The Power of Introverts

A lot of people think I'm an extrovert.  Why?  Not sure really.  Guess it's because I love a lively chat and a raucous laugh.  Okay, I also like being the centre of attention.  Sometimes.

But as anyone who has done any personality profiling (Myers Briggs etc) knows, you can be both introverted and extroverted.  It's just a matter of discovering what your preference is related to different circumstances.

Take creativity.  I work in a team of very talented people.  We work well together as a team, and we produce great results as a team.  But my personal preference for thinking and creating ideas is most definitely of an introverted nature.  Even within a team project or task.

I much prefer solo thinking to big group brainstorms.  I prefer thinking by knocking some thoughts out on paper or a whiteboard, rather than shouting them out in a group.  Not to say I don't enjoy group brainstorming - I actually get a real kick out of it - it's just that my preference is mostly to do it solo.

Largely this is because I really feel like I get better results by having something clear in my own head, before hearing the thoughts of others.  Of course it doesn't mean I produce better results on my own - colloboration is still important - but it does mean that before opening something to the wider group - my head needs to be clear and have formed a strong direction or view.

It's why this link a friend sent to me has pricked my interest.

http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/

It's a site to support a new book release - 'Quiet - The Power of Introverts' by American Author Susan Cain.  I'll let you scoot around the site yourself but the basic premise is that (a) it's okay to be an introvert and not feel shunned by society who generally love extroverted people because (b) there is a power in thinking for yourself.  You can develop a sharper sense of contemplation before action, and a deeper connection to your thinking without subconsciously working to group think.

It's a powerful concept and as someone who is introvertedly wired, I can't wait to read it.

When it comes to thinking and creativity - do you prefer extroverted methods (groups, noise, brainstorms), or introverted methods (solo, quiet, scribbling)?  It's not to say you can't operate in both worlds (because you can and often do), but I'm interested to hear your preference and why.

Comment away!

WK

Five things you should stop doing in 2012

Happy (nearly) new year!

If you're anything like me, your thougths have already turned to what you want to 'give up' or change in 2012.  I'm going to try getting off sugar, but that's a tale for another time.

This post caught my attention.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/12/five_things_you_should_stop_do.html

The author's are very personal to her - but it did get me thinking... what am I going to stop doing in 2012? 

I'd love to commit to the email interruption thing, but let's be realistic.  Do you know anyone that can do that successfully?!  Sounds harder to give up than sugar.

But I will have a think about things I want to NOT do, in order to spend more time on things I WANT to do.

Feel free to share yours!

WK

The importance of finding a space to Create

I've long believed the space you choose to create in is one of the most important aspects of the entire creative process.

It doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to work for you.

I've always longed to have a study.  Dark timber floor to ceiling book shelves, leather chairs and an old English writing desk.  I've got the writing desk, and figure by the time I retire I might have the rest, but you know what, the amount of creating I've done at the desk is next to zero.  It sits underneath piles of bills, magazines and other clutter.

So after recently moving house, I discovered a little wine bar that is open late and basically exists for the enjoyment of cultural snobs such as myself.

Gibson's Wine Bar - Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, VIC

It's very casual, has wine by the glass and is never full.  None of the tables and chairs match, and the cellar-like walls are stacked with bottles.  The small varied spaces you can see on the walls are matched to size with pics with pics of Woody Allen, film noir movie posters, and one iconic black and white image of John Lennon in a 'New York City' t-shirt.

More often than not Van Morrison or Neil Diamond blasts out of the tinny hi-fi from the bar at way too loud a volume, and I've never been more creatively productive in my life.  Stuff flows out of me here.  (Right now the only working waitress is dancing with customers).

Anyway - enough about my joint.  Where's yours?  And if you haven't found it - go and find it quickly!  It's so important to be able to feel inspired in your surroundings.  If you're like me and need motivation to get started - it won't find you - you have to find it.

WK

Your (creative) Christmas Gift List

Love a good book about creativity, don't you?

Love a good recommendation too.

One of my fave sites '99%' has come up with a cracker of a list of books to add to your wishlist this Christmas.

Check 'em out!

http://the99percent.com/articles/7107/10-Books-to-Gift-the-Geeky-Creative-in-Your-Life

Have you got any good book recommendations for me?  Please share!

WK

Increase your productivity: turn 'time sinks' into 'time warps'

Here's a short piece from one of the sites I frequently visit - 'The Accidental Creative'.

Turning Time Sinks into Time Warps

Feel free to share any tips on how you increase your productivity when you are being creative.

Setting a concrete deadline is a key one for me!

WK

All children are artists

Hola!  It's been a little while since I posted so apologies up front.

For those of you who have recently brought home a newborn, you'll be familiar with the concept of sleep deprivation.  That's where all my spare/blogging time has gone over the past few weeks.  I'm back now and feel significantly energised to be posting again.

The Newborn (Emma) is a delight, but also a night owl.  I've already started joking (wishing?) that she will grow up to be the Executive Producer of a Late Night talk show.  Maybe the one hosted by Letterman's son when he takes over in 20 years time?  Again, probably wishful thinking.

All the awake and cuddle time has given me a chance to ponder what the future holds for the now three-week-old Emma Kingsley.

I love a good quote.  Have many of them up on my office wall.  And the one I've been staring at lately is this one from Picasso.

Picasso was right - it is a problem.  A big one.

I look at my little nearly two-year-old Joshua at he chalkboard.  Free flowing movements of chalk in hand onto the board.  Scribbling away.  None of it distinguishable in form or shape, but all of it creative in his own way.  He's interpreting as he draws.  Somewhere along the way some well-meaning teacher or adult is going to encourage him to stop scribbling and draw something that others can interpret.  That would be a shame.

So two thoughts here... firstly how do we ensure our kids maintain their free-flowing artistry, yet free of constraints?  And then how do we as grown-ups rediscover the inner child when pursuing a creative task?

Ultimately I think it comes down to what the child has inbuilt, that the adult fears.  That is, the fear of being wrong.  Judgement of your work is often a barrier to creating or publishing what you visualise, or what you feel within your heart is right.  But it shouldn't stop our creativity.  It doesn't stop Josh at the chalkboard, and it shouldn't stop you.

That's not to say that every piece of creativity doesn't need critiquing.  Or every producer doesn't need a buyer.  We are focused on commercial creativity at binge thinking after all.  But judgement or commercial realities certainly shouldn't dictate a process that at it's core comes from within the creator or creators alone.

When designing, writing, producing, painting, composing or creating - start with the heart - and protect your idea as far as you can until you actually require judgement in order to progress.  Judgement too early could mean your potentially brilliant insight is killed at birth.  And I can tell you from recent experience, birth, and the stages immediately after, are the most precious and beautiful in the life of anything worthwhile.

Love to hear your comments!

WK

At IDEO, big innovation lives on the edge of ridiculous ideas

At IDEO, being playful is almost an obsession. The company believes that great, innovative work cannot happen without trial-and-error, experimentation, and maybe even a little tomfoolery. Have a read of this post on the brilliant Behance site, 99 Percent, and have a think how it can apply to your environment.

http://the99percent.com/articles/7080/IDEO-Big-Innovation-Lives-Right-on-the-Edge-of-Ridiculous-Ideas

Fiverr out of Fiverr for this idea

Proving there's a market for anyone for anything...what would you be willing to do for $5? There are heaps of people selling their talents right now

Jump on board - I love this...

http://fiverr.com/

29 Ways to stay creative... and happier

Can't say much more about this. Just watch and enjoy. I love it!



WK

You MUST get your hands on this...

You know when you discover a product and feel like it's been made just for you? For me it's 'Smith Journal'. My favourite magazine of 2011 by a well groomed and styled country mile.

From the moment I opened the cover and saw two full page colour ads for Urban Outfitters, I knew that I was in print heaven. The adventurous publishers of classy chick mag 'Frankie' have decided to tap blokes on the shoulder and prickle our intellect, and their first offering is so carefully and obviously lovingly edited.

Articles in Issue One include 'Typewriters and the men who loved them' (Woody Allen, Hemmingway et al); a touching piece on brothers who have gone through adversity; and a missive on life by everyone's favourite retail philosopher Alain De Botton. Plus too many other interesting features to mention.

The photography is sublime, Art Direction and typesetting is deliciously highbrow. It's a totally indugent read and until you get the heavy card pages into your hands, you'll have absolutely no idea the beauty you're missing.

Get it. Now.

www.smithjournal.com.au