Anyone can create when they experience a rapturous, intoxicating influx of inspiration. But for creative pros, (emphasis on the pro part), inspiration is often a luxury. We go to work everyday and have to make meaning out of seemingly unrelated bits of data and extract form from the formless. We forge systems where there was once frustration and chaos. We use words to evoke memories. We design visuals that reveal form, meaning, beauty. But there is a difference between doing the work and loving the work. Because we can’t afford to treat our work as too precious, we’re often in the place where we encounter barriers to full engagement. We hit walls that keep us from doing our best work.

There are two walls that creatives hit when engaged in making something meaningful. The first wall, and the most obvious one, occurs before or very early in the process. It’s what causes us to shrink back from engagement and to instead seek something – ANYTHING – that will immediately relieve our need to feel productive. It’s much easier to check e-mail, make a call or re-shuffle the papers on our desk than it is to bare our soul to the blank page, the blinking cursor, or the empty art board.

However, the second wall can be the one that really keeps you from producing your best work. On this episode, we share some strategies for surmounting it and pushing through to your best work.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Freshbooks. To claim your free month trial – with no credit card needed – visit Freshbooks.com/accidental.

The intro music for the AC podcast is by Joshua Seurkamp. End remix is by DJ Z-Trip.