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Here are some verified and representative quotes of wisdom from **Gordon MacKenzie** (1947–2008), artist, corporate creative at Hallmark, and author of *Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace*:
1. **“To be fully human, one must do more than just the work assigned. One must play.”**
– MacKenzie believed creativity thrives in playfulness and that rigid conformity stifles the human spirit.
2. **“Orbiting is responsible creativity: vigorously exploring and operating beyond the Hairball of the corporate mindset, beyond ‘accepted models, patterns, or standards’—all the while remaining connected to the spirit of the organization.”**
– From *Orbiting the Giant Hairball*, this metaphor of ”orbiting” became his way to describe creative freedom without losing organizational connection.
3. **“The most potent muse of all is our own inner child.”**
– MacKenzie valued wonder, imagination, and curiosity, often urging adults to reconnect with the creative child within.
4. **“You have the power to choose how you are going to react to whatever comes your way. It may not be fair. It may not be easy. But it is a choice.”**
– He emphasized agency, resilience, and personal responsibility in the face of challenges—especially within hierarchical systems.
5. **“If you’re not careful, you can spend your whole life imprisoned in someone else’s idea of what you should be.”**
– A warning against the trap of conformity, echoing one of the core themes of his book and career.
Let me know if you’d like a short reflection on any of these for your upcoming manuscript.