Have you ever been unaware of a noise, until the noise suddenly stops? You know, like when someone outside is using a lawnmower, and you suddenly notice the silence, when they turn the lawnmower off? Our minds work like that. Very often, something is blocking us from being able to think with clarity or focus. […]
Creativity, touch and feel
I wrote recently about how tablets and mobile phones were far more than mere consumption devices. Today, I’d like to share an example of exactly what I mean. One of the things I have always loved about writing on paper with a pen or pencil, is the tactile connection between the page and my hand. […]
A New Year and another chance!
A New Year. A new chance. Another opportunity to be the author of your own story… the composer of your life’s music. Now do something with it!
How to do the impossible!
You need to be really careful about the limitations you place on yourself. This brief article explains why. I’d like to start by asking you a question: When was the last time you consciously thought about, what’s really possible for you? One of the reasons children are so creative, is that they are open to […]
Stuck? Try this useful problem solving tip!
Sometimes you get so close to a challenge, problem or project, that it smothers you… and your creativity. Give yourself some distance When you’re stuck or making too little progress on a creative project, put some distance between the project and yourself. Imagine the project is in a different place, miles away from where you’re […]
Consumption devices or creativity machines?
Mobile phones and tablets tend to be regarded as consumption devices. This is factually incorrect. Seth Godin has it wrong. The device is simply a tool It’s the device’s owner who decides whether to use the technology to create or to consume. And when they consume, it’s their choice what they choose to feed their […]
Show… don’t tell
Telling is easy. That’s because talk is cheap. Anyone can say anything. Showing is tricky. That’s because you have to create. You have to put your art out there and risk the ire of the critics. Of course, this is why there’s never a shortage of tellers. It’s also why those who show are so […]
Creativity and the tools we use
I’ve visited the room where Dylan Thomas did much of his writing and also the tiny shed where Roald Dahl wrote. Something that struck me about these amazing writers, was how extremely typical their surroundings were. Nothing fancy. Just a space to create, where they could think and work. The mechanics are secondary Often, we […]
Don’t think about making art
“Don’t think about making art. Just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they’re deciding, make even more art.” – Andy Warhol
Thinking differently?
Have you ever noticed how those creative geniuses you see on TED videos or Creative Mornings videos, almost all use Macs? Ironically, none of them are embracing Steve Jobs’ mantra, “think different.” Instead, they’ve joined the same predictable design cult. They stand on stage, eager to share how uniquely original they are, creating from the […]