentenced to death for seeing a better way and speaking the simple truth to power. Steve Jobs was kicked out of Apple. Read Richard Branson's biography, and you will see the hundreds of showdowns he partook in.
12. Rescue From Without/The Resurrection: So often it is that just as one wins, the jealous bureaucracy moves in to seize control. In every Western, after our hero wins the showdown fair and square, yet another Outlaw draws a bead on him--to shoot him in the back.
Jobs was kicked out of Apple, but then brought back to take it to new heights. Richard Branson lost Virgin Records, but was reborn in Virgin Airlines and a thousand other ventures. John C. Bogle founded Vanguard upon the ideals set forth in his Princeton Senior Thesis, and now he pens inspirational books and speeches based on those very same ideals. Every entrepreneur ought read Battle for The Soul of Capitalism, as it reminds us that entrepreneurship's greater purpose is to serve.
Those who live by ideals have no need to fear death, as Socrates realized, for the soul is immortal. Though some bureaucracy rejects the implementation of your ideals, they can't steal nor kill those ideals--for America recognizes the entrepreneur's rights.
13. The Road Back/Return with the Elixir/Freedom: You took ownership in your dreams and destiny--you called the bluff and caught the wave, and the Truth set you free.
You added to the wealth of the world--the long-term wealth of the world--via the simple act of following your passions and dreams.
And everything you learned on this Hero's Odyssey will come in handy along tomorrow's odyssey--we're setting out at dawn.