On this episode, we say goodbye to The Accidental Creative podcast. After 18 years, the show is morphing into something much, much better. Stick around throughout the episode, because you'll hear:A segment from the FIRST EVER episode of the show!A full episode from 2006!Remember, starting next week the show will reset as Daily Creative with Todd Henry, and all of the old episode will vanish from the feed. They will be accessible only inside of the Daily Creative app.Thank you so much for listening for these past 18 years! Now, on the the next.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

In this episode, we bid farewell to "The Accidental Creative" podcast, which has been the home for my insights and teaching over the past 18 years. The decision to retire the brand was driven by the desire for a name that better encapsulates the show's core message and offerings, as well as a new vision for the podcast's format and content."The Accidental Creative" will be transformed into a new show called "Daily Creative," focusing on providing story and teaching-driven content centered around themes relevant to creativity, problem-solving, and effective leadership. The podcast will no longer be ad-supported and will seek to be listener-supported. Additionally, a new Daily Creative app will be introduced, offering subscribers access to bonus materials, insights, courses, and more.If you've been a fan of "The Accidental Creative," be sure to play the first episode of "Daily Creative" upon its release to ensure proper subscription and visibility. Additionally, access to the back episodes of "The Accidental Creative" will only be available until January 1, 2024.Finally, the change marks a significant shift for the show after almost two decades, and we are grateful for the listeners who have been part of this journey. We invite you to share your thoughts and feedback as we embark on this new chapter with "Daily Creative."Key learnings from the episode:1. The decision to retire "The Accidental Creative" and introduce "Daily Creative" was driven by the need for a brand that more accurately reflects the podcast's core message.2. "Daily Creative" will feature story and teaching-driven content around timely themes to provide value to the audience.3. The show will shift from being ad-supported to being listener-supported and will introduce the Daily Creative app, offering subscribers access to additional content and materials.4. Listeners are encouraged to play the first episode of "Daily Creative" upon release and to access back episodes of "The Accidental Creative" before January 1, 2024.5. The shift marks a new phase for the podcast, and your feedback and engagement are highly valued as the show continues to evolve.Mentioned in this episode:Please support our sponsors:Notion: Notion.com/accidental Masterclass: Masterclass.com/accidentalThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

On this episode we sit down with Hal Elrod, author of "The Miracle Morning." We discuss the power of morning rituals and explore the concept of the "Miracle Evening," emphasizing the importance of a purposeful nighttime routine to ensure a rejuvenating sleep and a proactive start to the following day.Hal also shares his personal journey, which includes overcoming a serious car accident and the doubts he faced while writing "The Miracle Morning." **Five Key Learnings from the Episode:**1. The power of morning and evening routines to optimize your mental and emotional state for the day ahead and ensure restful sleep.2. The importance of visualization not just for outcomes but for action steps to achieve your goals.3. How affirmations should be used effectively—aligning them with your true commitments, understanding your deep-seated whys, and specifying the actions needed.4. Hal Elrod's SAVERS framework and its adaptability to fit individual morning rituals.5. The value of silence and emotional optimization meditation to tap into intuition and invite new thoughts and ideas.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Butcherbox: Butcherbox.com/accidental EarnIn: Download EarnIn on the Apple app store or Google Play

No matter how talented and driven you are, sooner or later you’re bound to feel stuck. When you’e at a standstill, the worst thing you can do is to keep staring at the problem and digging yourself deeper into a rut. On this episode, Todd Henry shares 25 simple, but effective questions to help you get out of your creative rut and get moving on your work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed.com/creative Shopify: Shopify.com/accidentalcreative

In this episode, we bring you a replay of the 2020 thought-provoking conversation with author and researcher Tom Rath, discussing his book "Life's Great Question: Discover How You Contribute to the World." Rath shares insights about the importance of focusing on contributing to others rather than solely thinking about what we get out of life. He emphasizes the impact of investments in contribution and provides valuable frameworks for identifying and prioritizing how one can best contribute to the world and the teams they are a part of.Key learnings from the episode:1. Rath highlights the importance of focusing on what we put back into life, emphasizing the positive influence on others as the primary goal.2. He shares that finding tasks one enjoys is less satisfying than discovering outcomes that are worth suffering for if necessary.3. Rath introduces three categories of contributions: create, relate, and operate, aimed at helping individuals identify their unique strengths and areas of impact within a team or organization.4. The discussion delves into the fluid and situational nature of contributions, stressing the importance of aligning personal motivations and values with the needs of the community or organization.5. Rath offers practical advice for individuals to start identifying their contributions, encouraging mapping out one's strengths and motivations and considering what the world needs in order to make a meaningful impact.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed.com/creative Shopify: Shopify.com/accidentalcreative

In this episode, we explore the importance of protecting our Idea Factory. Inspired by the Walt Disney business model, we learn that the creative output is at the core of any successful endeavor. Whether you're an entrepreneur or part of an organization, your ability to protect and nurture your Idea Factory directly impacts the value you bring. We discuss practical strategies and insights to help identify and safeguard your own Idea Factory.Key Learnings:1. The Idea Factory is the heart of creative output and value creation.2. Capturing and nurturing ideas through dedicated time and intentional inputs is crucial.3. Building an effective creative process involves managing time, focus, and energy.4. Investing time in generating ideas for specific problems enhances problem-solving abilities.5. Allowing for focused non-ping time and pruning nonessential activities contributes to effective creativity.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please consider buying one of Todd Henry's books:Learn about Todd's books: ToddHenry.com/books

In this episode, we revisit a 2021 conversation with A/J Jackson, the lead singer of the band Saint Motel and the founder of a new eyewear company called Aview. A/J Jackson is a true creative polymath, with talents in filmmaking, songwriting, record production, and now entrepreneurship. We explore his journey in music and film, his creative process, and how he chooses which projects to pursue. We also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the music industry and the potential for innovation in live events. A/J shares insights on his new venture, Aview, which offers interchangeable frame and lens sunglasses. Throughout the episode, we gain valuable advice for young creative professionals, emphasizing the importance of finding your unique voice and staying true to it. Key Learnings:1. Shake up your creative process to stay fresh and tap into new ideas.2. Create the things you want to experience yourself, rather than chasing trends.3. The pandemic has brought about lasting changes in the music industry, such as the integration of live streaming options for concerts.4. Avue's interchangeable frame and lens sunglasses offer a convenient solution for those who wear prescription glasses.5. Find your own unique voice and drum on it as hard as you can for maximum impact and resonance.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Notion: Notion.com/accidental Masterclass: Masterclass.com/accidental

In this episode, we interview Kim Christfort, co-author of the book "The Breakthrough Manifesto: Ten Principles to Spark Transformative Innovation." Kim, who is the chief innovation leader for executive accelerators at Deloitte, shares insights on what holds us back from innovating and how to overcome those barriers. We dive into topics such as the importance of silencing our cynic, the power of stripping away unnecessary complexity, and the role of healthy conflict in driving innovation. Kim provides practical advice for leaders facing challenges in fostering innovation within their organizations.Key learnings from this episode:1. Silencing our cynic: While critical thinking is important, cynicism can be toxic and hinder innovation. It's crucial to differentiate between the two and be open to new possibilities.2. Stripping away complexity: Adopting a beginner's mindset and shedding layers of assumptions and beliefs can help us see things with a fresh perspective.3. Healthy conflict: Encouraging constructive disagreements and fostering an environment where differing viewpoints can be shared openly is essential for driving innovation.4. Don't play nice: Leaders should prioritize effectiveness over being liked and be willing to have difficult conversations to challenge ideas and move forward.5. Overcoming organizational barriers: Understanding the language and values of the company and framing innovation opportunities in a way that resonates with the organization can increase the chances of being heard.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Notion: Notion.com/accidental Masterclass: Masterclass.com/accidental

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of risk management for creative pros and leaders with seasoned expert K. Scott Griffith, author of "The Leader's Guide to Risk Management." We discuss the importance of understanding risk, how to spot and manage it effectively, and why risk management is essential for leaders. Griffith shares insights on the types of reliability and the importance of focusing on predictive behavior rather than consequential outcomes.Key learnings from the episode:1. Risk is inherent in everything we do, and managing it effectively is essential for success.2. Successful leaders are often risk-takers, but it's important to be smart and calculated in taking risks.3. Understanding the nature of risk and distinguishing between real risk and artificially escalated perception is crucial.4. Focusing on system reliability, human behavior, and organizational culture in that order is vital for effective risk management.5. Building a trusted environment for employees to report risks and working collaboratively to assess and address them can lead to positive behavioral changes and resilience.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed.com/creative ButcherBox: ButcherBox.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL EarnIn: Download Earnin on the Apple app or Google Play store

In this episode we re-vist a 2018 chat with highly respected editor Niki Papadopoulos. Niki shares her insights on the role of editing, offering invaluable advice for anyone looking to make an impact with their work. From the importance of finding the core of an idea to strategically building connections, Niki provides a wealth of knowledge. Todd and Niki also discuss the significance of having a point of view that may challenge and even offend some readers, as well as the importance of sharing and testing work in front of an audience. Key Learnings from this Episode:1. Make your product have impact, not just for the sake of making it.2. Write as if you are speaking directly to one person who needs the advice.3. Strategically build connections with people in your industry based on shared interests.4. Consider the target audience and their relationship with your kind of product when developing an idea.5. Share and test your work in front of an audience to overcome the fear of rejection and improve consistently.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Visit Indeed.com/creative Shopify: Visit Shopify.com/accidentalcreative

In this episode, we dive into the importance of design with Mauro Porcini, the Chief Design Officer at PepsiCo. Design is often seen as an afterthought or something purely aesthetic, but Mauro explains that true design is a culture of caring. It begins with observing and understanding the needs and desires of people, and then creating solutions that meet those needs. Design is about more than making money, it's about making a real impact on people's lives. Mauro also shares the qualities of organizations that attract and retain talented designers, including traits like kindness, curiosity, and optimism. Join us for this insightful conversation on the power of design and its impact on leadership.Mauro's new book is called Good Design Is For Everyone. Key Learnings from this episode:1. Design is not just about aesthetics, it's about understanding and meeting the needs of people.2. True design begins with observation and caring about what people need and want.3. Kindness, curiosity, and optimism are key qualities that attract and retain talented designers.4. Design is a competitive advantage for companies of all sizes.5. Organizations that prioritize design create a culture of innovation and collaboration.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Visit Indeed.com/creative Shopify: Visit Shopify.com/accidentalcreative

In this episode of The Accidental Creative podcast, we dive into the topic of approval addiction and how it can hinder our effectiveness as leaders and creative professionals. Whether you have a formal leadership position or not, we all have the capacity to lead and influence others. However, when we prioritize being liked over making progress and speaking truthfully, it can negatively impact our ability to lead effectively. Host Todd Henry shares insights and strategies from his book Herding Tigers on how to overcome this approval addiction and focus on being effective, even if it means not always being liked. Key learnings from this episode:1. The tension between being liked and being effective is common in everyday interactions and collaboration.2. Prioritizing being liked over being effective can hinder our ability to lead and make progress.3. Speaking the truth with empathy is crucial. Consider the context, timing, and how the other person is likely to receive your words.4. Refusing to engage in conversations that involve gossip or throwing team members under the bus helps to maintain trust and create a positive work environment.5. Balancing the desire to be liked with the desire to be effective requires self-awareness and a willingness to prioritize progress over perception.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to start your search at Indeed.com/creative EarnIn: Life doesn't happen bi-weekly, so why should payday? Download the EarnIn app on the Apple or Google app store. Fabric:Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/accidental

On this episode, we dive into two powerful tactics to help you approach your career more meaningfully. First, we discuss the power of writing a resignation letter as a means to self-awareness. Then, we discuss the concept of "unnecessary creating" and how it allows for skill development, experimentation, and self-discovery. Todd shares insights on identifying unnecessary creating activities and the importance of having creative outlets outside of our jobs. Key Learnings from this episode:1. Engaging in unnecessary creating is essential for continued growth and creativity.2. Relying solely on existing skills can lead to stagnation and lack of passion in our work.3. Writing a resignation letter, but not sending it, can help us gain clarity on our motivations and frustrations.4. It is crucial to have creative outlets outside of our jobs to maintain our love for our profession.5. Unnecessary creating opens up new pathways of thinking and can lead to insights that impact our on-demand work.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to start your search at Indeed.com/creative EarnIn: Life doesn't happen bi-weekly, so why should payday? Download the EarnIn app on the Apple or Google app store. Fabric:Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at meetfabric.com/accidental

In this episode, we explore the misunderstandings and tension that often exist between creative pros and their organization. We explore how the two sides often speak different languages and have different perspectives, which can create waves within organizations. Drawing from Todd Henry's book, Herding Tigers, we present ten things that creative pros wish their managers knew. These statements aim to spark dialogue and understanding between managers and their creative teams. From the importance of a balanced process and product to the truth about motivation and the role of design, we cover key insights that can lead to a more productive and harmonious work environment. Key Learnings from this episode:1. The process and the product are interconnected. A great process will yield a great product in the long run.2. Money is not the primary motivator for creative professionals. It's about the process, the work itself, and factors like prestige and career growth opportunities.3. Organizations should reward employees within their competence, rather than pushing them into roles they may not excel in just for financial gain.4. Design is not an afterthought but an essential part of any work. It should be seen as an ethic that guides decision-making.5. Fear and scarcity are not effective motivators. They hinder creativity and risk-taking, resulting in unproductive work.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

In this episode, Todd discusses the dynamics that often go unseen and can hinder our creativity, which he refers to as the "assassins of creativity": dissonance, fear, and expectation escalation. Todd shares insights on where these assassins come from and how we can effectively deal with them. Key Learnings from the Episode:1. Creative professionals often face tension between their creative instincts and the practical expectations of their job.2. The assassins of creativity, such as dissonance, can derail our focus and hinder our creative process.3. Understanding the "why" behind our tasks and projects is essential to staying on track and producing meaningful work.4. Fear is often the result of artificially escalating the perceived consequences of failure.5. Expectation Escalation is constantly comparing your in-process work with the best thing you've ever done.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribeMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

In this episode, we dive into the topic of what to measure when it comes to complex work and personal goals. Host Todd Henry shares his insights on how to determine what is worth tracking and what is not. He emphasizes the importance of starting with your desired outcomes and objectives instead of focusing solely on the activities. Todd introduces two types of metrics to consider: tactical metrics and time metrics. He provides a practical example of how he used different metrics to measure his progress in writing and editing a book. Finally, Todd warns against the common mistake of mixing up tactical and time metrics in organizations. Key learnings from this episode:1. Begin by identifying your desired outcomes and objectives before determining what to measure.2. Utilize tactical metrics to measure specific activities that contribute to your overall objective.3. Shift to time metrics when deep cognitive work is involved, as sustained focused time is crucial for producing quality work.4. Measure the amount of deep focused time spent on a task or project, rather than focusing solely on the number of hours spent.5. Avoid mixing up tactical and time metrics in organizations, as it may result in measuring the wrong things and hindering progress.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right! Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Indeed: Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/creative.

In this re-visit of a 2016 conversation, we dive into the concept of deep work with special guest Cal Newport. He believes that deep work is the solution to the problem of perpetual shallowness and frustration with your creative output. Deep work is when you intensely concentrate on a cognitively demanding task without any distractions. It's a skill that is becoming increasingly valuable in our current economy, yet it is also becoming more rare. Cal explains that deep work needs to be trained and developed, and that it is the key to thriving in today's economy. He also emphasizes the importance of differentiating between deep work and shallow work, with deep work being the type of work that produces massive new value and helps you advance in your career. Throughout the episode, Cal provides practical tips and strategies on how to engage in deep work more purposefully.Key learnings from this episode:1. Deep work is a valuable skill that is becoming increasingly rare in our current economy.2. Engaging in deep work is essential for producing meaningful and high-quality work.3. Deep work requires intense concentration and focus without any distractions.4. It is important to differentiate between deep work and shallow work, and to prioritize deep work for career advancement.5. Developing deep work as a skill takes practice and training, but the rewards can be significant.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Indeed: Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/creative.

In this episode of The Accidental Creative, we revisit our 2019 conversation with Liz Bohannon. Liz shares her journey of moving to Uganda without a plan or job after college, and how that led her to start a socially conscious fashion brand. We dive into her book, "Beginner's Pluck," which challenges the narrative of being special and encourages action on small dreams. Liz's practical and authentic approach to entrepreneurship and leadership shines through as she shares her experiences and lessons learned. Join us as we explore the power of pluck and embracing our inner beginner.Key Learnings from this Episode:1. Embrace the power of small dreams: Taking action on small dreams creates momentum and propels us out of waiting and indecision.2. Let go of the need to be special: Redirecting our energy from trying to be unique to creating and doing can lead to greater productivity and innovation.3. Treat small dreams as sacred: Acting on small dreams, even if they lead to failure, builds momentum and opens pathways to bigger dreams.4. Own your average: Find fulfillment in positively impacting a few people's lives, rather than striving to be loved by everyone.5. Embrace the qualities of a beginner: Beginners naturally excel in certain areas, and experts can channel their inner beginner for more effective leadership.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. ButcherBox: Sign up today using code ACCIDENTAL to receive Ground Beef for Life + $20 off your first order. That’s 2 pounds of Ground Beef free in every box for the lifetime of your membership plus $20 off your first order when you sign up at butcherbox.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL. Fabric by Gerber Life: Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at MeetFabric.com/accidental.

In this episode we delve into the topic of expectations and leading indicators during times of transition. Todd Henry provides practical strategies for establishing stability by clarifying expectations and creating new cultural principles. Additionally, he highlights the importance of identifying leading indicator behaviors that align with those principles. By defining expectations and reinforcing them through these leading indicator behaviors, teams can successfully navigate times of transition.Key Learnings:1. During times of change, it is crucial to establish stability by clearly articulating new expectations, cultural principles, and systems.2. People often cling to the old way of doing things for stability, but it is essential to push them towards embracing the new.3. "Ghost rules" or invisible narratives can hinder the adoption of new ways of working.4. Redundancy in communication is necessary when introducing new expectations and cultural principles.5. Identifying leading indicator behaviors that align with desired outcomes can help reinforce new ways of working and ensure successful navigation through transitions.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In this episode of The Accidental Creative, we sit down with Taylor Lorenz, author of the book Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet. Taylor discusses the revolutionary impact of the social Internet and how it has disrupted traditional notions of fame and power. We dive into the early days of e-celebrities, the evolution of platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and the current state of monetization for content creators. Taylor shares her insights on the maturity of these platforms and her predictions for their future trajectory. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how these forms of media are impacting society.Key Learnings from this Episode:1. The rise of the social Internet has upended traditional notions of fame and power.2. Early e-celebrities struggled to monetize their online presence, but now there are more opportunities for content creators.3. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok were initially dismissed as novelties but have since become influential forces in our culture and society.4. The maturation of these platforms has led to better monetization options for creators.5. It's important to recognize the underestimated potential of emerging platforms and understand their impact.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In this episode of The Accidental Creative, we sit down with Amos Heller, the touring bass player for Taylor Swift, to discuss his craft, gamifying growth, and the importance of living in the moment. Amos shares how his exposure to different genres and the enthusiasm of others has influenced his interests and knowledge. We dive into his journey as a musician and his experiences working with Taylor Swift, exploring the balance between staying true to his strengths while collaborating in a professional context to help the team accomplish its goals. Amos also reveals his practice routine and the physical and mental demands of being a touring musician, and how he copes with them. Join us as we gain insights from Amos's experience and learn valuable lessons about creativity, preparation, and the power of being yourself.Listen to our past interview with Amos here. Follow Amos' YouTube channel.Key Learnings from the Episode:1. Surrounding yourself with passionate people and exposing yourself to different genres can greatly influence your interests and knowledge.2. The act of listening is crucial for growth as a musician and artist.3. Being true to your own artistic vision may make it harder to work with others in a professional context, but you must seek opportunities to find work that aligns with your aesthetics and ideas.4. Preparation is essential for bringing your best to a professional and collaborative setting. Don't wing it.5. Balancing staying true to yourself and submitting to the mission of the team is key to success in a creative career.Get three quick ideas to start your week off right. Subscribe to 3 Things at ToddHenry.com/subscribe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

In today's episode, we will be exploring three career investments that every creative professional should be making. Todd brings a unique perspective on the topic, emphasizing the importance of making small investments now that can lead to significant dividends in the future.The first investment he discusses is the flexibility of focus and engagement. He encourages listeners to take a broader view of their career and seek out roles that offer increasing levels of flexibility as they grow professionally. This flexibility allows them to navigate their way into work that is personally meaningful and uniquely contributive.The second investment Todd highlights is diversity of income. He cautions against becoming overly dependent on a single source of income, especially for freelance creatives. He urges listeners to start diversifying their portfolio of income streams to protect themselves from potential disruptions in the future.Lastly, Todd explores the connection between financial freedom and the ability to do meaningful work. He emphasizes the importance of keeping expenses low and avoiding debt, as it gives individuals the freedom to pursue work that truly matters to them.So, whether you're just starting your career or already well-established in your field, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help you make these three career investments. Tune in now and take the first steps towards building a resilient and successful creative career.Five Key Learnings From The Episode:1. Investing in flexibility of focus and engagement is crucial for building a resilient and successful career in the creative professions. This means seeking roles that offer increasing levels of freedom and focus as you gain mastery.2. Building a diverse portfolio of income streams is essential, especially for freelance creatives. Relying solely on one source of income can be risky, as it can disappear unexpectedly. Side hustles and non-competitive projects can serve as a hedge against future income disruption.3. It's important to view your career as an investment portfolio that requires long-term thinking. Just like you forgo immediate spending to save and invest for future gains, you may need to do work now that you don't love in order to create opportunities for more fulfilling work later on.4. Financial freedom is closely tied to the ability to do meaningful work. Avoid increasing your spending in proportion to your income growth, as it can lead to trade-offs and compromise your ability to pursue work that truly matters to you.5. When seeking career advice, be cautious of seeking validation for decisions you've already made. Advice should be context-specific, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's best to consider your individual path and make informed decisions based on your own circumstances.Timestamped Overview:[00:00:25] Three career investments for creative professionals.[00:05:49] Diversify income streams; start a side hustle.[00:09:09] Build equity, not just earning income.[00:11:30] Income, location, equity - keys to flexibility.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first...

In this episode, Todd Henry interviews Liz Elting, the co-founder of billion dollar translation solutions company TransPerfect, about her new book Dream Big and Win and her entrepreneurial journey.Liz shares her experience of leaving her job at a finance company and starting TransPerfect, a language solutions company, in an NYU dorm room. She discusses the concept of perfecting existing ideas rather than inventing something entirely new, highlighting the importance of identifying gaps in the industry and providing better solutions.They also discuss the importance of taking calculated risks and reinvesting in the business to achieve long-term goals, and Liz's decision to stay with TransPerfect until it became the world's largest language solutions company.Key Takeaways:1. Dreams alone are not enough for success. Taking action and employing verbs is essential.2. Perfecting existing ideas can be just as successful as inventing something entirely new.3. Taking calculated risks, especially in the early stages of entrepreneurship, can lead to long-term success.5. Minimizing financial commitments and being willing to throw yourself into your business.If you want to receive weekly inspiration and practical tips from Todd Henry, subscribe to the newsletter 3 Things at toddhenry.com/subscribe. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Aeropress: Shouldn't coffee taste like it smells when you first open a bag of beans? AeroPress Coffee makers combine three brew methods into one easy to use coffee press, unlike other presses, AeroPress uses filtration to keep out bitter grinds and air pressure to extract the purest, freshest flavors. Try the new Clear Aeropress and get 15% off at Aeropress.com/creative. Zbiotics: Zbiotics is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Visit Zbiotics.com/accidental and use code ACCIDENTAL for 15% off your first order.

In this episode, I'm diving into a game-changing technique that's been a total game-changer for me—time chunking. You know, it's one of those simple concepts that can make a world of difference when it comes to getting stuff done and unleashing your creativity.We all know the struggle, right? You sit down to work, and before you know it, your day's hijacked by emails, calls, and endless meetings. It's a tough challenge to overcome, but here's the thing: dedicating specific time slots to your important creative work can change the game.In this episode, I break it down step by step. Time chunking is all about setting aside dedicated periods (usually an hour or two) for your high-impact, not-so-urgent tasks. It's like creating a fortress around your precious work time, making sure you're focused and productive.I'll show you how to pick the right project for time chunking, find those sweet spots in your calendar, and protect your work periods like you would with any important meeting. But don't worry; I'm not advocating for a rigid schedule. Flexibility is key, and I'll share tips on how to strike that balance.By the end of this episode, you'll have a practical game plan to reclaim your time and boost your productivity. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative pro, or just someone looking to crush their to-do list, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to make a real difference in your work.So if you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and want to tap into your creative potential, join me as we explore the power of time chunking. It's time to break free from distractions and make meaningful progress on what truly matters.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at indeed. com/creative. Mint Mobile: To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month and get the plan shipped to your door for free, go to mintmobile.com/accidental.

Today we have an absolute treat for you. We are revisiting a conversation from a few years ago with a legend in the world of music, a man who has continued to define, then re-define the art of DJing—none other than DJ Z-Trip.Z-Trip is considered one of the founding fathers of the mash-up movement, seamlessly blending genres from rock to hip-hop, jazz to electronica. His ability to read the room and adapt in real-time is almost supernatural, and it's a skill that not only puts him in high demand but has also earned him awards and accolades.But what's fascinating is that Z-Trip is not just a master of mixing tracks; he's a master of mixing ideas, cultures, and even business models. In today's conversation, we're going to dive deep into the creative process that allows Z-Trip to stay consistently ahead of the curve. We'll explore how he manages the tension between art and commerce, and how he found his unique voice.So whether you're a musician, a designer, an entrepreneur, or just someone looking to tap into your own creative potential, today's episode is a masterclass in navigating the complexities of modern creativity.Oh, and one more thing - Z-Trip actually took this conversation and re-mixed it before we originally released it. Also, if you'd like to hear a remix that Z-Trip did of an entire episode of the podcast, you can listen to it here. Get ready to be inspired in the best ways by Z-Trip.  Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at indeed. com/creative. Mint Mobile: To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month and get the plan shipped to your door for free, go to mintmobile.com/accidental.

There is nothing more frustrating to those doing creative work than hearing feedback from a client or manager that is vague, imprecise, and lacking any sense of direction. In order to effectively perform, talented people need clear boundaries within which to operate. That’s the role of the leader – to specifically challenge them within clear guide rails. As I wrote about in Herding Tigers, this is bounded autonomy – freedom within limits.But giving feedback about creative work can be a tricky task. It’s not just about giving a thumbs up or down, but about providing constructive critique that can help the person grow and improve their work.On today's episode, I share three quick tips for doing it well. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/50accidental and use code 50accidental for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/accidental. 

If you’re paying attention at all, you’ve probably become very aware of the advent of AI tools and have probably heard something about how they are going to transform the world of knowledge and creative work, or even possibly replace knowledge workers. But what if there’s a different way to think about it? Is it possible that these tools might actually massively accelerate your capacity to produce brilliant work?Today I am thrilled to chat with Gavin Purcell.Gavin is a powerhouse in the world of digital and traditional media. Known for his role as a producer on shows like "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," and the game-changing series "Attack of the Show!," he has consistently been a visionary, pushing the envelope in how we consume and interact with content. Gavin has a knack for blending humor, technology, and storytelling in a way that not only entertains but also engages audiences in a unique way.But what really sets Gavin apart is his passion for innovation. Whether it's integrating social media into late-night talk shows or pioneering new formats of audience interaction, he has an innate ability to sense where the industry is heading and get there before anyone else. His work has received multiple accolades, proving that taking risks in the media landscape does pay off.His new project is a YouTube show called AI for Humans, which is all about the future of tech, creativity, and the creative marketplace.Today, we're going to talk about the future of digital media, how technology is shaping the way we engage with stories, and what's on the horizon for creative pros with regard to generative AI and how to prepare. We'll also get a glimpse into Gavin's creative process, something every aspiring media professional or tech enthusiast won't want to miss.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/50accidental and use code 50accidental for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/accidental. 

What’s the first thing that goes through your mind when I say “creative person”?Depending on your experiences, your initial thoughts may inspire warm ideas like “collaborative, open, possibility thinker” or maybe, on the other side, some less positive ones like “difficult, prima donna, or snobby.”In my book Herding Tigers I wrote about five persistent myths about creative people that often lead to challenges in the workplace. On this episode, we’re going to address and bust these myths. Why is busting these myths so important? First of all, perpetuating stereotypes can discourage people from embracing their own creative potential. If you've been led to believe that you can't be analytical and creative at the same time, for instance, you might shy away from opportunities that allow you to use both sets of skills. Second, these myths can impede collaboration and communication. If you're a manager who believes that creative individuals are flaky or unreliable, you might hesitate to entrust them with important projects—missing out on their unique skills and perspectives. And third, let's face it—most of us enjoy a bit of myth-busting; it’s refreshing to challenge our own perspectives and grow as individuals.Today, we’ll be exploring five of the most pervasive myths about creative people. We'll dissect each one, delve into its origins, and, most importantly, unveil the truth. And, if you want to delve deeper into this topic, check out chapter two of Herding Tigers, which is what I’ll be reading from today. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Some ideas are so crazy that “moonshot” doesn’t even do them credit. “Loonshot” seems more appropriate. On this episode, physicist and entrepreneur Safi Bachall is here to teach us how to nurture the crazy ideas that win wars, cure diseases, and transform industries with insights from his book Loonshots.This episode is a replay from 2019.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Many of the best innovations are the ones we create to scratch our own itch. I started this very podcast back in 2005 because I was struggling as a Creative Director to find decent conversations about how to help my team stay healthy and productive over the long-term. Today’s guest also scratched an itch, and its now helped countless people around the globe better organize their thoughts and their days.I am a paper addict. I am. I’ve relented somewhat and now use an iPad Pro for some of my note taking and other tasks, but there’s nothing like a well-crafted notebook and the feel of a pen scratching on paper. So, when I came across the Bullet Journal Method a few years ago, I was at first intrigued, then quickly hooked. It’s a simple method for planning your day and tracking thoughts and ideas. What I loved about it was its simplicity, and that it removed the pressure to “get it right” that many journaling or productivity methods impose.The creator of the Bullet Journal Method is Ryder Carroll, and he’s on this episode of the show to help us understand a bit about how to use journaling to organize our lives and accomplish our goals. He’s released a book called The Bullet Journal Method, and we’ll be discussing how to better organize your days, and how to know when to launch a passion project into the world.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I have been speaking to a lot of organizations lately, and whenever I have a speaking engagement, I always ask the leaders of the organization about the kinds of dynamics they are experiencing or problems they might be encountering.One phrase that continues to come up over and over is "imposter syndrome". This is a psychological phenomenon that particularly affects people who have achieved some kind of success in their field, who then doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. Individuals with imposter syndrome may feel like they're not worthy of their achievements or that they've simply been lucky, or that they've fooled other people into thinking that they're more capable or more knowledgeable than they actually are.On today's episode, we discuss a few sources of imposter syndrome and how to tackle them. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What is the worst thing that you think somebody can call you? I think that one of the worst things, or at least one of the most painful things that somebody can call you is naive. When you say that someone's naive, what you mean is that they just don't understand, they don't get it in the same way or that they're Pollyanna.They're overly optimistic, naively optimistic. And when somebody calls you naive, it can sting. And so the natural reaction of a lot of people is to go the opposite direction, which means to approach everything with skepticism or even worse snark and cynicism. But the problem is snark and cynicism are corrosive to the creative process, and they're certainly corrosive to our ability to collaborate with other people.When we exhibit snark and cynicism, which by the way is the default position for a lot of people who don't want to be seen as naive, then it's destructive to our curiosity. Rather than asking questions about why something is the way it is, we immediately react against it. So much of life is about your default, and if your default is towards snark and cynicism or even skepticism, then that often is a sign that you're operating from a position of self-defense rather than curiosity.On today's episode, I share a few ideas for curbing snark and cynicism and recovering your creative passion and curiosity.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Talent alone is not enough to guarantee that you'll make a living. Regardless of your chosen career, you have to figure out how to translate your skills into something marketable - something others will pay you for. Is it possible to make a good living making art you love? Lisa Congdon says "YES!", and she shares specific strategies for how to do so in her book Art, Inc.Over the summer, we are re-visiting the podcast archives, dating back to 2005. This interview originally with Lisa Congdon originally released in August, 2014. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Mint Mobile: To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to mintmobile.com/accidental.

Great work isn’t enough on its own. Whether you lead, design, write, strategize, or sell, if you want your idea to be heard, you have to go the extra mile to ensure that it’s framed to resonate with the right audience. In this episode, you'll learn some strategies for ensuring that your idea is best positioned to succeed with the people you are trying to reach. The concepts and strategies in this episode are from my book Louder Than Words.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It seems like every week someone is predicting the disruption and ultimate death of an entire industry due to technological advancement. With the advent of AI, many are predicting that the creative industries will be disrupted in ways that will leave creative pros clamoring for work. But, is that really true? Yes, disruption is real, but maybe we can learn from those who have experienced this kind of turmoil and apply their insights to the current marketplace.Today’s guest is Don Donahue. Don’s background is in the music and entertainment business, and he’s lived through multiple industry disruptions. On today’s episode, he shares some wisdom about how we can learn to adapt and thrive in the face of disruption. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Hello Fresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/50accidental and use code 50accidental for 50% off plus free shipping! Notion: Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/accidental.

At some point in your career, you’ve probably had “that boss”. You know… the one who’s either obnoxiously aggressive and issues orders from on-high like the ruler of a small kingdom, or the one who wants so desperately to be liked that they refuse to speak the uncomfortable truth. Maybe – just maybe – you’ve even been guilty of being that boss from time to time. Kim Scott is here to help. She’s the author of Radical Candor, and on today’s show she will show you how to avoid Ruinous Empathy, Obnoxious Aggression, and Manipulative Insincerity and create a culture that thrives. This episode is a replay from 2017.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I was saddened to hear today of the passing of Rodriguez, the singer-songwriter who was the subject of the documentary Searching For Sugar Man. I wrote about his story in my book Die Empty, and on today's episode I share his amazing journey and the importance of embracing invisible impact.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's been almost ten years since my book Die Empty released, and in the decade since that phrase has often been misunderstood and mis-applied to mean "you're not hustling enough!" or "collapse exhausted at the end of each day!" That couldn't be farther from the message of the book. On today's episode, I re-visit some key principles from chapter one of Die Empty and how they can help each of us build a body of work that we can point to with satisfaction and pride. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This week features three episodes from the summer of 2014. In the first section, we discuss the value of competition and how it can actually be your friend and help you become better at what you do.In the second section, we discuss the importance of making decisions and committing to them.  In the final section, I share a few principles for how to deal with bad ideas before they ruin a meeting or project. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You may or may not know that The Accidental Creative podcast has been releasing new episodes weekly since 2005 - that’s almost 18 years. And, some of my favorite episodes are now so old that they are no longer on the podcast feed and aren’t available any longer publicly. So, I thought that over the course of the summer I might go back a decade and resurrect some episodes from the summers of 2013 and 2014 and replay them here on the show. Over the next few weeks, some of the episodes will feature past interviews or ideas that I was sharing with listeners in the early 2010’s, including some concepts that were fresh from my just-released book Die Empty, which came out in September 2013. (Yes, it’s been that long ago.) So on today’s episode, I’m sharing an interview with Simon Sinek from 2014 about his book Leaders Eat Last. Many of you will know Simon from his book Start With Why and his TED talk that became one of the most-watched TED talks of all time. His follow-up Leaders Eat Last was an exploration of best leadership practices at some of the most effective organizations in the world.       Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You've probably heard the advice that finishing is everything. However, we often overlook the importance of starting to the creative process. At times, what we start - even if left unfinished - can provide great material for our future creative endeavors. Today's guest Becky Blades believes that we should start more than we can finish. She's the author of the book Start More Than You Can Finish: A Creative Permission Slip to Unleash Your Best Ideas.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Everyone knows that following your passion is the key to success, right? Today's guest Naveen Jain offers an emphatic "no!" He believes the key to success in life is identifying an obsession and chasing it with everything you have, regardless of what it may cost. Naveen is an entrepreneur driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges through innovation. He is the founder of several successful companies including Moon Express, Viome, Bluedot, TalentWise, Intelius, and InfoSpace. He has been awarded many honors for his entrepreneurial successes and leadership skills, including “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Albert Einstein Technology Medal” for pioneers in technology, “Most creative person” by Fast Company, and “Humanitarian Innovation Award” at the United Nations among others.In this episode, we discuss what he has learned through his decades of entrepreneurship and how we can each identify problems worth spending our lives on. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you know what's really on your mind? Many people don't, because they never stop to sit with their thoughts and listen for the patterns. Writing every day has tremendous benefits to your creativity, your emotional state, and your career. On this episode, I share some tactical tips for establishing a daily writing practice, including how to commit the resources, choose your tools, and find the right format to help you turn information into wisdom.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This week is a replay of a 2021 interview with Oliver Burkeman. His book is now available in paperback.The average person lives about 4,000 weeks. How does that fact make you feel? More importantly, how might knowing that your time is so finite cause you to choose to live? There are so many tools at our disposal for time management, but often our efforts only make us feel more busy and overwhelmed.Today’s guest is Oliver Burkeman. We discuss existential overwhelm, the efficiency trap, and how to reclaim just a little bit of sanity in a world obsessed with better, faster, more. His new book is the instant NY Times Best-seller 4,000 Weeks. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you handle feedback? We need other people in our lives to tell us the truth. If we immediately get defensive when they tell us something we don’t like, we will lose key allies in our journey of growth. If you manage a team, your trigger happy ways will eventually destroy the culture of your team. On this episode, we share a few strategies for dealing with feedback in a healthy way.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This is a replay of an episode from 2022.There continues to be a re-shuffling happening across many industries right now. Over the past few years, I've worked closely with a number of companies and have discovered that there are five key reasons why many creative people are choosing to leave their job, even when it's not in their own best interest to do so. On this episode, I share these five reasons, and offer some practical advice both for managers and creative pros about how to deal with them.Overly Controlling ManagerNo Clear Path of AdvancementOrganization Is Out Over Its SkisToxic CultureThey Are Not Seen/Known.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

No one works in a vacuum. Each of us must learn to collaborate with others, communicate in a way that helps us make progress, and meld our aspirations together so that we are channeling toward the same goal. However, relationships are challenging at times and it can be difficult to know how to interact with someone when we just don’t naturally “click”. On this episode, Michael Bungay Stanier is here to help us understand how to have the best possible relationship with those around us. Michael is a multi-best-selling author and coach, and his new book is called How To Work With (Almost) Anyone. We discuss the critical conversations that lead to effective relationships in life and work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What are the marks of a successful team, and how can leaders and collaborators work together more effectively and more consistently?Today's guest is David Burkus, author of Best Team Ever! He shares the core elements that every great team needs in order to succeed.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In this episode, I am thrilled to have back to the show legendary author, entrepreneur, and marketer Seth Godin. Seth is the author of 19 bestselling books, including his latest release, The Song Of Significance, a thought-provoking book about seeking significance both individually and as a team.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we believe that we are running out of time. The ironic thing is, we are. Every single one of us has a finite number of days on this planet, and each new day means that we are getting closer to our inevitable end. I don’t say this to depress you, but rather to instill a sense of urgency about how you approach your days. If you knew you had exactly one year left on this planet, what would you do? And, why aren’t you doing it? To be fair, we have to behave responsibly and with an eye on the future, which is why I despise the advice “live each day like it’s your last.” However, as you consider your ideas, your dreams, your relationships, your ambitions, which of them are you deferring action on until a more convenient time? In truth, that time may never come. On this episode, I share a simple technique for pursuing your goals and making them happen.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are numerous forces impacting the world of work and we are watching the workplace shift beneath our feet in real time. While it’s anyone’s guess what the future of creative work may look like, we are starting to gain some sense of the landscape as marketplace experts deliver real-time research on trends and patterns. One such expert is with us today to help us understand where things may be headed.Phil Simon is the author of the book The Nine: The Tectonic Forces Reshaping The Workforce and he’s here to share what his research reveals about how we will all be working in the coming decade.Before that, I answer a listener question about how to get ideas heard in a workplace that often defers to those in power instead of following industry best practices. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

While it’s certainly important to address conflicts and work to resolve them in a healthy way, it’s equally important to focus on the overall culture of your team and how it is trending.Read the full essay here. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The most creative and productive careers often emerge at the intersections of disciplines. It’s not a linear path, but a serendipitous collision of multiple areas of interest that create an opportunity. Some might even call it a “creative accident”, which is the reason for the name of this show. Such was the case with today’s guest Danielle Feinberg. Danielle Feinberg began her career at Pixar Animation Studios in February 1997, and since then, she has worked on 14 of Pixar’s feature films. She cut her teeth on early films like A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc. and the Academy Award®-winning Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Feinberg was the director of photography-lighting for the Academy Award®- winning features WALL•E, Brave, and Coco. Most recently she completed her work as the visual effects supervisor on Turning Red.In this interview, we discuss how creativity and career emerge at the intersections, why it’s important to pursue awe in your life and work, and how Pixarnavigates the complexity of a long-arc project like a film.Watch Danielle's TED talk.Learn about the documentary about the making of Turning Red.Mentioned in this episode:Please support our sponsors:Indeed: Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Start hiring now with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at indeed.com/creative. Offer good for a limited time.

When you think about innovation, you probably also think about disruption. Innovation in many people’s minds is about creating a better solution that makes an old one obsolete. This means that it’s inherently a competitive and finite thing - someone wins, and another person loses.But what if we didn’t have to think of innovation in that way? What if innovation could be something other than disruptive? That’s what today’s guest Renee Mauborge argues is not only possible, but necessary. Renee is the co-author of which has sold millions of copies, and she’s back today to discuss her new book called Beyond Disruption. If you are interested in building a career or an organization based on building a body of work that benefits yourself, your community, your industry, and the world, you need to listen to what she has to say.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It’s faulty thinking to evaluate past decisions based upon your present understanding. And, doing so can lead to worse decisions in the future. In this episode, I share an essay that I recently wrote about why we need to approach each decision with clarity of mind and refuse to allow retro-analysis paralysis to cloud our judgment.Read more essays and listen to the podcast archives at ToddHenry.com.My new book Daily Creative is available now. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

A few months ago, my friend Ben Beshear had me on his podcast Life, Money, and Living Well to discuss creativity, leading talented people, and finding purpose and mission in life. I really enjoyed our chat, and asked him if I might be able to release a part of it on the podcast. Today's episode features the first hour of our conversation. To hear the final part, where I discuss my views on retirement and productive passion, listen to the full episode here.My new book Daily Creative is available now. It's a daily reader to help you stay prolific, brilliant, and healthy.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When seeking advice, it's best to go to someone with a lot of experience. Today's guest has certainly earned his wisdom, and has compiled it into a new book of advice for anyone wanting to live a more meaningful life. Kevin Kelly is a renowned writer, futurist, and technology enthusiast. His career in technology and futurism began in the early 1980s when he became an editor at Whole Earth Review, a counterculture magazine focused on technology, ecology, and personal empowerment.In 1993, he co-founded Wired Magazine, a publication that explores the intersection of technology, culture, and politics. He's authored several books, including The Inevitable and What Technology Wants.Today he returns to the show to discuss his latest book Excellent Advice For Living.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It’s time to reclaim the profundity of the present moment. Each moment has meaning that, if ignored, will be lost forever. Circumstances will never again combine in this unique way to form this moment, right here, right now. There are insights that you can never regain if you let them slip through your fingers.Those who are able willing to do their own thinking and to take disciplined, strategic pauses even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty are much more likely to connect non-intuitive dots and synthesize larger patterns.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you have a framework for making decisions? How do you know which opportunities to take and which to pass on? Can someone take a look at your work - how you lead, write, talk, collaborate - and see what matters to you?In my 2015 book Louder Than Words, I wrote about the value of having a personal manifesto (or team manifesto) that can guide your work and help you do work that is personally meaningful and uniquely valuable. It’s not supposed to be an in-depth playbook, but is more of a set of guiding principles by which you make decisions and invest yourself in your work. It helps you in three ways:It reminds you of your core values, and what you're unwilling to compromise for short-term gain.In a complex world, it gives you a simple set of rules by which to live.It shows others what matters to you, and helps you be more consistent in how you approach your work.I also realized when I released the book that I’d never made my own personal manifesto public. So, on this episode I offer a few thoughts about how to craft your own manifesto, and I share the guiding principles that I use in life and work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you are feeling uninspired, recognize that it could be due to feeding on the output of the Zeitgeist Blender. Don’t allow cultural sentiment to rob you of the joy of surprise and delight.This is the podcast version of an essay from ToddHenry.com. You can read the full essay here.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Each person has a unique form of genius to offer the world. It's the thing that you bring to the table that no one around you can bring because of your unique combination of passions, skills, and experiences. On today's episode, Ozan Varol is here to discuss how each of us can awaken our unique genius and bring it to the world each day. Ozan's new book is called Awaken Your Genius.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are two parts to the tag that most of us wear: creative + professional."Creative" means that you get to use your skills to solve problems and create new value every day. "Professional" means that you do it for money, which means that sometimes you have to do what's expedient even when it's not your preferred path.On this episode, I share three pieces of career advice that every creative pro should consider implementing in order to make their professional life more resilient. Then, we have Mark LePage (founder of EntreArchitect) to help us better understand the business side of creativity and ensure that we are managing both effectively.Mentioned in this episode:Please support our sponsors:Cozy Earth: Named one of Oprah's favorite things in 2018, Cozy Earth's best-selling bamboo sheet set is temperature-regulating and incredibly soft. I absolutely love it! And now, you can get 35% off when you visity CozyEarth.com and use code ACCIDENTAL. Notion: Notion AI helps you work faster, write better, and think bigger, doing tasks that normally take you hours in just seconds. Try Notion AI for free at notion.com/accidental.

Throughout history, people have had to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities in order to thrive. However, the pace of change has been accelerating for the past century in an unprecedented way. And, as creative pros, we often feel the effects of the pace of change. On today's interview, Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman is here to discuss how we can prepare ourselves for what is to come. As she says in the episode, "Since hunting and gathering, we've had to adapt the same neural hardware that's designed for foraging. And in each of those adaptations, whether it's agriculture or industrialization, there are parts of the old machinery that work, and there are parts that are a mismatch." Today's episode helps us identify those mismatches and how we can prepare for what's next.Dr. Kellerman's new book is called Tomorrowmind.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Today we're talking about a topic that affects many high-achieving individuals: imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as frauds. Now, to be clear there is a difference between imposter syndrome and self-awareness. Self-awareness is the recognition that your skill level may not be sufficient for the task at hand. For example, while I have some experience leading designers, I would never take on a project that requires me to design a campaign for a major brand. That's not imposter syndrome, it's wisdom. However, fear often comes disguised as wisdom also, and it can show up in the form of imposter syndrome. This is when you perpetually feel like a fraud, or you become paralyzed when you are called upon to perform a task. You may even turn down opportunities you are perfectly well suited for because you fear that you will be "found out". On this episode I offer three key strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome in life and work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

James Cameron is a famous filmmaker known for his visionary approach and use of cutting-edge technology in cinema. Recently, we were both speakers at Festival de las Ideas in Puebla, Mexico, where he spoke about creativity and the creative process. On this episode, I share three big ideas that I drew from his speech that we can each apply to our work as creative professionals.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Cozy Earth: Named one of Oprah's favorite things in 2018, Cozy Earth's best-selling bamboo sheet set is temperature-regulating and incredibly soft. I absolutely love it! And now, you can get 35% off when you visity CozyEarth.com and use code ACCIDENTAL. Indeed: Indeed knows that when you’re doing everything for your company, you can’t afford to overspend on hiring. Visit Indeed.com/creative to start hiring now. Started From The Bottom: Success can mean a lot of things -- money, fame, family...even just making it to tomorrow. For every kind of success, there are those born close to it, and those who strive to reach the top. On Started From the Bottom, Justin Richmond interviews people with humble origins who scaled the summit of success. How did they beat the odds? Hear their stories in their own words -- from media firebrand Charlamagne Tha God, to personal finance guru Suze Orman. Listen to Started From the Bottom, wherever you get your podcasts.

What separates high achievers from everyone else? And perhaps more importantly for those who lead a team, how can you create an environment in which high achievers can thrive? On this episode Robert Glazer is here to share core principles from his new book Elevate Your Team. We discuss the four core capacities that high achieving people and teams exhibit, and some practices and disciplines that we can implement as leaders to help us position ourselves and our teams to thrive.Subscribe to my weekly newsletter 3 Things. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What do you do when you encounter a challenging problem that seems to have no immediate solution? Rather than simply pushing forward on the work in a traditional way, you might try to leverage a "workaround", or a less-direct method of solving the problem. Paulo Savaget has studied the tactics of many innovative organizations and has determined that there are four key workarounds that they often employ:The PiggybackThe LoopholeThe RoundaboutThe Next BestOn this episode, he shares a little about each of these tactics and how we can employ them each day as leaders and creative pros as we discuss the new book The Four Workarounds.Join my weekly email newsletter 3 Things. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The stories you believe shape your everyday behavior, including your collaboration and your ability to generate new ideas. Have you ever paused to consider the stories that are actually playing in your head?In this episode, Michael Hyatt shares insights about how your mindset affects your leadership, your intuition, and even your ability to stay physically healthy.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's tempting to want everything to line up before you're willing to commit to a project or opportunity. However, most of the time the valuable opportunities are those for which you may not yet feel fully prepared.In this episode, I share an experience from this week and why I chose to say "yes", then figure it out later. Great opportunities rarely arrive in safe, comfortable packages.Then, I interview Jonah Markowitz, who was the production designer on the new Showtime series George and Tammy. We discuss his process, what it took to bring over a hundred sets to life, and his advice for leaders who have to navigate complexity while navigating a large, multi-talented team.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You can develop your skills and experience, but without the proper mindset it can be difficult to accomplish your goals. On this episode, we discuss the core reasons why mindset is so important to creativity, leadership, and overall health.Then, we interview actor and author Anjali Bhimani about her book I Am Fun Size, her career, and how to develop a resilient mindset as an artist.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Most of us need good ideas consistently in order to do our work. Whatever your role, it's likely that it depends on your ability to solve problems consistently under pressure. But, where do those ideas come from?On today's show, I share a few ideas about the nature of emergent ideas - or what I call slowmergence. I share three questions that you should ask with any project, and three practices that will help you recognize ideas when they arrive.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are some natural tensions that creative pros must wrestle with in order to remain effective. One that I wrote about in The Accidental Creative is what I call the process vs. product tension, which describes the dynamic of compromising the process in order to pre-maturely shape the product to match pre-defined expectations. Instead, we must embrace the process, ask good questions, and pursue the problem. On the first part of this episode, I share some thoughts about how to embrace process.Today's interview features Uri Levine, founder of Waze and author of the new book Fall In Love With The Problem, Not The Solution. He shares how entprepreneurs and creative pros can embrace process in their pursuit of important problems rather than starting with a product and trying to make it fit the market. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are many things a good leader or collaborator does to help their team gain focus, stay motivated, and produce great work. However, there are also some very common mistakes that many leaders make that they don't even know are killing their team's ability to engage with their work. This is especially true when doing creative work, because it requires tremendous trust and an ability to take risks that could be costly to correct later.The better you are at setting good rails for your team, the more they will feel freedom to bring their best ideas and work to the table.Failing to define the (actual) problemJudging an idea on its presentation, not its meritsDoing everything in groupsI hope you enjoy the episode. Please let me know your thoughts. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I don’t like to say “no.” I think it’s partly because I tend to gravitate toward possibility rather than pragmatics. But that tendency to always look for new solutions has at times significantly hamstrung my creative process and has, in the past, seriously affected my ability to creatively lead teams.One of the most important disciplines that any of us can learn, especially if we create for a living, is to close doors.“What if?” is a fantastic question to ask early in the process, and can even help clarify our work as we progress through a project, but as we enter the middle and later stages of our work we must be disciplined enough to close doors on decisions that have already been made.The unfortunate result of not closing doors is that we can (1) be in perpetual brainstorm mode and unable to complete great work, (2) be constantly second-guessing past decisions and trying to correct perceived (or feared) mistakes or (3) be confusing in our articulation of creative strategy to our team or co-workers.It’s simple to close doors, but requires resolve. We have to be willing to say “no” to ideas that could potentially improve the work but could also do a lot of damage or be unfeasible. We also have to check our ego at the door, because a lot of these later-stage ideas offer us the chance to swoop in and appear heroic in crunch time. But it’s not worth the fire drill mindset that becomes engrained when we are constantly shifting strategy, especially within a creative team setting.Closing doors is critical in client work. It’s important to guide the client through the decisions that need to be made, then to let them know that we’re navigating forward and that old doors are no longer available unless the scope of the project changes. To do anything less is to create an unpredictable environment for your team and to provide less than the best for your clients.We need to honor the process and recognize that perpetual brainstorming mode on a specific project is not only ineffective, but can be significantly damaging to the climate on our teams. We need to get comfortable with making decisions and closing doors. At least, I know I do. It’s a work in progress.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Complexity can creep into your life and process largely unnoticed. Before long, you are attempting to leap hurdles and navigate around pointlessly complex obstacles just in order to do your work. On this episode, we discuss a few areas where you can seek simplicity in 2023 and some strategies for doing so:Your process and workflowYour relationships and leadershipYour space and toolsSeek simplicity on the other side of complexity.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

So much conflict and stress in organizational life, or just in life in general, is the result of missed or conflicting expectations. Sometimes, this is because expectations are not clearly articulated and there is a vacuum that needs to be filled. Everyone is living out their own assumptions, which means that “ghost rules”, or invisible and possibly unfounded narratives, emerge. Team members may resent one another and be completely unable to articulate why. It’s just some deep sense that they are being robbed in some capacity. In reality, it’s just that there are unmet expectations that may have never even been spoken. These unmet expectations aren’t limited to team life. They can also affect you personally. Today, I want to discuss a few ways in which our expectations can impact us heading into 2023 and how we can act to reduce miscommunication and misunderstandings for ourselves, our co-workers, and the teams that we lead. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You probably need new ideas consistently in order to do your job. Where do they come from? If you're like many people, you push pixels, midlessly scroll, or stare at the problem or just hope that you have a breakthrough before time runs out. What if there's a better way?On this episode, I share a technique I use called "nonsense notebooks". I use freewriting and review to connect patterns that I often miss because I'm simply too busy.Then, I interview Mike Rohde on the 10th anniversary of his book The Sketchnote Handbook to discuss how sketching ideas can lead to breakthroughs, even if you're not an artist. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Download a packet to help you answer all twelve questions in this series at ToddHenry.com/2023questions.If you don't set markers for growth you will drift. How will you be different this time next year? In this final episode of our three part series, I offer up four questions to ask as you make plans for the coming year.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Download the packet to help you follow along with these questions at ToddHenry.com/2023questions. "The unexamined life is not worth living" is a saying attributed to Socrates. If you fail to understand why things happened the way they did, you are doomed to drift.In this episode, I offer four questions to ask as you look back at the past year that will help you understand what happened and why and will also help you as you make plans for 2023.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

To get a worksheet for this mini-series, visit ToddHenry.com/2023questions.Now's the time when many people begin to make plans for the coming year. However, just setting big, indiscriminate goals without first assessing how things currently are is a recipe for failure.This week, I'm releasing three shorter episodes to help you prepare for 2023. In today's episode, I offer up four questions to help you self-assess and develop self-awareness with regard to your ambitions and current situation. Over the next two mini-episodes, I'll share eight additional questions to help you plan for the coming year.Make sure you follow the show in order to get each episode as it's released.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In aerodynamics, when an airplane has structural integrity it means that all of the parts are working together as a whole. It is intact. If there is a violation of that structural integrity, you are likely to experience a problem.Similarly, integrity in our lives and leadership means that all of our individual parts are integrated, or intact and whole. What is on the inside is what's on the outside. Integrity is critical both for effective leadership and for valuable creativity. Your intuition functions best when you are intact.Today's guest, Dr. Martha Beck, is a NY Times Best-selling author of many books. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her "one of the smartest women I know." Her newest book is called The Way Of Integrity, and on this episode we discuss how the pursuit of integrity affects life, leadership, and your body of work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In order to confront uncertainty every day, creative pros need to muster the ability to be clear even when they are not positive their idea is the right one. This requires bravery, because creative risk means the potential of failure.How do we as pros, as leaders, and as organizations foster an environment within which bravery is likely to occur? In this recording from my STORY Conference talk, I share a few qualities that lead to creative courage and a few tactical things we can do to ensure we are positioned to act in the face of our doubts.At the beginning of the episode, I also share some strategies for tackling your 2023 goals with more precision.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

On this episode, I answer several questions sent in by listeners.Want to ask a question? If we use it I'll send you a Daily Creative t-shirt. Ask your questionHere's what we cover on today's episode:How do teams better take into account the execution of an idea at the moment when that idea is being selected? What principles from my books should teachers (or parents of children) focus on implementing with kids?What year-end rituals do I recommend for prepping for a great new year? Are generalists and specialists both valuable in the workplace?What should you do when you're thinking about giving up on a project or idea?How do you motivate people who aren't being paid for the work they do, but you still need to lead them?A few resources mentioned in this episode: My 2023 4 Questions guideEmily Wapnick's talk on Multipotentialites Range (book) The Dip (book)Austin Kleon's 100 Things post ReadwiseAlso, my new book Daily Creative is available now. [convertkit_form form="2864456"]Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does it take to lead talented, creative people effectively? This is an important question to all of us because either (a) we are in the position where we have to lead others every day and what they need from us is often a mystery, or (b) we are being led by someone and we really REALLY wish they understood us better.As you may know, I wrote a book about this topic a few years ago called Herding Tigers. My ambition in writing that book was to be as direct and practical as I possibly could be about the realities of creative leadership. I dislike theory and I crave practical wisdom.That’s why I invited today’s guest on the show - there are few people with more practical creative leadership experience than Adam Morgan. Adam is an Executive Creative Director at Adobe, with experience in creativity, strategy, and storytelling for 24 years. In 2020, AdWeek named him one of the “Creative 100”—the top inspiring creative minds in marketing, media, and culture—in the world. He’s the author of the book, “Sorry Spock, Emotion Drives Business,” that proves the value of creativity and design with hard science. He’s a keynote speaker at conferences and events on the topics of creative leadership and content creation. And the host of the podcast, Real Creative Leadership, that offers inspiration and guidance on the day-to-day job of being a creative leader.In this episode, Adam and I have a free flowing conversation about the nature of leading teams in this present reality. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I was nine years old when my grandfather died. I still remember the funeral, not really understanding exactly what was happening, but knowing that I wasn’t going to get the chance ever again to throw football with, watch cartoons with, or make something cool with him ever again. Ever. That’s a tough concept for a nine year old to grasp.After the funeral, we all filed to our cars for the procession to the cemetery. It seemed like we were barely creeping along, through our small town, around a corner, and up a hill to make our way out to the small country church where he was to be buried. As we turned the corner I saw – in the distance – some curious activity on the side of the road. It looked like a crowd had gathered to watch a parade, but it wasn’t a holiday. At the time it seemed like hundreds of people, though I now realize it was probably more like a few dozen. As we neared the crowd, my parents had difficulty containing their emotion. I noticed that many of the people gathered on the side of the road had removed their hats and were holding them over their heart. Others were simply standing at attention, paying one final tribute to my grandfather.After we passed the crowd, I asked my father “Dad, who were those people?”My father replied, “That was Pennington Bakery, son. Your Grandpa worked there every day for thirty years. He was the hardest worker I’ve ever known.”My grandfather didn’t have a college education. When he graduated from high school in 1945 he immediately enlisted in the Navy and was sent to the Pacific. Upon returning he married my grandmother, and after a few other jobs, landed at the bakery. He wasn’t a formally trained electrician, yet according to my father he wired the entire bakery and did many things that would make engineers scratch their heads in wonder. (And probably things that he couldn’t get away with today!)Everyone who knew him would testify that he set the bar for excellence. He demanded a lot of others, and of himself. He poured himself fully into whatever he was doing, whether that meant his job, his family, or as a volunteer coach of many sports teams over the course of his life. Even as he was ravaged with late-stage cancer, he never complained as he joyfully helped me complete a woodworking project and went about life as usual. His final concerns, as expressed to my father, were not about himself or the pain he was experiencing, but about ensuring that his many outstanding commitments to others would be covered. My grandfather’s grave marker is very simple, with no fancy epitaphs. If you’d have asked him what he wanted on his tombstone, he would have laughed at you.His legacy wasn’t his work at the bakery, and wasn’t his service in the navy, or any of the other things he dedicated his life to.His legacy was people.My children never met my grandfather, yet in many ways they see him daily. I was deeply shaped and informed by his patience, his work ethic, and his entrepreneurial drive. They see him in me. I am part of his legacy.So what does this mean to us?Leadership and legacy are not just what you do, but also how you do it. It will be determined by a series of choices you make over your life about how to spend this moment – here, and now. The challenging thing is that each moment feels like a throwaway, because another one follows closely on its heels. How you choose to engage here and now speaks more to your character than whatever residual stuff you leave in your trail.Rather than asking “what do I want on my tombstone?”, which is nothing but a cold, dead piece of stone, ask yourself “who will gather by the road just to catch a glimpse as my hearse passes by?” Who will you impact so deeply that they will continue your work even after you are gone?Who will you...

Time is the currency of productivity. How we spend it is - in effect - how we spend our lives. But often we can allow time to simply slip through our fingers and find that no matter how hard we may work, it feels like we’re simply falling behind. It’s almost like we’re running on a treadmill that someone occasionally comes and moves slightly closer to our objectives, but we never seem to arrive.Today’s show is all about leveraging time effectively. In the first part, I’m going to share why some common advice we hear is not entirely accurate.In today’s interview, we have return guest and best-selling author Laura Vanderkam. Laura’s work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, City Journal, Fortune, and Fast Company. Her new book is called Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters, and it offers specific strategies for carving space for what’s most important. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Some of the most effective ideas are those that solve a problem you are personally experiencing. If you have a need, it’s likely others have the same need as well. But often, we gloss over those moments of insight because it seems too daunting to act, or maybe we assume that someone else is probably working on it anyway.But, what if they’re not? What if your idea is truly an opportunity, if you’re willing to do something about it?Today’s guest didn’t just let his idea sit on a shelf. Instead, he acted and founded a company that has now grown into a multi-billion dollar company. His name is Mike Evans, and on today’s show he shares how an unfortunate encounter with an armpit on a bus ride home from work turned into the motivation to found the company Grubhub.Mike’s new book about his entrepreneurial journey is called Hangry, and is available now. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you were to choose just one metric by which to measure your success, what would it be?Revenue? Well, we all know that revenue can be a tricky KPI because it doesn’t say anything about profitability. If I make a million dollars while spending two million, it doesn’t really mean much.Product shipped? Again, this doesn’t speak to the efficiency of my operation.Today’s guest argues that for any organization, there’s only one metric that truly matters. It’s what he calls Idea Flow. His name is Jeremy Utley. As the Director of Executive Education at Stanford's renowned d.school, his courses have been experienced by nearly a million students of innovation worldwide. On today’s show, he shares why Idea Flow is the one thing you should be paying attention to in your organization. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The stats on the amount of information we encounter each day are staggering. And, the effects on adult humans are substantial. Researchers estimate that the adult attention span has decreased by about 12 minutes in the past decade.You have an average of 70,000 thoughts in a day. According to research cited in an article in Fast Company, in 2011 Americans took in five times as much information every day as they did in 1986—the equivalent of 174 newspapers.So, it’s no wonder that those of us who have to synthesize all of that and turn it into something valuable for our clients or organization might feel a little… overwhelmed. How could we possibly begin to organize all of that data?Today’s guest will help us begin to do that. His name is Tiago Forte and he’s the author of the best-selling book Building a Second Brain. On today’s show, we discuss a practical way to collect, organize, and share information in a way that allows us to retain our sanity and become more effective as creative pros.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Everyone can see success coming well in advance, right? Of course not. When you're in the fray, you're often just trying to hold things together and get through this project, this week, or this year. It's only in retrospect that success seems inevitable.On today's episode, I share an essay from the Leader List (sign up for free!) about Mick Jagger's assessment of the future success of the Rolling Stones and how it relates to our own creative work and leadership.Then, we have a fascinating conversation with Joey Cofone, founder of Baron Fig and author of the new book The Laws of Creativity.My new book Daily Creative is available now wherever books are sold. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We have heard the phrase "back to normal" often over the past year. But, is there really any such thing as normal? Now that we have had a taste of virtual and hybrid work, will we ever return to the way things were pre-2020?Today's guest is Mitch Joel. He's the author of several books, the host of the Six Pixels of Separation podcast, and an acclaimed thought leader on the future of work. On this episode, we discuss where we have been, where we are, and what the future might hold for creative pros as we try to reconcile remote work with all of its possible tradeoffs.My book Daily Creative is available now wherever books are sold. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How you manage your time is often a key indicator of your success or failure. However, many of us think about time in terms of efficiency rather than effectiveness. What if a slight tweak in how we think about our time might be all we need in order to drastically improve our productivity and our sense of well-being?Today's guest is Jenny Blake. Her new book Free Time offers strategies for leveraging time for deeper productivity, a better sense of purpose and flow, and a healthier overall life. Learn more about Jenny at ItsFreeTime.com.My book Daily Creative is available now wherever books are sold.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What makes a great team... great? This is a question that many leaders wrestle with, and the complexity of the problem often causes them to settle for quick and easy solutions rather than really instilling a culture of excellence.In this interview, John U. Bacon shares his experience coaching the worst high school hockey team in the US and helping them become one of the best. He shares several principles that he applied or learned in the midst of his coaching experience, and how they apply to our own leadership and collaborations. John U. Bacon's book is called Let Them Lead.Todd Henry's new book Daily Creative is available now wherever books are sold. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to do your best creative work, you must learn to protect your "idea factory". This is the source of your deepest insights and value. A few years ago, I came across the Walt Disney business model from 1957. I liked it so much that I found a copy, framed it, and put it on my wall.The reason that I love this business model so much is because everything about it centers around the creative output of the film studio. I have taken to calling this the "idea factory", because I think that's the most appropriate phrase for it. Walt Disney recognized that all of the value that the company creates ultimately came down to its ability to protect its idea factory. On today's show, we're going to talk about some ways that you identify and protect your own idea factory.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

My new book Daily Creative is available now wherever books are sold. Today's guest is Pat Hazell. Pat is the Chief Creative Officer at Sweetwood Creative and the host of the Creativity in Captivity podcast, where I was a recent guest. Showtime declared Pat one of the five funniest people in America. His 25 years of experience as a writer, producer, and director have made them a go-to guy for new American theater. Pat is one of the original writers for Seinfeld, a Tonight Show veteran, and he's a critically acclaimed playwright and contributing commentator to NPR. On today's show, we talk about the creative process, where good ideas come from, and how to decide if an idea is truly good especially when you're under pressure.This episode is sponsored by ConversionCopywriting.comThis episode is sponsored by Athletic GreensMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There is no shortage of advice about how to handle the start of a project, or how to push through and finish one, but what about that grey area in-between? What about the challenges and problems we encounter in the space between? On this replay episode, Scott Belsky is back to share wisdom from his fantastic new book The Messy Middle that will help you navigate the most challenging pitfalls of any creative endeavor.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Daily Creative releases on September 6th! Pre-order now to receive the audiobook for free, or pre-order 2+ copies and get Daily Creative delivered each day as an email or podcast episode. Learn more or register your pre-order at DailyCreativeBook.com.On this episode, I share two entries from the book Daily Creative. First, we discuss the nature of uncomfortable questions and why we often avoid them. Then, we address the dynamic of unnecessary complexity and how we can weed it out of our life and systems.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

My new book Daily Creative is available now! Pre-order and get special bonuses, only available through launch. What do you do first thing? Is there any intentionality about how to enter your day? For the past twenty years, I've engaged in the exact same morning routine, and it's been both a calibrator and a life saver in many ways. In this episode, I share the elements of my morning routine and offer some thoughts about how to craft your own. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Some of what we think we know about relationships is actually... wrong. So many of the tried and true axioms that are passed along are simply not helpful. We need to better understand what the research truly says if we want to be better collaborators, better leaders, and better human beings.Eric Barker is the best-selling author of a new book Plays Well With Others. In this episode, he shares some common misunderstandings about relationships and how we can each learn to be better at making them work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What if the thing you do is highly competitive? How do you get noticed? On this episode, Amos Heller (touring bass player for Taylor Swift and many other artists) shares how he went from barista to touring bass player and some things he learned along the way that anyone can use to gain a foothold in a competitive industry.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever considered whether the work you’re doing today will still be around in five years? How about ten or twenty years? Many people don’t think strategically about how to create work that will resonate deeply for a long time to come. In this interview from 2017,  Ryan Holiday discusses his book Perennial Seller that examines work that lasts and how it is created and marketed. In the interview, we discuss not just how to make work that stands the test of time, but how to structure your life so that you have the margin you need to create proactively and not just reactively.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I have been waiting for this announcement for over a year. Last Thursday I sent an announcement to all of our subscribers of 3 Things, my Sunday email that goes out each week with three creative sparks, that I've been working on a secret book during the pandemic. In fact, the book is about twice as long as any of my previous books and I wrote it in about a third of the time. It was quite a push. The main reason why I wrote this book is because I noticed that a lot of people around me - creative pros at all levels of their game - were struggling to stay engaged and focused during the pandemic. However, those who seemed to endure and even thrive in the midst of the uncertainty were those who had daily practices to sustain them. A phrase popped into my head: Talent may get you a seat at the table, but it's your daily practices that keep you in the game. What you do every day matters most.So my new book, Daily Creative, is designed to help you do just that. It features 366 daily essays covering everything from mindset to tools to creative sparks to leadership. It's designed to be your daily companion as a creative pro. In fact, one early reader told me "It's like having my own personal coach in the mornings." That's exactly what I was aiming for.Why are daily practices important?1. They keep you micro-aligned. When you're doing complex, uncertain work, it's easy to drift. Just a few small deviations from your intended course seem like no big deal, but those deviations amplify over time and can carry you far from where you intended to end up. So, by doing a daily check-in on both your mindset and your practices, you ensure that you're at least making intentional decisions about your course.2. They develop resilience. How do you increase your capacity? By doing hard things. By asking hard questions. By pushing beyond your comfort. Daily practices force you to do things you may not always feel like doing, but that will increase the likelihood you'll persist in the face of resistance. You train yourself to do hard things.3. They refine your perspective and productive passion. You are smarter than you think. You know much more than you think. However, much of what you know is beneath the surface of your consciousness. It's on the level of intuition. When you're under pressure, you are likely to ignore those intuitive hunches because they're inconvenient. A daily practice forces you to slow down, listen to your thoughts, and be shaped by your intuition. So, even though the book doesn't release until September 6th, I'm asking you to pre-order it now. Pre-orders are a huge part of the early success of a book, which is why so many authors ask you for them. So, I've put together a bunch of pretty great bonuses as a thank you for those who pre-order.For example, you can get the audiobook version for free. Or, you can actually start reading the book RIGHT NOW by receiving it as a daily email.Learn how to get these bonuses at dailycreativebook.com. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Everyone desires to make an impact through their work. But, there are some creative pros who seem to constantly separate themselves from their peers by delivering greater value. How can you become one of these impact players?Today's guest is Liz Wiseman. She's the best-selling author of several books, including Impact Players: How to Take The Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever considered launching out into your own business? If so, today is just for you. We have on the show Jeffrey Shaw, author of The Self-Employed Life. We discuss everything from how to know when to make the leap to how to sustain yourself each day as a self-employed entrepreneur. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As I mentioned a few episodes ago, if I had to choose one gift to impart upon every person I meet – one master key that unlocks their potential – it would be bravery. We need radical bravery in our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and – God help us – in our politics. If more people committed to making brave choices daily, we would see stronger, more effective teams, less corruption, less unhealthy conflict, and more progress on the societal issues that truly matter.Organizations need leaders committed to cultivating a culture of bravery, and who themselves are making brave choices in the face of uncertainty. The marketplace needs more business owners who are willing to step up and do the right thing for their employees and their communities, even at the risk of personal cost. And, society needs more people to cultivate brave, empathetic relationships with people who think differently from them.More than almost any other place, our workplaces need brave leaders. We need people who are committed to standing in the gap, protecting their people, and fighting for the mission of the organization even at personal expense. Here are a few principles that brave leaders abide by:Brave leaders assume accountability for their actions. Many leaders revel in the glory that comes with success, but brave leaders are also willing to put themselves on the line and be accountable when their actions fail. Many are familiar with Dwight Eisenhower’s letter to the Allied troops on the eve of the D-Day invasion in June 1944. It begins, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” Inspiring leadership, for sure. However, fewer people are aware that Eisenhower wrote a second letter, only to be delivered in the event of an unsuccessful landing.“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”Brave leaders are willing to accept responsibility for their actions, including their failures. Are you avoiding accountability for your actions, or pointing fingers at others when you fall short?Brave leaders have the uncomfortable conversation.​ It’s far easier to avoid difficult chats with direct reports, but brave leaders recognize that it’s more important to be effective than to be liked. It’s never comfortable to discuss performance issues, to deliver uncomfortable news, or to challenge someone’s attitude, but these are the kinds of conversations that brave leaders (cautiously and wisely) step into because they know that their position demands it. Is there an uncomfortable conversation you need to have, but have been avoiding? Brave leaders speak truth to power. ​As a leader, you must be willing to defend important principles when you perceive they are being “ground up” in the organizational gears. Cowards “go with the flow”, especially when  speaking up might mean losing their organizational standing, but brave leaders are willing to abide by their principles even at personal cost. As my friend riCardo Crespo often says, “you can’t lie to the person in the mirror.” Brave leaders can look themselves in the face every day knowing that they are living out their principles and standing up for what they believe to be proper and just. What principles are you willing to defend, even if it affects your reputation or position?Brave leaders put their resources where their mouth is. ​Cowards say bold things, but are always hedging their bets. Brave leaders are willing to put themselves on the line by resourcing the...

There are two distinct walls that we encounter in the creative process. The first is what Steven Pressfield calls Resistance. It's the barrier that keeps us from getting started with our most challenging work. But, there is also a second wall. It's the one we hit when we've achieved a little momentum, and we're tempted to quit. We must learn to push through this wall in order to consistently produce our best creative work.In this episode, we share a few strategies for pushing through the second wall.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's been a long year, and many creative pros are experiencing some level of creative burnout. It's taken everything we have to deliver on expectations over the past year, and as we now return to a sense of "normal", the uncertainty and expectations are likely to rise even more.On this episode, I offer six tips for dealing with those moments when you feel overwhelmed and burned out. 1. Pause and organize2. Clear the decks3. Re-prioritize4. Time block5. Care physically6. Re-root in your productive passionMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Technology is an extension of your capacity to accomplish your will. So, it gives you a “longer lever” when you want to move big rocks. However, we are finding that technology is encroaching upon us in ways we couldn’t have anticipated ten years ago. It’s more difficult to find the space necessary to do the important, creative work we’re tasked with.Today’s guest is Cal Newport. His 2019 book Digital Minimalism challenged all of us with tips for dealing with technological encroachment. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever wondered where great ideas come from, and whether it's possible to have them more consistently, especially when you need them most?On The Accidental Creative podcast, host Todd Henry (author of six books including The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Herding Tigers, and Daily Creative) offers practical tips to help you navigate the challenges of the modern workplaceWith a fresh episode every week featuring conversations with brilliant creative professionals, you'll learn how to stay on track, nurture your creativity and become a more effective problem solver. So listen to The Accidental Creative podcast, wherever you get your podcasts or visit Todd henry.com to learn more.

In the creative process, one of the silent killers is expectation escalation.It’s very important that we have a healthy understanding of our abilities and developmental opportunities, but for some of us, myself included, our expectations of ourselves and our work is our greatest competitor to full, free creativity.In his work On Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins writes of a phenomenon in the mind called the “invariant representation”. This is a mental construct that represents the ultimate form of whatever subject we are considering. In other words, and this is greatly simplified, the ultimate chair, table, lamp, etc., all exist in our mind in some form and are used to compare all of our experiences to determine what we are seeing and experiencing. The same thing happens with our art. We create mental constructs, or invariant representations, of what great work would look like, and often these are so high and perfect that it would be nearly impossible to achieve them. When we do this, we not only limit ourselves creatively, we also lose all sense of awe and wonder in the creative process. Creativity is about constant discovery. It’s the process of continually opening wrapped packages to discover what’s inside. Yes, it is work, but the work is often lost in obsessive and focused discovery. When we fall prey to the silent killer of expectations, we are much like a kid opening a present on their birthday, certain that there’s a cool video game inside the box, only to find socks or a lame rugby shirt. In that moment, all momentum is lost, and for us, all creative momentum goes away in favor of the practical effort required to get our project to match our invariant representation.We can pick up unhealthy expectations from three unique sources, and each requires its own remedy:1. Our heroes. Many of us began making art in whatever form because we were inspired by others to do so. In other words, we experienced the art of someone great - someone who had been pursuing the path to uniqueness and found their voice - and we were inspired to begin along the same path. When we did, we started off by imitating, (passive imitation phase of the uniqueness curve), and began to diverge and experiment with our own style. When we do this, however, the pressure we feel is often to force our experiment to fit the mold of something our heroes would do. To say it differently, our experimentation with new forms and styles begins to feel forced because it’s something new, and we are tempted or possibly feel pressure to bend our work to fit the mold of someone else. Or, worse than that, we think our work is no good because it doesn’t seem to measure up to some invisible standard we’ve set based upon our experience of other peoples’ work. In his incredible book, Free Play, Stephen Nachmanovich writes, “It’s great to sit on the shoulders of giants, but don’t let the giants sit on YOUR shoulders! There’s no room for their legs to dangle.”In other words, we can carry the weight of our heroes on our shoulders and feel the burden to carry their work forward in some way. When we do this, we are denying our own creative skills and passions and trying to live up to someone else’s standard. Be encouraged, though. Every accomplished artist at some point doubts their abilities. Every great artists wonders if they should be doing something else. The brilliant and prolific ones, however, don’t allow those thoughts to prevent the creative process from taking form. They continue to make in the midst of their doubts.Make in the midst of your doubts. Don’t allow others’ work to cause you to doubt your own. Know yourself and your abilities. Continue to push on and make with a confidence that what is there is valid simply because it’s there.2. Our own work. When we’ve seen a degree of success in our work, it’s easy to allow our greatest...

We live in an age in which we often only see the best aspects of the lives of others. People share their successful destination, but not the (often difficult) journey they took to get there. This leaves many people thinking there's a missing "manual" that everyone else has but they somehow overlooked.Today's guest is Josh Peck. His new memoir Happy People Are Annoying shares his journey from child star to acting alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. We discuss why growing up as a child of a single mother impacted how he thought about business, great advice he received from Sir Ben Kingsley, and why love of craft is about more than just a feeling but is a deeper sense of connection to the work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Twyla Tharp once wrote “Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits.” If we want to succeed, we need good habits.On the flip side, Warren Buffet said “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken”, meaning that our bad habits often don’t seem that bad until they get to the point where we can no longer easily break them.So if habits are that important, understanding how they are formed, changed, and broken is crucial if we want to be prolific, brilliant, and healthy in life and in work.On today’s show we have a guest who can help us better understand the habits that form the foundation of our success or failure. His name is James Clear, and he’s released a book called Atomic Habits, which is about the small changes we can make in our daily life to create big change on the other side. It’s a guidebook to healthier habits in life and work, and our conversation with James is coming up in just a moment.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What is a “culture”? We hear that word tossed around in organizations all the time, but it’s often difficult to know what people even mean when they say that word. Worse, managers often talk about building or growing a great culture without a full understanding of what a great culture might even look like.Today’s guest is Daniel Coyle. He’s spent many years studying culture and has written a few best-selling books on the topic, including The Culture Code. On this episode, he shares his definition of culture and offers practical tips for building a great one from his new book The Culture Playbook.  Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does it mean to be successful? I wrote in my book Die Empty that how you define greatness defines you, meaning that what you aspire to - even if you haven’t clearly articulated what it is - will shape how you go about your days and determine your priorities for you. If you don’t have a clear understanding of what success actually means to you, it’s possible to spend your entire life chasing vapor.Today’s guest is one of the most respected coaches on the planet. Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is the author or editor of 41 books, which have sold over 2.5 million copies, been translated into 32 languages and become listed bestsellers in 12 countries. He is one of a select few executive advisors who has worked with over 200 major CEOs and their management teams. His new book is called The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment, in which he discusses the patterns of people who grow a life of meaning and purpose. In this episode, we discuss the nature of an “earned life” and how to be more purposeful in life and work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You have four finite resources to spend on behalf of what matters: focus, assets, time, and energy. How you allocate these four resources will often determine your success or failure. How intentional are you about making plans to spend them in the right places?On this episode, I share a simply 5-step method for planning your day that I've been using for years:Plan your weekReview your goals and "main things"Plan your dayReview your dayReveiw your weekMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you create, you likely aren’t doing it just for yourself. You are probably making things - whether a product, a message, a work of art, or even a strategy - for someone else. You create in order to get some kind of response from the person who experiences your work. An emotion.This is especially true in the world of brand strategy. Your brand is not what you say it is, it’s the impression - the emotion - it generates in the person experiencing it. On this episode, former Nike CMO Greg Hoffman shares how you can craft strong, compelling creative work that resonates deeply with your audience. His new book is called Emotion by Design. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's one thing to perform at your peak ability, but another thing altogeter to sustain that performance over time. How to peak performers continue to produce great work over long periods of time? Today's guest, Alan Stein, Jr., is the author of the new book Sustain Your Game. In this conversation we discuss how top performers think about time and opportunity, and how they develop mental toughness. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The words “love” and “work” are rarely used in the same sentence. Work is comprised of those tasks we have to do in order to make a living, while love is used to describe those activities driven by passion. But what if love and work don’t have to be mutually exclusive? What if we can discover what we love through our work, not in spite of it?Today’s guest is international best-selling author Marcus Buckingham. He believes that love and work are not mutually exclusive, and that you can - in fact - do your best work when you understand what you love. We discuss why work is not just about a job, how to discover your “wyrd”, and why George Clooney’s sister doesn’t act. Marcus Buckingham’s new book is called Love And Work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Whether you realize it or not, you are constantly sending signals to everyone around you. These signals tell others whether or not you are interested, whether or not you are interesting, whether you truly believe what you’re saying or if you’re just faking it, whether you’re confident or insecure, and whether or not they should hire or do business with you.Today’s guest, Vanessa Van Edwards, calls these signals “cues”, and she argues in her new book of the same name that we can actually learn to identify them in others and even shape our own cues to better connect with co-workers and friends. In this episode, we discuss the role of charisma in life and work, and how cues affect our communication and effectiveness. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Ten years ago, Austin Kleon released his book Steal Like An Artist. Over the past decade, it's become a must-read classic for anyone wishing to produce great creative work. In celebration of the release of the 10-year Anniversatry edition of the book, we invited Austin back on the show to discuss what he's learned since the release of the book, how creative pros should respond to culture, why we all need editors, and the hidden dangers of success.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We are at this very moment in a season of transition. Philosophers call this "liminal space", from the Latin word "limen" which means "threshold". It's a season in which something is ending, but the next thing has not yet begun. Many creative pros feel like this describes the season we are all experiencing. The pandemic is ending, but the transition back to office has not yet occurred. Demand is creeping upward, but supply can't yet keep pace. The job market is shifting, but hasn't yet settled.What do you do when you're in this "liminal space"? On this episode, I share four key things that all of us can do right now to remain effective:Care for your rhythmsDevelop a skillIgnore the noise but mind the patternsProtect your optimism and sense of agency.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

"The Great Resignation". That's what they're calling the re-shuffling that's happening across many industries right now. Over the past few years, I've worked closely with a number of companies and have discovered that there are five key reasons why many creative people are choosing to leave their job right now, even when it's not in their own best interest to do so. On this episode, I share these five reasons, and offer some practical advice both for managers and creative pros about how to deal with them.Overly Controlling ManagerNo Clear Path of AdvancementOrganization Is Out Over Its SkisToxic CultureThey Are Not Seen/Known.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What do you do when you have a ton of important creative work to do, and are feeling stressed about your ability to get it done? My solution is to plan a "cave day", which is basically a block of time dedicated to doing deep work. On this episode, I share a few best practices for planning and executing a "cave day", then we interview Molly Sonteng, co-founder of CaveDay.org, about what she's learned from leading group work sessions. Why should you intentionally go "into the cave"?You have time dedicated to what matters mostSo much of our stress is not knowing when and how the work will get doneYou eliminate the possibility of the tyranny of the urgentYou psychologically orient yourself toward your biggest prioritiesYou perform better when your mind is able to connect dotsYour creative intuition and your senses are honed when you are doing "deep work"You notice nuances that you overlook when you are distractedYou channel your resources like a riverHow to go "into the cave":Literally make your space like a caveLow lightingImmersive soundSensory deprivationHave a cave-entering ritualLight a candle or play some musicRe-affirm your objectivesSet a time limit.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

She calls herself a "creator and destroyer of worlds". Lisa Soper is a production designer and animator, whose most recent work is with James Gunn on the new HBO Max series Peacemaker. In this conversation we discuss her career path, why her process always begins with pencil and paper, and how she manages to bring spaces to life while managing the ideas and expectations of other creative pros on the set. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does the word "wonder" mean to you? If you want to experience more creative breakthroughs in life and work, cultivating a sense of awe and possibility is an absolute necessity. But where does wonder come from, and how can we experience more of it each day?Today's guest is Jeffrey Davis. His new book Tracking Wonder is about how to pursue wonder each day. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In the past decade, I've been a guest on hundreds of radio shows and podcasts, and occasionally I have such a good time I want to invite the host onto The Accidental Creative for a chat about creativity. Jay Clouse is the host of the Creative Elements podcast where he interviews creative pros about how they do what they do. In this episode, we discuss the nature of creating under pressure and how to carve a unique career path that is gratifying and valuable to others. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever noticed the little voice inside your head? What does it say to you, especially when you are doing your work? Sometimes that internal voice can turn against us and stand in the way of effectiveness.On this episode, Dr. Ethan Kross teaches about the nature of chatter and what we can do about it. His new book is called Chatter. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Why do some people seem to have a deep well of confidence when entering challenging moments, and others seem to shrink away from opportunity? More importantly, how can you develop the mindset habits that lead to improved clarity and confidence in moments that matter most?Today's guest is Dr. Nate Zinsser. He is a professor at West Point an the author of the new book The Confident Mind. In this episode, we discuss how confidence affects everything from creativity to collaboration and career choices.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It’s bound to happen sooner or later. No matter how skilled you are and no matter how well you’ve prepared, you’re inevitably going to find yourself stuck on a tough problem without a clear path forward.It’s tempting in these circumstances to keep your nose down and continue cranking on the problem. The problem with this method is that you may be digging yourself deeper into an existing rut.Sometimes it’s valuable to have a set of questions at the ready to help you reframe, shift, or view the problem through a different window. Below is a set of questions that have been used in various situations to jog new creative thoughts about stubborn problems. The questions can be used on your own but are especially valuable in the context of a team.We have to be willing to immerse ourselves in the process to get to the deeply valuable ideas that reside just on the other side of stasis.Choose a project you’re stuck on, and ask these questions:Is an assumption in the way?What is the worst-case scenario?Could I do the opposite?How can I thrill the end user?What am I afraid of?Do I understand why?Where else has something similar been done?What is expected and why?Who has something to lose?Who is the enemy, and how do we foil them?Who could solve this problem with ease and how?How would my favorite superhero do it?How would my favorite movie character do it?Could I change the medium?Could I ask the question differently?How would a third grader approach this problem?What question do I need to answer first?Is there a resource I’m lacking?How would I describe the problem in three words?Are there subproblems to the main problem?What’s the world like once the problem’s solved?Who can I call for help?Can I create a metaphor for the problem?How would I start over?What’s the primary block and why?Refuse to remain stuck. Ask new questions to spark new insights.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you ever feel like you don't really belong in the room? Like your ideas just aren't as good as everyone else's? Like everyone else seems to have it figured out and you don't?You're not alone. The number one struggle that many teams I work with have is a lack of creative confidence, whether in presenting ideas or taking risks. On this episode, I discuss three key causes of a lack of creative confidence and one valuable strategy for overcoming each.

When I ask "what is the one thing that stands in the way of your productivity?" the most common answer get is "I don't have enough time!" But...really? We each have the same amount of time - 168 hours a week. It's not so much about the quantity of time as it is about how we choose to leverage it.In this episode, I share three big time blocking strategies that you can implement to help you produce better creative work in 2022. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If I had to choose one gift to impart upon every person I meet - one master key that unlocks their potential - it would be bravery. We need radical bravery in our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and in our politics. If more people committed to making brave choices daily, we would see stronger, more effective teams, less corruption, less unhealthy conflict, and more progress on the societal issues that truly matter.Organizations need leaders committed to cultivating a culture of bravery, and who themselves are making brave choices in the face of uncertainty. The marketplace needs more business owners who are willing to step up and do the right thing for their employees and their communities, even at the risk of personal cost. And, society needs more people to cultivate brave, empathetic relationships with people who think differently from them.My ambition with this episode is to inspire an epidemic of everyday bravery both in and out of the workplace.Here's to creative bravery in 2022!Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Needless complexity is often an enemy of the creative process. In this episode, we share three ways to seek simplicity in your life and work in 2022:ProcessesExpectationsAssumptionsGet a worksheet to help you apply this framework here. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's that time of year when many people start thinking about their goals, where their life and work will go in the coming year, and changes they might want to make. There are four questions that I've been pondering lately, and on this episode I share them, explain them, and offer my thoughts about how to apply them to help you calibrate your focus and time in 2022.What is my "defining question"?What do I know, but am afraid to admit?How do I want to grow?What is being asked of me?To get the worksheet for this episode, visit AccidentalCreative.com/2022.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You can create the most wonderful product or service in the world, but if no one knows about it then it will certainly fail to gain traction. You must be able to find your ideal customer, and figure out how to connect with them in a way that compels them to interact with your work. Today's guest is Pamela Slim. In her new book The Widest Net, she shares a simple framework for getting your work into the world and connecting with those who are likely to love it.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Like many bright, creative professionals, you likely have a lot of ideas. Big ideas. You know where you want to go, but the first challenge is often the most duanting. Where do you even begin?Today’s guest has accomplished a lot of big things. He’s a Rhodes Scholar, successful consultant, author of the international best-selling book The Coaching Habit, and also the author of the new book How To Begin. In this episode, he shares a practical, step-by-step method for moving your big ideas forward.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As a creative pro, you must be ready to deliver great results at a moment's notice, whenever and wherever you happen to be. That pressure can wear you down and cause burnout, frustration, and disconnectedness from your work. In order to thrive, you need to figure out how to structure life and work in such a way that you are poised to produce great work when the opportunity arises.Today's guest has spent years studying the nature of the mind. Dr. Amishi Jha is a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Miami, and the author of a new book called Peak Mind. In this conversation, she shares how anyone can better hone their attention and train their mind to operate at its best consistently.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you define a "rich life"? Have you ever even considered the question? Many creative pros spend their career chasing after something... undefined. What are you trying to achieve in life and work?Today's guest has spent decades helping others define what a "rich life" means. Ramit Sethi is the author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich and the host of the podcast of the same name. In this episode we discuss how to make wise career choices, how our beliefs about money can unknowingly limit us, and how to talk with our stakeholders about important decisions.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When I ask creative pros what prevents them from sharing their idea, or putting work into the world, it's often that they fear the work isn't good enough. Or, that they aren't good enough. Or, that they just don't really belong in the room. On this episode, we discuss how fear can paralyze you and some specific strategies for limiting its grip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Creative pros are by nature builders. We love to make things, play with ideas, and put new concepts into the world where they can be experienced by others. But, the process of building new things can be daunting, and selecting which ideas to build can be confusing.Today's guest is a certainly a builder. His most recent projects are Breather and Practice, for which he just raised a $10 million round of investment led by Andreessen Horowitz. On this episode we discuss the nature of building, how to choose the right ideas, and how to spot trends before they become mainstream.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We live in a short-term thinking world. Many people want immediate results, and as a result they fail to make the necessary investments to reap long-term rewards. However, those who are able to think long-term make investments today that are likely to provide a return for months or years to come. How do you break the short-term thinking cycle and shift toward a long-term mindset?Today's guest is Dorie Clark. She is the author of a new book called The Long Game and on this episode she helps us understand how to cultivate a mindset that focuses on achieving long-term results.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

 The love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness. We can look successful to everyone around us, but deep down know that we're essentially "phoning it in" and have stopped growing, challenging ourself, and chasing aspirations. We've settled in. In Part four of our series on my book Die Empty, we discuss the various ways in which the pursuit of comfort can infiltrate our lives and prevent us from achieving our goals. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you have a minute to think?It’s a good question, and it’s difficult to answer. I think most of us - especially right now - have days full of meetings and obligations. Now that meetings are essentially frictionless, more are added to our calendar. After all, the next group is just a click away. However, this means that as we’re squeezing more and more efficiency into our lives, we’re simultaneously eliminating the very thing we need in order to do great work - space for ideas to develop. So, do you have a minute to think? That’s the name of the new book - A Minute To Think - by today’s guest Juliet Funt. On this episode, she’s going to share why white space is so important and how to incorporate more of it into your calendar and life.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

To gain attention for your work (or your message) you must stand apart from everyone else. There is no place for being another in a line of similar messages. How do you separate yourself from the pack.Today's guest is Mike Michalowicz, author of the new book Get Different. He shares specific strategies for standing out from the crowd.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you share your idea in a way that it will resonate with your intended audience? Whether you're a leader, a marketer, a designer, a writer, or a product developer, it's not your idea that matters it's whether others understand it and feel compelled to respond. Today's guest Tamsen Webster has spent years helping some of the top thinkers in the world convey their ideas in a compelling way, and on this episode she shares how you can find the through-line that makes your idea resonate. Her new book is called Find Your Red Thread. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Many creative pros love the work they do, but strongly dislike talking about or marketing that work. Today's guest John Jantsch has been teaching small business owners and freelancers how to market for decades, and on this episode he shares a simple framework for helping the world experience your work and growing your influence. His new book is called The Ultimate Marketing Engine. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You've likely heard the old advice "you can't change other people." Today's guest would beg to differ. Through decades of coaching, he's developed a method to help you help other people change and achieve the results that they want. Peter Bregman is the author of the new book You Can Change Other People. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This is the second part of a nine part series on Todd Henry's book Die Empty. In this episode, we look at the effect that aimlessness can have on your day to day work, and how to identify a portfolio of productive passion that drives you forward in life.Parts three and four of this series will be available only to AC Premium subscribers. To join, visit ACpremium.me.Get a workbook for this series at AccidentalCreative.com/subscribe.This episode is sponsored by Skillshare.This episode is sponsored by Netsuite. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The average person lives about 4,000 weeks. How does that fact make you feel? More importantly, how might knowing that your time is so finite cause you to choose to live? There are so many tools at our disposal for time management, but often our efforts only make us feel more busy and overwhelmed.Today's guest is Oliver Burkeman. We discuss existential overwhelm, the efficiency trap, and how to reclaim just a little bit of sanity in a world obsessed with better, faster, more. His new book is the instant NY Times Best-seller 4,000 Weeks. Today's episode is sponsored by Headspace and Bambee. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This week we begin a new series covering Todd Henry's 2013 book Die Empty. For each of the next nine episodes, we will be discussing a core principle from the book and how it applies to life and work.Today we discuss the three modes of work, and why each is important if you want to build a body of work you can be proud of.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When we talk about the creative process, what we’re really talking about is the ability to connect dots and make intuitive leaps. Sometimes those dots are previous projects we worked on, or experiences we had, and sometimes they are from things that we’ve read or studied along the way. Today, we’re going to talk about the value of reading to our creative process.  Our guest is Jeff Brown, author of the new book Read To Lead and host of the Read To Lead podcast.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

On today's show, Todd Henry discusses the difference between bold creative work and brave creative work. This applies both to the work we do as professionals as well as how we lead others. Then, Todd turns to discussing the three core elements of brilliant work that he shared in his talk at Leadercast this week: Skills, Experience, and Motivation.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do the best of the best do what they do? It's easy to watch and admire top performers, but we can actually do more than that. We can decode how they got there.Today's guest is Ron Friedman. He shares insights about how we can reverse engineer the greatness of those we admire with tips from his new book Decoding Greatness.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you have a number of ideas, how do you know which one to pursue? On this episode, we discuss creative process, practices, and how to know when an idea is right with A/J Jackson. A/J is an American filmmaker, musician, songwriter, record producer, and perhaps best known as the lead singer for the international platinum-selling band Saint Motel. He is also the founder of AVIEW, a new eyewear brand that offers shades in every hue of the rainbow. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Does what you listen to affect your ability to generate ideas and be productive? According to today's guest, the soundtrack you choose can impact your creativity significantly.Will Henshall is the founding member of the band Londonbeat and the founder of FocusAtWill. In this conversation, we discuss how different personality types perform better when utilizing different sonic environments. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Brilliant performers in any field often have rituals or practices that they fall back on to help them perform consistently at their peak. When you are charged with doing complex work every day, rituals can bring order to your world and help you focus more effectively. If you want to deliver a result consistently, you must systemize it, and that’s precisely what a ritual does.However, the danger of rituals is that they can remain in your schedule long after they have stopped serving their original purpose. Worse, they can begin to work against your ability to be effective.While I believe that high-performing people and teams must have strong rituals in their life to support their goals, I also know that these rituals must be examined on a regular basis to ensure that they aren’t becoming fossilized ruts. Here are a few suggestions for shaking up your rituals before they stall your progress.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's been a long year, and many creative pros are experiencing some level of creative burnout. It's taken everything we have to deliver on expectations over the past year, and as we now return to a sense of "normal", the uncertainty and expectations are likely to rise even more.On this episode, I offer six tips for dealing with those moments when you feel overwhelmed and burned out. 1. Pause and organize2. Clear the decks3. Re-prioritize4. Time block5. Care physically6. Re-root in your productive passionMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

No matter your job, you are probably in "the middle". Meaning, you have to manage both up and down. That can be a tricky balance to strike, especially when it feels like your own career and success is tied to the success of your manager or team. Today's guest is Scott Mautz. He has led multi-billion dollar divisions of companies and experienced leading at every level of organizations. He is here to help us navigate these pressures with tips from his new book Leading From The Middle.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As organizations around the world face health and social crises, as well as economic uncertainty, acknowledging and improving wellbeing in the workplace is more critical than ever. Increasingly, leaders and managers must support mental health and cultivate resilience in employees — not just increase engagement and performance.  Today's guest is Gallup's Chief Workplace Scientist, Jim Harter. His new book Wellbeing at Work explores the five key elements of wellbeing — career, social, financial, physical and community — and how organizations can help employees and teams thrive in those elements. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The pressure to generate big ideas can feel overwhelming. We know that bold innovations are critical in these disruptive and competitive times, but when it comes to breakthrough thinking, we often freeze up. According to today's guest Josh Linkner, instead of shooting for a $10-billion payday or a Nobel Prize, the most prolific innovators focus on Big Little Breakthroughs—small creative acts that unlock massive rewards over time. By cultivating daily micro-innovations, individuals and organizations are better equipped to tackle tough challenges and seize transformational opportunities.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you ever feel like you’re teetering right on the edge of burnout You’re running faster but not moving closer to your goals? Everything is so much harder than it used to be? As high achievers, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the path to success is paved with relentless work. We believe that if we aren’t perpetually exhausted, we’re not doing enough. On this episode, Greg McKeown is here to help us sort through how to make our work more effortless. His new book is called Effortless.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Gravity affects every aspect of our physical being, but there’s a psychological force just as powerful―yet almost nobody has heard of it. It’s responsible for bringing groups of people together and pulling them apart, making certain goals attractive to some and not to others, and fueling cycles of anxiety and conflict.In his new book Wanting, Luke Burgis draws on the work of French polymath René Girard to bring this hidden force to light and reveals how it shapes our lives and societies.In this interview, we discuss the nature of mimetic desire, how it affects everything from creating to collaboration, and how we can discover what we truly want as creative pros.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This year has brought a lot of "firsts" to our lives. One of the most prominent ones is that we had to learn how to work completely remotely for the first time. In the midst of all of these changes, anxiety has become an ever-present dynamic in the workday.On this episode, Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton are back to share how we can better manage anxiety in the course of our life and work. Additionally, they share practical tips for managers about how to create space for conversations about anxiety with team members, and to lead with empathy. Their new book is called Anxiety At Work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As a 24-year-old line cook, Ellen Marie Bennett couldn’t stand the kitchen staff’s poorly designed, cheaply made aprons. So when her head chef announced he was ordering a new batch, she blurted out, “Chef, I have an apron company”—even though she had no company, no business plan—just a glimmer of a design idea and a business license. Through hustle and a willingness to leap into the unknown, she built that first order into the company Hedley & Bennett is today, making aprons and kitchen gear worn by many of the world’s best chefs and home cooks everywhere.In this interview, we discuss Ellen's new book Dream First, Details Later and principles that anyone with an idea can apply to bring it into the world for others to enjoy.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We all have things in our life that we'd like to change, but change can feel like a bit of a "black box". What is lacking for many of us, according to Katy Milkman, is strategy. We don't have an effective path forward to create the change that we want to see in our lives and work.On this episode, we discuss Katy's new book How To Change and some practical strategies for accomplishing your goals.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When collaborating digitally, there are a different set of rules. Your peers may not catch the subtlety in your email in the same way they would in a face to face meeting. Your team meeting may lack the same punch as an in-person collaborative effort. Formality and informality can be easily confused.On this episode, Erica Dhawan shares some key principles for working effectively together as a remote team. Her new book is called Digital Body Language.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you know an idea is the right one to take action on? How do you sift the really good ideas from the mediocre ones? Phil Libin has been a part of and led a number of companies that have created products that changed the way people work. (Evernote is one of my favorite tools of all time.) His most recent company All Turtles is the mission-driven product development studio behind the video service Mmhmm.In this interview, Phil discusses his philosophy of product design, how to know when it’s time to act on an idea, and some of the best advice he ever received.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Imagine sitting in a cab in New Orleans as the driver pulls out a small device, hooks it up to his phone, and begins raving about how excited he is to be able to take credit cards for the first time. Now, imagine that you are the co-founder of the company that made it possible.Jim McKelvey is the co-founder of Square, a company that has opened a door for small businesses to take credit cards simply and securely. He’s also the author of a new book called The Innovation Stack in which he shares the core principles by which effective companies develop products that resonate deeply in the marketplace. In this interview, we discuss the founding of Square, that an innovation stack is and why it’s important, and what he’s learned from companies such as Southwest Airlines and IKEA about gaining a footing in a crowded marketplace.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Why do two people look at the exact same circumstances and form two completely different opinions about what’s going on? Not only that, but why are those people often willing to defend their perspective to the very end, often causing tremendous misunderstanding and conflict? This is important to understand if we want to have effective collaboration and be able to lead well.On this episode, Julia Galef shares how we can learn to see things more clearly by developing a “scout mindset”. Her new book is called The Scout Mindset.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It often seems like in order to succeed in your career you have to compromise other areas of your life that are also important to you. That’s especially true right now, when many of us are only five steps away from work at any given moment because we are working out of our home. However, today’s guest thinks that mindset is wrong. Megan Hyatt Miller is the CEO of Michael Hyatt & Co and the co-author of the new book Win At Work, Succeed At Life. In this interview, she shares some core principles for finding success in all areas of your life, not just a few.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Why are some workplaces amazing and others loathed? What is it about some cultures that bring out the best in people and others that cause others to be in perpetual job-search mode?Clint Pulver has spent countless hours undercover inside some of the biggest companies in the world, and in this episode he shares what employees say about the places they work, and how managers can improve their workplace in simple and practical ways. His new book is called I Love It Here.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Pointless hurdles. Legacy rules and regulations. Red tape. It seems like organizations are often rife with needless challenges and over-complexity. If we truly want to produce effective creative work, we must parse the unnecessary complexity and aim to approach the work in a common sense way.Today’s guest is international best-selling author and consultant Martin Lindstrom. His new book is called The Ministry Of Common Sense, and in this interview we discuss creativity, collaboration, and how to organize our lives and work so that we are eliminating pointless distraction and focusing our attention on what matters most.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When many people hear the term “personal brand”, they think about entrepreneurs, authors, and celebrities. However, the reality is that every one of us has a personal brand. Your brand is how others think of you, or the space that you occupy in their mind. So, if you are an organizational leader, a civic leader, or a freelance designer, the way in which others perceive you defines your brand, regardless of what you say or do.On this episode, Rory Vaden – co-founder of Brand Builders Group – is here to help us think through the core elements of a personal brand, and why it matters to everyone regardless of your role in the marketplace.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you hear the phrase “influencer marketing”, what comes to mind? If you’re like me, those words probably conjure up images of selfies and perfectly-lit location shots. However, marketing through those with influence is much more powerful than those surface understandings imply. If you want your message or product to resonate, identifying with those with influence can help you reach the audience you’re trying to serve.On this episode, Jason Falls explains to us the nuances of influencer marketing with tips from his new book Winfluence. We discuss how brands get it wrong, and some strategies for leveraging influence to connect with the people your product or service is designed to help.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you hear the word “management”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Red tape? Bureaucracy? Stasis?For many people, management is perceived as the enemy of progress. But in reality, effective managers are necessary for progress. We need leaders who can work within constraints, maximize resources, and clear the path for team members to do what they do best.Today’s guest is Scott Miller. He’s the author of Everyone Deserves A Great Manager, and on this episode he shares with us the six core principles of effective management.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Ever feel a little out of control of your inbox? If you’re like most people, you probably spend a significant part of your day responding to emails that are of relatively little significance to the work you actually need to do in order to be productive. There’s a dynamic I’ve often written about called the Ping, which is the perpetual pinprick in your gut that says “something out there might be more important than what’s in front of you”. It has us living with divided attention.How do we deal with the expectations of the inbox and still produce great work? Cal Newport has an answer for us. He is the author of the new book A World Without Email, in which he argues that there is a better way to work. On this episode we discuss his theory about why email is so destructive to workflow, and practical ways that we can improve our approach to creative work in a world that’s obsessed with immediate responses.This episode is sponsored by Indeed. Right now, listeners get a free $75 credit to boost your job post at Indeed.com/creative. Offer valid through March 31, 2021.This episode is also sponsored by Stamps.com. Stop wasting time at the post office and go to Stamps.com instead. Use our promo code ACCIDENTAL to get one month free plus free postage and a digital scale.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

For many people, days are starting to blend together. Our lives for the past year have consisted of the same places, people, and circumstances day after day, and this can result is a sense of “stuckness” or being in a creative rut.Ironically, one of the best ways out of that rut is by instilling daily practices to help you develop your mindset, hone your creative instincts, and spot opportunities and ideas. I call these the “Dailies”. Here are a few of mine:Study 60 minutes each dayWrite 500 words each dayReview my “Big Things” and objectivesDo one act of business developmentCreate one piece of useful contentI do these activities each day, regardless of circumstances, and regardless of how I feel. It keeps me focused and prepared for whatever comes my way.On this episode, I share insights from my book Louder Than Words about how to develop your own set of Dailies and implement them in your routine.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

At some point, every brand realizes that it’s time to do a “refresh”. However, there are any number of factors that can make a change difficult if not nearly impossible. You already have brand equity with your customers or clients, you have invested heavily in your brand design and assets, and rocking the boat can mean accountability if everyone ends up in the water.How do you know when it’s time to make a change of brand? On this episode, we’re fortunate to have Blake Howard. He is the co-founder and Creative Director at Matchstic in Atlanta, and also the host of the new podcast A Change Of Brand on which he interviews leaders from companies who have made a significant shift within their brand and asks about the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way. On this episode, Blake shares some of the biggest lessons that he and his team have learned while working with companies who have made a significant change to their brand.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In the world of “on demand” work, television is certainly one of the most pressure-packed environments. The next show comes at a regular pace, and there’s no room for a “plan B” when the ideas just aren’t flowing. You must deliver, every day.Gavin Purcell (showrunner and writer for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, I Love You America with Sara Silverman) knows this world well. As a 13-time Emmy nominee (and multiple-time winner), and a key collaborator with TV’s biggest names, he has helped create some of the most beloved moments in recent TV history. In this conversation, we discuss the importance of systems, why we need to get rid of the “romantic” notion of creating for a living, how to adapt when things go off-plan, specific tools and methods that he uses to produce work every day, and resources he relies on to help him stay fresh and creative.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As we’ve mentioned many times on this podcast, things are not necessarily going back to “normal” after Covid. In fact, there are a number of ways in which our world of work has shifted that are likely to remain the same long into the future. We’ve had to adapt to new technologies, and learn how to make them work in the absence of face to face communication, but those same technologies will be powerful complements to our workflow once we return to being around one another more consistently.On this episode of the AC podcast, Phil Simon shares what this new world of work might look like in the near-term. He’s the author of the new book Re-Imagining Collaboration, and on this episode we discuss what leaders and creative pros need to know about the post-Covid work world.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Given the number of surprises and twists that 2020 brought us, it might seem like a foolish exercise to try to predict what will happen next. However, there are some people who have their finger on the pulse of the creative community and how work is happening and will likely continue to happen over the coming years. Scott Belsky is the Chief Product Officer at Adobe, where the team has been doing extensive research into how the creative community has adapted to remote work and is striving to create tools to facilitate where the world of creative work is headed.On this episode, we talk about some of the tactical ways in which creative pros have adapted to the circumstances we find ourselves in, why some things have changed forever and others are likely to revert to the way they’ve always been, and how creative pros can adapt their mindset to help them deal with what comes next.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We all want to make 2021 a great year. We have plans, dreams, ambitions for the coming year, but the reality is that if we don’t develop new habits we won’t get new results, especially when so much seems out of our control. Steven Kotler has spent his career studying peak performers and analyzing how they are able to achieve such seemingly impossible things. In this conversation we discuss his new book The Art Of Impossible and the fundamental elements of peak performance, how to develop a mindset that allows for new possibilities, and how to point your focus, action, and habit in the same direction.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

After 2020, a lot of people are asking questions about life, work, and the choices they are making. Some are even beginning to consider whether it’s time to move on to a new kind of work. But where do you even start to consider a career change? How do you find the intersection of your skills, your interests, and the opportunities in the marketplace?Today’s guest, Ashley Stahl, is a career expert and has developed a framework to help anyone discover the kind of career that they are best suited for. In the interview, we discuss everything from how to seek opportunities to how to identify the kind of work you are best suited for to how to interview well. Her new book is called Youturn.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The pandemic hasn’t really changed the direction of the marketplace, it’s mostly just accelerated it. Many of the strategies companies are employing to deal with remote work are ones that were already inevitable a year or two ago, but have now become necessities because of the state of the world. The change that we’ve all been thrust into can be destabilizing if we aren’t able to adapt to the new reality.On today’s episode of the podcast, David Burkus shares key insights from his new book Leading From Anywhere. It’s important that managers learn to understand how these new complexities affect the mindset and workflow of the people they work with, and develop strategies for helping their teams thrive, especially since it’s unlikely the workplace will ever go back to “normal”.One of the key insights we discuss is the importance of developing empathy for the people on your team. The workplace is often the “great equalizer”, in that we all have access to the same enviroment, the same resources, the same tools, and the same people. However, when we work remotely, each person is in their own environment and some are most definitely better equipped than others to deal with the pressures of the day. While one person may live alone with plenty of space and ultra-fast WiFi, another might be living in a two-bedroom apartment with small children who are doing remote school at the kitchen table. We must learn and adapt to the unique needs of the people on our team if we want to help them succeed, which means we can’t simply layer the same expectations on everyone on the team. We must commit to a posture of continuous learning, then adjust as we go.Regardless of when the pandemic ends, we will all need to learn to “lead from anywhere”. Hopefully, this episode will help you along that journey.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever felt anxious about your job, but you don’t know why?Everything is going well, or at least according to plan, and there is nothing obvious that should be causing anxiety. Yet, when bedtime rolls around, you struggle to get to sleep, and you have a perpetual sense that you’re falling behind.Falling behind? Behind what?That’s the question I was asking myself early last year. I was on the mark to have a record year. Things had been going great, and I was able to help more people and teams and see more impact from my work this year than I ever have. By all accounts, I should have been on cloud nine. Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I noticed anxiety creeping into my thoughts, my planning, and the writing I am doing for my next book. At the exact moment that I should have felt peace and space I was experiencing the opposite.That’s when I realized that I was keeping score.This is an old habit, and one that dies hard. I was paying attention to a lot of little markers that have nothing whatsoever to do with my core work, or my effectiveness, or the impact that I’m trying to have with my clients or the people who read my books and listen to my podcasts. Instead, I was paying attention to things outside of my lane, and allowing them to pull me off-course and rob me of the joy and satisfaction that I should have been experiencing.Here are a few of the unhealthy ways I tend to keep score. See if you can relate: How THEY Are Scoring When someone else gets something – a contract, an offer, an endorsement – that I wanted, it bothers me. It’s as if there is only so much of it to go around. As much as I encourage my clients to focus on their own lane, I have to admit that it’s easy for me to let my peripheral vision distract me. I’ve had to develop the discipline of reminding myself that they are not responsible for my body of work, and I am not responsible for theirs. Stay. In. Your. Lane.I’ve seen this play out in teams when someone gets a coveted promotion, or is celebrated for a project, or gets more than their share of esteem for the amount of contribution they truly made. It pulls the team apart, and people begin to withhold because they feel as if they aren’t being treated fairly.They aren’t.Business isn’t fair, just like life isn’t fair. There will be things that you get that you don’t deserve, and things you deserve that go to someone else. There’s probably someone else right now keeping score on what you’re getting that they’re not. The sooner you learn to embrace the inherent unfairness of the workplace, the sooner you can simply focus on bringing your best every day and letting the chips fall where they may. I love this quote from the Bhagavad Gita, which I first heard from Steven Pressfield: “You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work.”Are you paying too much attention to how they are scoring? Things I Can’t Control This is another one. I tend to track things I can’t control, and get anxious about things that I couldn’t change if I wanted to. It’s one of the curses of being a systemic thinker – I always worry about the governing dynamics, even when they are well beyond my ability to influence.Inside of organizations, I see this play out as a general fear about market trends, or about the new company leadership (seven or eight levels above), or about the person on the team who simply doesn’t like you. There is nothing that can be done about any of these things – aside from diligently doing the work in front of you – yet they rob many people of valuable creative cycles that could be spent actually creating something...

There probably aren’t many people reading this who will be deeply saddened to see 2021 in the rear view mirror. This has been quite a year, for certain. Now, it’s time to set our sights on the future and to think about how we will prepare ourselves for whatever is ahead. It’s time to steel our resolve and establish the practices that will enable us to bring our best each day in the coming year.On today’s episode, Brian Johnson is here to talk about how to optimize your life and pursue wisdom in 2021.If you want to accomplish anything in your life, you need to build the infrastructure to facilitate it. Nothing happens without the supporting mechanisms, disciplines, and practices to bolster your effort. As much as we love the romantic notion of “winging it” or “making it up as we go”, talent and instincts only get you so far. If you want to create deep impact, and to sustain that impact for a long season, you need to support your effort with practices.Your practices do a few things for you:Increase your capacity. When you do something over and over, your capacity to do that thing increases over time. So, if you want to get better at study, then study. If you want to be a better writer, you write. If you want better relationships, you set disciplines around how and how often you engage with others.Increase your agency. When you obtain a sense of mastery in one area, it tends to increase your sense of agency to change other areas of your life as well. If you want to up your confidence, start doing one or two small things very consistently and very well.Increase life satisfaction. A lot of research points to the reality that small, everyday wins create a sense of deep engagement and enjoyment. If you want to feel deeply engaged with your life in 2021, just choose a few small, healthy habits or practices to implement and do them well and often. You’ll notice an uptick in your mood and your sense of overall wellbeing.Here are the questions I challenge you to consider over the coming week:What 1-2 new practices will you implement in 2021 to help you achieve your goals? (Will you start studying? Develop better exercise habits? Start a small writing practice each day?)What will you stop doing in 2021 so that you have more space to do the things you want to integrate? You can’t just layer things into your life – you need to regularly prune.Let’s make 2021 a great year!Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Well, it’s been quite a year, huh? I don’t think many of us had any idea what 2020 had in store when we confidently welcomed the New Year. It’s been a non-stop string of unexpected twists. And truthfully, this is the year that’s felt more like five years.And, it’s often the moments of deepest stress and pain that can generate the most learning, growth, and emotional resilience. I know that for me and my family, this year has opened the door to new ways of embracing life and togetherness, and has helped us to hold less tightly to things that seemed indispensible before while simultaneously opening ourselves up to new ways of experiencing life. We’ve seen an explosion of driveway firepits, with neighbors spontaneously gathering outdoors (at a safe distance!) just to claim a few brief moments of community. We’ve learned to connect with others from afar using technology that seemed almost gratuitous before physical distancing became the norm.So, as I reflected on 2020, I realized that I had five big, key learnings for the year. That’s what I share on this episode. Diversify your portfolio (before you need it). It’s important to ensure that you aren’t putting all of your eggs in one basket. Even if you work for a company, you should be thinking about diversity of income stream in the event that something happens to your primary one. Don’t allow everything to hinge on one linchpin.Have a “break the glass” strategy. Many people were (all of us?) were surprised by the onset of the global pandemic. This should cause all of us to re-think our contingency plans in the event of another unexpected disaster.Embrace the flow of the river. Focus on things inside your circle of influence, and focus less on things in your circle of concern but beyond your influence.A stimulated mind = a stimulated life. The moments when I was most engaged this year were moments when I was studying or absorbing material that caused me to think in new ways.Don’t judge others by your measure for yourself. We need to extend grace to one another and recognize that we’re each carrying a unique burden.In this episode, I dive deeper into each of these five learnings and offer some next steps for application.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Freelance work offers tremendous opportunities, but also some unique challenges. It can be challenging to stay connected to others who can help you grow, find new prospects, and develop your skillset. On this episode, Amanda Malko (head of Mailchimp & Co and Mailchimp Academy) shares some practical tips for staying connected with others during this time, learning from the best practices of others, and finding new business opportunities during these uncertain times.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Anyone else starting to experience a bit of “Zoom fatigue”? Many of us have been staring into cameras now for months on end, whether for meetings or pitches or even just casual interactions with friends, and it’s becoming a bit daunting. If your work requires you to capture and hold the attention of someone who is on the other end of a video call, you need to understand the principles of effective interpersonal communication, especially those that are non-verbal or non-intuitive.On this episode, behavioral investigator Vanessa Van Edwards is here to share the scientific principles of succeeding with people. Vanessa is the author of the best-selling book Captivate, and she also delivered the very popular (and perhaps unfortunately titled, given the current circumstances) TEDx Talk You Are Contagious. We discuss the verbal and non-verbal ways in which we connect with others, and some practical tips for being more effective whether in-person or on a video call.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It is often the case that the quality of our life is tied to the quality of our decisions. If we can learn to make better decisions, we can position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities and minimize the potential of unforced errors. On this episode, Annie Duke shares deep insight into how to make better decisions from her new book How To Decide. We discuss: Why good decisions might still result in bad outcomes, and vice versa.How to think about hindsight bias and how it affects our perception of decisions.Why decisions that seem bad to others might actually be good decisions for you.How the paradox of experience can lead to unforced errors and bad decisions.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In times of uncertainty, we look for voices of clarity. Over several coming episodes, we’re going to be speaking with individuals who have the ability to speak a bit of clarity into the present uncertainty, and who can offer strategies for navigating through the next several months of instability.On today’s episode, Dorie Clark shares what she is hearing at this moment from business leaders, and offers insights for diversifying your portfolio of revenue sources to create more marketplace stability. Dorie is the author of several books, including the best-seller Entrepreneurial You, and speaks and consults globally to some of the largest companies in the world.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We have more tools available for time management than at any point in human history. However, managing our time is a fool’s errand if we’re not investing that time in ways that create future value. Things like creativity, insight, and even life satisfaction must be considered, not just efficiency. However, many people and organizations sacrifice effectiveness on the altar of short-term efficiency.David Kadavy has just released a book in which he argues that we must manage our ability to bring our full creative faculties to whatever work is in front of us rather than simply focusing on managing our time. His book is called Mind Management, Not Time Management, and covers the principles of maintaining focus, creativity, and viability each day.In our conversation we discuss: Why we inevitably hit a point of diminishing returns with our creative efforts, and how to prevent it.How Paul McCartney wrote Yesterday, and why it’s a perfect illustration of the four phases of creativity.Methods for capturing every idea as it appears so that it doesn’t slip away.How to structure your days to take advantage of your best creative hours rather than force-fitting your tasks into a pre-determined template.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

These are not, as they say, normal times. And, extra-ordinary times demand extra-ordinary tactics. As I’ve conducted a number of training sessions and speaking events over the past several weeks, I realized that much of the solution to the low-grade anxiety that many of us are feeling at the moment comes down to three things, all of which start with the letter “B”:Buffers: We need to establish some space “between” our commitments, including space at the beginning, middle, and end of our day, so that we can stay engaged and focused.Backburners: We need to have some way of engaging creatively beyond our on-demand work. This might look like developing a new skill, establishing a hobby, or finding some way of expressing ourselves and taking creative risks that are relatively actually low-risk because no one is judging our work.Breakwaters: We need to establish a bit of a sea wall against the onslaught of media and news that can easily overwhelm us and cause us to feel disengaged. This means putting some boundaries in place to help prevent overload.In this episode, we dive deeper into each of these three areas and offer some practical tips for implementing the three “B’s”.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We are surrounded by sounds that impact our mood, our attention, and our sense of place and being. Yet few of us actually stop to consider how those sounds are made, or the strategy behind them. On this episode, we talk with Dallas Taylor, host of the 20 Thousand Hertz podcast. He shares with us the importance of opening our ears to the world around us, and offers insights into how soundcraft can shape human experience.Dallas Taylor is the host of Twenty Thousand Hertz, a lovingly crafted podcast with TED that reveals the stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds. He’s also the Creative Director of Defacto Sound, the sound design source for the world’s most thoughtful brands. Dallas is also a sound designer, consultant, writer, and TED mainstage speaker.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Why does certain criticism sting so much? I’ve come to believe that it’s often not for the reason we suspect.When doing creative work, especially in public, you are essentially inviting feedback. I’ve said before that those who work in public are essentially painting a giant target on themselves, and thus must be willing to deal with the sting of the arrows. However, while I believe this to be true in principle, in practice it is often much more challenging.Which leads me to this question: have you ever considered why certain forms of criticism sting you more than others? Do you respond with more anger, defensiveness, or aggression with certain types of feedback than with others?If so, it could be that there is some form of limiting narrative or embedded belief/fear that is lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.Here’s an experiment I’d like to propose: Pay attention to your response to critique and feedback over the coming week. If it suits you, perhaps even write each piece of feedback down.More importantly, see if you can identify why that feedback elicited such a strong response in you. Is it possible that there is some defining story that’s affecting your engagement?If you can spot some beliefs/narratives, consider how else they might be playing out in your life and work. Are they affecting the choices you make, the opportunities you seek, or your relationships? Is so, how? It’s often not the circumstances we learn from, but our response to them. Identifying limiting narratives or patterns of self-destruction can help us spot them when they crop up, then nip them before they cause us to implode or obsess needlessly over critique.Understanding why criticism stings can help us learn from it and apply insights to life and work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In my book Die Empty, I examined the common places where bright, sharp, talented people eventually get stuck in their life and career.The goal, of course, is to get your best work out of you every day and to not leave it inside or take it to your grave with you like so many people do. We all have a unique contribution to make to the world through our life and work, but unless we are purposeful about getting to it, others may never experience it. There are three kinds of work that we engage in as we go about our day. (I also addressed these in a recent podcast.) They are Mapping, Making, and Meshing.Mapping is planning your work. It is when you strategize, conceive, think, plan, and plot your course of action. It’s the “work before the work” that helps you stay aligned.Making is actually doing the work. It is when you are creating the actual value you are being paid for, or doing the tasks you devised while mapping.Meshing is the third kind of work, and it’s often overlooked in the hustle of daily activity. It is all of the “work between the work” that actually makes you more effective when you are working. It’s comprised of things like following your curiosity, study, developing your skills, and asking deeper questions about why you are doing your work.Depending on how diligent you are at engaging in these three kinds of work, you will occasionally fall into one of four “productivity profiles”.Mapping + Making – Meshing = DriverDrivers are “heads down”. They are ploughing through their work and getting things done, and they are extremely effective in short bursts and in the short-term. However, over time they become decreasingly effective because they aren’t doing the little things that prepare them for future challenges and obstacles. They are not developing themselves or their capacity for future effectiveness.Mapping + Meshing – Making = DreamerThe dreamer loves to talk about ideas, and loves to develop skills and follow curiosity where it leads, but is not disciplined about getting the work done. They tend to have big ideas, but no follow-through. Of course, this is not a path to making a valuable contribution.Meshing + Making – Mapping = DrifterThis is my achilles heel. The drifter is someone who loves to develop skills and follow curiosity, and loves to engage in the act of making, but they lack the conviction of a long-term strategic plan. Thus, they tend to leave a series of half-finished projects in their wake. They bounce from shiny new project to shiny new project, and fall prey to what Scott Belsky calls the “project plateau”, which is when they hop to a new project when the old one stalls.Mapping + Making + Meshing = DeveloperThis is the most desirable of the four profiles, because it allows you to take advantage of all three kinds of work and weave them together to take advantage of opportunities. Developers are best positioned to spot and leverage opportunities because they are planning, they are being diligent about doing the work, and they are developing themselves and their skills to position them for future activity.So which of the four profiles most reflects your tendencies? The good news is that if you see yourself in one of them, it’s easy to adjust and get back on the Developer path. Everyone has their tendencies and weak spots, but awareness of them is the first step toward more productive and contributive activity.Question: Which of these four profiles to you tend toward the most, and how does it affect your work?Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform...

The key to producing a brilliant body of work is steady, regular, brave practice. You must engage every day with your work as a matter of discipline. No one embodies this ethic better than Seth Godin. Seth is the author of most of my favorite books, all of which have been best-sellers, and is a champion of those who make brave art each day.On this episode, we discuss his new book The Practice and how we can purposefully bring ourselves to our work every day.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Since the early days of the Accidental Creative podcast we’ve closed off with the phrase “cover bands don’t change the world – you need to find your unique voice if you want to thrive.” A cover band is a band that plays other people’s music, and they often fill music venues and make money, but at the end of the night people go home singing the music. Cover bands are often quickly forgotten, but the music lives on.This doesn’t mean that emulation is always wrong. In fact, emulation is a key part of early growth and development. However, we cannot rely on imitation as a short-cut to success. If we do, our success will be hollow, and without a foundation. In order to add lasting, meaningful value, we must – eventually – find our own voice.But how do we do that? With the pressures and demands of daily work, it can often be overwhelming simply to deliver on expectations, let alone to try to find some unique way of engaging our day. But it’s often in the midst of our work that we will find the best clues for our deeper, resonant vocation. The sources of both “voice” and “vocation” are close to the Latin word vocare, which means “to call, or invoke”. Our voice is the thing that is being called out of us in the midst of our work. It is the underlying why of our passion, even if we’ve never considered it.We must actively search for our voice, and clear a path for it to emerge. It is uncovered, not manufactured. We may not even like what we discover at first, but by embracing it we will position ourselves to occupy the unique space for which we’re wired.Here are a few questions that may help uncover clues to your voice. Set aside some time with a notebook or journal to reflect on each:What angers you? Every super hero needs a bad guy. Without one, the super hero has nothing to fight against. Are there specific things that evoke a compassionate anger in you? (Key point of differentiation: this is not about road rage, poor service, or leaving the seat up. We’re talking about the systemic things that evoke a desire to intervene in a situation as an act of compassion or to rectify a great wrong.)What makes you cry? Think about the last several instances that caused you to cry. Movies are fair game too. I’ve noticed that I almost always tear up while watching stories of underdogs who overcome incredible odds. This is a clue to me that my greatest work may somehow involve fighting for those who are oppressed or unheard. (Hence…we call AC “freedom fighters for the creative class.”)What have you mastered? Are there tasks, skills, or opportunities that you have simply mastered and can do without thinking? These low-friction activities might give you a clue to ways you can continue pursuing your voice. We learn through action, observation, then correction. Start with what you do well, and work your way toward your goal.What gives you hope? What do you look forward to? What great vision do you have for your future and the future of others? Hope is a powerful motivator, and can give you a clue to the ways in which you may be able to compel others to act.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? We often forget the earliest clues to our voice as we are burdened with the expectations of peers, teachers, parents, and eventually the marketplace. But those early days of wonder – the vast expanses of horizon that hinted at limitless possibility – can give us insight into the deeper seeds of fascination that still reside within us. So…what did/do you want to be when you grow...

In the face of uncertainty, teams need good, effective leadership. Not just bold, brash, decisive leadership, but empathetic, focused, generous leadership. Is it possible to accomplish a lot of great work while simultaneously growing a great culture? Yes, but it requires that leaders routinely model for their team what a great culture looks like.There are three words that every creative pro needs to hear from their manager: “I’m for you.” I want to see you thrive. I want to see you excel. I want to help you accomplish your goals. Here are three specific ways we can model this sentiment to our teams: I believe in your abilities. I won’t try to control your work, but will instead allow you to operate within clear principles and will give you the freedom you need to bring your best thought to the work.I won’t let you settle. I will hold you accountable to expectations and to a high standard of performance, not because of how it reflects on the team but because I believe you are capable of more than you think.We are in this together. We will get to the other side in lock step, and I will fight to protect the resources, time, focus, and energy you need to do what I’m asking of you.If teams begin to operate in this fashion, it unlocks trust and deep engagement. On this episode, I dive into each of these three principles and how to implement them.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Some people think of design as the afterthought of a project. It’s about making things look good, tweaking the usability, or simply making a product or service more appealing. However, those who understand the value of design know that it must be baked into the very fabric of a product or service. Design is not an afterthought, it’s a starting point.On this episode, Scott Berkun shares principles from his new book How Design Makes The World, and offers some tactical insights for how we can be more intentional about approaching our everyday interactions and work through the lens of good design.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If there was one word that I would use to describe those who succeed in the face of adversity, it would be resilience. Some professionals are able to withstand changing times, shifting expectations, and limited resources in a way that others aren’t. And, if there was one quality that is most needed right now, it certaintly is resilience.On this episode, we feature an interview with John Jantsch, author of The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur. John discusses key principles for growing self-reliance in the midst of disconnected times, and how small business owners can continue to succeed even as the ground is constantly shifting beneath their feet.In part two of this episode, I share three key principles for developing creative resilience during these uncertain times: Train yourself to take risks in low-risk environments.Always be learning a new skill, to create layers of redundancy and a mindset of perseverance.Take time to synthesize and to think systemically and in layers, so that you can parse the noise and uncertainty.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have we worn out the phrase “unprecedented times” yet? OK, let’s just say that we are continuing to wrestle with the uncertainty of our systems, our expectations, our relationships, our team dynamics, and even the edges of our workdays. In addition to the overwhelming loss of those who have succmbed to the virus, another major thing that has been taken from us is a sense of rhythm. We are wired for rhythm, and without it we are less focused, productive, and engaged.On this episode, we share three core principles for dealing with Covid overwhelm:Understand and use your natural motivaiton to overcome overwhelm. Discover your unique motivations and bring those to what you do every day instead of waiting for your circumstances to inspire you.Gave clear edges and set buffers. Define the beginning and end of your work day, and establish breaks in the midst of the day so that your obligations don’t stack up.Mind your dailies. Have routines and practices that keep you grounded. Feed your mind, work your body, and feed your soul every day.We are wired for rhythm and Covid has stolen it. On this episode, you’ll learn some strategies for taking it back.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We often hear about the importance of curiosity, or intuition, or exploration with regard to the creative process. But, one word we rarely hear is wonder.Wonder is a word that perfectly captures the state of awe ad inspiration when we are at the precipice of a breakthrough. It encapsulates the sense of possibility being greater than expected and more expansive than previously known. When we can operate with a sense of wonder, our world expands.On this episode of the podcast, Harris iii shares insights from his new book The Wonder Switch that will help us activate wonder in our daily lives and live with our eyes on possibility, not just pragmatism.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In today’s workplace, there are multiple generations working side by side, meaning that in order to collaborate effectively and lead well it’s important to understand the unique qualities and characteristics of each generation, and also how they uniquely contribute to the fabric and mission of the team.On this episode, Jason Dorsey (expert in generational dynamics and co-author of Zconomy) shares insights into how to understand Gen Z, lead them, and unleash their best work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are many misunderstandings about what it means to be “motivated”. Typically, we think that either someone is motivated or they aren’t, as if motivation is a switch to be flipped. The reality is that we are always motivated to do something, and once we begin to unlock the secrets to what drives us we can learn to bring our motivation to what we do each day instead of waiting for our work to motivate us.On this episode, I share a passage from the new book The Motivation Code in which my co-authors and I dispel some common misunderstandings about what drives us: Motivation is just about diligence or laziness.Motivation is about enjoying tasks.Motivation naturally comes with “the perfect job”. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Leadership isn’t about being on top, it’s about being in the middle. This means that you not only have to learn how to manage those on your team, but also that you must develop the ability to manage up in order to get what you and the team need to succeed.On this episode, we share a few key principles for entering into difficult conversations with your manager: Approach the conversation with respect and assume the best.Have your supporting facts in order and make your case clearly.Aim for small wins and build from there.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

At some point, we’ve all heard “Don’t worry about motivation. Just do it!” While that advice is well-meaning, it misses the mark, and here’s why:You’re motivated to do something whether you realize it or not.If you’re procrastinating, that action is motivated by something, even if you don’t know what it is. If you spend three evenings working late to refine a project that few people care about, it’s motivated by something, even if you can’t identify it. By better understanding what it is that truly drives us, we can unlock ways of approaching our work in a more meaningful way.That brings me to my point: you can’t wait for your tasks to motivate you, you need to bring motivation to your tasks. Searching for the perfect job is like chasing vapor. We all have to do work that we may not enjoy. However, once you begin to better understand the themes that drive deep engagement and fulfillment in your life, you can learn to structure your work so that you are bringing that motivational energy to your tasks more consistently. That’s when things really unlock for you.On this episode, I share a few key insights from the beginning of my new book The Motivation Code to help unlock why motivation is critical, and how to begin to leverage it daily.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The best way to ensure that your most important work gets done is to dedicate time to doing it.See if this scenario sounds familiar: you sit down to do your work with your coffee, and fire up your laptop. First, you check your e-mail, looking for any potential fires that have cropped up overnight, spend about ten minutes addressing those urgent matters, then set about actually doing the work you need to get done for the day.About five minutes later, someone pings you on email and asks for a few moments of your time to look at something over a video chat. You agree, and before you know it you have to run off to another video meeting with a colleague to talk about an important project. The same pattern repeats over and over throughout the day, and by the time you close down your laptop for the day, you realize that the big, important work you intended to tackle today has been pushed off until tomorrow, or worse, that you’ll have to do the work at home in order to meet your deadline.In truth, you didn’t really do anything wrong. You were responsive, responsible, and present in everything you did. The problem is that while you were busy responding to all of the urgent stimuli in your environment, you were neglecting the less urgent, but much more important work that will add true, long-term value.Whether you work in an office or on your own, it’s critical that you learn to build barriers around your time and dedicate focused efforts to your most important work. The best way I’ve discovered to do this is to establish chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks.What are time chunks?While I am a big fan of making lists for tasks (and am a big adherent to the GTD philosophy), I find that my calendar is often my friend when I’m trying to tackle large, complex projects. As such, whenever I have ongoing work that will require deep, focused effort I tend to block off time on my calendar to work on them.How do you set them?1. Look at your current projects, and choose one that will take a lot of deep, focused effort over a period of a few weeks or months.2. Look at your calendar for a few open slots this week, and choose one that will give you plenty of time to focus on the project.3. Block off the time on the calendar, with the title of the event being the project name or problem you’ll be working on. This is important, because without something on your calendar your time will always be negotiable.4. Stick with the plan. Don’t fall prey to temptation at the last minute, or compromise in order to squeeze in a meeting. Sure, there will be exceptions, but in general try to treat this time chunk just like you would a meeting with someone you respect. (It is, after all, a meeting with yourself.)5. Spend the last five minutes of your time chunk determining where you’ll go next with the project. Make sure that you have a clear starting point the next time you pick up your work, as that will make it much easier to gain traction and use your time wisely.6. At the end of every time chunk, set your next one. Look for an opening in your calendar when you can continue your progress, while you have some momentum.It may work best for you to have pre-established chunks of time on your calendar for specific tasks. (For example, I know that 6-7a each morning is my study time, that certain times are dedicated to developing content, and certain times are reserved for client calls. That prevents schedule whiplash from creeping into my weeks.)Many of us lack the kind of latitude over our schedule that we’d like to have, but all of us have some discretion about how we spend our time. The best way to prevent distractions and make steady progress on your most important work is to dedicate...

Workloads and expectations are increasing. It’s not a cliché, it’s a fact. It’s the single biggest (confidential) complaint that I hear when spending time with companies. Before the COVID shutdown, I was speaking at a conference in Florida, and in the short Q&A at the end of my talk a man stood and said “We are doing more with less. We have fewer people than ever, but our project load continues to increase. However, the quality of our work is not allowed to suffer. What should I do?”Great question. Tough question. The first thing to realize is that if this is how you feel, you’re not alone. At all. In fact, you’re the norm. Many recent studies have explored the increasing workload and simultaneously decreasing engagement of employees, and the trend is frightening. Creative pros have never been more busy, and simultaneously less engaged with their work. One study found that 75% of creatives believe they are not living up to their full creative potential. Some say the fastest growing contingency in the workplace is a group being dubbed “malicious cooperatives”. They do what they need to in order to keep their job, but they secretly harbor hope that their company will fail.Huh?So what are some practical ways to deal with the increasing workload expectations and decreasing resources?Know when to celebrate. It’s hard to be thrilled at the completion of a project when the very next instant your manager unloads a new pile of expectations on you. When super busy, celebration is often the first thing to go because it seems so… unnecessary. But it’s not! It’s crucial to have milestones that you can point to both for your own sense of accomplishment and for the sake of your team’s sense of progress. It also helps keep your work and your days from blending together into one long, run-on sentence.Tip: Establish when you will celebrate the work that you’ve accomplished, and stick to your plan.Know where you’ll begin. When dealing with creative work – turning your thoughts into value – it’s sometimes difficult to find the edges. It’s hard to know exactly when something is good enough, because there’s always room for improvement. Similarly, it’s challenging to get started on your work, because you’re often making it up as you go along. Thus, I’d encourage you (and your team) to always end your work each day with a clear understanding of where you’ll pick it up the next. That way you have a natural point of traction to help you get started.Tip: Choose at the end of each work day where and how you’ll begin the work tomorrow.Don’t be afraid to talk about the pressure. No one likes to be seen as a whiner, so sometimes these unseen (but strongly felt) pressures can stay locked up inside because we don’t want to burden others. However, simply creating an environment of permission to talk about the pressure can help mitigate it. No, the work isn’t going to go away, but if everyone (including your manager) is looped in on the team dynamic then it can sometimes help provide context for how to overcome it.Tip: Have frequent conversations about how you feel about the work and the pressure, and be brutally honest.The workload isn’t going away. This isn’t just a temporary artifact of a struggling economy, it’s mass-scale experimentation with a new way to do business remotely in the connected economy. To thrive moving forward, you and I need to develop some tools to deal with the pressure.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today....

Have you ever walked into a company’s headquarters and passed an enormous marble wall engraved with the company’s values? There it is, in all its permanence and glory, greeting employees each day and reminding them: “THIS IS WHO WE ARE!”Except, it’s not always. It’s who they were, once. Most people walk right past that wall without even paying it a moment of notice. They’re numb to it, and it doesn’t really hold any sway over their everyday behavior. Your culture isn’t defined by a set of tenets or a plaque on the wall. It’s defined by what you do.If you say that you value boldness but always make the most comfortable decision, then people will cease to be bold.If you say that you value customer service, but you are always snickering and telling stories about how annoying your customers are, then you will train your culture to devalue its customers.If you say that you value truth telling, but you get defensive every time someone attempts to offer a piece of constructive feedback, you will cultivate a reactive, closed-minded culture.This kind of hypocrisy is demoralizing. However, with clear ground rules and a stable culture around your team, people know they have the support they need to take risks. Your team’s experience of you is its experience of the company. Period. Full stop. When cultural expectations aren’t well defined, people tend to be very conservative out of a fear of getting it wrong.Dee Hock, founder and former CEO of Visa, once said, “Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.” However, you cannot impose a culture on a team. Great cultures are grown from the ground up. A culture mandated from on high will fit like a suit that’s three sizes too large, never quite cut to size.Because cultures are grown, you must treat yours like a garden. Just like a good gardener, you aggressively fertilize the aspects of your team’s culture that you want in abundance and diligently prune the things you want to get rid of. This requires constant attention on your part, because if you allow a few errant behaviors to slide, you will eventually find your entire garden choked with weeds. Prune the “Ghost Rules” Ella was a successful manager at a very large company. I was challenging her to think in a new way about a tricky problem she was attempting to solve, but when I offered my thought, she quickly responded, “Nope—that won’t work here.”I paused, a little stunned at her abruptness, and asked, “Why not?”She looked at me as if collecting her thoughts, and after a few moments she replied, “Hmm. Good question.” After further dissection, we realized that Ella’s response had been hardwired into her by a previous manager, who often had strong, fear-based opinions about new ideas. “That won’t work here” was a common reaction to many of Ella’s fresh thoughts, and over time she began to adopt these opinions as hard fact.“Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.” – Dee HockWhat Ella had come up against are what I call ghost rules, or invisible limitations that people or teams place upon themselves for no good reason. Sometimes these rules become baked-in organizational assumptions about what is and isn’t possible, and the net result is that the team artificially limits the places it looks for ideas or value.In order for your team to feel freedom to do its best work, regularly prune ghost rules from your life and your team’s culture. Following are a few examples of ghost rules I frequently see.What Will and Won’t Work? A manager from a large company once told me that...

Robert Glazer is the author of the best-selling book Elevate and the new book Friday Forward, and is also the founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners. He believes that there are four fundamental capacities that everyone must develop in order to thrive in work and life:Spiritual Capacity: This is your connection to a core set of values, guiding principles, and deep sense of self. Without it, you are a rudderless ship drifting with the tide.Intellectual Capacity: This is your capacity to use your mind to solve problems, remain resilient, and spot opportunities.Physical Capacity: This is how you develop your body and care for your physical self so that you are able to perform at your peak at all times.Emotional Capacity: This is how you engage with the world around you, with your peers, and with those you care about.In this interview, Robert shares some practical tips for developing each of these four capacities, some watch points for when you are in danger of failing to mind them, and some practices to help you sustain performance.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

“I have a certain set of skills,” Liam Neeson’s character threatens over the phone in the action movie Taken. OK, though those particular skills are slightly different than the ones offered up in Josh Kaufman’s bestseller The Personal MBA, those who develop mastery of these business fundamentals can operate with the same level of confidence.Anyone who wants to succeed in the marketplace needs a grasp of the basics of doing business. Knowledge gaps can be costly, and even small business owners or solopreneurs who grasp the fundamentals will have a huge advantage over their competitors.In this interview, Josh shares insights he’s discovered in the ten years since the book’s publication, and how we can each deal with the uncertainty that this current environment offers.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

My new book releases October 6th. Below, learn how to get the full MCODE assessment when you pre-order the book. There are things we experience our entire life, but never really have words to describe. For example, there are probably certain easy tasks that you simply can’t seem to get motivated to do, but others – that are much more difficult and less attractive – you are willing to tackle at a moment’s notice. Similarly, there are probably certain people in your life or on your team that you simply can’t seem to get along with, while other relationships just “click”.I’ve come to learn that many of these unseen, yet routinely experienced dynamics are due to how you and everyone around you are uniquely motivated. About four years ago, my friend Rod asked me to take a motivation assessment he’d been working on. I was not excited. I’ve seen plenty of assessments, and frankly, most of them were not very useful to me. However, Rod promised me this would be different. And, in short, he was right. I was blown away.The assessment that Rod and an entire ream of researchers had developed was founded upon over 50 years of research and over a million achievement stories. They had discovered that there are twenty-seven unique themes of motivation, and that depending on a person’s top handful of themes, certain work or relationships might bring them to life or make them wish they were dead. It was through this assessment that I discovered that my top motivaitonal themes are: Make An ImpactMeet The ChallengeInfluence BehaviorSo, when I can’t see the impact of my work, or when I don’t have a discrete and pressing challenge to tackle, or when I can’t see the direct influence of my work on the thoughts and behavior of others, I disengage. However, when these three things are present, I completely come alive and do some of my best work.Because of this knowledge, I’ve been able to resolve recurring conflict in relationships, re-structure some of my tasks so they are more engaging, and change the way I think about outcomes so that they are more aligned with what naturally drives me. In short, it’s been life-changing.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

One key element of any healthy culture is that people understand how to give effective feedback to one another. Because creative work can feel a bit subjective, feedback can be a difficult thing to navigate, so many people default to being overly prescriptive or controlling. However, while specific, tactical feedback might achieve short-term results, it often creates bigger problems over the long-term. Instead, we need to learn how to offer feedback in a way that helps the team (or our clients) think in new and better ways about the work.On this episode, we share three core principles for offering better feedback: Honor the process The end result of a project is just the final piece of a very long process. When you offer suggestions without first understanding how someone arrived at that result, you are negating their entire process, and the decision-making that went into it. You have to allow them the opportunity to share not only the end result of their thinking, but their thought process itself. Ask better questions Instead of being prescriptive, ask questions that help the other person articulate why they made the decisions they did. Also, ask questions that help them think about other pathways they could have taken, and where those pathways may have led. “Why did you choose to…” or “How did you arrive at…” are wonderful conversation starters to get them talking about the why behind what you are seeing or experiencing. Invite them to re-direct Once you’ve had a thorough conversation about the process, begin asking them questions that nudge them in what you think might be a more helpful direction. For example, “what if instead of doing X, you chose Y? How might that change your process?” or “Can you think of a way that we could…?” These are open-ended questions that value the other person and also invite them into the process of re-directing the work in a meaningful way.Yes, we’re all pros and we need to be able to deal with difficult feedback. And, it doesn’t serve anyone when we are overly-prescriptive and lack empathy in how we interact with the work of others. Be a pro, and be intentional about giving feedback that helps them think not only about what to do, but why they should do it that way.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As a leader, your voice speaks much louder than your actual words. Your voice isn’t just what you say, it’s how your team hears you, and the collective tone your actions and communication take. Does your voice represent you and your message as well as it could?Over time, the best leaders are able to make their ideas and influence resonate far outside their own ambits. Here are six ways to get your voice to carry throughout your entire organization.BE AUTHENTIC Yes, it’s an overused word, but I think that’s because our idea of what’s “authentic” is too narrow. It’s not just about transparency or vulnerability, it’s also about letting the people you lead see what you truly care about. Resonant leaders are genuinely invested in their work, and it shows. It’s easy for team members to see that they truly have “skin in the game” and care not only about short-term results, but also about long-term impact. As Tim Schigel, cofounder of the social sharing platform ShareThis, told me, “Authenticity doesn’t have to amplify.” When you’re truly invested in your message, you don’t have to shout. It’s apparent to others, and it lends credibility to your leadership.To begin cultivating authenticity, ask yourself, “Can the people on my team see what I stand for, or do they have to guess?”BE UNIQUE Authenticity alone isn’t sufficient. Resonant leaders have the courage to make clear decisions, even in the face of uncertainty. The word “decide” comes from the Latin word that means “to cut off.” You’re choosing to cut off other options and commit to one direction, even when you’re uncertain. However, many leaders prefer to keep their options open for as long as possible out of fear of getting it wrong and failing. But you have to be willing to commit to a path by following your intuition and making bold, unique decisions with the best information you have available. This isn’t a license to be foolish or rash, but a recognition that every needlessly delayed decision has a trickle-down effect on your team’s focus and productivity. You need to stand apart from those seeking safety over impact.To begin cultivating uniqueness, ask, “Where am I being ambiguous about a decision, and how might it be affecting my team?”BE PRECISE When faced with a difficult choice, some leaders go into “protect mode” rather than being precise with their language. In order to make your ideas resonate, you can’t leave room for misinterpretation about where you stand on an issue or what you expect from team members. Be like a laser, not a lighthouse. A lighthouse tells ships where not to go, but provides no navigational guidance beyond helping them avoid danger areas. A laser, on the other hand, is precise, cutting, and directional. Your team needs to know what you expect of them, even when they don’t like it. Precise leaders can be polarizing, but in the end they make everyone’s job easier to navigate.To begin cultivating precision, ask, “Where are my instructions vague, and where am I being defensive rather than forthright with my ideas?”BE CONSISTENT Your voice won’t resonate if it isn’t consistent. Again, this sounds obvious on the surface, but meeting day-to-day challenges can make it difficult. If your work lacks a strong through-line, it can become easy to treat projects as one-off events rather than as a part of a bigger strategy. If you regularly send dissonant messages, it might be difficult for team members to anticipate how you’ll respond in a given situation. And that in turn can lead to paralysis. There should be consistency in the choices you make and a consonance to the way you communicate them.To cultivate consonance, ask, “Where am I being inconsistent, and how can I give my decision-making and communication more uniformity?”BE EMPATHETIC How deeply do you connect with your team? Is your leadership

Everyone loves to win. The accolades, attention, and rewards are addictive. However, if you’re trying to do the work you’re capable of doing, you’ll eventually fail. If you’re leading a team of capable, driven people who are stretching themselves creatively, you’re probably going to fail often to hit your mark. You will eventually fail.If you’re not failing every so often, you’re probably not trying hard enough. After a failed project, many teams simply move forward to the next one, without a postmortem. This is a huge mistake. It’s important that you seize those failures and mistakes and turn them into growth moments for your team. Otherwise, people are likely to commit the same mistakes again. Some of the biggest coaching opportunities you’ll have are in the moments when an individual or the team has failed.Mike Krzyzewski, the legendary head basketball coach for Duke University, said in an interview: “My defining moments have usually been something where I’ve lost or where I’ve been knocked back.” At the end of the 1983 season, Duke lost by 43 in the ACC tournament. The program was in disarray and many thought that Coach K’s career was over. At dinner that night, someone raised his glass and said, “Here’s to forgetting about tonight.” Coach K stopped him and ordered him to put his glass down. Then he raised his own glass and said, “Here’s to never forgetting about tonight.”The following season, when the team arrived on October 15 for the first practice, the scoreboard over the court read 109–66, the final score of the tournament loss to Virginia. Players recounted that Coach K wanted them to never forget how it felt to get beat so thoroughly and to use it as fuel to give their best every day. Since that day, Duke has emerged as a premier basketball program, and Coach K largely points to that defining moment as the turning point.If you’re not failing every so often, you’re probably not trying hard enough.Here are a few questions to ask shortly after experiencing a failure. It’s very important that you couch this conversation as a desire to learn from the experience and grow, not as a trial of competence:Why do you think you/we fell short of our objectives? Stop to consider what happened, and strive to ensure that the team is telling a consistent story about what actually happened. Often, team members will have different perspectives on what led to the failure. Make certain that there is a common understanding of what contributed to the failure to hit the mark.What did we learn from this experience? Try to capture whatever was learned from the shortcoming so that you are able to institutionalize that learning and prevent the same mistakes next time. Were there any assumptions that were limiting your thinking? Were there any faulty lines of logic that led to miscommunication? Whatever the problems, make certain that the team understand where things went off the rails.What will you do different next time? Failure is only a huge problem if (a) it takes you out of the game, or (b) it’s repeated in the same way more than once. Strive to never fail twice in the same way. Failure the first time is inevitable, failure twice in the same way is a function of poor leadership. Was the failure one of effort, decision making, or skill? How can you avoid it again? (By the way, failures of effort require special treatment, because it’s the one kind of failure that is completely avoidable.)If you were me, what would you do to prevent these mistakes in the future? Solicit input from your team members about how you can prevent the same mistakes next time. Don’t assume that they will share their advice with you unless given explicit permission to do so. After a failure, team members are often

We live in uncertain times. My friend Andy posted a photo of a sign from 2015 today that asked “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Well, I seriously doubt that any of us would have answered “living through a global pandemic with an uncertain ending.”No matter what your role, it’s important that you learn to plan for uncertainty. You can’t predict what will happen, but you can prepare yourself to deal with unexpected events in a more productive way. On this episode, we share three core principles for planning for uncertainty: Ask better questions. Many people don’t ask questions because they don’t want to know the answer. However, it’s only when things go awry that you fully realize the quality of the questions you’ve been asking. In this episode, I share how to ask the “what’s the pin in the grenade?” question to help you prepare for unexpected negative events.Build your runway. You need to know that you have the resources needed to bridge from here to there. Many businesses will go under during this pandemic because they weren’t able to survive the downturn, but those who make it through will be far better positioned on the other side to take advantage of the rebound.Protect the main thing. Mission is king. You need to adjust and adapt in whatever way is necessary to protect your mission and abide by your values.Uncertainty is inevitable, but how we deal with it makes all the difference between a successful outcome and a disastrous one.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You need other people in your life to help you see yourself fully. You only see a certain perspective, but people around you can help you see opportunities for growth and advancement that are invisible to you.But right now, community isn’t naturally coming to you. You have to go to community.On this episode, we share three questions that you should be asking someone in your life you trust. If you are a manager, these three questions can help you unlock areas of growth for yourself and your team, and can illuminate places where you’re slipping into ruts or over-controlling the team. The three questions are: What am I doing right now that I should stop doing?What is something obvious that you don’t think I see? How can I be of help right now?Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Over the past several months, conversations about race and justice have been thrust to the forefront of culture. However, these conversations can be fraught with challenges, especially in the workplace. How do we have meaningful conversations that build stronger relationships and stronger organizations?On this episode, founder of Undivided Chuck Mingo shares how leaders can be an ally in the workplace, how we can lead with greater empathy and understanding for those whose experiences are different from our own, and how we can elevate difficult conversations while cultivating trust and strong relationships.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We are all learning a new way of working. In truth, this transition has been coming for a while, but was dramatically accelerated by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of us are now working from home, or at least working in remote locations away from our co-workers, which means that we need to develop a new set of habits and rituals to help us thrive.Laura Vanderkam has just published a book called The New Corner Office in which she shares best practices gleaned from years of research into productivity habits. In our interview, she shared a few key insights that can help you be more focused, more productive, and more energetic throughout your day. Here are a few of my key takeaways from our conversation:Manage by task, not by time. When you are in the habit of going to an office every day, there are some external prompts for what constitutes a full day of work. (Is it 5:30PM yet?) However, when you work from home, your schedule might be different every day depending on what’s happening in your household. Laura suggests that, instead of focusing on time as the key metric for a full day of work, we focus on the accomplishment of tasks. Once we’ve checked those tasks off, we’ve completed our work for the day.Make sure your virtual meetings have a focus and a “why”. When everyone was first working from home, virtual meetings sprouted on the calendar like weeds. We were trying desperately to make sure we were all connected and “in the loop”. However, now that we are settling into a new rhythm, it’s time to start pruning some of those non-essential meetings from the calendar and curating the set of meetings that are truly helpful and meaningful. Do all of your meetings have an apparent “why?”, and is there a clear agenda?Work on transitions. When your desk is ten feet from your breakfast table, it can be a challenge to feel like there are any true “transitions” in your day. Laura says it’s critically important to develop some transitional rituals to signal to yourself that you are moving into a new mode of work. For example, maybe it’s having a coffee ritual that signals it’s time to start the workday, or maybe you need to change into different clothes to signal that the “professional” part of your day is beginning. Whatever your method, having transitions in place can be a strong signal to your brain that you are now in “focus mode”.These are just a few of the key insights I took from our conversation. Whatever your job, make sure that your systems and rituals are set up to ensure that you’re spending your most productive hours doing your most important work, and that you are marking your days so that you have a sense of rhythm about your work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

In American football, the red zone is the area on each end of the field inside the twenty yard line. What happens in this area is a key determining factor in a team’s success or failure. Teams that easily advance the ball down the field but can’t score in the red zone will lose games. Teams that play great open-field defense but can’t prevent scores in the red zone will lose. Performance in this very small sliver of the field often determines the overall success or failure of the team.As you examine your life, and especially your creative work, it’s important to be able to identify the re-zone activities that will really make a difference and generate forward momentum during the particular season you’re in. Some qualities that mark re-zone activities are the following:Activities that you can uniquely do or add value to because of your position or expertise.While there are a lot of ways you could be spending your time, there are a certain number of activities that you are probably the best person for. Which of these activities should you engage in every day?Activities that increase your personal capacity to generate ideas, such as study, purposeful ideation, or intelligence gathering. These are typically the first to go during a busy or stressful season. Are you taking the time to sharpen your mind and your creative intuition?Activities that provide cohesion or creative traction for your team and increase future capacity. For leaders, these include activities such as clarifying objectives and encouraging your team members. Are you taking time every single day to do the small things that make a big difference?Activities that feed your energy, such as adequate sleep, exercise, or spiritual practice. These are most often neglected during busy or stressful times. You must take care of yourself. Which activities do you need to focus on during this season to ensure that you are prepared for the uncertainty and challenges you will face?Your “red zone” activities are likely to be made up of some combination of these qualities. Take some time this week to consider what activities you are uniquely positioned to engage in, and that – if done daily – will generate significant momentum in your life and work.The most accomplished people aren’t always the smartest or the most talented. Rather, they are the ones who do small, important things every single day for long periods of time. They succeed in the red zone.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Focus is the most valuable tool you have as a creative professional. How you define problems, and allocate attention to them, will often determine your success or failure. However, many organizations allow significant “attentional drains” to infiltrate their culture and rob team members of much needed mental bandwidth. On this episode, we share three valuable strategies from Herding Tigers for building attentional buffers to protect the bandwidth of the team, and ways to talk to your manager about protecting your own attentional bandwidth.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

This week’s episode is about the impotance of rituals. You make your rituals, then your rituals make you.What is the first thing you do in the morning? The last thing you do at night? Your first action when taking on a new project? Your impulse when receiving good (or bad) news?If you asked those questions to many highly productive people, they’ll have immediate answers. Not because they are micro-obsessive about their schedules, but because over time they’ve developed predictable rituals around key areas of their life and work. Over time, they’ve learned that the messiness of creative work requires a supportive structure, lest everything devolve into chaos. According to Orson Welles, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” Rituals provide necessary limitation on your focus, time, and energy so that you can delve deeply into the disorder of creative problem solving.Rituals are important for several reasons. First, they provide solid ground when facing the uncertainty of your daily work. A ritual is like a bucket you can fill over and over again rather than trying to decide which bucket you should use. A good, solid set of rituals provide context for your work so that you can spend the majority of your energy focusing on the problems you’re trying to solve.Second, rituals help you forge healthy habits. When you return to the same ritual over and over, you are reinforcing the kinds of behavior you want to see manifested in your life and work, which creates a kind of infrastructure or supporting scaffolding for your creative process. Be mindless about the non-essentials so you can be mindful about the essentials.Finally, ritual helps you achieve flow in your work. Just like your body adapts to a regular bedtime and a predictable sleep ritual, your mind will also learn to settle into regular rhythms and rituals related to your work. If you always focus on specific activities at certain times of the day, or if you dedicate blocks of time and energy for your ritual, you are far more likely to settle into a state of immersion in your work.You make your rituals, then your rituals make you.Here are a few rituals that have served me well over time:– The first thing I do when I wake in the morning is prep my coffee and breakfast – the same thing every day, by the way – and spend an hour reading, thinking, and writing. It’s become such a ritual that it’s now a habit. Most of my best ideas for my work come out of this time. I couldn’t function without it.So, how do you begin your day? Maybe your ritual includes immediately putting on your running shoes and getting in a workout. Maybe it’s sitting in your favorite chair and meditating with a cup of coffee. Maybe it’s hitting the floor and doing ten pushups before you leave your bedroom. Having some structure to the start of your day immediately sends a signal to your mind that it’s time to get moving. It helps demarcate your time, especially when so many of us are living and working in the same space.– I listen to the same music over and over when I’m writing. In fact, I’ve written all of my books while listening to Ambient Music Therapy’s Deep Meditation Experience. When that album kicks on, my brain knows it’s time to start writing. I also light a candle when I write and only when I write. Again, it’s a small ritual that signals that this is deep, important work and that this moment is important.What small things can you ritualize to infuse meaning into the mundane tasks you engage in every day? It could be sitting in a certain chair when you do a specific kind of work, or using a certain pen only when you are brainstorming. It’s up to you. The value of a ritual is the meaning that it creates in your life and workflow, and it doesn’t matter if anyone else...

This is part four of a series on everyday bravery. If there is one place where bravery is most needed (and often most lacking) it’s in the workplace. Brave people create brave workplaces, and brave workplaces ultimately change the world around them. However, in order for a culture to operate by principles of bravery, individuals must be willing to engage in brave actions every day.Here are a few principles for engaging bravely in your workplace:Own your words and actions. ​Be an individual with a backbone. If you say or do something, accept the consequences, whether good or bad, for your choices. Never throw a teammate under the bus.Taking accountability for your actions does a few things. First, it signals to others that they can trust you to shoulder responsibility, and to do the right thing. This is no small matter. If others sense that you’re playing games and that your primary interest is in protecting yourself and your reputation above actually performing, they will tolerate you but will never trust you. Second, it removes the stigma of falling short. If we are doing difficult things, we are going to fail occasionally. A workplace culture in which nothing difficult is attempted requires no bravery. Only teams on a mission to do difficult things need to be brave. Taking accountability for poor results, and attempting to fix them, is a signal of authenticity and courage, and it pushes others to do the same. This is the essence of good leadership. We can never tolerate blame shifting.  Is there something you need to take accountability for today?Encourage​.This literally means to “put courage into” others. Brave people embolden the people around them, speak words of affirmation to them, and cheer them on to be their best. They are not threatened by the successes of others. Cowards hold back encouragement because they believe that life is a zero-sum game, and that if someone else gets attention for something it will only tarnish their own standing with the group. However, brave people willingly and truthfully put courage into others, recognizing that we need one another in order to succeed. Brave people are outward focused. Cowards are obsessed with themselves and their own needs and feelings. Who can you encourage today? Be proactive about putting courage into others. Embrace personal growth, even when you look foolish.​Some people fear trying new things, learning new skills, or tackling new kinds of projects because they fear that if they fail they will be “found out”. Brave people know that occasional failure is simply a part of doing hard things.To grow, you have to stretch yourself to the point of failure. Now, you have to balance this with wisdom, meaning that you shouldn’t attempt things that are obviously well beyond your present ability. (Just because I’ve climbed rocks in an indoor, controlled facility doesn’t mean I’m ready to free climb half-dome.) Intentionally stretch yourself, have uncomfortable but necessary conversations, and push yourself to learn new skills even when you will appear foolish to those around you for a while.What do you need to do in order to grow yourself?Share your ideas, even when they aren’t received.​You cannot control whether someone else likes your ideas, but you can control whether or not you share them. The regret over inaction is too high a price to pay. If you are in a meeting and you have an intuition that something might work, share it. Share your insights with a peer who is struggling with a difficult problem. So many brilliant breakthroughs are lost because someone was too afraid to share what they were seeing with...

As I mentioned a few episodes ago, if I had to choose one gift to impart upon every person I meet – one master key that unlocks their potential – it would be bravery. We need radical bravery in our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and – God help us – in our politics. If more people committed to making brave choices daily, we would see stronger, more effective teams, less corruption, less unhealthy conflict, and more progress on the societal issues that truly matter.Organizations need leaders committed to cultivating a culture of bravery, and who themselves are making brave choices in the face of uncertainty. The marketplace needs more business owners who are willing to step up and do the right thing for their employees and their communities, even at the risk of personal cost. And, society needs more people to cultivate brave, empathetic relationships with people who think differently from them.More than almost any other place, our workplaces need brave leaders. We need people who are committed to standing in the gap, protecting their people, and fighting for the mission of the organization even at personal expense. Here are a few principles that brave leaders abide by:Brave leaders assume accountability for their actions. Many leaders revel in the glory that comes with success, but brave leaders are also willing to put themselves on the line and be accountable when their actions fail. Many are familiar with Dwight Eisenhower’s letter to the Allied troops on the eve of the D-Day invasion in June 1944. It begins, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.” Inspiring leadership, for sure. However, fewer people are aware that Eisenhower wrote a second letter, only to be delivered in the event of an unsuccessful landing.“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”Brave leaders are willing to accept responsibility for their actions, including their failures. Are you avoiding accountability for your actions, or pointing fingers at others when you fall short?Brave leaders have the uncomfortable conversation.​ It’s far easier to avoid difficult chats with direct reports, but brave leaders recognize that it’s more important to be effective than to be liked. It’s never comfortable to discuss performance issues, to deliver uncomfortable news, or to challenge someone’s attitude, but these are the kinds of conversations that brave leaders (cautiously and wisely) step into because they know that their position demands it. Is there an uncomfortable conversation you need to have, but have been avoiding? Brave leader speak truth to power. ​As a leader, you must be willing to defend important principles when you perceive they are being “ground up” in the organizational gears. Cowards “go with the flow”, especially when  speaking up might mean losing their organizational standing, but brave leaders are willing to abide by their principles even at personal cost. As my friend riCardo Crespo often says, “you can’t lie to the person in the mirror.” Brave leaders can look themselves in the face every day knowing that they are living out their principles and standing up for what they believe to be proper and just. What principles are you willing to defend, even if it affects your reputation or position?Brave leaders put their resources where their mouth is. ​Cowards say bold things, but are always hedging their bets. Brave...

This is the second episode of a series on the importance of bravery. Just to re-cap, in the last episode I gave this definition of bravery:Bravery exists whenever someone a person engages in right action at the potential expense of their own comfort.​ Cowardice, on the other hand, exists when someone chooses self-protection at the expense of right action. It is possible to appear brave to others while actually behaving in a cowardly way, or to appear a coward to others while doing the brave thing. In order for something to be considered an act of bravery, it must be sourced in the desire to do what’s right even at the risk of personal cost. Which begs the question: how do you decide what’s ​right?​On this episode, I want to share a few distinctions between everyday bravery and cowardice, then on upcoming episodes I’m going to share the specifics of what this means, especially in a work context.Understand that every single person at times exhibits remarkable bravery, and also cowardice. This isn’t something we all get right a hundred percent of the time. However, we all have the ability to choose our response to our circumstances, and simply stopping to consider what “right action in the face of discomfort” means can help parse brave action from cowardice.So, here are a few qualities of brave people versus cowards, and how they play out in work and life:Brave people are protective, cowards exploit.​ If your actions are to protect someone or something vulnerable, whether a person or ideal, then there’s a good chance it’s right action. However, if your intent is to take advantage of someone or to deprive them of something they might otherwise enjoy, it’s certainly not. Now, please understand that I’m not talking about marketplace competition. When we compete in the marketplace, we agree to certain rules, one of which is that someone will likely lose the competition. I’m talking about leveraging advantages to exploit those who don’t even know they are being exploited. That’s the definition of cowardice, because it’s hidden action that if revealed would look really bad. Are you exploiting others?Brave people reveal truth at the right time, cowards conceal it.​ Brave people know that the truth is never really a threat, but even if it costs them their livelihood or relationship, the cost of inaction is simply too vast to take the easy way out. This gets to the issue of character. A willingness to face the truth is critical if we want to exhibit everyday bravery. Is there any place where you are hiding from or concealing the truth? Brave people consider context and scale, cowards think right now. ​The brave choice is the one that takes into account nuance and context, is empathetic, and scales in a positive way. Cowardly action is only concerned with immediate consequences. My actions today have resonant consequences tomorrow, and next month, and next year. Brave people think about those consequences, not just getting what they can while they can. Are you thinking about the downstream consequences of your actions? Brave people are principle-driven, cowards go with their gut.​ Brave people have a framework for making decisions that is so ingrained that their actions in the face of adversity are almost automatic. Cowards just “wing it” and do whatever feels best in the moment. Do you have a framework for making decisions, or a set of principles that guides your behavior? In Herding Tigers, I offered a framework for developing one as a leader, which is essential so that your team knows where you stand and can follow you with confidence. What are your guiding principles? Brave people face consequences, cowards blame others.​ Brave people are willing to be known by their

Is the grass truly greener on the other side of the fence? Many creative pros spend their career wondering if there is a better path for them, or whether they’re missing out on something that everyone else knows about. This can result in hopping from job to job, or never really fully embracing the opportunities in front of you because you’re always “hedging your bets” and looking for a better option. Patrick McGinnis coined the phrase Fear Of Missing Out in a college paper several years ago, and he’s just released a book by the same title to help us work through our anxiety about forgoing opportunities.Here are a few key ideas to help us avoid FOMO: Move Toward, Not Away From I’ve had many conversations with people who never seem to be satisfied with their job. They hop from company to company thinking that there has to be some place that will better mesh with what they’re looking for. The problem is that these people are often chasing vapor. They are perpetually moving away from something they dislike, not something they aspire toward. People who thrive learn to move toward their ambitions and goals, not just away from discomfort.Is there any area of your life or career where you are simply moving away from discomfort rather than toward your goals? Be Decisive Another hallmark of thriving professionals is that they are willing to be decisive in the face of uncertainty. That doesn’t mean that they make foolish or rash decisions, however they don’t wait for absolute certainty before moving forward. Instead, they make decisions with the best information they have knowing that if they make a mistake they can typically navigate back on course.Is there an area where you are paralyzed because you are being indecisive? What decision do you need to make? Don’t Compare, Except To Improve There are two kinds of comparison, and one is harmful and one is beneficial. The beneficial kind of comparison is when we look at someone else’s performance in order to gain insights into how we can improve our own skills. By studying those who are great at their craft, we can see where we are deficient and establish a course of action to help us improve. The harmful kind of comparison is when we become envious about what someone else has, or fear that we are being “robbed” of opportunity because another person possesses something that we want. This can lead to bitterness, self-destruction, and eventual hopelessness.Compare yourself to others in order to improve, not to stew about what you’re missing out on.Don’t worry about what’s “out there”. Be present this week and tackle the opportunities in front of you.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If I had to choose one gift to impart upon every person I meet – one master key that unlocks their potential – it would be bravery. We need radical bravery in our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and – God help us – in our politics. If more people committed to making brave choices daily, we would see stronger, more effective teams, less corruption, less unhealthy conflict, and more progress on the societal issues that truly matter.Organizations need leaders committed to cultivating a culture of bravery, and who themselves are making brave choices in the face of uncertainty. The marketplace needs more business owners who are willing to step up and do the right thing for their employees and their communities, even at the risk of personal cost. And, society needs more people to cultivate brave, empathetic relationships with people who think differently from them.My ambition with this manifesto is to inspire an epidemic of everyday bravery both in and out of the workplace.Bravery Is Not What You ThinkTo begin, we need a good definition of what bravery actually ​is​. Most of our cultural reference points for bravery involve heroic actions like storming a beach, risking everything on an unlikely business deal, or casting caution to the wind on a massive career change.Yes, those actions ​can​ be brave, but the call to bravery is not just about mustering courage in the face of overwhelming odds.Bravery exists whenever someone a person engages in right action at the potential expense of their own comfort.​ Cowardice, on the other hand, exists when someone chooses self-protection at the expense of right action. It is possible to appear brave to others while actually behaving in a cowardly way, or to appear a coward to others while doing the brave thing. Others may not always know your internal considerations, and may filter your actions through their own biases.Bravery exists in an environment of high agency, and high optimism.​ When there is a lack of either agency (belief that individual actions can make a difference) or optimism (there’s a possible better future), the environment is ripe for potential cowardice.Leaders can help cultivate a culture of brave action by focusing on increasing both the level of perceived individual agency (by giving permission to speak and act), and the sense that a better future is possible for employees and for the organization as a whole (by tying decisions and actions back to core operating principles.)What bravery is: Bravery is doing the right thing, as best you know it, even when it’s the uncomfortable thing.​ It’s needed now more than ever in the marketplace, in the political realm, and in our schools and neighborhoods. Most bravery in the world is exhibited in small, everyday actions, not big efforts.Bravery is a choice, not a trait.​ People who choose to do the right thing in the face of personal cost are choosing to sacrifice their life and comfort for a better future. They are not superhuman. They are perhaps the most ​fully​ human.Bravery is always empathetic.​ It’s about the other, not about yourself. The other might be a person or a core principle, but the brave person is always looking outward when deciding. The coward looks inward and to his own interests.Bravery is action in spite of fear.​ People who act bravely feel fear and insecurity as much as everyone else. It’s just that they choose cause over comfort.Bravery is willingness to fail in the pursuit of what matters. T​ hose who choose bravery recognize the risks, and proceed because they are driven by deeper principles.What bravery is not:...

The biggest challenge that we’re facing right now as creative pros is not necessarily economic or physical, it’s psychological.I believe that those who come through this season not only having survived, but ready to thrive, will be those who are able to adopt a mindset that is realistic yet focused on possibilities and not limitations. Yes, current circumstances are hitting everyone in different ways and are much more challenging for some than others. And, I want us to focus today on a few beliefs that I find creeping into the mindset of many people I’m chatting with these days, and hopefully identify them and learn to counter them before they rob us of our focus, our goals, and our sense of curiosity and possibility. I’m tired of not being tired.That sounds like a strange thing, no? But really, it’s very normal and natural.As humans, we are wired for rhythm, which means that we thrive in cycles of tension and release. One of the dynamics that’s been causing grief among many friends and peers that I’ve been chatting with is that all of our days seem to run together. Every day is very similar to the last. There is no rhythm, no tension and release, no ups and downs.As a result, I want to challenge all of us to consider a few “lies” that I’ve been believing – or allowing to limit my thought process and approach to this season – and see if perhaps they might be affecting you as well.  Everything is subtraction.  This is a phrase I used with a friend who asked how things were going. What I meant was that, unlike in normal times, in the midst of this pandemic there is little opportunity for adding anything new and good to life. Instead, it’s mostly just subtraction. Good things are being taken away without the opportunity to add new things to the mix.This is a lie, but not obviously so. In fact, this is very much what it feels like. For example, in the core part of my business, which is traveling and working with clients and speaking to groups, I’ve only experienced the removal of opportunity, but not the possibility of new ones. In normal times, even when things were dry there was always the possibility of something good just around the corner. Now, it’s just subtraction.However, if I step back and look more holistically at life, it’s easy to see why this is a lie. So many wonderful things have been added to my life in the midst of this time that I didn’t even realize I was missing. We’ve been having very long family dinners each day where we get to re-connect with our kids without the rush of “I need to get to my homework.” My wife and I have been taking long walks in the evening. We’ve been able to connect with friends via virtual happy hours in a way that we just didn’t when everyone had so much going on. So, when I say “everything is subtraction”, I really mean that only in a business sense. If I were to look at life as a whole, there have been many opportunities and gifts during this season. Yes, it’s hard, and I hope it ends as quickly as possible, and it’s certainly taking more of a toll on some than others, but it’s important that we be able to step back and consider the entire set of our experiences, and not just the painful ones.Where have you seen some semblance of good in the midst of this time? Spend a bit of time reflecting on it, even writing a few paragraphs about it, and see if you can find something to be grateful for even in these difficult times. This is the new normal We hear this all the time in the media, so much so that I’ve largely stopped paying attention to what they’re saying. There is no such thing as “the new normal”. Throughout history, humans have had to endure seasons of hardship and adaptation. Our great grandparents had to walk through a global depression, both world

This week’s Accidental Creative podcast features Michael Bungay Stanier discussing his book The Advice Trap. Have you ever been in a situation where someone offered unsolicited advice?“Let me tell you what you need to do…”How did it feel? If you’re like me, you were probably grateful that they wanted to help, but it put you in the awkward position of either refusing their advice or, if they were your manager, acting on it just to avoid offending them in spite of your better instincts.It’s tempting to fall into the “advice trap”, which is when we lead with advice-giving instead of pausing to listen to the other person, to consider what they really need, and to ask questions that help them arrive at the answer on their own. Not only is this a better way to ensure that we are truly helping the other person, but it’s also the best way to help them learn to solve problems on their own. Here are a few things I took away from my chat with Michael: Lead With Curiosity Ask a lot of questions. You should lead with your curiosity, not your advice. By asking a lot of questions, you will not only better understand what’s truly going on, but you will also help the other person learn to think through their problems in a more guided way. This is how a great manager (or peer) can build into team members in a lasting manner.Ask questions first, and let the other person sort through the problem in conversation with you. Release The Control One of the biggest temptations of a manager is to clamp down and attempt to control the output of the team. Brilliant, driven creative pros need freedom to think for themselves and to try new methods for accomplishing their work. When you control your team, the work shrinks until it’s only as big as your personal sphere of attention can bear. Instead, you should aim to allow your team freedom to operate within clear principles and boundaries that guide their decisions.Lead with influence, not control. Give Empathetic Advice The worst advice is always the “if I were you, this is what I’d do” type. Why? Because you are filtering your advice through your own lens, not the world of the other person. Instead, when you do give advice first put yourself in the other person’s position and try to imagine how it would feel to be in their shoes. How might their feelings and concerns differ from what you’d be experiencing if you were in their situation?Before giving advice, imagine that you’re in the other person’s situtation.Once you learn to temper the “advice monster”, you’ll become the manager (or the peer) that everyone wants to work with.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Albert Einstein once wrote “The world we have created today as a result of our thinking thus far has problems which cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them.” In order to go to new places in life and work, we need to expand our thinking beyond the confines of our assumptions.But how do we do that?This week’s podcast episode features Ozan Varol, who has just released a book called Think Like A Rocket Scientist. In it, he articulates several strategies for breaking through assumptive ruts and taking your work to a new level. Here are a few of my takeaways from the conversation: You Must Question Your Assumptions In the past, I’ve frustrated many managers and peers for my annoying tendency to ask lots of “why?” questions. I’ve never been able to simply accept the way things are, and that can be very inconvenient when you’re trying to make quick progress on a project. However, this tendency has also served me well, because it’s frequently allowed me to circumvent norms that are preventing others from seeing possibilities.As you think about your current situation, your work, your life goals, what you are pursuing, are there assumptions that need to be challenged? They are often guidelines that have been in place for a number of years, or industry norms that others assume are hard and fast rules. Spend a bit of time this week challenging an assumption or two, and see where your thoughts lead you. Ask “What if…?” Return To First Principles Over time, it’s easy to get distracted with tactics and to forget what you’re actually trying to do. In the interview, Ozan shared the story of Steve Martin, who challenged the very conventions of what it means to be a comedian. In traditional comedy, the comedian will create tension and then relieve it by delivering a punchline, hopefully generating a laugh. Martin, however, wasn’t distracted by the tactics, and instead realized that the first principle was simply to make people laugh. He would create tension, but not relieve it with a punchline. At first, critics were apalled by his strategy, but audiences warmed up to it, and he became one of the most popular acts in the world, selling out arenas wherever he performed.What are the first principles of your work? What are you really trying to do, and how can you return to them and develop new tactics for accomplishing your goals? Have A Moonshot Right now, many people are simply focused on survival. I understand this necessity. However, I also think this is the perfect time to begin working on your personal “moonshot”, or the idea so big that no one else would dare try to compete with you. Physicist Max Planck once said, “At the initial stages of idea formation, the pure rationalist has no place.” Many of the world’s greatest accomplishments were met with skepticism and scorn at their inception, only to be accepted later.What is your personal moonshot? What could you aim for that seems scarily big to you, but that would completely change the trajectory of your life and work?To make progress on the other side of the pandemic, we will need to think in new ways. I hope this interview and Ozan’s book will expand your perspective and grant you a renewed enthusiasm for what’s possible.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a

When most of us tell the story of our career journey, it’s often a very linear tale. “And then, I left that job and took this one. Then, I decided to step away for a bit and start something new. Then, I took a role with a marketing firm.” However, the reality is much more complex.Most of our lives and our career journeys are much more circuitous in nature. My friend Mitch Joel calls it “the squiggly path”, meaning that it veers left and right and doesn’t seem to have a rhyme or reason looking forward, but looking back it all begins to make sense.My career path was definitely “squiggly”. As I discuss with David duChemin in this week’s episode about his book and podcast A Beautiful Anarchy, twenty years ago I could never have imagined the career I’m in now. However, looking back, the clues were there all along. (There weren’t many early-twenty-something musicians dragging personal development books along to gigs or tracking creative productivity in notebooks…) Careers Usually Only Make Sense Looking Backward There are two dynamics present early in your career: (1) there are clues all around you as to what you might be great at and enjoy, and (2) you lack the wisdom, self-knowledge, and foresight to be able to put those clues together. So as you move forward, you do your best to navigate according to what you know. Many people eventually figure out the pieces some time in their early to mid thirties, and are able to begin assembling a life and career that brings more meaning and opportunity to contribute. However, by that point many people are often more encumbered by things like mortgages and family responsibilities, making shifting a career more of a challenge.If you find yourself in a place where you might be ready for a change, I challenge you to take a hard look at the clues in your past successes and try to identify any patterns that stand out to you. Where were you (a) fully competent, (b) deeply driven, and (c) well-received by others? That’s the very definition of a “sweet spot”. You Need To Bring Stakeholders Along In any career or life move, you must ensure that your stakeholders are fully considered. The general rule of thumb for family decisions is that the least risk averse person gets to determine the threshold for action. In other words, if one person is ready to leap, but the other says “we need six months of savings in the bank first”, the more risk-averse person gets to call the shots. That way, everyone feels good about the move.Are there any stakeholders you need to include in your planning? Are they aware of your present thinking? Be Responsive, Not Reactive Many people are reacting to the present circumstances without fully absorbing the implications of their actions. In any stressful moment, I find it best to take a pause, consider everything that’s happening, consider the all of the possible consequences of my actions (first, second, and potential third order consequences), consider my values, and then act in a meaningful way. I find that by taking this approach, I am much less likely to jump into something I’ll regret later. Be responsive, not reactive.As you consider all of the effects of our present situation on your life and work, where are you tempted to react instead of meaningfully responding? Take some time to pause, to reflect on the consequences, to consider your values, then to craft a strategic plan of action that moves you forward.Embrace the beautiful anarchy that is a life well-lived and work well-crafted. Use this time we all have to respond to your circumstances, to strategize, and to embrace the possibility of what awaits on the other side.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful

Dave Noll and his business partner are the creators of the hit TV series Chopped, as well as a number of other popular television programs. Every day they bounce ideas off of one another, combining themes and smashing old concepts together to form new possible programs.In our conversation, Dave and I engaged in a little “idea bouncing” as well. Here are a few of the practical tips that emerged in our chat: Keep A Queue Of Old Ideas When you engage in a project, you probably end up with a lot of discarded ideas that didn’t quite work out. What happens to those ideas? Many people simply discard them on the trash heap and start fresh with the next project. However, it’s wise to keep a queue of these old, but not quite right ideas. Keep them in a notebook, or on index cards, or someplace where you can browse them later. Often, an idea that’s not right now is the perfect idea for a later project, but you would never have remembered it unless you had a system to help you do so.At the completion of each project, transfer the ideas or hunches that didn’t work out to a queue, and review it regularly so that you keep those ideas top of mind. Don’t Think Big. Think Bigger. In the interview, Dave told the story of pitching a “dream scenario” show to Barry Diller, the iconic TV executive, only to have him toss it back in his face as being too small. Dave said he learned that no matter how big you think, there is always someone who will think bigger. You’d might as well aim as high as you can with your career and decisions, because if you don’t, one of your competitors certainly will.Will Smith didn’t want to be a movie star, he wanted to be the biggest movie star in the world. As you think about your life and your career, where are you playing too small? Where are you settling for what you can get instead of dreaming about possibility? Consider New Media, New Formats Given the economic shakeup caused by the pandemic, it’s time for many of us to reconsider how we are delivering our ideas to market. Dave and his business partner, having only made TV shows in the past, have just launched their first ever podcast called Factorious. While they certainly could simply focus on making TV shows, they decided to explore a new medium that would offer a different kind of challenge as well as the ability to reach a new audience with their work.As you think about the work you do, how could you re-package or re-position it to reach a new audience? Is there a way to add a new form of media to the mix? A different distribution channel?I found this conversation with Dave to be both inspiring and a lot of fun. It sparked some great ideas for how to take my business to a new place. As we deal with the current health and economic crisis, this is a great time to begin dreaming again about what might be possible for you on the other side.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

On this week’s episode, Jen Gotch shares insights from her new book The Upside of Being Down. To state the obvious, we are all learning to adjust to a new way of living.Humans are not wired to live in long, sustained periods of isolation or social distancing, and we are having to adapt to new ways of working together, being creative, and living our lives. With all of these new dynamics, it’s importat to be open about mental health and the struggles that accompany long periods of uncertainty. Jen Gotch is the perfect person to help us think through how to navigate these difficult times. Her new book, a memoir, is called The Upside Of Being Down, and shares her personal journey in life and business while dealing with the impact of anxiety and depression.There are three big insights that I took from the conversation that are shaping how I’m thinking about the coming weeks and months. Progress Over Perfection It is very important to break big ambitions into smaller, measurable wins, especially when we don’t have access to all of the resources we normally lean on. In her book The Progress Principle, Teresa Amibile wrote “Our research inside companies revealed that the best way to motivate people, day in and day out, is by facilitating progress—even small wins.” Psychologically, small wins are a huge boost to overall motivation and a sense of purpose and direction in life and work.As Jen said in our interview, “How will you measure progress this week? What small wins will you choose to mark success? Unnecessary Creating Is Deep Therapy In The Accidental Creative, I shared a practice that I call unnecessary creating. It means to engage routinely in making things that no one is paying you for, and that are not a part of your job. It can range from launching a podcast (which is how my business began!) to learning a new skill to painting to writing music. It’s a way to allow yourself the freedom to take risks, to develop skills, and to find creative expression in a very low-risk environment because the work is just for you, not for others. Right now I’m working on an unnecessary creating project in my spare time, and it’s very life-giving to have something I’m doing that’s not directly tied to my on-demand work.What unnecessary creating will you do this week? Choose a project such as writing a short story, making a piece of art, or exprimenting with a new skill. Release The Pressure Valve One ray of light over the past weeks has been getting to see normally polished, produced people learning to do what they do in a more accessible and authentic way. Whether it’s Jimmy Fallon doing The Tonight Show from his home (with his kids crawling all over him!) or news anchors doing their segments from their living room, we are discovering the beauty and power of authenticity. We all need to release the pressure valve a bit, and realize that there is a new kind of more genuine expression possible because of what we’re all experiencing together.Also, we do need to reconsider the expectations that we have of ourselves. This is no time to be in constant sprint mode, holding yourself to the same kind of accountability that you did before all of this began. Be wise in how you set your weekly expectations, and focus more on desired outcomes than quantity-based measures of productivity.Our biggest source of stress is often found in missed expectations, especially those we have for ourselves. Is there any way in which you...

Many people have started "side hustles" as a way to supplement their income or to pursue side passions. On this episode, Chris Guillebeau shares insights about how to find the right idea and how to start your own side hustle with tips from his book The Money Tree. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Due to recent events, many of us have suddenly found that we have more time on our hands. On this episode, we share a few principles for using time to invest in yourself and to plant seeds that will produce a harvest later.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you make your message stand out in a crowded marketplace? On this episode, Jason Van Orden shares principles for getting your ideas into the world more effectively. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The answers to our problems lie all around us, but they are often invisible. We must train ourselves to look at the world differently in order to find them. Today's guest is Stephen Shapiro, author of the new book Invisible Solutions.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to disrupt the status quo, you need to think differently. On this episode, Trendhunter CEO Jeremy Gutsche shares some practical advice for innovating in uncertain times. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you think of a great manager, what words come to mind? Competence? Focus? Drivenness?How about... gratitude? That's probably not near the top of your list. On this episode, Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick are here to make the case for why gratitude is the killer app for building effective cultures. Their new book is called Leading With Gratitude.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you step into a managerial role for the first time, your entire world changes. You are now no longer responsible just for your own work, but have to help other unleash their best work as well. On this episode, Ryan Hawn of The Learning Leader shares insights into how to be a good manager with tips from his book Welcome To Management. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Ideas are of no value until they are shared with others. However, many creative pros are less than confident about their presentation abilities, or uncertain about how to establish their credibility when sharing their concepts. On this episode, Grant Baldwin shares how to become a more confident presenter with tips from his new book The Successful Speaker. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As a leader, the words you choose can determine success or failure, alignment or mutiny, a thriving culture vs. a destructive one. On this episode, L. David Marquet shares insights into how to use the power of language to unleash your team's best work. David's new book is called Leadership Is Language. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you uniquely contribute to the world? On this episode, Tom Rath helps us begin to answer the question of why you are here on this planet, and to identify the unique contribution that you have to make. Tom's new book is called Life's Great Question. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What do you do when you disagree with your manager? How do you deliver the news in a way that they are most likely to receive it? On this episode, we share three key principles for speaking truth to power. This episode is sponsored by Indeed. Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Post your job today at Indeed.com/CREATIVE and find out why more than 3 million companies use Indeed for hiring. Indeed. The world’s #1 job site. The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you tell if your manager, your client, or your peer are telling you the truth? How do you know if you can really trust someone? On this episode, the former head of the FBI's behavioral analysis program - Robin Dreeke - shares insights from his new book Sizing People Up. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Even if you are bringing your best every day, you are still at the mercy of your organization. An unhealthy climate can affect your ability to do your best work. On this episode, we share some tips for dealing with an unhealthy organization.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do the best brands create loyal advocates for their work? On this episode, David Meerman Scott shares how to create a "fanocracy" around your work with tips from his new book Fanocracy. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Most of the work you do has to be accomplished with others. On this episode, we share three principles for dealing with difficult co-workers and clients. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Where do good ideas come from? Often, they are forged in the most unlikely places. On this episode, I share a simple and practical method for exploring and playing with new ideas. The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Creative work is largely qualitative in nature. That can make it difficult to choose the best idea without creating conflict on the team. On this episode, we share a simple framework for choosing the best idea: EPIC.This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. Get two months of access to thousands of classes absolutely free! To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/AC.The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Your ability to thrive as a creative pro is largely determined by the little things you do every day. Talent will get you so far, but without daily practices to develop your intuition, feed your mind, and sharpen your skills, you will eventually stall out. On this episode, we share three daily practices that will set you up for long-term success.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

One practice that is prescribed in The Accidental Creative is a checkpoint every three months to get ahead of commitments and ambitions for the upcoming quarter. On this episode, we walk through a Quarterly Checkpoint and offer some questions and prompts to help you plan for brilliance in the coming months. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's the time of year when many people are thinking about what the next twelve months have in store. On this episode, I share four questions to help you think about 2020 and set goals for life and work.The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's tempting to think that motivation is largely driven by the tasks that you do every day, but it's more accurate to say that you bring your motivation to those tasks. On this episode, we discuss three core motivational archetypes and how they affect everyday engagement. Are you a builder, a fixer, or an optimizer?Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Most notes are simply facts, to-do's, and records that will never be reviewed later. However, there is a better way to leverage your notes to help you generate brilliant ideas and spot patterns in your environment. On this episode, we share some best practices for taking and processing notes more effectively.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to produce a body of work you can be proud of, you must be resilient. But, how do you learn to persist in the face of failure, resistance, and uncertainty? On this episode, Neil Pasricha share insights into how to become more resilient with tips from his book You Are Awesome. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Professionals spend a lot of time worrying about things that are outside of their control. On this episode, we discuss how to deal with organizational decisions, cultural forces, and other things that live outside of our ability to influence.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Your sweet spot is discovered through active contemplation, not passive reflection. The broader your base of experience, the more patterns you will be able to discern. On this episode, we share three key principles for discovering what you're wired for, and navigating to a place of effectiveness in life and work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

As a creative professional, it's easy to get pulled into work that needs to be done at the expense of work that you'd like to do. You don't have the luxury of working only on things that excite you. This is why it's important to have some area of your life where you are taking risks, trying new things, and developing your creative intuition in a way that your on-demand work doesn't allow. On this episode, we share how to get started with Unnecessary Creating. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are three types of bravery that you might need to engage in as a creative professional. On this episode, we discuss each of them and how to be brave in the face of uncertainty.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The first few minutes of your pitch can make all the difference between a successful and failed outcome. On this episode, former TV exec and expert pitchman Brant Pinvidic shares how to pitch better with tips from his book The 3-Minute Rule.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Our world is full of distractions, both good and bad. How do you choose what to allocate your finite focus to each day? On this episode, Nir Eyal shares how to become indistractable with tips from his new book. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Being an entrepreneur requires not only technical sense and business savvy, but also the right mindset. On this episode, John Jantsch shares mindset principles for entrepreneurs from his book The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What makes a great brand? As the marketplace changes, how do you ensure that what you stand for and how your customers view you align? On this episode, Blake Howard of Matchstic shares insights for developing a brand that resonates. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Brilliant creative work must be founded upon compelling data that illustrates a truth, and reveals an opportunity for the intended audience. How do you share that data in a way that is compelling, and that helps your audience receive it and act upon it? Today's  guest, Nancy Duarte, has spent years teaching leaders and organizations how to share their story well, and on this episode she teaches us insights from her new book DataStory. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to be effective as a creative pro, as a marketer, or as a leader, alignment between what you say and do is critical. However, many organizations allow a gap to emerge over time between beliefs and actions, and the result is a lack of authenticity and work that doesn't resonate.On this episode, Ron Tite shares insights from his book Think Do Say about how to bring better alignment between our words and our actions. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does it really take to build something that's noteworthy and successful, whether it's a business, a non-proft, or just a side hustle? There's a lot of advice out there, and a lot of it is full of platitudes and half-truths that do more harm than good. Liz Forkin Bohannon is the co-founder and CEO of Sseko Designs, and the author of the new book Beginner's Pluck. In this episode she shares some brilliant counter-cultural advice for anyone wanting to build a career, life, and business of purpose. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does it take to create a culture in which creative people thrive? On this episode, we chat with Matt Cooper (CEO) and Sabrina Kieffer (COO) of Skillshare about what it takes to attract and retain talent, their personal leadership philosophies, and how they manage their busy work and personal lives as leaders of a fast-growing company.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to have great ideas when it matters most, you must have practices in your life to help you do so. On this episode, Chase Jarvis gives insight into how to establish a creative practice that will help you bring your best work each day, identify your "sweet spot", and build a body of work you can be proud of. Chase's new book is Creative Calling.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you create under pressure, it's tempting to gravitate toward the first idea just to relieve the tension of not knowing where the project is headed. However, this can often mean compromising the work if that idea doesn't deliver the kind of value you really want to be known for. You're simply trading a little discomfort now for a lot of discomfort later. On this episode, I share three principles from my interview with Adam Steltzner about how to get to the best creative idea and produce work you're proud of. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Regardless of your role, you have to be creative every day. You have to solve problems under pressure, make connections, see patterns, and convince others. On this episode, Kathryn Haydon is here to share some insights into being more creative with tips from her book The Non-Obvious Guide To Being More Creative.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Your mind is brilliant at surfacing potential insights, and connecting dots that help you solve problems. However, many people rely on their mind as the key repository for all of their hunches and ideas, which is not a great system. Too many things slip through the cracks.On this episode, David Allen shares the five key steps for turning hunches into breakthroughs, and why he's just released a workbook companion to his bestselling book Getting Things Done.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

A creative project is a bit like a long hallway with multiple chambers. As you navigate down the hallway, you reach checkpoints where critical decisions must be made, and a door closes behind you. There are three questions you should ask at those checkpoints:1. Who else needs to know about this?2. What do I need right now?3. What am I not considering?On this episode, I elaborate on these three questions and offer some tips for crafting a process that's sane and helpful to your work. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

To do your best work, you must commit to doing the right thing even when it's not the most popular thing. However, many creative pros and leaders fall into the "likeability trap", meaning they'd rather be liked than effective. On this episode, we share three principles for ditching the approval addiction and being a dream collaborator. The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What does it mean to be brave? We often think of those people who muster one huge, courageous act of the will to overcome an obstacle. However, bravery can also mean a steady, daily push to take small risks in the face of uncertainty.On this episode, I share my talk from a Creative Mornings gathering about why bravery is so critical to creative pros. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you think about design, you probably think about things like packaging, graphic design, UX, and the like. But, what if we could apply design thinking to some of the bigger environmental and social issues facing the planet? Today's guest is Katie Patrick. She's an environmental engineer who has initiated the "Fitbit for the planet" movement to help quantify the effects of our everyday actions. She's here to share insights from her book How To Save The World.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Have you ever said something in a meeting that you didn't expect to? It happened to me last week, except it wasn't a meeting, it was in a speech given at the Global Leadership Summit to over 400,000 leaders and indluencers across the world. The particular line was, "Brilliance is forged in the cauldron of creative conflict."Fortunately, I believe this to be true to the core of my being. You have to fight for brilliant work. And when you collaborate, that means having healthy conflict with others too.On this episode, I share a few ideas for how to engage in healthy creative conflict with your team. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

My book Louder Than Words begins with the line “attention for your work is not a birthright.” I believe this to the core of my being. Some people think that simply making something great entitles them to the attention of people around them, but it’s simply not true. If you want their attention, you must earn it.This is equally true in leadership, sales, or any other arena where you must cultivate awareness and attention for your ideas in order to succeed. The best way to capture attention is through the power of story. Story binds us. It reminds us of what we have in common. It builds empathy and trust. And, it allows you to leverage common ground to inspire people to move toward your vision. Think about the last time you were inspired by someone. I guarantee it was because they were sharing a story that resonated to the core of your being. We are defined by the stories we believe.  On this episode, we’re going to be talking about the power of story, and how leaders can use it to help those on their team do better work, stay aligned, and produce great work each day. Our guest is author Paul Smith, whose new book is called The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We are wired for two conflicting things: comfort, and conquest. To achieve goals, we need to disrupt the comfort instinct long enough to experience our first successes on the path to the goal. On this episode, I share three core principles for doing the hard work necessary to get moving on your goals. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's become the accepted norm that stress, increasing expectations, and over-filled schedules are a fact of work-life. Today's guest, Jason Fried, believes that it doesn't have to be that way. He's the co-founder of Basecamp, and the co-author of several books including Rework, Remote, and It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work. In this conversation, we talk about how Jason built the company that he wanted to work for, the importance of treating your company like a product in itself, his own personal creative process, where ideas come from, and what he wishes more people knew about creating a culture where creative people thrive.Book Recommendation: The ManualMentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

We tend to think of creative work as a solo sport. It's something that, in large part, has to be accomplished alone. However, the extent to which we stay connected to others can play a large role in our personal creative process, and in helping us tackle our goals. On this episode, we share three core strategies for developing relationships that will help you thrive personally, and in business.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you do any kind of difficult, problem-solving, creative work, tension is inevitably present. How you deal with that tension will determine whether it makes you stronger and more focused, or whether it sucks the wind out of your sails. On this episode, we share three tensions that every creative pro encounters daily, and how to deal with them while recognizing that they're not going away.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Discipline is sometimes perceived as a “dirty word” because it’s interpreted as pushing through the muck, doing the unenjoyable activities first, and forgoing the chocolate cake for the steamed broccoli. However, I think this is a gross misunderstanding of the word.Discipline simply means making an agreement with yourself, and keeping it.That’s all. Nothing more complicated than that. The problem with discipline begins when we don’t understand which commitments are worth our effort, when we make too many commitments, when our commitments conflict, or when we are subject to the unclear commitments of others.On this episode, we address how to deal with moments when you feel undisciplined.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

With the increase of information crossing your attention span each day, it’s easy to forget even the most impactful experiences. Make every effort to capture these, and to ensure that they become a valuable part of your creative process. On this episode, we share four key principles for keeping sparks and seeds of inspiration at the ready for those moments when you need a brilliant idea. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

At some point in your career, you will feel stuck. Not stuck because you can't come up with an idea for a project, but stuck in the sense that you feel like you don't know how to go to the next level. How do you continue to grow, to develop your voice, and create more impact?On this episode, we share the two common places where creative pros get stuck, and how to continue moving up the curve into rare air where you can do work worth noticing.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

One force that’s ever-present in any form of creative work is uncertainty. The reality is that you will never know – really know – what’s right. Is this good enough? Is it finished? Is it the right strategy? How should I spend my time/focus/energy today? Which idea should I run with? How can I sell this to my manager? Uncertainty is an uncooperative dance partner. You have to move with it – in concert, drawing from it, following its lead at times, but always with an eye on your next move – in order to do your best work. The worst thing you can do is allow uncertainty to paralyze you into inaction.On today's show, we share three strategies for dealing with uncertainty.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Several years ago, toymaker Neal Hoffman had an idea for a new toy that would make his family's life much more fun. The problem was, he had another job at the time, and this "side project" was likely to take up much more time and resources than he could spare. On this episode, we discuss Neil's journey from idea, to an appearance on Shark Tank, to creating an internationally successful toy product that has changed the lives of families across the globe.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I am frequently asked for career advice, and I very, very rarely offer it.Why? First, because I only intimately know my own path and those of a few others. Second, because all advice is local. What works for one person will be misery for another. Finally, when people ask for career advice, what they’re often asking is that you validate something they’ve already decided to do.However, in the past few days I’ve been struck by stories of friends and colleagues who are feeling the effects of a shifting creative marketplace, and a decreasingly stable job market. Just like when the stock market takes a downturn and everyone gets very conservative, I see many creatives jumping at the first opportunity to come along rather than thinking about their career as an investment portfolio to be build over time.With that in mind, here are three career investments that I think every single creative should be making now, and should continue to make consistently. These are the three aspirations that you should be chasing in order to ensure that you are positioning yourself to do increasingly meaningful and valuable work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

A few years ago we featured the story of Andrea Summer and her struggle to make a passion project album called Wanderlust. After years of work, the album is finally finished and releases today. On this episode, we re-visit that conversation with Andrea from 2017, and share insights into the making of a passion project.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Your life is composed of days, and how you spend those days is how you spend your life. On this episode, I share a simple five-part daily planning process that will help you stay on-course, engaged, and focused on the things that matter most.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It's tempting to gloss over small areas of misalignment or misunderstanding because they seem like no big deal in the moment. However, those small areas of misalignment can become big problems later. On this episode, we share a few ways this happens to leaders and teams and a handful of questions to help you stay ahead of them.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Many people dream of making a leap into their ideal career, but have no clue what their first steps should be. On this episode, Ken Coleman (host of the Ken Coleman Show and author of The Proximity Principle) shares some simple, practical tips for identifying and stepping into your dream job.The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Stress. We all deal with it, and it affects our work in significant, and often unseen ways. There are actually two types of stress that we encounter in doing creative work, and on this episode we share what they are and how to deal with them so that they don't rob us of our ability to produce brilliant work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What exactly does a great leader do? There are three key things that an effective leader of creative people provides for the team consistently and well. On this episode, I share the importance of focus, function, and fire to the creative process.Insights from today's episode are from the book Herding Tigers: Be The Leader That Creative People Need.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Those who ask the best questions ultimately win. There are some questions that are obvious. These are the ones that directly affect our work and its outcomes. Then, there are questions that hover just beneath the surface of our work, and rarely get asked. On this episode, we share three questions that you're probably not asking, but definitely should be.The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The story you believe becomes your experience of reality, because it’s your filter for all of your experiences. If you filter your life through the lens of anxiety, everything will feel like a threat. If you filter your life through the lens of hopelessness, then when things are going well you won’t be able to enjoy it because you’ll always be waiting for the other shoe to drop.If you filter your life through the lens of envy, then you’ll always feel like others are getting a better deal than you, even when you’re doing better than you could have ever imagined. These inner narratives/filters are very stealthy and difficult to spot. I’ve developed what I call “color filter theory” to help identify areas where I’m slipping into unhealthy thought patterns or narratives. On this episode, I share those filters and how they affect us.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Distractions are a baked-in part of the modern workplace. Wouldn't it be great if we could eliminate them and just focus on our important work? Well... on this episode we share six strategies for dealing with distractions in your world, and how to focus on being fully present and effective.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

The two most precious resources you have as a creative pro are your time and attention. They are under a constant onslaught from organizational needs, client demands, and personal anxieties. As a manager, you must commit to protecting these finite resources at all costs. On this episode, we share three principles for doing so from Todd Henry's book Herding Tigers.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I have a confession to make: I’m a natural-born over-packer. When I go on a trip, it’s very likely that I’ll come home with a lot of unworn clothes and unnecessary weight in my travel bag. This is a tendency I recognized early in my business travel days, and that over the past few years I’ve tried to mitigate just a bit by packing only the essentials. You see, the problem is that my definition of “essentials” is a little… broad.On this episode, I share a few pieces of "extra baggage" that we carry with us as creative pros, and how to shed them so that we are lighter, more nimble, and better able to attach our work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Yesterday I spent time with students at Miami University in Oxford, OH, and I shared with them what I believe to the the "killer app" that will help them achieve their goals faster and more successfully than they can imagine. On this episode, I share what it is and how you can use it to improve your work, your creativity, and your career prospects.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

So much stress and misalignment happens in organizations because conversations are left incomplete. There is misunderstanding, dissonance, and a general level of anxiety about expectations and next steps. On this episode, we share a few simple strategies for completing conversations and ensuring that you are aligned with your peers, your team, and your leadership.The core ideas in this episode are from the book Herding Tigers. Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You proably have goals you'd like to pursue or dreams you'd like to chase. It's also likely that there are limits that you encounter as you pursue them. However, some of those limits are self-imposed. On this episode, Laura Gassner Otting is here to teach us how to bust through those artificial limits with insights from her new book Limitless.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

At some point, you're going to encounter difficult times as a creative pro. It could be something that happens to you, or a situation you created yourself. How do you persist in your work in the face of adversity and challenges? On this episode, Austin Kleon is back to share his perspective on how to develop creative resilience in hard times. His new book is called Keep Going.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What drives your creative work? Some fuels that drive our work burn "clean", and some burn "dirty", meaning they leave a residue that makes it difficult to continue producing great work over time. On this episode, I share the difference between clean and dirty fuels, and how to find motivation that lasts.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you define legacy? Or more importantly, what will be the legacy of your business or brand? Or, for you personally? On this episode, Lucas Conley shares insights from his reseach about how people and brands are building legacies that resonate and last. His book is called Legacy In The Making.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Some ideas are so crazy that "moonshot" doesn't even do them credit. "Loonshot" seems more appropriate. On this episode, physicist and entrepreneur Safi Bachall is here to teach us how to nurture the crazy ideas that win wars, cure diseases, and transform industries with insights from his new book Loonshots.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

When you first step into your role as a manager, your entire work world changes. You are no longer simply responsible for your own work. Now, you are responsible for the work, the culture, the process, and anything else that happens on your team. It can feel overwhelming. On this episode, Julie Zhou (VP of Product Design at Facebook) shares insights for managers from her new book The Making of a Manager.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are a number of ways in which we build "escape hatches" to relieve the stress and fear that we might under-perform. On this episode, I talk about three of those common "secondary ways of escape", and how to begin to counter them.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

What you surround yourself with can inspire new ideas and motivate you to keep pressing on when things get difficult. On this episode, I share the three categories of "mementos" that you can keep in your workspace to help you push through challenges and root your work in meaning.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I sent a tweet (@toddhenry) the other day that addressed a pattern I'm seeing with people I've been interacting with. It seems that many people are losing the narrative. They expect results without adventure. Celebration with the risk of rejection. Pride without doubts. This doesn't happen. On this episode, I share a few areas where you need to be brave this week.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

You have a finite amount of attention to spend on behalf of the creative problems you're solving. How you allocate that attention will often determine your success or failure. On this episode, I share three simple strategies for gaining creative focus and generating traction in your work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Work would be so easy if it weren't for all the people, right? However, all of us have to deal (from time to time) with difficult co-workers and people who seem intent on making our lives miserable. On this episode, I share a few principles for dealing with those difficult co-workers.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Writing every day has tremendous benefits to your creativity, your emotional state, and your career. On this episode, I share some tactical tips for establishing a daily writing practice, including how to commit the resources, choose your tools, and find the right format to help you turn information into wisdom.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Meetings are the bane of many creative pros' existence. The amount of wasted time in meetings in incalculable. On this episode, I share eight key principles for helping you have better meetings, and how to honor the time of your team, your collaborators, and your clients.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you have a matrix for important decisions in your life? How do you decide which path is correct when you're being pulled in multiple directions? On the first part of this episode, I share some insights from Herding Tigers to help you establish your core decision-making matrix.Then, Aaron Dignan joins us to talk about his new book Brave New Work. He lays out a framework for re-imagining how organizations function in the accelerating and ever-changing marketplace.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

If you want to produce a body of work you're proud of, you must have a creative point of view. However, it is risky to commit yourself to ideas and ideals that cause you to be vulnerable and open you up to critique from others. On this episode, I share just a few principles for developing creative confidence and pushing yourself to the next level.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Many creative pros charge through their work over days and weeks without ever stopping to assess whether they're on the right course. In this episode, I share a simple method for instilling a checkpoint into your life to help you ask critical questions about the work you're doing and the life you're living.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

I believe that the love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness. You cannot pursue comfort and great work simultaneously. However, comfort is seductive and can lull us into creative complacency. On this episode, I share three kinds of goals you can implement in your life to help you push outside of your comfort zone, and accomplish those big objectives.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How do you handle feedback? We need other people in our lives to tell us the truth. If we immediately get defensive when they tell us something we don’t like, we will lose key allies in our journey of growth. If you manage a team, your trigger happy ways will eventually destroy the culture of your team. On this episode, we share a few strategies for dealing with feedback in a healthy way.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Many of us are told to keep our emotions in check at work. Don't display how you feel, and make sure that you don't "get emotional" about a business decision. Today's guest believes this is bad advice. Her name is Liz Fosslien, and she's the co-author of a new book called No Hard Feelings. She's going to help us understand the power of emotion at work.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Technology is an extension of your capacity to accomplish your will. So, it gives you a "longer lever" when you want to move big rocks. However, we are finding that technology is encroaching upon us in ways we couldn't have anticipated ten years ago. It's more difficult to find the space necessary to do the important, creative work we're tasked with.Today's guest is Cal Newport. He's just written a book called Digital Minimalism, and on this episode he will share some tips for dealing with technological encroachment.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

How you spend your time is how you spend your life. As a creative pro, you're not accountable for "showing up", you're accountable for the value you produce. On this episode, I share a method for planning your days that helps you ensure that you spend your hours in a way that facilitates your creative productivity and helps you produce the value you're accountable for.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Do you have a good game plan for how you'll spend your week? Many people charge into Monday without really thinking much about their plan of attack. On this episode, we share a simple method for planning your week that will help you better organize around what matters, and will ensure that you have the space necessary to tackle those big, conceptual projects.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

It is a reality that managers and creatives often speak different languages. Each has a different set of responsibilities and perspectives they are bringing to a project, and often the collision of these forces is enough to create massive waves within the organization. With that in mind, here is a list of statements that could begin to spark dialogue between organizational leaders and creatives.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

Having worked with and interviewed hundreds of professionals, I’ve come to believe that each person also has a “sweet spot”. It’s comprised of the situations and activities where they are maximally effective, and where they create the most unique value for their effort. It’s not necessarily a specific job or task, but rather a mode they go into that separates them from the pack. It’s a unique kind of value that they become known for, and that others seek out.However, in the flurry of busyness, many people never stop to consider the patterns present in those moments when they have delivered extraordinary results. They may be great students of the marketplace or their customers, but they have failed to be great students of themselves.On this episode, we share some principles for navigating to your sweet spot, and operating in your area of maximum effectiveness.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.

There are two types of creative pros and idea generators, and knowing which kind you are can make a significant impact on your contribution to projects, and even on your career path. On this episode, we share how to know which you are, and how to leverage it for the most impact.Mentioned in this episode:Please Support Our Sponsors:Indeed: Indeed is an unbelievably powerful hiring platform. Join more than 3 million businesses worldwide that use Indeed to hire great talent fast. Visit indeed.com/creative to get started today. Shopify: Shopify is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Now it's your turn to get serious about selling and try Shopify today. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/accidentalcreative.