3 Jim Henson quotes for your business, art and life.

This Thanksgiving, the latest installment of the Muppets – The Muppets – hits theaters. Here is the latest trailer:

I was excited to share this trailer the moment I saw it.

A personal connection.

I grew up with Kermit and the gang – during their heyday (late 70’s through the early 80’s). The Muppet Show was appointment television in my house. As Mashable noted, Disney is targeting an older audience for this film. They are playing on the nostalgia factor through social media campaigns (like these on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook)

My kids are also Muppet fans – having watched some of the old shows and movies on DVD and television. They get excited each time they see the commercials on television and the internet.

The Jim Henson connection.

As I thought further about the release of this movie, I reflected and read more about Jim Henson.

Henson, almost single-handedly, changed how we think of puppetry – both as an art form and as entertainment for more than just children. He represents what The Collective encourages – sailing into Blue Oceans.

Until his death in 1990, he pushed the boundaries on what could and should be done with his form of entertainment.

As I read about Henson, I found a page of his more famous quotes. Of this page, I read 3 that I felt had meaning and value to anyone who is in the business of creating – including photographers.

Jim Henson quote #1:

There’s not much competition between puppeteers in general because everybody’s working their own style.

This is the ideal. Every creative business moving and doing their own thing. All working to move into their own space, sail into blue oceans (the term sailing into blue oceans comes from the book, Blue Ocean Strategy). Here is a short list of the blue oceans Henson sailed into:

• Helped to usher in a change to the art and form of puppetry by using foam and rods (instead of wood and strings).
• Helped introduce laughter (as opposed to the hard sell) in television advertising. Henson did much of his early work during the 60’s in commercials.
• Was instrumental in the development of Sesame Street (and the early success of PBS).
• Co-produced the 61st highest grossing film ever (at the time in 1979), The Muppet Movie.

Jim Henson quote #2:

When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there.

The power of goal setting is amazing. I don’t know whether this was a written goal, something Henson had in the back of his mind, or if he thought about it often. None-the-less, Jim Henson had, as Jim Collins calls in his book Good to Great, a big, hairy, audacious goal (BHAG).

It could be argued whether puppets made much of a difference in the world. It can’t be argued that he came a lot closer than most people would with foam, felt and metal rods.

Jim Henson quote #3:

Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.

My word of the year for 2011 is Freedom. I’m learning that freedom comes from living intentionally. Writing the ending to the movie of your life is living intentionally.

You must dream. You must pretend. You must create.

Seth Godin calls this shipping. Produce work and get it out. It may not be perfect, but forcing yourself to create forces yourself to change and (hopefully) improve.

So next time you see Sesame Street, The Muppets, Star Wars (Yoda), or any other Jim Henson inspired creation remember to sail into blue oceans, dream big and be intentional.