Many of us are pursuing our dreams in the margins of life. We have work commitments, family commitments, volunteer commitments, the list goes on. So if we’re going to get after our dreams, we need a way to spur ourselves to action. In this video I share about how coming up with a “power statement” has […]
Sometimes our anxieties about the future negatively impact the present. We anticipate 1-star Amazon reviews before we’ve written a chapter. We dread how little our new business venture will make before we’ve designed the product. But is all thinking about the future bad for productivity and creativity? Of course not. Natasha Crain commented, “I like to […]
Like most, I do my art in the margins. I have a day job, one I like very much, and so my writing and product making and speaking and platform building have to happen on the side. Some have called this a “side hustle.” I’m supposed to tell you that if you work hard enough, […]
Not long ago I visited an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum titled Master Painters. The focus was a collection of pieces from The Netherlands during the seventeenth century, a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. One painting in particular grabbed my attention: a stunning maritime scene of ships at anchor. I took in […]
My 40th birthday is April 9, 2014. Thresholds like this have a way of putting life into perspective because we want our lives to matter. We want to make a difference. So what is it? What can I do? These questions have haunted me as I’ve thought about a worthwhile way to celebrate my 40th. […]
“The hardest part of the process is getting centered,” our instructor told us. My wife and I were fifteen minutes into a pottery class, watching our teacher push on a piece of clay as it spun. “But if your clay’s not centered,” she continued, “it will warp and your piece won’t turn out right.” Don’t […]
When writing is your dream job but not your day job, fitting it in the margins of life can be tough. Following are 22 ways to find more writing time: 1. When driving, speak into a voice recorder app. Transcribe it later when you have time. Or you could try a speech-to-text app.
The survey’s gone out, the results are in, and here’s one finding you can take to the bank: The number 1 reason by far that creatives give for not doing their art is “lack of time.” What’s the solution to that? Do we really need 22 clever ways to find time? Maybe, but I think what […]
If you’re like most people, you’re getting nervous. The Valentine’s Day displays have reminded you that Cupid is coming, and you’ve got nothing. It’s not that you don’t love your spouse or significant other. In fact, it’s how much you do love her/him coupled with the anxiety of anticipating this holiday that can be so […]
Good books and the authors who write them make for some of the most helpful companions on the creative journey. Below is a categorized list of what I consider the best books out there on creativity, writing, platform, and pursuing your dreams. I commented on books I’ve read and loved. Others made the list either […]
