Accidental Creative https://accidentalcreative.com/ Productivity for creative pros : Better ideas for creative teams Wed, 06 Apr 2022 15:34:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://accidentalcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cropped-ac-site-identity-32x32.png Accidental Creative https://accidentalcreative.com/ 32 32 Why Your Team Needs You To Be Precise http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/why-your-team-needs-you-to-be-precise/ http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/why-your-team-needs-you-to-be-precise/#respond Wed, 06 Apr 2022 15:34:06 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=61405 If you want your team to do bold, creative work, you must take the first risk by giving them clear, precise direction. Here are a few ways to do so.

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]]> In many ways, leadership is about risk mitigation. You want to channel resources and team effort in the direction most likely to generate the results you want, while at the same time minimizing the potential downside of getting it wrong. This is especially challenging when doing creative work, because the downside of getting it wrong can be significant. If you make the wrong decisions early in a project, the net result can be days or weeks of wasted work, maybe making it impossible to course correct.

Because of the risk involved, many leaders unknowingly become less than clear about their expectations for the work or of the team. They might speak in vague terms or give opaque direction because they themselves are not certain of the right decision. They know the team needs to move forward, but it’s not clear to them yet what forward actually means. They want to protect themselves from a mistake, so they lack precision.

The problem with this is that their lack of precision and clarity has a trickle-down effect within the organization. Direction diffuses. Things don’t become more clear as you get farther and farther from the decision-maker, they become less so. Thus, a few team dynamics emerge:

1. Because they don’t want to waste their time, team members just wait until you tell them what to actually do before starting their work. 

2. Dissonance emerges as each team member interprets what you want, sometimes leading to misalignment and disjointedness among those responsible for executing on the work. 

Team members need leaders to be precise about expectations. They don’t need you to be right, but they do need you to be clear even when you are uncertain. Here are a few areas where you need to ensure you are being precise:

Precise Language. When sharing your decisions or expectations with the team, speak in nouns and verbs, not lofty adjectives and adverbs. Be a laser, not a lighthouse. A lighthouse tells you what not to do by pointing out danger areas, but doesn’t really give you a clear path forward. A laser is precise and focused and points you to a desired outcome. You should aim to use precise language when speaking with the team. Don’t use industry buzz-phrases or metaphors. Find a clear, compelling, precise way to communicate what you want, even if you’re uncertain you’re correct.

Precise Expectations. Be very clear about what you want, when you want it, who will do it, why it matters, and what the outcome will be if you are successful. Don’t leave room for vague interpretations of when the work is needed, who the responsible parties are, or why any of it matters to begin with. All effective expectations include assignment of responsibility, articulation of timeline, and accountability for results. If your expectations don’t include all three, you aren’t being precise enough. 

Precise Objectives. Where are you leading the team? How will you know you’ve arrived? Why will any of it matter? Many leaders speak in lofty, vague terms about their vision for the work or the team because they aren’t really certain about their own intuition. Team members need to know that you have clear objectives in mind, that you are aware of the obstacles you will encounter along the way, and that you have a plan to overcome them. You must be clear about where you are leading the team in spite of your personal insecurities. 

Leaders, be precise in how you communicate with your team. You owe them that. Once your team members have clear bounding arcs and a solid objective in mind, they will reward you with more consistent, aligned, imaginative work.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/why-your-team-needs-you-to-be-precise/feed/ 0 How To Begin (with Michael Bungay Stanier) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-to-begin-with-michael-bungay-stanier/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-to-begin-with-michael-bungay-stanier/#respond Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=59699 Like many bright, creative professionals, you likely have a lot of ideas. Big ideas. You know where you want to go, but the first challenge is often the most duanting. Where do you even begin? Today’s guest has accomplished a lot of big things. He’s a Rhodes Scholar, successful consultant, author of the international best-selling […]

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]]> Like many bright, creative professionals, you likely have a lot of ideas. Big ideas. You know where you want to go, but the first challenge is often the most duanting. Where do you even begin?

Today’s guest has accomplished a lot of big things. He’s a Rhodes Scholar, successful consultant, author of the international best-selling book The Coaching Habit, and also the author of the new book How To Begin. In this episode, he shares a practical, step-by-step method for moving your big ideas forward.

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This episode is sponsored by Indeed.

This episode is sponsored by Headspace.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-to-begin-with-michael-bungay-stanier/feed/ 0 Achieving Peak Mind (with Amishi Jha) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/achieving-peak-mind-with-amishi-jha/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/achieving-peak-mind-with-amishi-jha/#respond Mon, 06 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=59624 In this conversation, Dr. Amishi Jha shares how anyone can better hone their attention and train their mind to operate at its best consistently.

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]]> As a creative pro, you must be ready to deliver great results at a moment’s notice, whenever and wherever you happen to be. That pressure can wear you down and cause burnout, frustration, and disconnectedness from your work. In order to thrive, you need to figure out how to structure life and work in such a way that you are poised to produce great work when the opportunity arises.

Today’s guest has spent years studying the nature of the mind. Dr. Amishi Jha is a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Miami, and the author of a new book called Peak Mind. In this conversation, she shares how anyone can better hone their attention and train their mind to operate at its best consistently.

Get ad-free episodes and access to hundreds of archive episodes at ACpremium.me.

This episode is sponsored by Skillshare.

This episode is sponsored by Shopify.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/achieving-peak-mind-with-amishi-jha/feed/ 0 Live A Rich Life (with Ramit Sethi) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/live-a-rich-life-with-ramit-sethi/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/live-a-rich-life-with-ramit-sethi/#respond Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=59571 Have you ever considered what you're really chasing after?

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]]> How do you define a “rich life”? Have you ever even considered the question? Many creative pros spend their career chasing after something… undefined. What are you trying to achieve in life and work?

Today’s guest has spent decades helping others define what a “rich life” means. Ramit Sethi is the author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich and the host of the podcast of the same name. In this episode we discuss how to make wise career choices, how our beliefs about money can unknowingly limit us, and how to talk with our stakeholders about important decisions.

This episode is sponsored by Bambee.

This episode is sponsored by Shopify.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/live-a-rich-life-with-ramit-sethi/feed/ 0 Die Empty Part Seven: Conquering Fear http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-seven-conquering-fear/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-seven-conquering-fear/#respond Mon, 15 Nov 2021 23:47:38 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=59563 How fear can paralyze you and some specific strategies for limiting its grip.

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]]>

When I ask creative pros what prevents them from sharing their idea, or putting work into the world, it’s often that they fear the work isn’t good enough. Or, that they aren’t good enough. Or, that they just don’t really belong in the room. On this episode, we discuss how fear can paralyze you and some specific strategies for limiting its grip.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-seven-conquering-fear/feed/ 0 How To Release Control Of Your Team’s Work http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/how-to-release-control-of-your-teams-work/ http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/how-to-release-control-of-your-teams-work/#respond Mon, 08 Nov 2021 15:36:11 +0000 http://accidentalcreative.com/?p=50598 Let your team do what you hired them to do.

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]]>

Some leaders hire bright, talented, creative people for their team, then spend their entire day trying to turn them into little versions of themselves. 

Oh, they would never admit to that. Instead, they would say “I’m not trying control them. I’m just trying to help them do things the way that I would do them.”

Yes, it’s the same thing. 

If you want your team to produce its best work, and you want to retain the talented people you’ve hired, you need to learn to release your control.  You must let your team members do what they do best. How do you do that, when you have deadlines looming and you’re worried that the team’s work won’t be up to par? 

Know Your Temptations

It’s important that you understand the times and situations where you’re most likely to jump in and try to control the team’s work. Are there specific situations in which you tend to grab the wheel and take full control of the work? Are there predictable times when your team just knows that they’re going to have to surrender everything to your wishes, even though they’d prefer a different direction?

Take some time to consider if there are patterns of control in your leadership. Then, spend just a little more time considering what the root of that need to control truly is. Is it a concern about your personal reputation? A fear that your team isn’t capable? A need to show your value to everyone around you? What is at the root of the control issue? 

Embrace The Stakes

Next, know what’s truly at stake with the project. Some leaders are tempted to control the work too early and too often because they’ve artificially escalated the stakes of a particular project, or they’ve mis-judged how important the early stages of the work are to the finished project. Yes, understand what’s truly at stake if you get the work wrong, but also be realistic about what it will take to get it to the right place. A project that’s 90% as good, but fully conceived and executed by your team, might prove far more valuable in the long-run because you’re teaching your team how to solve problems, not just telling them what to do. 

Set Your Limits and Checkpoints In Advance

There comes a time in the life of any project when you have to step in and make it what it needs to be. You can’t submit sub-par work to a client and say “yeah, but I really didn’t control this one!” You absolutely need to have a clear understanding of when to step in and take the wheel, and you must establish checkpoints along the way to help you determine whether the project is still on the rails, or needs your helpful correction.

Ask yourself the following:

  1. How often do I need to check in on the team’s work on this project? 
  2. What are the signs that my urgent action is needed to get the project back on the rails?
  3. At what point in the project will I know it’s time to step in and take control, to ensure we have time to deliver a quality product to our stakeholders?

Again, there are times when you simply must step in to make things happen, but it can’t be everywhere and always. Let your team do what you’ve hired them to do.

Controlling your team reduces its effectiveness to the limit of your own personal reach. Don’t allow that to happen. Instead, teach your team not just what to do, but how to do it and why it works. They will reward you with the best work of their lives. 

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/articles/leadership/how-to-release-control-of-your-teams-work/feed/ 0 Advice For Builders (with Julien Smith) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/advice-for-builders-with-julien-smith/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/advice-for-builders-with-julien-smith/#respond Mon, 08 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=59414 Advice for those who want to make things that make life better for everyone.

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]]> Creative pros are by nature builders. We love to make things, play with ideas, and put new concepts into the world where they can be experienced by others. But, the process of building new things can be daunting, and selecting which ideas to build can be confusing.

Today’s guest is a certainly a builder. His most recent projects are Breather and Practice, for which he just raised a $10 million round of investment led by Andreessen Horowitz. On this episode we discuss the nature of building, how to choose the right ideas, and how to spot trends before they become mainstream.

Please support the show by subscribing to AC Premium.

This episode is sponsored by Indeed.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/advice-for-builders-with-julien-smith/feed/ 0 The Long Game (with Dorie Clark) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/dorie-clark/ http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/dorie-clark/#respond Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58927 How do you cultivate a long-term mindset in a world obsessed with what's happening now? We recently spent some time with Dorie Clark asking her to help us all think about the long game. Are you making investments today that may not pay off for months or years?

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]]> We live in a short-term thinking world. Many people want immediate results, and as a result they fail to make the necessary investments to reap long-term rewards. However, those who are able to think long-term make investments today that are likely to provide a return for months or years to come. How do you break the short-term thinking cycle and shift toward a long-term mindset?

Today’s guest is Dorie Clark. She is the author of a new book called The Long Game and on this episode she helps us understand how to cultivate a mindset that focuses on achieving long-term results.

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This episode is sponsored by Shopify.

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]]> http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/dorie-clark/feed/ 0 Die Empty Part 4: Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-4-step-out-of-your-comfort-zone/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:09:46 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58851  The love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness. We can look successful to everyone around us, but deep down know that we’re essentially “phoning it in” and have stopped growing, challenging ourself, and chasing aspirations. We’ve settled in.  In Part four of our series on my book Die Empty, we discuss the various […]

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]]>  The love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness. We can look successful to everyone around us, but deep down know that we’re essentially “phoning it in” and have stopped growing, challenging ourself, and chasing aspirations. We’ve settled in. 

In Part four of our series on my book Die Empty, we discuss the various ways in which the pursuit of comfort can infiltrate our lives and prevent us from achieving our goals. 

Want every episode in this Die Empty series? Subscribe to AC Premium. You’ll get ad-free episodes, access to the full archives, and many bonuses and surprises. 

This episode is sponsored by Netsuite.

This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. 


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]]> A Minute To Think (with Juliet Funt) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/a-minute-to-think-with-juliet-funt/ Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:08:43 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58812 Do you have a minute to think? It’s a good question, and it’s difficult to answer. I think most of us – especially right now – have days full of meetings and obligations. Now that meetings are essentially frictionless, more are added to our calendar. After all, the next group is just a click away. […]

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]]> Do you have a minute to think?

It’s a good question, and it’s difficult to answer. I think most of us – especially right now – have days full of meetings and obligations. Now that meetings are essentially frictionless, more are added to our calendar. After all, the next group is just a click away. However, this means that as we’re squeezing more and more efficiency into our lives, we’re simultaneously eliminating the very thing we need in order to do great work – space for ideas to develop. 

So, do you have a minute to think? That’s the name of the new book – A Minute To Think – by today’s guest Juliet Funt. On this episode, she’s going to share why white space is so important and how to incorporate more of it into your calendar and life.

Get ad-free episodes and bonus surprises with AC Premium. 

This episode is sponsored by Indeed.

This episode is sponsored by Marpipe.


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]]> Get Different (with Mike Michalowicz) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/get-different-with-mike-michalowicz/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:07:26 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58809 To gain attention for your work (or your message) you must stand apart from everyone else. There is no place for being another in a line of similar messages. How do you separate yourself from the pack? Today’s guest is Mike Michalowicz, author of the new book Get Different. He shares specific strategies for standing […]

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]]> To gain attention for your work (or your message) you must stand apart from everyone else. There is no place for being another in a line of similar messages. How do you separate yourself from the pack?

Today’s guest is Mike Michalowicz, author of the new book Get Different. He shares specific strategies for standing out from the crowd.

Get ad-free episodes and bonuses with AC Premium. 

This episode is sponsored by Bambee. 

This episode is sponsored by Novo.


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]]> Find Your Red Thread (with Tamsen Webster) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/find-your-red-thread-with-tamsen-webster/ Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:06:51 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58807 How do you share your idea in a way that it will resonate with your intended audience? Whether you’re a leader, a marketer, a designer, a writer, or a product developer, it’s not your idea that matters it’s whether others understand it and feel compelled to respond. Today’s guest Tamsen Webster has spent years helping […]

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]]> How do you share your idea in a way that it will resonate with your intended audience? Whether you’re a leader, a marketer, a designer, a writer, or a product developer, it’s not your idea that matters it’s whether others understand it and feel compelled to respond. Today’s guest Tamsen Webster has spent years helping some of the top thinkers in the world convey their ideas in a compelling way, and on this episode she shares how you can find the through-line that makes your idea resonate. Her new book is called Find Your Red Thread. 

Get ad-free episodes and bonus episodes with AC Premium. 

This episode is sponsored by Shopify.


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]]> How To Market Your Creative Work (with John Jantsch) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-to-market-your-creative-work-with-john-jantsch/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 08:06:31 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58802 Many creative pros love the work they do, but strongly dislike talking about or marketing that work. Today’s guest John Jantsch has been teaching small business owners and freelancers how to market for decades, and on this episode he shares a simple framework for helping the world experience your work and growing your influence. His […]

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]]> Many creative pros love the work they do, but strongly dislike talking about or marketing that work. Today’s guest John Jantsch has been teaching small business owners and freelancers how to market for decades, and on this episode he shares a simple framework for helping the world experience your work and growing your influence. His new book is called The Ultimate Marketing Engine. 

This episode is sponsored by Headspace.

This episode is sponsored by Novo. 


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]]> You Can Change Other People (with Peter Bregman) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/you-can-change-other-people-with-peter-bregman/ Mon, 20 Sep 2021 08:10:26 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58794 You’ve likely heard the old advice “you can’t change other people.” Today’s guest would beg to differ. Through decades of coaching, he’s developed a method to help you help other people change and achieve the results that they want. Peter Bregman is the author of the new book You Can Change Other People.  Support the show […]

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]]> You’ve likely heard the old advice “you can’t change other people.” Today’s guest would beg to differ. Through decades of coaching, he’s developed a method to help you help other people change and achieve the results that they want. Peter Bregman is the author of the new book You Can Change Other People. 

Support the show and get ad-free and bonus episodes at ACpremium.me.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Indeed.

Todday’s episode is sponsored by Netsuite.

 


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]]> Die Empty Part 2: Define Your Battles http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-2-define-your-battles/ Mon, 13 Sep 2021 08:05:41 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58790 This is the second part of a nine part series on Todd Henry’s book Die Empty. In this episode, we look at the effect that aimlessness can have on your day to day work, and how to identify a portfolio of productive passion that drives you forward in life. Parts three and four of this series will […]

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]]> This is the second part of a nine part series on Todd Henry’s book Die Empty. In this episode, we look at the effect that aimlessness can have on your day to day work, and how to identify a portfolio of productive passion that drives you forward in life.

Parts three and four of this series will be available only to AC Premium subscribers. To join, visit ACpremium.me.

Get a workbook for this series at AccidentalCreative.com/subscribe.

This episode is sponsored by Skillshare.

This episode is sponsored by Netsuite. 


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]]> Oliver Burkeman on 4,000 Weeks http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/oliver-burkeman-on-4000-weeks/ Mon, 06 Sep 2021 08:07:51 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58786 The average person lives about 4,000 weeks. How does that fact make you feel? More importantly, how might knowing that your time is so finite cause you to choose to live?  There are so many tools at our disposal for time management, but often our efforts only make us feel more busy and overwhelmed. Today’s […]

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]]> The average person lives about 4,000 weeks. How does that fact make you feel? More importantly, how might knowing that your time is so finite cause you to choose to live? 

There are so many tools at our disposal for time management, but often our efforts only make us feel more busy and overwhelmed.

Today’s guest is Oliver Burkeman. We discuss existential overwhelm, the efficiency trap, and how to reclaim just a little bit of sanity in a world obsessed with better, faster, more. His new book is the instant NY Times Best-seller 4,000 Weeks. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by Headspace and Bambee. 


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]]> Die Empty Part 1: Three Modes Of Work http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/die-empty-part-1-three-modes-of-work/ Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:07:34 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58778 This week we begin a new series covering Todd Henry’s 2013 book Die Empty. For each of the next nine episodes, we will be discussing a core principle from the book and how it applies to life and work. Today we discuss the three modes of work, and why each is important if you want […]

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]]> This week we begin a new series covering Todd Henry’s 2013 book Die Empty. For each of the next nine episodes, we will be discussing a core principle from the book and how it applies to life and work.

Today we discuss the three modes of work, and why each is important if you want to build a body of work you can be proud of.

If you would like to receive every one of the nine episodes in this series, subscribe to AC Premium at ACPremium.me. You will also receive every future episode of the show ad-free. 


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]]> How Reading Affects Creativity (with Jeff Brown) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-reading-affects-creativity-with-jeff-brown/ Mon, 23 Aug 2021 08:05:37 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58777 When we talk about the creative process, what we’re really talking about is the ability to connect dots and make intuitive leaps. Sometimes those dots are previous projects we worked on, or experiences we had, and sometimes they are from things that we’ve read or studied along the way. Today, we’re going to talk about […]

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]]> When we talk about the creative process, what we’re really talking about is the ability to connect dots and make intuitive leaps. Sometimes those dots are previous projects we worked on, or experiences we had, and sometimes they are from things that we’ve read or studied along the way. Today, we’re going to talk about the value of reading to our creative process.  Our guest is Jeff Brown, author of the new book Read To Lead and host of the Read To Lead podcast.

This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/AC and get a one-month free trial of Premium Membership.


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]]> Bold vs. Brave Work, and 3 Elements of Brilliance http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/bold-vs-brave-work-and-3-elements-of-brilliance/ Mon, 16 Aug 2021 08:05:34 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58772 On today’s show, Todd Henry discusses the difference between bold creative work and brave creative work. This applies both to the work we do as professionals as well as how we lead others.  Then, Todd turns to discussing the three core elements of brilliant work that he shared in his talk at Leadercast this week: […]

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]]> On today’s show, Todd Henry discusses the difference between bold creative work and brave creative work. This applies both to the work we do as professionals as well as how we lead others. 

Then, Todd turns to discussing the three core elements of brilliant work that he shared in his talk at Leadercast this week: Skills, Experience, and Motivation.

This episode is sponsored by Bambee. Go to Bambee.com/accidentalcreative right now to schedule your FREE HR audit.

This episode is sponsored by Indeed. Right now, Indeed is offering our listeners a free seventy-five dollar credit to boost your job post – which means more quality candidates will see it, fast. Learn more at Indeed.com/creative. Offer valid through September 30, terms and conditions apply.


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]]> Decoding Greatness (with Ron Friedman) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/decoding-greatness-with-ron-friedman/ Mon, 09 Aug 2021 08:09:57 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58758 How do the best of the best do what they do? It’s easy to watch and admire top performers, but we can actually do more than that. We can decode how they got there. Today’s guest is Ron Friedman. He shares insights about how we can reverse engineer the greatness of those we admire with tips […]

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]]> How do the best of the best do what they do? It’s easy to watch and admire top performers, but we can actually do more than that. We can decode how they got there.

Today’s guest is Ron Friedman. He shares insights about how we can reverse engineer the greatness of those we admire with tips from his new book Decoding Greatness.

This episode is sponsored by Bambee. Go to Bambee.com/accidentalcreative right now to schedule your FREE HR audit.


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]]> A/J Jackson of Saint Motel http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/a-j-jackson-of-saint-motel/ Mon, 02 Aug 2021 08:07:54 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58747 When you have a number of ideas, how do you know which one to pursue? On this episode, we discuss creative process, practices, and how to know when an idea is right with A/J Jackson. A/J is an American filmmaker, musician, songwriter, record producer, and perhaps best known as the lead singer for the international […]

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]]> When you have a number of ideas, how do you know which one to pursue? On this episode, we discuss creative process, practices, and how to know when an idea is right with A/J Jackson. A/J is an American filmmaker, musician, songwriter, record producer, and perhaps best known as the lead singer for the international platinum-selling band Saint Motel. He is also the founder of AVIEW, a new eyewear brand that offers shades in every hue of the rainbow. 

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This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/AC and get a one-month free trial of Premium Membership.


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]]> How Music Affects Your Creativity (with Will Henshall) http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/how-music-affects-your-creativity-with-will-henshall/ Mon, 26 Jul 2021 08:05:45 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58742 Does what you listen to affect your ability to generate ideas and be productive? According to today’s guest, the soundtrack you choose can impact your creativity significantly. Will Henshall is the founding member of the band Londonbeat and the founder of FocusAtWill. In this conversation, we discuss how different personality types perform better when utilizing […]

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]]> Does what you listen to affect your ability to generate ideas and be productive? According to today’s guest, the soundtrack you choose can impact your creativity significantly.

Will Henshall is the founding member of the band Londonbeat and the founder of FocusAtWill. In this conversation, we discuss how different personality types perform better when utilizing different sonic environments. 

This episode is sponsored by Headspace.

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]]> Time To Re-think Your Rituals http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/time-to-re-think-your-rituals/ Mon, 19 Jul 2021 08:07:27 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58733 Brilliant performers in any field often have rituals or practices that they fall back on to help them perform consistently at their peak. When you are charged with doing complex work every day, rituals can bring order to your world and help you focus more effectively. If you want to deliver a result consistently, you must […]

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]]> Brilliant performers in any field often have rituals or practices that they fall back on to help them perform consistently at their peak. When you are charged with doing complex work every day, rituals can bring order to your world and help you focus more effectively. If you want to deliver a result consistently, you must systemize it, and that’s precisely what a ritual does.

However, the danger of rituals is that they can remain in your schedule long after they have stopped serving their original purpose. Worse, they can begin to work against your ability to be effective.

While I believe that high-performing people and teams must have strong rituals in their life to support their goals, I also know that these rituals must be examined on a regular basis to ensure that they aren’t becoming fossilized ruts. Here are a few suggestions for shaking up your rituals before they stall your progress.

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The Accidental Creative is part of the Airwave Media Network.


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]]> 6 Tips For Dealing With Creative Burnout http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ac/6-tips-for-dealing-with-creative-burnout/ Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:07:58 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58723 It’s been a long year, and many creative pros are experiencing some level of creative burnout. It’s taken everything we have to deliver on expectations over the past year, and as we now return to a sense of “normal”, the uncertainty and expectations are likely to rise even more. On this episode, I offer six […]

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]]> It’s been a long year, and many creative pros are experiencing some level of creative burnout. It’s taken everything we have to deliver on expectations over the past year, and as we now return to a sense of “normal”, the uncertainty and expectations are likely to rise even more.

On this episode, I offer six tips for dealing with those moments when you feel overwhelmed and burned out.

1. Pause and organize

2. Clear the decks

3. Re-prioritize

4. Time block

5. Care physically

6. Re-root in your productive passion

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This episode is sponsored by Skillshare. Explore your creativity at Skillshare.com/AC and get a one-month free trial of Premium Membership.

The Accidental Creative is an Airwave Media podcast.

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]]> Are You Committing This Leadership “Sin”? http://accidentalcreative.com/podcasts/ht/are-you-committing-this-leadership-sin/ Fri, 09 Jul 2021 14:01:14 +0000 https://accidentalcreative.com/?p=58721 One of the more concerning dynamics of the “everything is on the record all the time” world is that changing your mind – especially in a highly public way – has become SIN NUMBER ONE. If a politician or business leader evolves in their understanding of a topic, we call them a flip flopper. If […]

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]]> One of the more concerning dynamics of the “everything is on the record all the time” world is that changing your mind – especially in a highly public way – has become SIN NUMBER ONE.

If a politician or business leader evolves in their understanding of a topic, we call them a flip flopper. If someone alters their once-fierce perspective in light of newfound information, we call them a hypocrite or a traitor.

However, one of the most crucial roles of the leader is to be a learner, and it is impossible to learn without being shaped and changed in some way. To be shaped, you have to open yourself to the idea that you don’t know everything, and that your present ideas could be incorrect, or at least incomplete.

On this episode, we discuss why it’s important to change your mind (sometimes) and how to do it effectively.


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