Unlocking Creativity is a b**** 🔒

Unlocking Creativity is a b**** and if you’re like me, it’s a daily battle.

The foundation of my path and philosophy started 10 years ago. I was on the side of my bed at the lowest point of my life. 26 and not where I wanted to be in life, at least not yet. It was around April of 2014 when I wrote a message to my future self on a pink sticky note.

C R E A T E.

I remember this because just 2 weeks or so before, my lung collapsed. Not being able to work, just having my first born, and two years into my marriage. Well everything just collapsed on me, no pun intended. When the doctor tells you, “Good thing you got here when you did, this would have been life threatening” it hits you like a stampede.

Spontaneous pneumothorax, that’s what they called it. I guess it fits in with my persona. I can be sporadic and spontaneous at times. Just like writing this newsletter. I never considered myself a writer, even better, a book reader —— man has that changed. I’ve had sort of an enlightenment on how I perceive things and my perspective has changed on some topics when it comes to unlocking your creativity.

• Time Management

• Skill Development

• Idea Generation

• Project Execution

I tried to divide these areas into categories for clarity, and well I went down a rabbit hole. I dare you to do the same. It’s ok if you don’t, that’s why I started this. I’m here to tell you about this idea I created called, leveraging your creative firepower and it’s going to blow your mind. So just like my pink sticky note, stick with me. It’s going to be fun.

The power of clarity lies in its ability to lift the veil of our immediate circumstances, revealing unseen potentials and unexplored roads. Similar to adjusting a lens, we must fine tune our focus to perceive the true essence of what is really important. On a future letter, I will dive more into the Clarity Chart and the Focus Funnel.

When faced with a problem, our natural inclination is to gravitate towards solutions that have proven effective in similar situations from our past experiences. This often leads us to ask ourselves, "What lessons or methods have I learned previously that could resolve this issue?"

However, a more innovative approach to problem solving involves considering alternative perspectives and sources of inspiration. Instead of only relying on familiar strategies, we can explore diverse methods and draw insights from individuals outside our immediate sphere who have encountered similar challenges, but in different contexts or industries.

Despite each individual's inherent capacity to create fresh and inventive ideas based on their unique cognitive patterns, creativity often appears less abundant than expected. To get started, I got some helpful tips to spark that creative mind of yours.

🗝 Here are Five Helpful Tips to Unlock the Key to Creativity:

⚡ Embrace Curiosity: Foster a mindset of curiosity and exploration. Stay open to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. Ask questions, challenge assumptions, and seek out opportunities to learn from diverse sources. Curiosity fuels creativity by prompting you to discover connections and possibilities that may not be immediately obvious.

⚡ Cultivate Divergent Thinking: Practice divergent thinking, which involves generating multiple solutions or ideas in response to a problem or stimulus. Avoid self-censorship and judgment during brainstorming sessions. Encourage wild ideas and unconventional approaches. Quantity often leads to quality in creative endeavors, as it increases the likelihood of uncovering innovative solutions.

⚡ Create a Stimulating Environment: Surround yourself with stimuli that inspire creativity. Designate a workspace that is conducive to concentration and imagination. Fill it with elements that stimulate the senses, such as artwork, long walks, natural light, or calming music. Experiment with different environments to find what best facilitates your creative flow.

⚡ Engage in Creative Exercises: Incorporate regular creative exercises into your routine to flex your creative muscles. Experiment with techniques like mind mapping, free writing, visual brainstorming, or role-playing. Engaging in creative activities outside your primary area of focus can spark fresh ideas and perspectives.

⚡ Leverage Failure : Embrace failure as a natural part of the creative process. View setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning rather than obstacles. Leverage your past experience and turn it into a story. Recognize that breakthroughs often arise from mistakes and unexpected outcomes. By embracing a mindset of resilience and adaptability, you'll be better equipped to navigate the ups and downs of the creative journey.

By incorporating these tips into your approach to creativity, you can unlock new levels of innovation and Leverage Your Creative FIREPOWER. 🧠 🔥

Every day, zoom out and remind yourself of what you don’t want. You don’t need to focus on what you want, because that will make itself apparent through your choices. - Dan Koe

One of the many lessons from a recent book I read. “The Art of Focus” by Dan Koe. I suggest you check it out. In other words, every day, take a moment to step back and reflect on what you don't want in your life. This exercise is not about dwelling on negativity, but rather gaining clarity. By identifying what you don't want, you create boundaries and set priorities.

Instead of constantly focusing on your desires, which can sometimes be overwhelming or elusive, concentrate on making conscious choices aligned with your values and aspirations. Your true desires and goals will naturally reveal themselves through the actions and decisions you make.

YOU ARE YOUR CHOICES. MAKE GOOD ONES.

In essence, by being mindful of what you don't want, you pave the way for a clearer path towards what you truly desire. This approach empowers you to make choices that resonate with your authentic self, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in life.

If you made it this far. Thank you. There’s a whole lot more in the pipeline.

Have a good day. - Rod