A Letter From The Doc

Hey Frogs & Toads, welcome back to your weekly creative prescription. I’m glad to see all your scabs are healing!

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about ideas. Not thinking OF ideas, like my new invention for underwear that can be used as firewood, but thinking ABOUT ideas. Like, what are they? And where do they come from?

I suppose one of the very first ideas was the idea for ideas…

We’ve all heard about ideas. They’re been around for ages. Clocks. Sliced bread. Silicone sleeves that simulate the sensation of a vagina. It’s almost like every day, there’s some big new idea. But what if you, a mild-mannered secretary, were to come up with the next one?

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret about ideas - they aren’t even ours in the first place. That’s right, ideas aren’t yours. Your best ones AND your worst ones (a waterpark for the elderly? What were you thinking?!)… none of them actually belong to you. When you “come up” with a new idea, all that’s really happening is you’re hearing whispers from the Universe. They’re floating around, everywhere, microscopically invisible to the human eye. But they’re there, and our job is to notice them, and then honor the ones that resonate with us.

Therefore, coming up with ideas is less about thinking, and more about shutting up and listening. Those who are the most patient, the most tuned in, and the most capable of slowing down and paying attention, are typically the ones who pick up on the best ideas. We all have the antennae, picking up signals from the cosmos. Some of us just need a bit of a tuning (more on that in a moment).

That’s why there’s no such thing as a good idea or a bad idea. There just is… It’s like taking a spoonful of water from the ocean; it’s not like there’s “better” or “worse” water if you go deeper or further out. Anyone who says “my ideas suck” is flat out wrong. They just need to work on listening.

You must learn how to trust your creativity, because in matters of ideas, it knows the way. Follow it, for that’s the Universe talking to you. You are a God, transmitting messages from the ether, and the challenge is deciphering those messages with your human’s brain & instincts.

Easy-peasy, right?!

Here’s a method for ideating that I like to call The Lemco Method….

Creative Prescription: The Lemco Method

I should start by clearly stating that I did not invent anything groundbreaking here. This is a visualization practice that I developed, based on centuries of similar techniques, and I’m sure many people have their own version of something similar. I’ve been using this specific method for many years, and I’m hoping that by sharing it maybe it can help somebody, somewhere, at some point. I’m also hoping to slap my name on as much shit as I possible can.

Here’s the simple, two-step process to unlock your creativity and come up with unlimited new ideas…

(Note: It’s best to do this exercise with your eyes closed, so read first and then try it out)

Picture yourself in front of a conveyor belt. It can be baggage claim at the airport, or sitting at one of those cool sushi restaurants where the food scrolls by you.

Step One: Imagine the gears start making noise, and the conveyor belt suddenly turns on and start moving. Coming down the belt, off in the distance, you see a package. Just a boring-ass, standard-ass package.

When the package gets to you, simply remove it from the conveyor belt, and place is down in front of you. Then, open it up, and (here’s the important part) look at what’s inside…

….

Don’t think too hard, just explore what’s in the box…

….

Avoid the obvious 7even joke and instead, use your imagination to open up the box and look inside…

….

What’s the first thing that you see? There is no such thing as a right or wrong, or a good or bad, answer.

Now here is the necessary second step: once you’ve thoroughly inspected the contents of the package, you must ask yourself a key questions: Is this a good box?

By that, I mean - is this box worth digging deeper into? Is it good enough to pursue further?

OR… should you close that box up, place it back on the conveyor belt, and wait for another package to arrive?

Here’s the cool part: there’s ALWAYS another package coming your way, down the conveyor belt. No matter what, another box always shows up.

The packages are limitless, and your job ISN’T to think of what’s going to be inside of a million imaginary boxes. Your job is simply to open them, look at what’s inside, and be the “yes/no” filter.

The more you use this practice, the better it will work.

I try to do this practice every week or so. I’ll give myself an hour to sit at the conveyor belt, eyes closed, sifting through boxes. I keep a notepad nearby, and when I find a good one, I’ll open my eyes and jot it down, and then return to the conveyor belt. You can also do this when you’re in a jam, when you’re stuck, or need an idea in the moment.

Using The Lemco Method, you’ll never fail to come up with new ideas. Reply to this email and let me know what you found in your boxes!

Coming Up: Live Events

Dr Lemco’s Creative Club is filling up the summer calendar with awesome in-person creative events.

Sunday, June 29th at 3pm, come be part of the inaugural club meeting. We’ve got an awesome venue, hilarious guests, and some fun, weirdo art to make! Grab a ticket now while supplies last (& you can private message me for a discount code).

I’m also excited to host my very first art vernissage, which is kinda doubling as a birthday party. If you’re in Montreal, come by on Sunday, July 13th for some impeccable vibes. Plus, it’s a free event!

Finally, I’m stoked to announce that Dr Lemco’s Creative Club will be hosting a panel on Sunday, July 6th, at Montreal ComicCon! More details to come soon.

Doc’s Orders

That’s all I got for ya buncha sickos. I hope you use your brain to pilot your hands into making something this week.

Until next time, always remember: don’t do anything I wouldn’t prescribe.

Big love,