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When idea becomes solution
At first glance, it’s obvious that we don’t need more ideas. Everybody has ideas. Ideas are cheap. Ideas don’t matter. So they say. Yet the ephemeral thoughts we label as “ideas”—other words include insights, complaints, challenges—are the fundamental raw ingredients to solutions. Ideas are the soil for solutions to emerge. When you express an idea in…
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Why I stopped calling myself a “freelance writer”
Several years ago, the CEO of a prominent product development services company approached me to help out with copywriting and publicity. I had started my own editorial studio, Wonder Shuttle, and gave myself the job title of creative director. That didn’t matter much, because most of my network still knew me as a freelance writer.…
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How a daily writing habit sparked my creativity
5. Million. People. I couldn’t believe my eyes. 5 million people had seen a piece that I wrote. It was spontaneous. I just wrote that post because the topic was interesting to me, and I promised myself I would write something that day. I started blogging when I was 15 years old. I remember nights…
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The other half
There’s a popular article making the rounds, entitled, “There is no such thing as a millennial middle class.” It includes some important points, namely a call to reform the political decisions that have led to Canada’s high student debt loads, unaffordable housing, and stagnant wages. All worthy causes to fight for. This resonates with me…
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Hire yourself
“What if you hire yourself?” There are two ways to interpret this question. First, are you good enough to hire yourself—would you pay your rate to work with yourself? If not, what can you do to get to that rate—what is the outcome you need to provide to yourself that would make your price worth…
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Slowing inspiration down
Receiving a new idea is an incredible experience—to me, the sensation is a whirlwind of hope, opportunity, and excitement. This is a double-edged sword though, because all of us take in new ideas every day, which means if we were to act on all of them, we would perpetually be stuck in the middle of…
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Do Less, Little By Little
Sam wants to gain weight this year. He also wants to cook nine meals per week, so he can support that goal. He’s locked down in the pandemic, so he also needs to find a new gym or arrangement to workout. Sam’s also in a relationship and wants to be more present in that than…
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Don’t make “Bad” the enemy of “Good”
There’s a saying I’ve heard countless times, some variation of, “Don’t Let ‘Perfect’ Be the Enemy of ‘Good.’” (Here’s an example.) I like it, because aiming for perfection is the surest way to a creative block and paralysis by analysis. Aiming for good is a great rallying call to actually get things done—to aim for…
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Audiences in the arenas
It used to be that spectating was the only way to experience creative work. Stadiums, arenas, and theaters are based on this premise. People who spectate are known as the audience. Spectating is still an incredibly popular activity—just look at Twitch. Sure, I listen to podcasts, I watch films and TV, and I read. I…
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Hard Work, Plus
In September 2007, J. Cole stood outside Roc-the-Mic studios in the rain for 2 hours waiting for Jay-Z to hand him a beats tape for American Gangster. The second Jay-Z saw it, he said, “I don’t want that, give it to one of them.” That’s why self-promotion is, understandably, one of the most dislikeable parts…