Want to uncover your creative side? Want to stir yourself toward more innovative thinking? Want to stick to your 2009 statements with more resolve?
Well, yes, yes, and yes. And how, pray tell, do they go together…
As I read Julia Cameron’s book, the Artist’s Way, I’m reminded of how most of us misunderstand the creative process completely. Seemingly most people that I run into think that creativity is a “gift” and one they don’t possess. Either one is born creative or one is born to go into business and hire one that is creative. End of story.
AND, every CEO that I’ve run into in the business world, wants a team that is more innovative. One that thinks “out of the box,” “outside the lines,” and does it all with an eye on speed and profits. The leader naturally decides that there is only one way to get from here to there. They command the team…
We must go forth and hire the “creative types.” BTW, I love CEO thinking. I can relate to it’s cause; the need for speed.
Moving on.
CEO thinking, usually, represents either/or thinking in it’s simplest form. For instance. If, for any reason, you can’t hire the “creative types,” at least engage with some creative marketing firm. Pay them and move on. It’s one or the other. NEXT…
Here’s something interesting to ponder. Julia’s first discipline that she puts forth in her book is what she calls “morning pages.” She believes that to “awaken” your creative side you must become more disciplined. What? What does discipline have to do with art? I thought the beauty of art and artist’s was that they didn’t follow the rules. The beauty of artist’s was that they walked to their own beat and, in fact, were quirky and weird, not at all like you and me.
Wrong again.
Julia asks each of her clients to write three pages every morning. Regardless of mood. Just start writing. Doesn’t matter what you write as long as you write. This discipline, she has found produces consistent results for the writer. They begin to find their voice. She’s found this takes about three weeks time on average. Writing. Every day. Discipline, it turns out, is the key to creativity. Who knew?
Try doing the same with your objectives for 2009. Write them down. Be specific. Share them with a peer and with your builder’s. Write about your progress and see what you learn. Isn’t it funny that we can awaken our creative spirit and prime ourselves to stick to a diet by simply doing something as simple as writing and speaking. AND, who would have guessed that the answer wasn’t choosing between “either and or.”
AND, one more thought for those still struggling to think of themselves as artist’s. At BTL we believe that all of us human types are meant to be artist’s of some sort. We are all called to create. Here’s the minimum creation. Don’t miss this one. At least create this…
At a minimum, view your life as your art.
What are your writing?
BUILT TO LEAD 
Thank you, Chet.
Here’s an AND to the last couple blogs.
This kind of discipline (e.g. at BTL we call it “practice”) keeps you YOUNG.
Especially when you are practicing and “playing” in areas you LOVE, and in the things that give you ENERGY.
It also gets INERTIA working FOR you — you know, the positive kind that we call MOMENTUM. Instead of a big list of resolutions that overwhelm, what’s one LITTLE idea that you can PLAY with?
By nature the way I’m wired is I don’t transition well — so this is what has helped me get started in 2009. Not just going through the motions, but with new momentum. The little ideas to PLAY with have led to another and Another and ANOTHER. And like a train gaining steam leaving the station, keeping going becomes easier than going back.
So what little thing can you play with? It’s the track to BIG dreams.
Freakin’ AWESOME AND, Johnny. I love the pictures you’re painting with these thoughts and couldn’t agree more.