Creatively Creative

New Neighborhood

I've moved this blog to http://www.impressionmediagroup.com/blog/ 

Thanks!

Michael

Six Eyes

 

If a pair of glasses makes you "four eyes," then two pairs must make you "six eyes."

Soon after the first of the year, I got a second pair of glasses for computer use and reading. Ahhhh, another of the joys of mid-40's. In addition to seeing my computer screen, iPhone, books, magazines and other documents much better, I discovered a surprise bonus. My reading glasses are a creativity booster, as they help me to focus (literally) on only those things that are closer than three to four feet away.

Distraction is one of the enemies of creativity. Staying focused and avoiding self-distraction is often difficult for me. So many web sites. So many people walking by. So many things on my desk. So many emails to answer. So many songs to preview on iTunes. The second pair of glasses remind me to stay focused on what's right in front of me. Now, if they would just automatically turn off the web browser when I start goofing off...

What helps you focus and concentrate?

Creativity Wish List

This time of year always brings back memories of countless hours spent reading the Sears Wish Book during my much younger years.

It's been many years since the Sears Wish Book, so I decided to make a Creativity Wish List, from which will spring Creativity Goals and then Creativity Results.

1. Work With Fun/Cool/Interesting People. This year, I've found a number of new-to-me creative folks online, reconnected with some people from the past, and been reminded of just how much I enjoy most of the people I am privileged to call clients. My Creativity Wish to find ways to connect with some of the new-to-me folks and discover ways to partner with them, as well as nurture and grow my existing fun/cool/interesting relationships. Life is too long to work with turkeys.
2. More Photography. My son's senior project is based on photography and I'm really enjoying watching him and being inspired by what he sees through the lens with his new-to-the-camera eyes. He's helping me see new angles on the ordinary. Another photographic source of inspiration is photographer Chase Jarvis' book, The Best Camera Is The One That's With You. 
3. Keep Learning. Since I'm so easily bored, I want to find one or two things to learn more about in the next year. At the top of that list right now, is photography and marketing.
4. Network. If I want to work with fun/cool/interesting people, I have to meet them, and that means getting out of my office more. I've joined a local entrepreneur group and had my first "tweeting" (a meeting arranged from an initial conversation on Twitter). It's a start!
5. Motivate Myself. There's been a number of times this past year (far too many) where I was in a weird and unmotivated creative space. I could usually get out of the funk if a fun project came along, but I want to be able to get out of that funk by myself. I'm going to work on developing new attitudes and habits to address this. 

What's on your Creativity Wish List?

586 vs. 56

My son's senior project is photography.

Once a week or so, we take a trip to find subject matter for him to shoot. This week's trip was to the central branch of the Seattle Public Library. This building has lots of visual interest, to say the least, and I've been in it at shot it many times for my work with the SPL. 

But I was blessed to see it through new eyes this week. My son's fresh eyes saw angles and perspectives that I've overlooked. He noticed everything from the blue emergency light in the parking garage, to the bolts holding the steel girders together, to a patron's umbrella sitting on a table. So, I followed him and looked through my camera at what he was seeing. 

When we got home, he uploaded 586 photos to his computer. I uploaded 56. As I looked through his pictures, I realized that I was editing myself before I needed to - I wasn't taking the "wonder if this might be cool?" shots. I was taking the "I know this should be pretty cool shots" and playing it safe. He was trying variations on a theme and experimenting. He was willing to take a bad shot and throw it away later. And in doing so, he took some pictures that blew me away. Here's my four favorites from his shoot:








 
 
This experience reminded me that one of the best ways to be creatively refreshed is to be spend time around people who are fresh and energized about what they're doing. It's contagious!

P.S. Here's my four favorite photos I took that day. FYI - I found most of these shots/angles by following after my son :-)








 
 
 
  
 

Lessons From A Nomad

Recently, my friend Dawn became "homeless."

Dawn is now an Urban Nomad: "a small but diverse section of society that lives and works in an urban area, yet does not rent, own or otherwise reside permanently in any one location." You can read about her adventures here.

What a fascinating choice. She's taken one of the givens of our adult lives, and said, "No." Her choice has gotten me thinking about what "Givens" do I not question when I approach a creative project? And most importantly, how do those assumptions get in the way of providing the best creative work?

So, here's my lessons, so far:

• Everything is open to discussion. Nothing should be assumed.
• Even in the unconventional, there are still constants (i.e. food, shelter, clothing).
• Saying "No" to a traditional given, means new challenges (and opportunities).
• There is risk in saying "No" to traditional givens.
• There is different freedom in being unconventional.
• Some won't "get it". But, there are others who wouldn't "get it" even if it was traditional. Can't please everybody.
• Choosing the unconventional isn't always the best fit. But sometimes it's the ONLY fit.   

What unconventional choices can you make in your next creative process? What assumptions should you say "no" to in order to get to the best result?

Monday Mind Games #4 - Finish The Sentence

Today's task... finish the sentences below:

I am most creative when _________________________

I struggle creatively with ______________________________ 

If I could have a creative super power, it would be ___________________ because __________________

The creative achievement of which I am most proud is _______________________ because ____________

I'd love to hear how you finished the sentences!

My Monday Mind Games #3 - Framing the Day

Here's my question at the start of the day:

What difference can I make today?

Here's my question at the end of the day:

What difference did I make today?

What did you come up with?

See you next Monday!

Michael

Monday Mind Games #3 - Framing the Day

Last week I discovered Ben Franklin's daily schedule.

What I love most about his daily schedule is the way he frames and reflects on the day. He asks himself, "What good will I do today?" to frame the day, and "What good have I done?" to reflect on the day.

I've been thinking, how do I want to frame and reflect on my day?

So, here's our assignment:

What question do you want/need to ask yourself at the beginning of each day?

What question do you want/need to ask yourself at the end of each day?

Ben Franklin's Daily Schedule

In my wandering around the interwebs, I discovered this post by Nick Bolton and have borrowed this public domain image from Franklin's autobiography for our conversation today.

I think this is a great way to approach every day. Time to organize. Time to work. Time to eat. Time to reflect and relax. Time to sleep. There's plenty of time for it all, and it's structured around two questions: "What good shall I do this day?", which starts the day, and "What good have I done today?" which ends the day.

With those questions framing every day, it's hard to imagine not being creative and energized each day. I know that most days I don't explicitly take time to ask these questions, and maybe that's why many days I lack focus and energy.

So, if it worked for Ben, I'm going to give it a try, and start and end each day with a reflection on the good I can do and the good I accomplished.

My Monday Mind Game #2: Manifesto

Here's what I came up with for my Twitter-sized creativity manifesto (see here for details):

We're all creative. The world is a better place when we all take time to engage, embrace and empower our creativity every day. (127 characters!)

What did you come up with?

See you next Monday, 

Michael