Creator's Block

A few times a year, the entire IMPACT team -- hailing from all across the country -- descends upon our home office of Wallingford, Connecticut, for an entire week of meetings, team-building, and sprawling across every square inch of available desk space to get work done.

Last week was one of those weeks, which meant it was the first time Jessie-Lee, Marcella, and I were in the same place, at the same time. 

Marcella, Jessie-Lee, and me! Just look at us. We're delightful.

But during the "most wonderful time of the year," weeks like this can be a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, getting to be together in person does wonders for collaboration. (Oh, and you get a chance to have those big conversations that sometimes don't occur organically since typically you aren't in the same physical space as your colleagues.)

On the other hand, the last month of the year -- whether you're in office or working from home -- is always a mad race to the finish. 

The holidays (and vacations) are looming. Budgets are closing. Projects are wrapping. Quarterly objectives are sunseting.

Even for the most seasoned and proactive planners, no checklist or spreadsheet can save you from the fact that, for many professionals, December's trademark is the perfect storm of every conceivable deadline is converging all at once.

How do you survive the end-of-year holiday crunch? And should you unplug once it's all said and done?

Listen in, because we've got our battle-tested recommendations to help you get yourself across the 2017 finish line, sanity intact -- and, we have a very special surprise guest drop in at the very end of the episode! 

Last week, I shared an article with Jessie-Lee and Marcella about morning routines. But it wasn't the usual enlightened, aspirational fare.

Instead of bossing me around with a neverending to do list of how to be the most successful person of all time, it was real and it resonated with the fact that I am the farthest thing from being a morning person.

I wasn't alone in my reaction to it. It also struck a similar nerve with Jessie-Lee and Marcella -- but why?

Like us, I'm sure many of you have come across articles that claim to have hacked the code around the ideal morning routine so you can be your most elevated and successful self.

You know, those ones that tell you,

"Here are 23 steps to improving your life first thing in the morning:

Drink butter in your coffee! Meditate! Ride a camel! Go for a run! Wait, don't go for a run -- walk! Write in a journal! Crossfit! Work on a passion project! Ignore your email! Answer only specific emails! Never touch social media! Eat all your macros, otherwise there is no possible way you can be creative, let alone claim you are one."

These kill us.

They perpetuate the unrealistic and totally false expectation that creatives must be entrepreneurs, with a documented side hustle and with an exit strategy to quit working for the man.

We're going to talk about that side hustle stuff another time, but this whole myth around how creatives, marketers, effective leaders, and entrepreneurs should be living their lives begins with all of these (often conflicting) thought pieces about how we should all be starting our days.

But where is the line between how these articles can be helpful and where they are just asking way, way too much of each and every one of us?

Enjoy!

A couple of years ago, while working at Quintain, a plugin for Gmail called Just Not Sorry started making the rounds.

The stated goal of the app was to help women specifically use fewer "undermining words" in their emails -- like "I think," "just," and "sorry."  So, whenever you type an email, the undermining words would be underlined, as if you misspelled something.

At the time, this seemed very helpful to me, since I tend to apologize, even when I haven't done anything wrong. Or, I sometimes I act as if what I'm asking for is a bother, when I'm all I'm trying to get my work done, like everyone else.

Flash forward to today, and while I still apply some of the principles I learned through the usage of Just Not Sorry, I haven't reinstalled Just Not Sorry in my IMPACT email. 

However, I noticed last week that I was getting stuck trying to reword emails to be less apologetic. There was one email in particular, where I felt incredibly awkward. Not because I was being overly-apologetic, but rather everything I tried to say sounded completely unnatural, given the context, when I tried to avoid undermining myself verbally.

I was frustrated and, ultimately, spent close to 30 minutes, tripping over myself not trying to say words that were now considered "bad."

Which got me thinking about this whole debate all over again.

Are these "undermining words" really a bad thing?

Should we be trying to fix them? Is there some truth to women in the workplace feeling like they need to apologize more, or is this a case of women's behavior coming under undue scrutiny?

This episode marks a pretty significant milestone for us at Creator's Block -- it's our 50th episode! 

(I would normally make some joke about how our podcast is now "over the hill," but given that 50 is the new 40, which some say is the new 30, I'd say we're lookin' pretty good.)

In addition to reflecting on how far we've come with our little podcast for creative pros and marketers, this week was dedicated to a topic that is so much a part of everything we do for work:

What it's really like to work from home. 

For many, working from home full-time can sound like a dream. However, no matter where you are hunkering down, work is still work. And making the choice that where you sleep and unwind is also going to be your office brings with it its own set of challenges.

How do you set boundaries? How do you stay connected with the rest of your team? How does it impact our personal lives and relationships?

Enjoy!

While Jessie-Lee, Marcella, and I would love to pretend our moments of creative genius are effortless and an ever-flowing constant, but that's simply not reality. 

Do we have talent in spades? Of course.

But in addition to our education and experience, each of us calls upon a different set of applications and tools in our own creative toolboxes to execute, create, and deliver for our colleagues and clients. 

So, this week, in honor of Thanksgiving, we're pulling back the curtain on a few of the simple, yet powerful apps we're most thankful for. 

They help us with our day-to-day tasks, inspire us, and -- on occasion -- utterly transform how we do our jobs.

(And trust us when we say you don't need to be a creative professional to use them -- we have a sneaking suspicion many of you marketers out there will love a few of these, as well.)

Enjoy!

Our Favorite Creative Apps & Tools

• HubSpot (Jessie-Lee)
• Snatchr Chrome Extension (Jessie-Lee)
• Color Picker (Jessie-Lee)
• Invision & Craft/Sync (Marcella)
• Dribbble (Marcella)
• 750words.com (Liz)
• Recordit.co (Liz)

750words.com Metrics Example

Other Resources We Discussed

• Liz's trusted Thanksgiving corn casserole recipe
• Also, Ina Garten's herb-roasted turkey breast recipe
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
• The Terrible Self-Help Book Is Actually Making Me a Better Artist from The Cut
• HubSpot Website Redesign Improves UX, Increases Conversions (Recordit.co example)
• 4 Free Apps That Will Make You a Content Rockstar
• How to Start a Bullet Journal from Buzzfeed
• Marcella Jalbert on Dribbble

And Finally, Marcella's Rules

If you want to know what this is, you'll need to listen in. 

We Want to Hear from You!

First, subscribe to Creator's Block on Apple Podcasts. Second, have a question or an idea for a future episode of the podcast? Let us know! 

• Creator's Block: Twitter, Instagram
• Jessie-Lee: Twitter, Instagram
• Marcella: Twitter, Instagram
• Liz: Twitter, Instagram 

Or, you can leave us a comment below! Until next week...

For this week's episode, we were joined by a very special guest -- Vin Gaeta, IMPACT's Creative Director -- for deep dive into something we've touched upon before in previous episodes. (Specifically, Episode #40 - When Creative Projects Go Off the Rails.)

The idea of "speaking creative" to non-creatives.

Or, more simply, the art giving and receiving feedback on creative projects, to and from stakeholders (whether they're clients or other internal colleagues) who may not necessarily know how to clearly articulate why they do -- or don't -- like something, or they want something to change.

Because having the ability to bridge these communication barriers is probably one of the most important skills marketing creative professionals can possess, we spent this episode discussing our experiences, as well as what you should (and shouldn't) do to become a master communicator on creative projects. 

(And we have the "battle scars" to prove it.)

Enjoy!

What We Talked About

• Why does this happen?
• What kind of friction does this communication gap create in projects?
• What are the most important points of communication to manage in a creative project timeline?
• Why is taking the time to explain your process to clients so important?
• What are the consequences of not fixing it?
• What are ways we, as marketing creatives, can bridge this communication gap when working clients? 
• What shouldn't we do?
• What about those clients who are too afraid to hurt your feelings to give you honest feedback?
• How can we use these opportunities to identify unhealthy client-agency relationships?
• The word "unctuous." 
• And, finally, are you #TeamCheese or #TeamSun?

Resources We Discussed

• Book: The Trusted Advisor by David H. Maister
• 23 Places Where the Konami Code Lives On
• Liz the Expert Cheeseologist 

We Want to Hear from You!

First, subscribe to Creator's Block on Apple Podcasts. Second, have a question or an idea for a future episode of the podcast? Let us know! 

• Creator's Block: Twitter, Instagram
• Jessie-Lee: Twitter, Instagram
• Marcella: Twitter, Instagram
• Liz: Twitter, Instagram
• Vin: Twitter, Instagram

Or, you can leave us a comment below! Until next week...

Love 'em or hate 'em, processes exist for a reason. 

Yes, they may feel restrictive and ho-hum at times, but I think we can all agree that sound processes help organizations -- particularly agencies -- stay on track and ensure sustainability, scalability, and profitability. 

But how do you operate in a process-driven ecosystem, while also ensuring you're infusing the right amount of creativity at the right time? Moreover, is there such a thing as too much innovation?

These are the questions we attempted to answer for this week's episode. And along the way, Marcella, Jessie-Lee, and I fell face-first into an interesting discussion (see: "rant") about the misconceptions about how creative professionals operate and create. 

Enjoy!

What We Talked About

• Can process and innovation co-exist?
• Do we use processes as a crutch when we're not feeling creative?
• How do we ensure we're innovating when we're supposed to be?
• How do others misinterpret the processes we use to create?
• Do we need processes in order to create?
• Can improvements be considered innovations?
• Is pineapple on pizza an abomination?
• How aggressive can Jessie-Lee get about her food opinions?
• And, finally, does Marcella have a candy problem? Judge for yourself...

Resources & Other Links

• IMPACT Elite
• Improvement or Innovation (KaiNexus)

We Want to Hear from You!

First, subscribe to Creator's Block on Apple Podcasts. Second, have a question or an idea for a future episode of the podcast? Let us know! 

• Creator's Block: Twitter, Instagram
• Jessie-Lee: Twitter, Instagram
• Marcella: Twitter, Instagram
• Liz: Twitter, Instagram

Ah, Halloween. 

It's a festive holiday filled with goblins and ghouls, tricks and treats, and candy and costumes. For us IMPACTers, Halloween also brings with it a chance for us to judge brands on how well they "get in on the fun" with their advertisements. 

The results can be boo-tiful, but sometimes they're downright scary -- and not in the good way. 

Some brands -- FOX, Oreo, and Target -- have set the bar high for industry peers with campaigns that embraced the spirit of the holiday. While others -- we're looking at you Chipotle, Subway, and Verizon -- fell flat on their face by being boring, lazy, or even blatantly offensive. 

So, to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, Jessie-Lee, Marcella, and I got together for this week's episode to share our favorite Halloween brand campaigns... as well as our not-so-favorites.

Enjoy!

What We Talked About Terrifyingly Good Halloween Ads 

• FOX's Bite Size Horror Film Fest
• Target: Halloween Hills, Treatster
• Oreo: 1, 2, 3

Terrifyingly Bad Halloween Ads 

• Chipotle Boorito
• Subway Wants Women to Eat Right
• Verizon's Trick-or-Treat Star Wars Commercial

We Want to Hear from You!

First, subscribe to Creator's Block on Apple Podcasts. Second, have a question or an idea for a future episode of the podcast? Let us know! 

• Creator's Block: Twitter, Instagram
• Jessie-Lee: Twitter, Instagram
• Marcella: Twitter, Instagram
• Liz: Twitter, Instagram

Or, you can leave us a comment below! Until next week...

Every two weeks, Jessie-Lee, Marcella, and I meet to brainstorm ideas for the podcast.

Sometimes, we come up with topics based on questions we've been asked or common challenges we've seen "out in the wild." But then there are those times when one of us comes to the virtual table and says, "Guys, this is what I need to talk about this week."

(Our podcast can be a little like work therapy for us.)

It was a moment just like that, that inspired this episode. Jessie-Lee came to us and said, "I need to talk about the word 'expert.' It makes me uncomfortable, and I want to get your thoughts on it."

Though Jessie-Lee kept us in suspense until the day we recorded about why she didn't like the word and the story it tells, it was well worth the wait. And it turned out, we all did. 

"Expert" is such a funny word. It's meant to describe someone who is really good at or knowledgeable about something, which, superficially, sounds like a positive and useful label. 

What We Talked About

• Why the word "expert" really bothers Jessie-Lee. 
• Do we have to be an expert, or can we be good at a lot of things?
• Does the marketing industry force people into boxes or declaring an expertise "major"?
• The marketing buzzwords we hate.
• How do we express our value and legitimate expertise in a meaningful way?
• How do you differentiate yourself as a generalist?

Resources We Talked About

• Marketing Specialist vs. Generalist: How to Hire for Your Team
• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
• Should You Stop Being an Expert?
• These Words Are Killing Your Message. Here's How to Fix it.

We Want to Hear from You!

First, subscribe to Creator's Block on Apple Podcasts. Second, have a question or an idea for a future episode of the podcast? Let us know! 

• Creator's Block: Twitter, Instagram
• Jessie-Lee: Twitter, Instagram
• Marcella: Twitter, Instagram
• Liz: Twitter, Instagram

Or, you can leave us a comment below! Until next week...

Before we dive in to today's episode, I want to state something for the official record:

As a designer and a writer/editor respectively, Marcella and I are self-aware enough to admit we occasionally have a flair for melodrama -- sometimes slipping a little too easily into the trope being the "tortured artist."

But when we both read The Creative's Curse by Todd Brison, we agreed that it spoke to us; both as the professionals we are with IMPACT, as well as the creatives we are "out in the wild."

Because as much as we hate to admit it, the clichéd notions surrounding the stereotypical artistic temperament are based in reality.

The emotional peaks and valleys. The glory of acceptance and appreciation. The despair of feeling like your work is underappreciated or devalued. The compulsion to create something -- anything. The demoralizing realization when you lose your own voice and have to go out and find it again.

Again, yes, it's a little melodramatic -- but for anyone in a creative pursuit, this should sound familiar. (Especially in a fast-paced agency environment, where you need to be able to deliver inspired creativity for marketers on-demand.)

So, in this week's episode, we dive into why we do what we do, how we deal with those dark moments when we feel the weight of crushing defeat on our shoulders, and why creatives seem to be so negative all the time.

Enjoy!