Creatively Creative

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?

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?

Recharging

It is finished.

The big project is done.

Now what? 

I often find that at the end of a big project there is a bit of a letdown combined with the sense of accomplishment. I'm realizing that part of the letdown is that I've got nothing left in the creative tank. The batteries are drained. I need a recharge.

In hindsight, I realize that I have informally developed a creative recharging process. It looks something like this: lots of meandering around the internet, poking around on my iPhone (games, text messages, Mariners scores, weather, etc...), diving into a book (or two or three) and more movies in a weekend than I usually watch in two months. 

Of course, work goes on, but not at the same pace. I used to feel guilty. I used to feel I was being lazy. 

Now, I look at this time differently. In all of my post-big-project down time activities, there is a common thread: I'm soaking up the creativity of others. I'm seeking inspiration - that spark that says, "Time for YOU to create something." 

How do you feel when you're done with the "big project?" How do you recharge your creative batteries? 

1,826 Days

Impression Media Group (still just me!) turns five today.

I've been richly blessed to have been given so many creative opportunities by the wonderful clients I am privileged to call friends. The journey so far has been amazing, and I look forward to what's ahead.

I'm going to indulge myself and say "Thanks" to a few folks:

First, to Debbie Sladek for ALL the support these many, many years. Your confidence in me has meant so much. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to support your new adventures!

To Dave Ellingson at Trinity Lutheran College, who gave me my first paying design job in 1992 and got this whole ball rolling. I'm so grateful for all the connections you helped me with over the years and for the opportunity to do a bit of teaching at Trinity this year.

To Lesley Elliott at Capital Benefit Services for coming along with me when I left my previous gig. It was great to have a "launch" project and here we are working on a new ad campaign again! 

To Bob Sambrook at Diversified Systems Group, Inc., for the investment of your trust, support and friendship. I cant' wait to see the new large-format inkjet printer!

To Kris Bjorke at InterServe Ministries for over 20(!) years of friendship and introducing me to the folks at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network.

To Todd Buegler at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network for being my brother from another mother, the late night online chats, and for trusting Connect to my care and feeding.

To Scott Maxwell-Doherty at California Lutheran University for asking me to join in the fun that is Extravaganza Planning Team. 

To Dawn Trautman at Dawn Trautman Associates for your listening ear, great humor, and the insightful questions that help me keep moving forward.

To David Hunstad at Old Lutheran for the funniest Lutheran-themed novelty items on the planet and for making it so fun to work together.

To Amy Twito at Seattle Public Library first, for all the volunteer support back in the youth ministry days, and second for the opportunity work with the library. 

To Rod Boriack at the ELCA Youth Gathering for flying to Seattle to get the logo just right and for making the edits painless and full of laughs.

To Theresa Smith at CHILD for the brand new opportunity to be involved in getting the word out about this amazing place.

To Mary Holmes of Holmes Design Studio and Laura Worthington, former colleagues, now semi-regular lunch buddies and ongoing sources of inspiration.

Who's on your list of people who help you be most creative? What would you say to them?

Limited Inspiration

The camera in the iPhone stinks.

At least I thought so until I came across this portfolio. Go ahead and take a peek. I'll wait.

Wow! Right? 

This is a great example of acknowledging the limits imposed and then being creative within the limits and in spite of the limits. It's also a great example of always being ready to be creative with the tools at hand.

There are some limits (budget, deadline, etc...) that are really easy for me to embrace and be creative within. There are others (technology, client specific colors/photos/text, etc...) that are much harder for me to deal with. I tend to see those limits as infringing on my creativity, rather than a jumping off point for a unique idea. 

My project for next week is to take some photos every day with my iPhone, all the while embracing it's limits. Stay tuned...

The camera in the iPhone rocks!

How do limits impact your creativity?

How have you been creatively successful even when limited in some way?

Inspirational Thought of the Day

I've learned that I can't WAIT for inspiration. I have to WANT it. 

It's taken awhile, but I've learned how to be inspired by the essence of the things I experience, not the literal form of the thing I'm experiencing. 

Here's a logo I completed recently... Can you tell the inspiration?

I had just finished watching Season 2 of Mad Men when this project came along. Visually, Mad Men is so rich and full of subtle touches that almost bring the early 60's back to life. I borrowed the black and red color palate from the main title, and used the same font as the names on the individual office doors (GIll Sans, for all the non-font geeks in the crowd). Then I played around with simple geometric shapes to represent the progression that (hopefully) happens in coaching, brought all the elements together and worked to balance the whole. 

As an aside, learn more about Dawn Trautman and my experience of coaching with her here.

How can you find inspiration in what you're reading, eating, watching, seeing, hearing, smelling? How can you take the essence of those things and integrate it into what you need to create?

Somebody to Lean On

About six months ago, I felt like a I hit a wall, both personally and professionally.

It was one of those things where I needed to talk to someone who could give me some objective insight and help me "think out loud." If there can ever be perfect timing for one of these hit-the-wall moments, this was it. My wife had just completed working with a life coach to work through some professional goals, and since I was the one who recommended this coach to her, I figured it was my turn.

The decision to begin work with my life coach, Dawn Trautman, is one of the best professional choices I have made.

Frankly, I wasn't sure what a "life coach" did, but for me it's become a time to connect with a person who listens well, asks great questions, and holds my toes (gently) to the fire. It's like having a personal consultant - someone who is helping me realize things I already know (at some level!) and then is a point of accountability for action. It's a great fit for me, and has helped me begin to define where I would like to go next professionally.

As a result of my time with Dawn, I've begun a couple of "big dream" long-term projects, am working to position myself as a resource for all kinds of folks, and started this blog. My time with Dawn has helped me focus and this has helped me be more creative.

Where do you turn when you hit the wall? Do you have people/resources available to you to help you work through these times?

Out And About

Weather permitting, I'll be out taking photos for a client project today.

I'm looking forward to getting out of the (home) office. This time of year in Seattle (it only lasts 'til April!) it's pretty easy to go a bit stir crazy, or to just resign yourself to a cup of hot chocolate and an afternoon of movies.

I look forward to opportunities to get out like this. I get to take pictures, which is one of my favorite hobbies that I sometimes get paid for. Aside from that, being out and roaming around Seattle is a great opportunity to soak up (pardon the rain pun) the stuff around me. It's a little bit of an adventure - I'm not sure what I'll find or experience, so that in itself will be inspiring. Being in a different environment from my usual suburban home base will also provide opportunity for exposure to sites, and sounds that are not part of the usual routine. 

The best part of all this, is that while I'm working on this specific project, I'm letting myself experience all the other stuff around me and looking for ways to use them as jumping off points for other projects. It's quite common to have "the" idea for a completely different project while engaged in the project at hand. Let your mind be open to connections and inspiration in unexpected places. 

Getting out of the routine is one component of getting into a more creative space. Integrating a "field trip" into your work is one way. There are lots of others. If you missed yesterday's "This List Goes to 11" featuring Alternative Work Locations to Inspire Creativity, take a brief journey back in time here.

How can you combine a field trip with your next creative project? How can you get in the habit of being open to inspiration on multiple projects at once?

Creativity as the Sixth Sense

Once you start creating more and more stuff of your own, you likely find yourself experiencing the world around you differently. You'll find yourself watching movies with new eyes, listening to music with sharper ears, savoring all the flavors at dinner, and gaining new appreciation for the feel of shirts fresh from the dryer.

This appreciation and immersion in the creativity of others can be a powerful inspirational force in the cycle of your own creativity. As you create more things, you pay more attention to similar things that others create. You look for ways to improve them and notice ideas that you can transfer to your own projects. Soon, you'll be observing the creativity of others in endeavors not related to your own, and begin to explore ways to even be inspired by ideas from those not-directly-connected-to-what-your-working-on-right-now experiences in your life.

The world around you is full of inspiration that you can use to inspire your creativity. And your creativity contributes to the cycle of creativity of others. The gift that keeps giving! 

How can you be inspired by a meal at your favorite restaurant? How would you change your favorite (or least favorite) movie?

The Girl Effect

I share the following for two reasons. First, what an inspiring message. Second, what an amazing way to communicate that message.

From a creativity view, there is so much to learn here!

• Know your story. Distill it to find the essence.
• Tell your story simply. You don't need tricks or gimmicks.
• Tell your story dramatically. Pacing, timing, contrast, and movement at the right time, in the right order.
• Tell your story succinctly. Get to the point as quickly as possible. Leave the audience wanting more and ready/willing to ask "What's next?"

What is the essence of the story you're needing to tell? How can you most effectively/creatively communicate that essence?

 
To learn more about The Girl Effect: http://www.girleffect.org