2
"I don't think," said Magician, "that you can have a clear idea of what you want unless you are prepared to prepare."
"That sounds deep," said Director. "How is one prepared to prepare?"
"Perhaps it's easier to understand if I say one must be prepared to take steps toward what one wants. Being so prepared has a clarifying effect on one's thinking. That makes the desired end at least potentially attainable, assuming it is even remotely realistic."
"And magic, or the belief in magic, has the opposite effect."
"My magic is just a metaphor for what we're talking about."
"But doesn't it encourage a certain habit of thought in the people we're talking about?"
"Do you think I should explain all my tricks after I perform them?"
"Yes, and I think you should show a video depicting just how you prepared."
"Ha! Do you know how much effort it would take to keep on coming up with new tricks?"
"I think I have a pretty good sense."
"Then you know it is impossible."
"What if you explain one trick per show, one of the simple ones that you can replace easily? That would be a start."
"What good really comes of that? The magically inclined will just focus on the other, unexplained tricks. You can't force someone to prepare to be prepared. It's a step, or a leap, they must take all on their own."
"Yes, but you can help nudge them to the edge and encourage them to take that step. I don't think we should call it a leap since that is much like what magic is."
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Nick Pappas, pappasnick.typepad.com
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