Daily Creative with Todd Henry

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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