Brain Food
Enter The Arena and Create
Stepping into the arena means embracing your creativity and taking the leap to being the star of your play, an active participant in your own story. Anyone who creates value is a creator, whether through art, writing, music, or business. While we often equate value exchange with monetary transactions, the true essence of value lies in the ability to communicate the significance of one's creation. This foundational understanding of value precedes any financial exchange.
For many of us, too much structure can feel restrictive, a burden that hinders our ability to 'ship the work,' as Seth Godin puts it. Embracing a bit of chaos can fuel creativity. It allows for unexpected connections and spontaneous bursts of inspiration, leading to innovative work. Juxtaposing novel ideas is one of my favorites. For instance, going to a museum opening or trying a different kind of exhibition can spark new inspiration. Keeping a small notebook on you is a great way to capture these moments.
I believe the essence of creating—whether you are building a business, a painting, or an opera—is conveying a story, an idea, or valuable information to the recipient of that creation. Creating ultimately means transmitting information and ideas; therefore, effectively communicating our ideas is paramount, almost above all else. I encourage creators to take the time to articulate their process as they know it. In doing so, they uncover where they might fall short of their goal to create the clearest and most meaningful work they aspire to achieve. Give it a try, and you'll see how much clarity and focus you gain when you put your thoughts into words. It's an enlightening exercise that helps refine your ideas and bring them to life. This will be true whether you follow a rigid process to the letter or view process as a restrictive arch-enemy that might block your creative flow. Either way, articulating your approach can be incredibly revealing and beneficial.
