Steve Jobs makes creativity sound like an easy process. You just connect things you see and then you can feel guilty because you didn’t really do anything. Bah. Being creative requires guts, hard work and a willingness to fail, learn and try again and again until you get it right. Thomas Edison learned repeatedly how not to make a lightbulb. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times in his career compared to his 714 career home runs.

Yes, creatives have a knack for seeing from a different point of view. They can take experiences and thoughts and craft them in new ways, create new ideas, new processes and new things. But it doesn’t happen without work, experimentation, and risk.

What risks are you taking today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

We hear this advice a lot, ‘Do your best’, they say. But how do you go about it? Start by using yesterday as your baseline. What did you accomplish?  Then identify one item you could improve upon, do better, faster, better. As you are working, throughout the day, let your passion seep into your work and do each task as if you intend to create a masterpiece.

Pretend you live a world-class life. You are the master chef when you prepare your morning coffee.  As the Prima Ballerina, you dance, floating gracefully into the shower, and while you brush your teeth. Coco selects your outfit and accessories. At work, your inner Einstein helps you complete your spreadsheet, while Hemmingway composes your emails, and Dale Carnegie conducts your meetings.

Jillian leads you through a grueling workout, Danica Patrick drives you home on congested highways, and Julia Childs prepares your dinner. Vow to give up using excuses for why you can’t. Get out of your way and start. Keep your promises to others, without fail. But realize it’s just as important to keep the promises you make to yourself.  Get a good night’s sleep, dream beautiful dreams, then do it again.

Will your today be better than yesterday?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I have favorite authors, cherished books and poems committed to memory.  Their words and the stories they create enrich my life, but I don’t want to write in their style. The mold that shaped them is not the one which created me. Forcing myself to follow in their footsteps is the fastest way to kill creativity. So, I don’t even try.

Those writers, authors, creators, and dreamers inspire bravery. Daring to pursue your own path means you walk alone. It pushes you to the edge of your comfort zone and forces you to jump. Life doesn’t hand you a parachute, bear repellent, or sunscreen as you head into the unknown. Friends and family offer sage advice, saying you don’t know what’s out there. They beg you to return to safety.

As a creative, it’s like asking you to stop breathing. The world needs your ideas. Stories, remarkable paintings, new devices, beautiful music are the products of those searching for great achievement.

What achievement will you give the world?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer