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MY⚡️Feature
featured piece of advice for creatives and creative leaders
Make a Plan
As creatives and creative leaders we have 2 types of work we face each day. The functional work that is necessary and the creative work that we feel inspired to accomplish.
The functional work consists of the emails that we have to send, software updates we have to run, gear to we have to maintain, expenses we have to enter, phone calls we have to make, etc… But we also have creative work to do. We have songs to write, designs to create, scripts to craft, photos to edit, and more.
I encourage you to make a plan. Some people love to do functional work in the morning and creative work in the afternoon. Some people work better the opposite way. Some people love to mix the the functional work and the creative work together. There’s a lot of ways to go about the day, but no matter how you choose to tackle it all, the goal is to get your functional work done efficiently and to be inspired in your creative work.
Now, I can’t promise that you’ll feel inspired. However, I can promise that having a plan for the day can take away some of the stress and help you see how you can tackle things in a way that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed. Having a plan helps you see how you can accomplish everything in front of you and gives you confidence that you can do it. And that’s pretty inspirational!
I do 2 things that I want to encourage you to do as well.
First, take the last 10-15 minutes of your day and do 3 things for tomorrow:
1.) Make a list of tasks for the next day
2.) Look at your calendar
3.) Plan your tasks around your appointments in a way that inspires you
Personal note: I do this around 4pm each day
Second, take the last 10-15 minutes of your week and do 3 things for the next week:
1.) Add tasks on appropriate days to your task list for the coming week
2.) Look at your calendar for the entire next week
3.) Plan your tasks around your appointments in a way that inspires you
Personal note: I do this at the end of the day on Thursdays
A great plan can help lead to efficient functional work and inspired creative work.
MY⚡️Follows
great people to follow on social media
Dynamo Studios
@dynamostudios is an incredible non-profit that I work with based out of Chattanooga, TN. They work with schools in their home town as well as schools in Atlanta and Nashville. Dynamo teaches students audio production, engineering, photography, and more in a way that helps them build the skills and confidence they need to have a career in the arts. Check out their website.
Makato Fujimura
@iamfujimura is one of my favorite modern visual artists. He paints in the Japanese style of Nihonga, which is painting including mineral pigments. He also has written several books on culture care, the art of suffering, and the spiritual connection of creativity. You can check out more of his work here.
Johnny Marr
@johnnymarrgram is one of my favorite guitarists of all time. He was a member of The Smiths, but has also been a member of The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, and has an incredible solo career. Additionally, he worked with Hans Zimmer on the score for the film “Inception” and most recently released a book called “Marrs Guitars”, in which he tells the stories behind his incredible guitar collection.
MY⚡️Finds
cool stuff I found this week
WIRED Magazine
I recently rediscovered WIRED Magazine and I am loving it. It’s a great magazine to keep up with the latest technology news, inventions, and innovations. As a musician, producer, and creative coach it’s important to me to stay up on technology and WIRED puts a lot of it in one place for me.
Amber Wild
I went to Nashville this last week to see KISS one last time before they call it quits. The opening band for the show was a band called “Amber Wild”. They blew everyone away. My son was with me and he and I both were so impressed with their songs, musicianship, and ability to own the arena. The front man of Amber Wild is Evan Stanley, KISS frontman Paul Stanley’s son… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If you like rock n roll go check them out.
MY⚡️Favorites
some of my favorite sights, sounds, and reads
Apple News+
A few months ago I moved my family to the Apple Premier plan. Not only does it include Apple Music, TV+, and storage, but it also includes Apple News+ which includes hundreds of FREE magazine subscriptions. This is actually how I rediscovered Wired Magazine. So if you’re an Apple user and subscribed to an Apple plan for storage or music see if it includes News+ and enjoy all the free magazines!
Record Store Smell
I have a candle in my office that smells like a record store… just enough of that wonderfully musky smell of nostalgia, rock n roll, and the potential of finding some hidden treasure. If you’re a record collector you will love this thing. Click here to get one.
MY⚡️FI Podcast
a podcast about the journey of creativity
Ep. 037 :: Needlz
The newest episode of MYFI Podcast features Grammy award winning, super producer Needlz. He has worked with Bruno Mars, Drake, Lil Wayne, 50cent, and more. Jump in this conversation as we talk about his internship at Bad Boy Entertainment, how a Bruno Mars hit was intended for Adam Levine, and how you can actually watch him work on his upcoming website.
MY⚡️FI Blog
monthly blog for creatives and creative leaders
The Power of Creative Clarity
This month on the blog I explain exactly what MYFI is all about and how you can engage with what I do. I also talk at length on the power of creative clarity and why it matters. Check out the blog by clicking here.