Creativity Coaching
Many creatives are feeling threatened by artificial intelligence (AI). There are stories of jobs vanishing, and of AI automating anything and everything. Some of that is true, AI is automating various aspects of work. There’s no need to become a postmodern Luddite. There’s still a significant role for human creativity.
Continue reading “How Creative People Can Stay Ahead and Thrive with AI”
Embarking on a creative freelancing journey can be an exhilarating experience, filled with dreams of independence and artistic fulfilment. Yet, not all paths unfold as expected. If you find yourself transitioning from freelancing to seeking traditional employment, know that you’re not alone, and this shift doesn’t diminish your creativity or worth. It’s a chance for growth, learning, and a renewed perspective on your creative journey.
Initially, freelancing might have seemed like the perfect platform to showcase your talents and carve your niche. However, challenges in client acquisition, inconsistent income, and the business side of things can sometimes overshadow the creative joy. As you reflect on this transition, remember that setbacks are part of any creative venture. They don’t define your artistic abilities or creative potential.
It’s okay to feel a tinge of embarrassment or uncertainty as you consider traditional employment. But rather than letting this emotion overshadow your next steps, use it as a driving force for self-discovery and reinvention. Remember, your creative skills and experiences gained during freelancing are invaluable assets that can enrich your new professional endeavours.
Here are a few strategies to embrace this transition: Continue reading “Making changes: From Freelancer to Employee”
Confidence is the cornerstone of a successful creative journey. It’s the driving force that propels your ideas from mere concepts to tangible creations that captivate and inspire. Yet, for many creative professionals, self-doubt can cast shadows on their potential. Fear not, for enhancing your creative confidence is well within your grasp. Here’s how to bolster your self-assurance and step into your creative prowess: Continue reading “Cultivating Creative Confidence: Unlocking Your Full Potential”
For many people in creative roles, the concept of the glass ceiling is all too familiar. Talented individuals with boundless creativity often find themselves facing barriers. These barriers hinder their ascent, be it due to age, gender, nationality, or any other factor. The question is not whether these barriers exist. Rather the question is how to shatter them and rise above the limitations they impose.
First, recognise that your worth and potential are not defined by any label or stereotype. Your creativity knows no bounds. This unique perspective is a strength, not a liability. Equip yourself with the confidence to challenge assumptions and showcase your capabilities. Continue reading “Overcoming Barriers in Your Creative Career”
Pursuing innovation, creativity, and excellence often goes hand in hand with navigating tight schedules and demanding responsibilities. Amidst the hustle and bustle, one key aspect of unlocking creative potential stands out: following your excitement. Delving into the realm of passion and genuine interest can serve as a driving force in unleashing untapped creativity and achieving remarkable outcomes. Continue reading “Follow Your Excitement!”
How often do friends, family, and the countless barely known social media contacts bound up to you like an excitable puppy, wag their tails and shout, “Hey it’s you, fantastic, I love you, you’re doing good, in fact – great. You’re going the right way, this is exactly how I always saw you, doing great! Hold still while I lick your face!”
Perhaps draw the line at letting them lick your face, that’s just awkward; but, generally you’re not going to need to worry. No one is going to be that supportive of you. They might be in their hearts, but they’re not going to tell you you’re going the right way. Sometimes the only way you’re on the right path is the guilt trips are further apart. And so we end up feeling anxious when we have to do something different – outside of our comfort zone.
As creative professionals and business leaders, the fear of what other people will think can often loom like a shadow, hindering our creativity and stifling innovation. However, mastering this fear can be a transformative journey that unleashes the full potential of our creative minds.
Here’s how busy professionals can navigate this common fear and thrive in their pursuits. Continue reading “Overcoming the Fear of Others’ Opinions: A Roadmap for Creative Professionals and Business Leaders”
Dear Creative Souls,
Life is a journey filled with peaks and valleys, and for us, the artists, creators, and visionaries, it can be especially tumultuous. We know all too well the weight of past bad experiences that can cast a shadow over our creativity. Whether it’s emotionally destructive employment situations, challenging clients, or loss-making contracts, these experiences can dim our creative light. It can feel like a lonely world, and frankly, it sucks.
I don’t mean it to sound cliché, but in the midst of darkness, there is always a glimmer of hope. As creative beings, we possess an innate resilience that allows us to rise above adversity and find inspiration even in the most challenging circumstances. Here are some empowering ways to navigate the aftermath of negative experiences and reignite your creative spark: Continue reading “Rising Above the Shadows: Navigating Creativity After Bad Experiences”
“I’m just not creative!”
I’ve heard that story so many times. It’s a great excuse for not writing or painting or whatever else it is that’s plucking your heart strings, but honestly, it’s just not true. Yes, you mightn’t have all the time you want, or you can’t afford expensive materials, but often it comes down to a single painful truth: Somewhere, some time, maybe when you were around the age of 12, someone made you feel bad about you and your creative work. To protect yourself from that hurtful feeling you just stopped being creative. At least in your mind.
We are all born with a creative spark. It is what allows us to see the world in new and different ways. It is what drives us to express ourselves through art, music, writing, and other forms of self-expression. People who say they aren’t creative often collect art, or love to attend concerts, or run businesses or work in professions that demand creative responses every day.
Signs that you might have shut down your creativity can be that you feel like you’re not good enough, or that your ideas aren’t original. You may be afraid to take risks, or you may simply be too busy with other things. You dare not paint or draw or write or do anything directly that highlights your hidden creativity. After all, there’s that inner 12-year old that must be obeyed.
If some of these words strike a chord with you, I encourage you to reconnect with your creative spirit. It is a journey that is filled with endless possibilities. Don’t go through life locked into a self-image determined by you aged 12. Your self-image has lied to you all these years.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Continue reading “But I’m just not creative!”
Creativity is a powerful force. It can help us solve problems, express ourselves, and make the world a better place. But sometimes, our creativity can be blocked by our own thoughts and feelings.
That’s where mental mastery comes in. Mental mastery is the ability to control our thoughts and emotions so that they don’t get in the way of our creativity. Our minds become free to focus in the direction we want.
There are a few key things that we can do to master and, as a result, free our mind on the way to unleashing our creativity:
Continue reading “Free your mind: Use Mental Mastery To Unleash Your Creativity”
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in your creative field? Like you’re not good enough, or that you’re a fraud? If so, you’re not alone. Many creative people experience imposter syndrome, which is a feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy. You might’ve experienced the feeling of being overawed by someone with astounding talent – creative works just drip off them seemingly effortlessly or they seem to lead charmed lives. Or you go to a conference or a lecture theatre or a studio or an exhibition or an audition and everyone *EVERYONE* is a thousand times more talented, skilful, cool, better looking, better connected, better blah, blah, blah. You’re just not good enough. It’s a horrible feeling.
Imposter syndrome can be really tough to deal with, but it doesn’t have to control you. There are ways to overcome imposter syndrome and embrace your authentic creative voice.
Here are some tips: Continue reading “Finding Authenticity: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Creative”
