“To sit down each day and work on bringing ideas into existence that might inspire someone (even it’s only yourself) and that require time, effort, energy, and engagement . . . that is at the heart of what it means to be creative. The work becomes our source of questions, answers and meaning. It challenges us, causes us to grow, energizes, revitalizes, reveals, and heals. Creativity is our oxygen supply. We don’t wait for inspiration to strike. We don’t wait until we’re in the mood. We are disciplined, focused, persistent, and courageous. And we trust that if we show up, our muse will, too. It’s not one piece of work, one moment in time, one burst of inspiration, but a daily practice and process that we are committed to for a lifetime.
Hollywood might tempt us to believe that a creative life is made of chaos-fueled occasional bursts of inspiration or what the writer Anne Lamont refers to as the ‘fantasies of the uninitiated.’ But the reality of a creative life is that it requires focus. Creativity is about showing up to make your ‘art,’ whatever it might be, a habit. It’s an ongoing commitment to the process. It might be easy to forget this when we’re bombarded with other voices telling us to think about rewards. As you read this book, I hope you’ll hear the sound of someone whom you’ve long forgotten, your creative voice, just itching to shout out loud—and create the unmistakable.”
~ Srinivas Rao from An Audience of One
Srinivas Rao has a super-popular podcast called Unmistakable Creative where he’s interviewed over 500 creative people—from Seth Godin and Tim Ferris to Gretchen Rubin and Adam Grant.
I got this book two days ago from Penguin Random House (thanks for another great new book!). Read it yesterday and here we are. It’s a quick, fun look at the importance of doing work YOU are excited about and letting your disciplined commitment to the practice of your craft lead to the results. (Focusing on that audience of one? It’s the best way to the audience of millions.)
I love the whole Creative process. Check out Creativity 101 and a bunch of Notes on great books in that Wisdom Pack—including several books Srinivas references like The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp and Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield.
You know how we talk about the importance of focusing on the process vis-a-vis the results? Well, this is a practical guide to making that happen. (Get a copy here.)
And, as Adam Grant (see Notes on Originals) puts it, it’s: “A practical guide for discovering—or rediscovering—your own creativity.”
Then we have Cal Newport who is mentioned a number of times and has his own little blurb on the back cover. I thought of So Good They Can’t Ignore You as I read the book. Here’s what Cal says: “A crucial message for any creative professional looking to produce something great.”
It’s packed with Big Ideas and, as always, I’m excited to share a few of my favorites and help us apply the wisdom to our lives TODAY so let’s jump straight in!
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