Bow down to me, for I am your intellectual lessor. That’s right. I’ve got a brain, and I know how to ignore it. These truths transform me into a nearly irreconcilable and insurmountable power among all the bipedal who have ever roamed the earth.
At least that is what Steven Pressfield says in his recent book, Do the Work. And I’m just stoopid enough to agree. 1.) stoo·pid/ˈst(y)o͞opid/(adjective): combination of ignorance and laborious effort. (Yes, I made it up. I’m stoopid remember!) Never have I read words written by another that I so perfectly felt in my own soul (except for maybe a few passages in Holy Scripture, but whatever).
Pressfield discusses, among other things, the allies and enemies of creative (and therefore heroic) effort. Number one on the list of allies is stupidity. He says:
Stay Stupid
“The three dumbest guys I can think of: Charles Lindbergh, Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill. Why? Because any smart person who understood how impossibly arduous were the tasks they had set themselves would have pulled the plug before he even began. Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprise is going to be—and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway. How do we achieve this state of mind? By staying stupid.”
Did you catch that you superior smarties? Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies! I’m all over this one. Those of you who know me personally, be honest. Do you know anyone more ignorant and arrogant than me? Of course not. If there’s anyone out there more ignorant and arrogant then me then I’ve never met them, and besides, they wouldn’t be worth meeting anyway.
Look at the facts. A year ago, amidst economic recession and with a second child on the way, I quit my day job to write the great American novel (except better), and I still don’t have any idea what the hell I’m doing. But you can bet your sweet bippy that I’m succeeding at it. My book isn’t even done yet and the versions I’ve thrown away would shame Melville.
Just today I got so stoopid that my computer seized from the glory of it. Just shut down. The little iMac nanoids* simply couldn’t take the ecstatic heat flickering from my fingertips. I took a step back and said, “Hey now. If you’re gonna’ be my computer, you’re just gonna’ have to deal,” and turned it back on with a snap of my fingers. (Well, that and I pressed the power button.)
Day in and day out, my stoopid won’t stop. No lesson can’t be forgotten. No truth can’t be misinterpreted. If I gotta’ use a hammer and chisel Charlton Heston style, I’ll keep the furious flurry of fanatical folly flowing! I’m just that stoopid, and I’m here to stay.[divider]
* Macintosh has informed me that not only are their nanoids proprietary techno-gijies, but that ecstatic heat cannot be transmitted via fingertip, and that even if it could it would not cause disruption of nominal nanoid functionality. I sincerely apologize for indicating otherwise and whole heartedly endorse the use of Macintosh products.
Great alliteration! 🙂