January 2008

In about 90 minutes, the output of the creative collective will be diminished. For a few hours, Apple lovers will madly refresh liveblogs followed by lots of technolust when Apple’s online store updates with the new product info.

I’ll likely be following Engadget’s coverage, though I usually find one or two other sites to refresh as well. See you on the other side!

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I am a technophile. Technology can either be a tool that streamlines our workflow process, or it can be a distraction that slows us down. I experience both. All the time. But my love of technology convinces me that the streamlining surpasses the distraction.

When Amazon launched the Kindle a few months ago, Jeff Bezos stated that they designed the Kindle to just disappear in the hand of the reader. This statement stuck with me. (I’m not the only one, as I’ve seen it alluded to often by others.) Bezos captures an ideal for what technology should be — tools that become seamless extensions of what it is that we want to do.

What follows is a listing of the technology hardware that is a daily part of my workflow. Like anyone who loves technology, I probably spend far too much time playing and tweaking, but when I just need to focus on GTD or playing with ideas, each of these tools is able to get out of the way so I can get to creating.

Apple Macbook - This is homebase and because of that, Creativityist is going to have a distinctly Mac flavor. One of Apple’s recent pitches is “It just works”. I put a lot of effort into tweaking workflow processes on my Mac, but most of them are related to streamlining and making things work better. Getting things to work in the first place is rarely the issue. But, when there is a problem, I know I can go visit the store where I bought it knowing that the store is owned by the same company that made both the hardware and the software. I never have the store telling me that I need to contact the maker of the OS, or the OS maker telling me it is a hardware problem. That’s a beautiful thing. When working on a Mac, I just feel more creative. Of course, after the MacWorld keynote tomorrow, it also might make me feel more obsolete.

Apple iPhone - I don’t need to say much about the iPhone. The iPhone works so well with my Mac, it is extension of homebase. I’ve had many PDAs and smartphones over the years, but none of them has been able to work as seamlessly with my computer. There are some improvements I’m still hoping to see from Apple, but even as it stands right now, the iPhone has been a great addition to my workflow. I’ll talk more about that in future posts.

Amazon Kindle - I am as much of a bibliophile as I am a technophile, which makes this a dream device. I’ve only had it a week, but I can already see how valued the Kindle might be to my workflow. A big part of my creative process comes from interacting with the ideas of others. Being able to carry a searchable library with me is exciting, and the Kindle allows my to transfer notes back to my computer to incubate for future projects.

I wish I was cool enough to use…
Moleskine notebooks - Ever since I saw Johnny Depp sitting in a park while writing plays in his notebook in Finding Neverland, I’ve had a mostly blank moleskine or two on hand. The empty pages beckon me to fill them. But, as cool as they are, I’m just not quite cool enough to have it as part of my everyday workflow. I value having my ideas all tucked away on my computer for easy reference and future interaction, so the moleskine isn’t my primary way to capture thoughts. Still, I usually have one handy for when technology isn’t convenient or available…or when I want to look like a cool creative type.

Stay tuned. Another post (or two) will follow in this series as I talk about some of the software I use in my workflow process.

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The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. - Plutarch

I am enamored with the concept behind this quote. In this age of information, it is commonly concluded that the chief role of the human brain is to remember and store all that information we come across. While that may be one function of the human brain, it is not the most distinctive or the most useful.

We spend so much time trying to remember details that the brain’s primary function is lost in the mix. At most, the brain should be used to store information short term until we can move it to a more permanent home. This frees up our mind for creating and shaping. The more we can free our mind of details, the more creative it frees us to be.

This might sound counterintuitive, but it is true. All of us need a system to record reminders of things we need to do and people we need to see. If we have a reliable system, this frees our brain to focus on creating and shaping rather than remembering.

Three years ago, I read Getting Things Done, by David Allen. The quote above came from that book, and it shaped a fair amount of the thinking I have shared above. The original idea for this blog came from me wanting to explore how David Allen’s ideas can be helpful for the aspiring creative. (In fact, the title of the entry is also the original working title in my mind for this blog, and gettingthingscreated.com points here as well. ) Much of what I blog here will be about my own processes of clearing my mind of details so it can be set free to dream, innovate and problem solve.

For more on the Getting Things Done workflow (commonly known as GTD), take a look at the wikipedia entry. I’m also adding links to the sidebar of some of the GTD sites I have found most helpful.

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This blog definitely has a target audience. I would say it is, oh, everyone.

One of my core assumptions about humanity is that everyone is creative. Spend a little time with a child, any child, and you’ll see my point. Children have no trouble dreaming, imagining and delighting in what is not. A few days ago, I sat on the couch with my toddler and we made up a story…I should say that she made up a story. I just got her started: “Once upon a time…” Within a few minutes, she had told me all about a bird that was learning to fly, but afraid. The bird wore a helmet for safety, even though it ended up just walking most of the time. She’s a Seuss in the making!

Creativity is not something we outgrow, but it might be something we outrun. As we grow up, risk becomes more apparent. The potential of having our thoughts or ideas rejected begins to feel dangerous. Fear of being or thinking different leads us to stuff our creative selves away.

One does not have to work in some kind of artistic expression to be creative. I’m convinced that opportunities for creativity exist in just about any job. Every chance to find a third option, a new or better way to do something, or a different perspective is a window for creativity to breeze its way in.

But even if you can’t see that possibility in your current job, I would bet that there is a tiny voice inside you saying something that needs to be expressed. Are you willing to help that voice be heard? Let me help you get started:

Once upon a time…

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Somewhere in my soul, creativity struggles to spring out.

I’m often labeled as ‘creative’, but being creative often feels like work. Maybe it’s not creativity that is work…it’s trying to find the time and space to be creative.

Here’s the thing — it seems to me that creativity happens in two parts. There is that initial burst of idea that comes to us. It’s that moment of inspiration for something that we want to share, to express. I have lots of those. Even though I capture them pretty well, these ideas stack up and topple over before I can do something with them. I think the constant flow of these ideas is why others think I’m creative.

It’s part two, though, where creativity truly happens. That’s where the idea, the inspiration, comes to life. It takes work. It requires some sweat. It means that one has to find the motivation and the space to bring those ideas to life. And sometimes, or quite often in my case, one just has to get over the fear of producing complete crap.

So that’s what I hope this blog can be about. It’s a quest to be one who practices creativity. There will be some thoughts about the first part — capturing those moments of inspiration. I think I even have some good ideas to share as far as that goes. But it will also be about finding the space and courage to be creative. I’m hoping to learn that one as I go, and perhaps share some crap with you along the way.

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