Two Minutes Du Jour

We have tubs and tubs of LEGO bricks in our basement—collected over years of childhood birthdays and endless building sessions with friends, siblings and cousins.

I kept the instruction manuals for a long time, imagining our kids might want to recreate the original masterpieces someday. They never did. Why would they? There were far more interesting things to build once the bricks were dumped into a big, chaotic pile.

That’s the thing about LEGOs: they can follow a perfect plan—or no plan at all. And either way, something amazing takes shape.

Recently, a client used a building-blocks theme for their annual sales meeting. They talked about the different ways people approach building: some follow the directions step by step, others create freely, guided only by imagination. Both strategies can yield something extraordinary—and both tell you something about how people think, collaborate, and work toward goals.

I was reminded of this when I read a delightful story in my Exeter alumni magazine, where students and faculty came together to build a scale model of the campus out of over 300,000 LEGO bricks. (Yes, you read that right.) The photos were impressive, but what I loved most was the teamwork involved—how a group of people took on a complex task and brought it to life, piece by piece.

And now, there are LEGO conventions around the country drawing thousands of people—kids and adults—who just want to marvel, imagine, and build. It’s a simple toy that’s endured across decades, generations, and even trends. Why? Maybe because it symbolizes creativity, fun, learning, imagination, and the joy of building. The name itself comes from the Danish phrase “leg godt,” which means “play well.”

Which brings me to you.

What are you building in your life right now?

Are you doing it alone or with others?

Using step-by-step plans or letting it unfold freely?

Building something fast or something slow?

A passion, a business, a habit, a home, a relationship?

It’s easy to get fixated on the instructions—or to get overwhelmed by a blank slate. But maybe all you need to do is dump out the bricks, pick one up, and begin.

There are masterpieces in you. Start building. It’s a wonderful way to explore, discover and grow. Happy building!

Two Links Du Jour:

Brick By Brick – Phillips Exeter Academy students channel architect Louis Kahn in Lego rendition of the Class of 1945 Library

Brick Convention – Coming Soon to a City Near You