The Accidental Creative

In many ways, you are defined by what you say no to. In design, they call this “negative space.” It is the part of the composition or sculpture that contains nothing. This negative space is what balances a work of art and gives it visual continuity. Similarly, music is defined as much by the silence as by what is actually played. Without the spaces

Set aside an hour in your day to do strategic thinking and plan your projects. It’s much easier to maintain a conceptual, strategic mode of thinking than it is to try to regain it once you’ve switched over to more concrete tasks.

As productivity guru David Allen says, “Mosquitoes ruin the hunt for big game.” It’s all too easy to waste the energy we need for important creative objectives on unproductive or unfocused behaviors.

Is this having a negative impact on my red-zone efforts or my overall ability to stay energized in my life and work? • Has this become more obligation than opportunity? Have I lost my passion for and interest in this? • Could this be deferred until later and have a greater effect? • Am I unhappy with my current results? • Do I have a nagging sense

Developers lock in on the heart of the problem quickly (define), establish their game plan and center their activities around their most crucial priorities (refine), and organize their work so that they’re minimizing distractions and staying on course (cluster). However, unlike the Driver, they are able to occasionally take a few steps back and red

The Big 3 refers to the three things I need to gain creative traction on right now. They aren’t necessarily my biggest projects, though they often are. Rather, the Big 3 is best described as the three most important “open loops” in my life and work. They are the three most important items that I’m still looking for critical insight on.

Activities that you can uniquely do or add value to because of your position or expertise and that move a project forward.

Discipline involves establishing and hitting specific marks and doing what needs doing regardless of how you feel in the moment.

Prolific + Brilliant + Healthy=producing great work consistently and in a sustainable way