You know the old saying. Assumptions can truly be very harmful. When we jump to scare tactics because we assume people are wrong or misguided and need to learn a lesson, we can cause serious damage. It’s important to have all the information before making any kind of judgment. I think of a director asContinue reading “Assumptions”
Tag Archives: creativity
Offers vs. Actions
In my relatively short time working in the theatre industry and crafting stories in collaborative settings, I’ve come to notice a common bad habit. We assume that being open to criticism and willing to discuss issues with others is enough, but we don’t address the obstacles people face in seeking that help. If an individualContinue reading “Offers vs. Actions”
Lucky Encounters
Oftentimes someone’s success in a creative field has a lot to do with chance: being in the right place at the right time or knowing the right people. But a professor I had once said something that sticks with me: if an opportunity presents itself, then you can choose to take advantage of it. SometimesContinue reading “Lucky Encounters”
Fail
And fail hard. If we’re carving new paths and taking creative risks then we’re going to fall flat on our face. We can’t prevent it. Organizing and making plans is important, yes. But holding off on making decisions because you’re afraid of failure is useless. Even the most organized paths are met with obstacles andContinue reading “Fail”
People-Focused
It is the focus on people—their work habits, their talents, their values—that is absolutely central to any creative venture. Ed Catmull, Creativity, Inc. I had a tense conversation with a collaborator once where I was (rather desperately) trying to understand their perspective, and they were adamant that they didn’t have to help me understand. InContinue reading “People-Focused”
Culture of Creativity
In any creative environment, it’s important that each person feels seen and heard. The space of collaboration has to be expansive enough for each person’s contributions and for conversations of all kinds. In my experience, people find it difficult to maintain that freedom, despite their best intentions. Obstacles to that state of fun collaboration willContinue reading “Culture of Creativity”
Distance
This is your friendly reminder that spending time away from a project is good. If you’re in the weeds with whatever it is you’re working on and you’re getting more and more overwhelmed with what you could/should be doing, take a break. Go for a walk. Do something else for a few days. It’s quarantineContinue reading “Distance”
Hard Things Pt 2
I’m still thinking about hard things and the necessity of curiosity. When in positions of leadership, I try to avoid blaming or shaming and instead stick to assertive claiming.* Rather than “You did this wrong,” I aim for “Here’s how I feel.” The object is not to bring a person down and make them smallerContinue reading “Hard Things Pt 2”
luke brown 