Derek Jensen

How the Tesla Model S is Made -- Behind The Scenes -- The Window - Wired (by wired)

At the start of 2012 I figured out what I wanted to do with my skills, my passion, and my desired life.

Prior to attending college in 2007 I dreamed of being an architect. While exploring the scenery I couldn’t help but see buildings as a piece of mankind that helped define how we interact. Thing is I didn’t know until now that “helping define how we interact” is the underlying love I have for what I want to do in my lifetime.

A weakness that I've struggled with recently is the ability to fully carry out something and make a mistake. Instead I get in, rethink, and redirect to a coming soon page.

Twitter, stop playing around.

Twitter has today announced that it has eliminated its standard ‘Twitter’ logo, converting it over to a simple version of the blue bird most associated with the service. It’s a simple graphic that is crafted from overlapping circles.

I'm all for simplification, but the majority of people won't even notice. Twitter helps out the bird more than the actual experience of their product.

The bird, which was originally named Larry, has become an iconic bit of Twitter’s branding, so it makes sense that it would become the sole image by which the service was identified. Twitter says that the bird ‘is Twitter’ and that there is no need for text of any sort to describe the service.

Again, we all know the bird has become a centerpiece which I'm grateful for, but what was truly wrong with the previous bird. Getting rid of "twitter" in the branding is a step forward. I thought that step was already made. Point is, the bird can be worked on in the background.

Our new bird grows out of love for ornithology, design within creative constraints, and simple geometry. This bird is crafted purely from three sets of overlapping circles — similar to how your networks, interests and ideas connect and intersect with peers and friends. Whether soaring high above the earth to take in a broad view, or flocking with other birds to achieve a common purpose, a bird in flight is the ultimate representation of freedom, hope and limitless possibility.

Great your logo reveals that, but the user experience relates to what a pigeon would be as a logo.

Twitter, you have great people behind this service that I use everyday and admire more than Facebook. But, please stop worrying about making your branding such a big deal. If people notice the change they notice and if they want to they can search out for the why. Please focus more on creating a better product. You're down many of the times even though you don't have a fail whale, your search feature is good but could be massively improved, and please listen to what people like me are saying. Stop playing around.

Right now I'm putting in many work hours. In front of my 5-year-old MacBook Pro on my $30 collapsible table from Target sitting on my overpriced IKEA chair I'm putting in these hours. Many hours meaning I only sleep the required amount my body needs to function. That's 6 to 7 and then back to chair. The desk. And on the computer to work on what I'm striving to create for the world.

Do what you love.

This phrase has been around for years I'm sure but only recently has it actually been something worth living up to and practicing every waking day of your life. Figuring out what makes you tick or that something you truly love to do is an everlasting journey so you must start somewhere.

I learned early on that I know how to read into people and help them out. Sure I could be a therapist that actually listened and helped people instead of just telling them what they want to hear. I could be Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting. But, did I want to be? Helping people was certainly a priority but anything worth doing is helping out someone. Construction workers, mechanics, nurses, hair stylists, and athletes all help out people. I needed to figure out what I wanted to do that would help people.

Prior to attending college in 2007 I dreamed of being an architect. While exploring the scenery I couldn't help but see buildings as a piece of mankind that helped define how we interact. Thing is I didn't know until now that "helping define how we interact" is the underlying love I have for what I want to do in my lifetime.

In college, I would make many mistakes that included: breaking up with a girl I truly loved, not fulfilling my promises in my fraternity, not being responsible for my high spending, and not being able to build something. I have all these ideas, which is what later made me believe that writing is a desire of mine, but I needed to build something that I could be proud of and show others.

Rather than just building something to show others I focused too hard on changing the world and when I would reach the point where I didn't think I could change the world the project would die. This would happen for three years while at Iowa State.

Truth is I didn't know who I wanted to be while figuring out what I wanted to do. Many nights I cried to sleep. Many mornings I cried in the shower. I was stressed. I was lost. I needed clarity and motivation. As I write this I can tell you this much...

I make mistakes. I know why they've occurred. I seek to better from them. I laugh at almost anything. Movie references aren't my thing. I don't hide my emotion. I rather stay up than sleep. I can be very blunt. I'm not good with numbers. I like my independence but also seek to please others. I have a hard time saying no. I've learned to say "no" and be what some would see as an ass.

I could talk more and do enjoy a good coffee talk. Point is that I am who I am and if I'm willing to be honest with myself I can stop figuring out who I am. Just take each day as it comes, live it, and learn from it to embrace a better tomorrow.

This might be wisdom. This might be a self-reflection. This even might be a pep-talk. All I know is the phrase "do what you love" means a lot to me and I'm pushing myself to finally do that. I know who I am and I know what I want to do. Just have to work now and build it out.

I love what I'm doing with Resimplify. What are you doing?

I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past.