My principles of creativity:
1. Every creative project is different, but the creative process is timeless and unchanging.
1. Every creative project is different, but the creative process is timeless and unchanging.
2. When you're in a creative rut, make fresh snow
The mind is like a snow-covered mountain. Every thought is like a sled. Over time, the sled creates trails in the snow and new sleds favor the existing trails.
Fresh snow changes that and creates new paths for exploration.
The mind is like a snow-covered mountain. Every thought is like a sled. Over time, the sled creates trails in the snow and new sleds favor the existing trails.
Fresh snow changes that and creates new paths for exploration.
3. Create fresh snow by finding new ideas
Every Michelin Star chef knows that delicious food begins with quality ingredients.
The same is true for creative work. The quality of what you consume is a leading indicator for what you'll eventually produce, so cultivate your taste.
Every Michelin Star chef knows that delicious food begins with quality ingredients.
The same is true for creative work. The quality of what you consume is a leading indicator for what you'll eventually produce, so cultivate your taste.
4. Expression is compression
It takes 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.
Likewise, Picasso's displayed his commitment to distillation by removing the unnecessary until he was left with only the essentials. This image of a bull is my favorite example.
It takes 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.
Likewise, Picasso's displayed his commitment to distillation by removing the unnecessary until he was left with only the essentials. This image of a bull is my favorite example.
5. Spurts and consistency
Since creativity comes in spurts, most of your creative working sessions won't feel productive.
But because creativity rewards the consistent, most successful creatives commit to working regularly, even when they don't feel inspired.
Since creativity comes in spurts, most of your creative working sessions won't feel productive.
But because creativity rewards the consistent, most successful creatives commit to working regularly, even when they don't feel inspired.
6. Creativity to start, discipline to finish
Creatives love to start projects, but often struggle to follow through on them. But the fruits of your labor are only shared once you press publish.
Creatives love to start projects, but often struggle to follow through on them. But the fruits of your labor are only shared once you press publish.
7. Start with quantity, move towards quality
When you start doing creative work, the quality of your output will frustrate you. Focus on reps. Publish all the time.
With experience, start focusing on quality. Commit to relentless improvement and publishing only your best work.
When you start doing creative work, the quality of your output will frustrate you. Focus on reps. Publish all the time.
With experience, start focusing on quality. Commit to relentless improvement and publishing only your best work.
8. The paradox of creativity
Your work is done when it looks so simple that the consumer thinks they could've done it, which means they won't appreciate how hard you worked.
Your work is done when it looks so simple that the consumer thinks they could've done it, which means they won't appreciate how hard you worked.
https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1378943649845678082
9. The best way to be original is to stop trying to be original.
Move towards truth and excitement instead. You'll know you're on the right track when you start surprising yourself.
In the words of CS Lewis: "You will become original without ever having noticed it."
Move towards truth and excitement instead. You'll know you're on the right track when you start surprising yourself.
In the words of CS Lewis: "You will become original without ever having noticed it."
10. Imposter syndrome
Neil Armstrong once attended a party of top performers.
He said: "I look at all these people, and I think, what am I doing here? They've made amazing things. I just went where I was sent."
If the first man on the moon felt like an imposter, you might too.
Neil Armstrong once attended a party of top performers.
He said: "I look at all these people, and I think, what am I doing here? They've made amazing things. I just went where I was sent."
If the first man on the moon felt like an imposter, you might too.
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