Monday Morning.

Lots to do today.

Get and Share some inspiration.

Photo Props:

There is one very easy, very simple, and very affordable way for your organization to get more creative, more innovative, and more on vision – and it can happen in the next 24 hours, if you so desire:

GET DIVERSE.

As creative professionals, we tend to try really hard to protect the creative process. When we do this, it limits our ability to truly help our organizatons.

Alicia Arenas, founder and CEO of Sanera, The People Development Company, is a distinguished business consultant, coach, corporate facilitator and speaker. Alicia has been quoted saying:

“The core of diversity lies in understanding that we are better performers, better leaders, better service providers and better people when we surround ourselves with those who are different from us. However, the reality is that most adults are more comfortable with people who are just like them.”

Leaders – when we do not include the crazy creatives in some of our decisions, we are missing an element that keeps us from being our best.

Creatives – when we do not engage the rest of our organizations and their ideas, we limit not only our influence, but also our ability to impact the greater good of our organization.

Simply – when we create diverse environments, we all are much better. Diversity creates opportunity.

Do you want to get diverse? It is not as difficult as you would think:

• Start inviting people into conversations. That simple. Bring in people who are not normally part of your “world”. They will provide a unique lens and filter to your situation.
• Destroy Silos. Silos limit potential and cripple organizations. The more cross pollination that we have, the better our organizations will be. Silo busting is hard work because people who build silos built them like Fort Knox. But, when VISION and MISSION are the driving force and not method or agenda, it removes a lot of the need for a silo.
• Find Backstory. Just because someone works in one department today may not mean they ALWAYS have worked in that department. You may have hidden “consultants” inside your organization that have the ability to pull info and ideas from experienced people. Finding out about peoples past creates great options for leaders.
• Create Community Culture. Diversity thrives when community is developed. Find ways inside your normal work week to create spaces, times, and events where people from different fields interact and form relationship. The stronger the relationships your teams have, the better work place you create. Also, when people have a relationship with each other they are more willing to work and fight for each other.
• Lead with vision. Simple concept, but not as simple to execute. It takes intentionality, culture, and good leadership to keep everyone on not only the same page, but the RIGHT same page.

Do you work in a diverse environment? What are some ways you have found to cross bridges inside of your organizations?

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates

Do you wonder? Wonder what could be? Wonder what is next? Wonder what may be possible?

Wonder has the ability to ignite creativity and ideas.

The fact that we have to work removes the ability to ALWAYS wonder, but how do we avoid the trap of business and stay in a posture that allows us to wonder?

1. Be Alert. If we want to experience the power of “wonder,” we have to stay alert. Creative stimulation is all around us but, if we are not alert, parades of creativity can pass our path and we’ll never realize what we’re missing. We should commit to documenting one thing each day that peaks our interest and makes us wonder. When we do this, we’re actually creating a list of ideas that can be used the next time we feel a creative block settling over us.

2. Ask Lots Of Questions. Without the curiosity of questions, wonder won’t exist. Asking questions clears confusion and helps to clarify expectations. When we ask questions, we define vision, direction, and opportunity. Questions often slow down the process just enough for wonder to catch its breath and create ideas.

3. Embrace The Frame. Creative people tend to desire canvases without boundaries. However, boundaries help us know when we have gone too far or if we have not gone far enough. Wonder exists inside the boundaries defined by the frames of our projects.

4. Desire a “yes, and” environment. Wonder dies in negative environments. “No” and “Can’t” tend to shut down wonder before she has a chance to do her thing. Yes opens opportunities. Yes opens doors that No slams shut. Wonder needs space and positivity to flourish. When we desire “Yes, And” environments, we create space for wonder to thrive.

Without wonder in our art, we risk the chance of becoming stale. If we want to avoid “dry seasons” of creativity, we have to cultivate a relationship with wonder and respect what wonder means to our creative process.

What would you add to the list of ways to stay in a posture of Wonder?

We all know the importance of the ten commandments – the golden rule for how we’re supposed to live our lives. But what about a golden rule for our creativity? Blogger Andrew Zahn developed a less sanctimonious list than Moses, but it’s a list that can be adapted to our creative lives. Here’s the list with a little commentary:

• 1. Give space, time and energy to your creativity. // This is HARD! Our lives are busy, so it can be difficult to be intentional with creating space for us to be our creative best. But, space is important for ideas. Once we have identified an idea, we have to give it space to grow and breathe before we try to execute it. Our best ideas reach their potential when they have space and time around them. Finally, we manage energy. It’s on us. How much energy is attributed to our creativity and our craft ultimately is managed by us – the user and steward. We all have about the same amount of space and energy and we all have the same amount of time. We are going to put our space, time, and energy somewhere. Why not put it into something we value?
• 2. Creating is an act of worship. // For those of us who are Christians, we know creating is an act of worship to the ultimate Creator of the universe. However, Zahn takes a different angle, an angle that states that when we choose to not create we are actually being “self-centered and selfish.”
• 3. Your creativity is a gift given to you. // If we’ve been given a gift, we need to cherish, honor, and protect that gift. Even more importantly, we need to share our gifts with others. Give and it shall be given unto you.
• 4. Date your artist. // Our greatest ideas are going to be birthed out of our experiences. Great art is created when artists are able to connect with emotions that are deep inside themselves. We have to be willing to explore those places to uncover the truths about the artist we are becoming.
• 5. Don’t be an expert. // Experts know it all. Students are always learning. When we accept the fact that we can always learn more, each person, project, and experience becomes an opportunity to add more tools to our tool boxes. Don’t believe the hype. You are great, but you can be greater. We should talk less and listen more, but whatever we do, we should NEVER STOP LEARNING.
• 6. Jealousy is the death of creativity. // It’s been said that jealousy is where love and hate both live together. If we want to battle jealousy, we have to do it intentionally. When we champion others, we go on the offensive against jealousy. When we want the people around us to win – no matter the cost – it not only builds great teams, but it removes the temptation to be in competition with one another. Champion and celebrate others at every opportunity.
• 7. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. // EVER! And if you think about giving up, stop. Take a breath. Then, keep going.
• 8. You have what it takes. . . now. // God created you. He knew you would be uniquely YOU! If you’re honest with yourself, you probably don’t think you’re good enough for the challenge in front of you. Thats GOOD! If you felt you COULD handle it, that would mean you were able to take the credit for it. When you know you can’t handle it, you have to have an element of faith and trust. Those two ingredients are activators for our best creative endeavors. So, stop doubting. Start believing. Never stop working.
• 9. Authenticity breeds beauty. // Anyone can duplicate something that has been created. You, however, have walked a road no other artist has traveled. That road gives you the permission to create art that no other artist can create. Create out of that place, and you wont have to worry if you are duplicating.
• 10. Want what you already have. // Stop comparing. Stop creating excuses. Stop hesitating. Use what’s in front of you, control what you can control, and create something today that moves you and your organization forward!

Do you resonate with these commandments?

When we start any new endeavor, we really have nothing to lose. We know we’re going to have to do some things different than everyone else or we’re never going to break through the clutter. We have this belief that we can do something that no one has done before – so, we go for it. And why not?

Then, we fail.

We try something else. And we may have to even repeat this process a couple of times until, one day, it actually works. We start to have success. Our success propels us forward. We start to gain momentum and people start to notice. At first, it’s intoxicating, but then we realize that the same people who were noticing are now duplicating what we do…and our success has become the new norm – or the formula.

At one moment we may have been flattered by this. Now, we’re bothered. The same instincts on the inside that made us uncomfortable being “normal” at the beginning are now screaming that we have become the norm. We are thankful for our success, but we’re uneasy because we know in order to really live – to really “succeed” – we are going to have to change. We know that, as soon as we have become the norm, it’s time to blow it up and try something new or we’re not going to really be living.

This time it’s much more difficult. We have momentum. We have responsibility. We have set expectations. While we desire to chase our hearts and instincts – the same ones that propelled us to succeed – we are scared. What if it doesn’t work this time? What if we fail? What if people don’t like it? What if people don’t like us? What if we become “odd” again? What if we stop being applauded? What if….?

But what if it does!
What will you do?

We were born to do this. Let’s not waste this opportunity. Without you following that voice we can’t move forward. Don’t Be Safe.