3 Questions to Help You Find Clarity and Be Great.
As creatives, when we start projects there is always a sense of excitement, energy and passion that motivates us to work on the project. It’s almost an obsessive state of pure joy as we envision the end product. It’s like this wonderful engine of happiness in our lives.
Perhaps you have a ton of ideas, a mission - a strong belief for what you providing or creating.
But after awhile the day to day tasks and challenges can start to take precedence over your passion and the bottom line becomes the top dog.
Get I get an Amen?
When that happens it's always important to go back to the beginning and find your center again.
But how do you do that?
Glad you asked!
Over the last last few years I've was struggling with finding focus with my work.
The main advice is to find a niche and focus on writing for that niche. Find your audience and write for that audience. While that advice has it’s place, it was beginning to feel like it was taking ME out of the equation.
As a creative person it's almost impossible for me to separate myself from the things I create. And if you have an artist's heart you are probably the same way too. I want to take the core of who I am, what I’m passionate about and create a focus around that. This way I can still feel excited and inspired to write and create.
Many years ago someone suggested watching Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk called: Start With Why-How Great Leaders Inspire Action.
This was well worth the 20 minutes it took to watch this video. It really dialed in on a perspective that I think is present in all humans but just not well articulated.
In his talk he simply broke down what separates the greats from the “meh”.
Seems like common sense that the “why” in what you are doing or selling is the most important thing in being effective, doesn’t it? He wasn’t really saying anything revolutionary but for me it was revolutionary to apply that to my work as a creative.
To be honest it’s not the easiest thing to answer the question “why create?”
It’s kind of abstract to say: Because it feels like I’m slowly dying inside when I don’t create.
Even if it’s true. :)
But when you can articulate the “why” in a way that is universal to your audience therein lies the beautiful connection between your creativity and the consumers of what you create.
Side Note: this only matters if you desire to sell your art and/or build a community around it. If you want to create because it makes you happy THAT IS HIGHLY VALUABLE TOO! A happy you benefits the people around you as well! - End Side Note.
We also need to be given a strategy for not forgetting our why in the future, and identifying what makes the “why” disappear.
After processing for another 30 minutes I came up with a new mission statement for the work I was currently doing at the time on my blog.
The questions I had to go back to is:
1. What do I believe?
What are my core beliefs and world views?
What is my perspective on life?
How do I want to live my life?
What are my non - negotiables?
2. Why is that believe important?
How does this belief help others?
What's is so invaluable about maintaining this belief?
3. What do I do to help others?
What the main message I want to share with others?
What is your vehicle to deliver your belief/dream/message to others?
All of a sudden things started to fall into place and I felt more authentic in my goals and more inspired to create things that follow that belief system. It’s important to me that what I’m creating feels genuine and from the heart.
I hope that this helps you a little bit in finding more clarity in what you are creating. If you want to chat with me more in depth I do offer 1:1 consulting. You can sign up here.