Hugh MacLeod
Cartoons drawn on the back of business cards
December 11, 2007
I made a wee video diary entry with my friend, Loic LeMeur’s video tool, Seesmic.
[UPDATE:] Just left the following note on Twitter: “No, I am not having a meltdown. I’m more like the New England hostess who decides to move the party indoors, because of all the mosquitoes.” Pretty much sums it up.
I'm a cartoonist.
I sell limited-edition prints.
I wrote a book.
I'm CEO of Stormhoek USA, which markets South African wine in the States.
I also draw private commissions.
Prints |
Opening | Current |
|---|---|---|
Bluetrain |
$900 | |
We Need to Talk |
$650 | |
Portfolio #2 |
$300 | |
NY NY |
$275 |
Whoa, Hugh, you do look and sound incredibly burned out. A little scary actually.
Well…like everyone else I’m sure — here’s a fan sending all manner of affirmation — please take some time off! We want happy Hugh for 2008 okay? Okay well if not happy (artist-empathy) then at least less fried and spinning.
Sending light. Best, a
Hey Hugh. I‘m that journalist from PC World Romania to whom you gave the interview at the NetCamp event a week ago. I noticed you were pretty tired and nervous back then, but you pulled off a hell of e presentation anyway. Anyway, it‘s super that you‘re getting some sleep and I just wanted to say I feel for you with this “not getting any slepp” thing. And that you‘re a great guy and it was a pleasure meeting you. Cheers! Keep it goin‘!
Recovery from the exhaustion you’re experiencing requires rigorous honesty. No room for the side-stepping you’re doing in this YouTube thing. It may be better to just hangout for the next three or four weeks, and take it as down time. Breathe in and breathe out. You might be on a strict diet that’s alcohol free and doesn’t allow as much as a spoon of white sugar on your granola, but if you don’t ditch the keyboard you won’t be addressing the whole problem. It’s a time for you to look inside, my friend. Talk to the people who are around you. Be real. We’ll all still be out here when you get back.
Hang in there!
Us introverts by nature but extroverts by profession need our downtime every once in a while.
I’m sure you’ll bounce back stronger than ever.
And your material rocks, both the drawings and your writing. Keep it up!
Though I’m knew to your blog — like two weeks new — I’ve delved into about 13 months of your archives. Your video blog, dateline Cumbria, is a clarifying denouement to a complex, busy 2007. I’m confident during your holiday respite, 2007 will steep in your subconscious giving rise to renewed creativity and synthesis. Chin up. Chest out. Mind awake.
Hugh, you’ve made me stop and think hard about my own travels and what it takes out of me. I think I averaged one transatlantic flight per month in 2007, plus several domestic trips, plus moving from the UK to the US and…Well, you are right. There’s a price that must be paid for that.
I’m going to stay home more in 2008. Can’t wait. Glad to see you’re taking care of yourself. It’s pretty inspiring, for lack of a better word.
1. SLOW DOWN
2. Listen to you body
3. Ask yourself why you are doing this
Then come back with a plan to put yourself in a spot where you won’t be so burnt out. It’s amazing you made it through the year. Hang in there and do something different in 2008.
Thank you.
(If you don’t understand why I’m thanking you, perhaps you will someday.)
Oh f…!
The video doesn’t work on my computer and I would have loved to see and hear(!) you Hugh, in whatever condition you may be right now.
“you Hugh” , btw, sounds like “juhuu” in German, which means something like a friendly/smiling hello to someone you are happy to meet.
Everybody else here is right in his/her comment.
Take a break, big boy, avoid the stage for a while, listen to the music and let someone
caress you .
Some wine may be helpful too, yes *g.
Cara sends love (and pretends to be patient)
Hugh,
You’ve had another incredible year and have delivered fantastic insights that have inspired people like me to go out and spread the message.
Whether it be discussions around social objects, blue monster or Stormhoek. I was grateful to have the chance to say a heartfelt thanks in person at last Friday’s Geek Dinner. Your insights helped me to understand not only Web 2.0 scene better — The Gaping Void, being a kind of the “unofficial guide” to Web 2.0. But also you helped me get a grade A on my Web Pitch thesis, on how small businesses are using Web 2.0 technologies as marketing tools.
Dude, thanks again. Have a wonderful Christmas and and enjoy your hibernation time. You Rock.
I hope to catchup again with you in 2008
Jas
Jackie D., Amen. After a 14-year tenure, I quit a corporate job due to the travel demands. Even with the convenience of company aircraft, the incessant travel on someone else’s errand ground me down. Not the company’s fault. I love that company, those people. It was me. I lost the physical and emotional constitution for it… pro’ly because I my vision fogged and my purpose thinned.
Hi Hugh,
You don’t know me but oddly enough, I’ve became pretty attached to you in reading your blog very regularly from some time now.
Your last video came as a shock for your seems so exhausted and weary in it.
PLEASE, hang on and take care of yourself!
Best feelings from France.
Laetitia.
Dear Santa,
could you please make Hugh’s video message work and get the guy back on his feet again?
Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Nice to see and hear you speak here.
Funny, I always figured you’d have a British accent.
Take care, Hugh, and be good to yourself.
It is so good to see you are finally stepping back and taking a break.
Web2.0 lifestyles require new Web 2.0 rules for living which include the acceptance of and necessary ongoing, regular sabbaticals and absences from the intensity of it all.
Taking time out and re-assessing, re-grouping and re-newing is a sensible and necessary tool for many of us in this crazy world of unceasing, multiple level, multiple depth interactions.
Think back even 100 years where our personal and community interactions were limited to personal conversation with the 100 or so people within our own village or immediate location, and letter writing.
Biological evolution has not evolved as fast as our lifestyles have… so its so important to develop tools to effectively deal with the intensity of the life we have created.
Hibernation is one of them…and a very valid one at that!
The trick is to plan for your hibernation before the burn out hits …its what having a holiday is all about.
Good luck with it all… enjoy… have fun and …breathe.
Many of us have been there too.
Dear Hugh,
The following essay by Mark Helprin never fails to give me perspective on this harried life in the digital soup:
The Acceleration of Tranquility
by Mark Helprin
http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~clingerm/helprin.html
Hugh,
Just a note to send my good wishes.
Take care.
Heavens, you ARE knackered aren’t you? Just because the internet is full of instant gratification, doesn’t mean it can’t wait. Switch off everything with a plug for a week, I dare ya.
Have a relaxing break. We will wait for you; you don’t need to hurry.
it seems the answer to what comes after “cluetrain” is “flametrain” as in flaming out…buring out and spinning out of control…
time for some sleep my friend. i’m with Jill, I too dare you to unplug for a week.
congrats on the guardian feature Hugh!
FWIW — guardian.com just passed nytimes.com as biggest newspaper site in the world. And Hugh is on the front page!!!