Ep: 118: Michael Grab: World’s Greatest Rock Balancing Artist on Making the Impossible Possible

Michael Grab is one of the world’s premier rock balancing artists.  He has created rock art all over the world and has inspired a global movement for stone balancing art.

Summary

In this conversation, Michael Grab, a renowned rock balancing artist, shares insights into his creative process, the philosophy behind his art, and the technical aspects of balancing rocks. He discusses how he finds inspiration in nature, the evolution of his hobby into a professional pursuit, and the meditative state he enters while creating his sculptures. The conversation also touches on the ephemeral nature of his work, emphasizing the beauty in its temporary existence.

In this conversation, Michael Grab discusses his journey as a rock balancing artist, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of his work and the meticulous process of capturing it through photography and film. He reflects on the transition from a conventional job to pursuing his passion full-time, driven by a desire for creative fulfillment. Grab shares insights on self-competition and the personal standards he sets for his art, ultimately defining excellence as the ability to inspire himself through his creations.

Takeaways

  • His creative process is organic, often allowing the rocks to dictate the final arrangement.
  • He finds inspiration in nature and specific locations that resonate with him.
  • Rock balancing started as a hobby influenced by a psychedelic experience.
  • The art form is highly technical, requiring a deep understanding of gravity and balance.
  • Michael practices for hours, often pushing his limits to create more complex structures.
  • He experiences a flow state while working, feeling deeply connected to the environment.
  • The process of balancing rocks is meditative and exists solely in the present moment.
  • Michael embraces the ephemeral nature of his art, often dismantling structures after photographing them.
  • He believes that the journey of mastery in rock balancing is ongoing and never truly finished.
  • He doesn’t set strict standards but rather focuses on the process and his growth.

Ep 71: Jim McKelvey: Co-Founder of Square on Art, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Jim McKelvey is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, philanthropist, and artist.  He cofounded the mobile payments company Square and sits on the Board.  He also founded Invisibly, a digital content company, LaunchCode, a nonprofit that teaches technology literacy, and a glass art studio. His book is called The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time.

 

Some interesting insights from this episode:

  • He has never had a life plan and because of that, he’s become very comfortable with uncertainty.
  • He was a state debate champion and owed much of his success to the ability to read the judges and adjust his strategy accordingly.
  • “If you want to be successful and make some money, copy what works. But if you want to have a phenomenally successful company, you have to do something original.”
  • The big insight was rather than going after an existing market of merchants already using credit cards, Square decided to go after a market that didn’t even exist – the tiny mom and pop merchants without access to the credit card payment networks.
  • They designed a small card reader that looked really cool and got your attention but was flimsy and difficult to use. But the novelty of it turned every Square sale into a Square advertisement. This allowed the product to go viral without needing to spend one dollar on advertising.
  • What allowed Square to survive a competitive attack by Amazon and thrive as a standalone company was their innovation stack. An innovation stack is a series of innovations needed to provide a new product or service and that collectively work together to provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
  • Training as an artist was a big help in mentally preparing to be an entrepreneur.
  • “Excellence is something that’s above and beyond normal good. It’s something that’s surprisingly wonderful.”

 

Show Notes

Book: The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time

Non-profit: LaunchCode

New startup: Invisibly