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Let's get inspired together, in this episode we will discuss great ways to get your creativity moving. We've also included some resources for entrepreneurs that are looking for mentors.
Home / Blog / Unfolding Your Creativity
Published September 25, 2024 by Marjewell Designs
Most of today’s entrepreneurs and creatives wear multiple hats, performing many duties to maintain and grow their businesses. Frequently they may find themselves adjusting to steep learning curves to remain on pace with today’s trends and technology. Inherently, artists, designers, developers, and managers want to remain inspired. Here are ideas to get your creative juices flowing and move beyond a block.
Meditate/self consult.
No one knows you better than you. Sit quiet to silence both internal and external stimuli. In chaos, time moves faster and before you realize it, weeks have been lost on a project because you were uninspired or challenged with a problem. Setting an intention before you meditate while maintaining expectation will open your senses to find answers, provide guidance for an imperative decision, or energize your goals. You may find it challenging to consult one’s self without question, but remain loyal to your advice. Meditation is helpful to reduce distraction, which will improve the ability to prioritize.
Journal/ record a voice memo/draw in sketchbook.
These are my favorite methods, because personally I’ve had more consistent success. Physically writing in a journal or typing may prove to be equally effective. There is no right or wrong place to start. One strategy is begin by framing an important question and start answering on paper or typing on a computer. Another strategy is to write from third person perspective. And thirdly, compose a fantastical outcome you would like to happen to resolve an issue and take note of what components seem appropriate or possible. Journaling is a creative endeavor itself, try one or more methods more than once because initially resistance could be a problem.
Recording a voice memo is easy and similar to brainstorming. This technique is effective because it allows you to get random and negative comments out whilst clearing your mind and hopefully paving the way for constructive solutions. The key is to mimic meditating and remain focused on your initial intentions. Microsoft OneNote has a voice recording option, which can be added to a typed journal entry as well. Most smartphone have voice memo applications, be mindful of the amount of storage being utilized.
Brainstorming allows you to pen many words on a page, thereby creating a way for free flowing thought without filtering. Permitting freedom of thought is imperative for an open mind and holds space for out the box innovation. Marketing, product development, and research teams utilize brainstorming, along with policy makers and public health experts. This method is popular in multiple industries.
Drawing in a sketchbook may only seem more appropriate for artist and designers. However, a program developer can draw diagrams to visualize steps. Research and development persons might desire to quickly sketch out ideas or changes to current designs. Much like journaling you may prefer to utilize popular software applications such as Blender, Sketchup, and Adobe Suite to render ideas and create mock ups. Here’s a list of a few free applications for sketching Krita, Inkscape, Autodesk Sketchbook, and Vectr. Try sketching and see where it takes you!
Meet with a friend, muse, or mentor.
Recently Americans are being inspired by their favorite Olympians in Paris 2024 to find greatness within themselves, to continue on their journey, or follow a dream. We loved seeing these athlete’s interactions with coaches, family, and fellow training partners.
Is there someone you converse with that you gain great insight from their prospective? Spending time with a treasured friend can be a smart investment of your time because you realize you are not alone. You may also need another set of eyes for editing your book , advice for social media content, or general critiques. Input from another you trust is important for accountability and authenticity.
What about a muse? Well, let’s think for a moment, have you ever enjoyed someone’s company and found their style compelling or inspiring? Or experienced fantastic creative synergy with another whom you share the same ideals? You may notice many appealing ideas are birthed from interacting with said person or people. A muse should be energizing and lend themselves to smoothing creative endeavors.
The process of finding a mentor may be difficult because of schedule constraints and responsibilities. Here are a few online platforms for finding mentors, SCORE mentoring, Mentoring.org, MentorCity, and MentorCruise. Personally I’ve imagined having access to distinguished persons in business and industry, those who have experienced substantial success. These virtual mentors are attractive to me because they offer an openness, combined with honesty about lessons they have learned. I envision the advice they would offer and have confidence the instructions will yield positive results. Patience with the process is key to find the right custom fit. You and your ideas are worth the effort.
Overall this particular ideal embodies inclusivity, combination, and partnership. For example, the Dada art movement of the early 20th century was characterized by lots of collaboration, so connecting with artists, designers, and industry professionals who you have commonalities with you can positively impact your project. I believe community keeps us healthy. Here’s a list of artist communities, Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery located in Glen Echo Park, MD. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center located within Hyattsville. Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) in Silver Spring, MD, they offer grants, networking opportunities, and a variety of resources. And the Baltimore Arts Districts, Station North Arts District, Highlandtown Arts District, and Bromo Arts District. Lastly Columbia has the Howard County Arts Council. They operate the Howard County Center for the Arts, which houses galleries, artist studios, and classrooms.
Go for a walk outside, take a fitness class, or exercise at home.
Being active will improve your ability to move your body while increasing blow flow to the brain. An aerobic boost could get rid of brain fog, fatigue, and provide bonus endorphins that boost your mood. Something simple like changing your environment may allow you to gain a fresh perspective; in addition to, helping prioritize or reassess your current goals. Try possibly making a visit to your local bookstore or café and bring along whatever you are working on. You may inspire someone else to do the same!
Continue a thread or idea.
You’ll be proud of yourself if you remain faithful to a theme or scheme. Artists may have a creative series of photos or artwork; designers might desire to create a line of clothing that has an upcoming season trend that they wish to express. Staying the course and continuing to investigate an idea will possibly yield a resolution that facilitates your growth and skill. Commitment will yield endless lessons and a tried and true blueprint for the future. Success builds confidence and will be your inner hypeman.
Research, learn, and prepare.
Compiling relevant and necessary information will aid in your creativity flourishing. Think about watching YouTube videos, asking Ai, list websites, scribe pertinent information, or visit your library or museum and take notes and photos. Take a class on a platform such as LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Skillshare, or Coursera. Community Colleges may also offer non-credit course, this is a excellent option to meet people in person whom you share similar interest. Moreover, pictures serve as a great reference source to help prepare for artistic projects. Gather each article and/or items in a centralized location. Organizing items in a folder on your computer or/and a physical folder, will improve how deftly you can access your resources. Today, all manner of information is at our fingertips, so therefore, try multiple avenues and then decide which you prefer.
Take needed breaks.
Honor your feelings and desires, life is a journey. Practicing walking away for hours or more gives you a renewed perspective. Relaxing or redirecting your attention can lead to an ease of solutions possibly presenting themselves right before your eyes. Deadlines can cause tremendous stress and pressure. It may be hard because there is only 24 hours in a day, but try to include downtime in your schedule. Avoid overbooking and be kind to yourself.
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