Fuse Chamber

If you’re making time for creativity, but you find yourself unfocused and unable to stay with it…there are some things that can help.

* I’m going to keep hammering this one - you have to set aside time

* To avoid intimidation, set a short timer

* Set an intention.  What is the most important thing to finish in this time slice?  Make sure it is in support of the Most Valuable Thing - what will get your product ready to market?  What will get you an audition?   What will establish you as a professional?  What will increase your audience?

* Don’t worry about right-sizing the timer for the intention.  If 10 minutes is too much or too little, fix it later.  Adjust the timer or the scope of your intention.

* Keep your mind focused.  If you notice yourself taking on sub tasks or side tasks.  Stop.  Make a note of them and prioritize and do them LATER

* Stay vigilant.  Meditation can help you notice when you’re going off the rails.

We all know about the paralysis caused by waiting for the right moment in the right conditions. So why do we continue to do it, and how can we stop?

* It’s normal, from an evolutionary/survival perspective, to want safety and certainty

* The need for certainty and safety, however, prevents us taking risks and moving forward boldly - two essential behaviours for artists and entrepreneurs

* We associate lack of safety - in all its forms - with danger, and that fear paralyzes us; making it extremely difficult to break this pattern.

* Breaking the patter requires a mindset shift - realize how expensive these desires and fears are.  Then take small but meaningful steps to provide yourself with proof that nothing bad will happen if you move forward without absolute certainty and safety.

We all know about the paralysis caused by waiting for the right moment in the right conditions. So why do we continue to do it, and how can we stop?

* It’s normal, from an evolutionary/survival perspective, to want safety and certainty

* The need for certainty and safety, however, prevents us taking risks and moving forward boldly - two essential behaviours for artists and entrepreneurs

* We associate lack of safety - in all its forms - with danger, and that fear paralyzes us; making it extremely difficult to break this pattern.

* Breaking the patter requires a mindset shift - realize how expensive these desires and fears are.  Then take small but meaningful steps to provide yourself with proof that nothing bad will happen if you move forward without absolute certainty and safety.

By now, we know that inspiration is as much about showing up every day, as part of a routine, and doing the work of writing - even if it is for the wastebasket.   But there are times when inspiration just hits.  Are there things you can do that create fertile ground for inspiration?  There are….and they exist in the everyday.

* You have to make time and clear space in your head.  You have to be ready to receive

* Then, you have to put yourself in situations and conditions where inspiring things are likely to be or to happen

* Get into nature, listen to conversations, imagine yourself in someone else’s life, especially the watershed moments.  Immerse yourself in novel experiences.  Invite new discussions and hear other people’s stories.

Today's episode is an impromptu musing on the state of coaching, for those of you who feel like you might benefit from it, or are yourselves in the coaching business.

in many ways, its a bit like being a therapist.  People should find a good coach that is a balance of engaged and removed, that specializes in or can tailor an action plan to your particular learning style, and that they trust and like.

Once you've found that, I love to see clients eat up the learning.  So often, I take for granted what I've learned, how far I've come personally, and how hard I've worked for the success I have.  I forget what it's like to be new; to have your eyes opened to a world of limitless potential.

But sometimes, it just doesn't happen that way.  What continues to surprise me is how often people dive in, seem committed, seem ready to make a serious mark in the world...and then just fade away from the teaching.  It makes me think that perhaps coaching is a nonsense profession...but then I remember that we have always had elders, mentors, jedi masters...people who pass down the wisdom accumulated from a life of disciplined practice.  This is meaningful work for me, and its hard to accept that sometimes, people just aren't ready.  They are not yet willing to commit to the time and effort it takes to transform.  I'll never forget my public school teacher, Gerald Smialek, who taught us kids the phrase "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink".

That continues to reveal layers of meaning to me, even to this day.

Enjoy the episode.  I hope you're learning lots and enjoying the journey!

As i work with many leaders in development, there is one thing that trips up more people than any other factor - and with each passing year, I see more and more of it.

I call it FABJ - Fear, Anger, Bitterness, and Jealousy - but these things are all byproducts of one thing.  Feeling not good enough.  We all suffer from these feelings, but if you are a leader....you have to learn how to handle or manage them.

Most deeply creative people know that you simply have to show up ever day - inspiration will never just come and pay a visit.   So how do you show up every day?   You schedule. it.

In this episode, I discuss my daily routine for capturing creative thoughts and then filtering them and refining them into finished product.  Lots of tips and tricks in this one - hope you find it valuable!

Most deeply creative people know that you simply have to show up ever day - inspiration will never just come and pay a visit.   So how do you show up every day?   You schedule. it.

In this episode, I discuss my daily routine for capturing creative thoughts and then filtering them and refining them into finished product.  Lots of tips and tricks in this one - hope you find it valuable!

As someone with a creative offering, I’d like to wait until my product is perfect before I unleash it on the world.  Is that really so bad?

* There are two big problems with waiting. One is that it fosters fear, and uncertainty, and the other is that it lets other people slip in the gap and beat you to market

* No matter what happens, you have to focus on go. Leap.

* Innovation requires that you are constantly shipping product to the market.  Finished is better than perfect.

One of the challenges of being a modern artist is that there’s a lot to do in a day.   Your art might be your side hustle, so there’s a full time job, family, friends, and daily life all competing for attention with your core offering - your creativity.  How can you get ultra productive and disciplined, and what do you do if you’re stuck…..unmotivated and blocked?

* For ultimate productivity, you need to start building rituals now

* One of the rituals you can start using right away is “drop and give me 10” to stoke your creative furnace and break out of blocks