inspiration Archives - Mike Monday

The 12 Days Of Creativeness

(or “12 Steps You Must Take To Get Into Creative Flow Whenever You Want”)

Ahem.

I’m sorry for the title’s tenuous play on words. But it’s the closest I could get to “The 12 Days of Christmas”.

I guess the mince pies must be getting to me. But the reason for this inexcusable misuse of the English language is an honourable one.

During my recent relocation from London to Sydney I’ve had a lot of time to think about how I can serve you best. I want to start my 2012 with a bang, and help you start yours with an even bigger BOOM!!!

You Are Creative To Your Core

I believe that all human beings are creative to their core.

This belief has become stronger as I’ve watched my 22 month old son Harry get older. Apart from breathing, sleeping and eating he does almost nothing else other than create (although admittedly this creation most often takes the form of a mess or worse!)

I also know that our current education methods stifle and suppress creativity, by teaching what we can’t do and what we’re not good at.

Everyone has talent within them. Neuroscience is starting to prove that even though different people might start with a genetic predisposition to be good in a particular skill, this is nowhere near as important as doing it over and over again.

By doing something repeatedly we literally change our brains and become better at it.

My Mission

Isn’t it our creativity that separates us from the other creatures with whom we share this beautiful planet?

And won’t it be our capacity for creative thought that will allow us to find solutions to the many challenges that we face?

What better mission could I have than to help others express and share their creativity with the world?

So, if you’ll allow it, I’d like to help you make 2012 the best year of your creative life so far.

Not Quite A Partridge

And due to the time of year I thought I’d take a seasonal approach.

“The 12 Days of Creativeness” (or if you’re reading this and it’s not Christmas – the slightly more mundane title of “12 Steps You Must Take To Get Into Creative Flow Whenever You Want”) are a series of posts that just like “The 12 Days of Christmas”, will start on Christmas Day and finish on the 5th of January.

But that’s where the similarity ends. Instead of lords, ladies, pipers or partridges each “day” will describe an essential step you must take in order to get into the hyper-productive and hugely enjoyable state of creative flow whenever you want.

Ho Ho Ho…

Now Christmas and New Year are a very busy time for all of us. We have friends, family and fun to be attend to.

But I’ve always found it the best time to reflect not so much on what has been, but on what could be.

The Creative Mindset : How Is Your “Mood” Stopping You?

When you’re attempting to get into a creative mindset, there are many things that stop you. For instance…

How often do you say “I’m not feeling it today”?

Or “I’m not inspired”?

Or “I’m just not in the mood”?

If you’re anything like I was – then pretty often. But this
is a cop out.

I’ll bet you’ve had those days when you’ve woken up
happy and inspired, the sun’s shining, your workspace
is in order, and you’re working on something you’re
really excited about. You might have even worked out
what you were going to do. Everything is perfect, you feel like you’ve got the perfect creative mindset.

But when you sit down…

Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Blank.

“I’m just not in the mood…….That must be it.”

But you know what – while I’ve told myself that “I’m
not in the mood” more times than I care to remember
– it’s rubbish.

Apart from anything else, what effect do you think
constantly telling yourself that will have on you? Will it
help or hinder your attempts to have a creative mindset?

If you’re not in the mood now then when? Are you going
to spend the rest of your life a slave to this alleged mood?
Or are you going to work out what to do about it?

Yes – you can choose to be have a creative mindset or not. And there are many things that will
determine whether you are, nearly all of which you have the power to change.

Where you are when you work
How you sit or stand.
Where you look.
What you think about/focus on.
What you say to yourself.
What pictures you have in your mind.
How you feel.
How you breathe.
What you believe about yourself.
The reason you are doing it.

All of these things (and many more) will have a direct
impact on whether you feel creative or uncreative, and
on how much you produce and how good it is.

The trick is to learn what to look for and how to keep
doing the things that make you creative and avoid doing
the things that make you uncreative.

When you can do that, then you’ll stop saying:

“I’m not in the mood”.

Instead you’ll say:

“I’m not in the mood…yet.

Give me a minute.”

The World’s Best Espresso (And What It’s Taught Me About Focus)

While on tour in Australia I’ve been staying near a coffee shop in Sydney which sells the best espresso I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot.

Apart from a couple of pastries and a few speciality teas all they do is coffee. When you walk past the regularly used roasting machine (called Betsy) which has pride of place in the shopfront window, you just know that this establishment is about one thing – the best possible coffee.

And how does this singular focus impact on their business?

Well, even though I’ve visited at many different times of the day, I’ve waited in a small queue every time for my little pot of black gold. And I’ve been happy to. In fact I’ve become an evangelist for the place, despite the plethora of other coffee shops in the vicinity which offer many more products than “just” coffee.

So what’s this little coffee shop taught me?

Do one thing to the very best of your ability. If you focus on it and nothing else until you can do it no better, they will come.

And they will love you for it.

Regrets? I’ve Had a Few…

Why do people say they don’t regret anything?

I’m proud to say that:

“I regret not pursuing live performance.”

“I regret spending more time in airports than with my family and friends.”

“I regret avoiding the internet.”

Why? Because I’ve learnt from them.

Be The Change

Why do you conform?

To be accepted by your peers? To be part of a tribe? To be respected by your teachers?

What if you don’t?

Shock your peers. Lead a tribe. Challenge your teachers.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi