Category Archives: Career

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Creative Discussion

I had lunch today with an author who has published two books and numerous articles. I’ve been watching him do his work over the past couple of years as he has followed around an organization in which I am intimately involved. I have seen him fly in and out of town; sit through meetings; attend events; take notes; and mostly listen.

Today we talked again about an idea he took from someone else that I’m hoping to take from him in the very near future. The idea is a “discussion group.” My writer friend lives in the Washington, D.C. area, and once a month invites together a group of people for lunch (usually about 25 or more). Along with the “regulars” my friend invites a special guest or two.

The special guests come from the realm of politics, the arts, journalism, and many other disciplines. The guests spend the first ten or fifteen minutes presenting a topic and then the rest of the time is spent asking questions, discussing the presentation and issues, and simply listening. They meet every month of the year except for August.

People move in and out of the group, but there are about 15 people who are there just about every month. They like to learn. They like to debate. They like to question.

This monthly meeting is a great filling station for creatives of all kinds. That’s why I want to start a group like this. Creativity can go fleeting away very quickly if there isn’t anything to fill the creative tank.

Books and articles that I have read on the topic of creativity certainly support this. For instance, Julia Cameron says in The Artist’s Way that any type of creative person ought to take him or herself on a “creative date” each and every week. She says to go all by yourself to a movie, museum, or even a five and dime store to simply observe, think, and be filled.

I’ve tried it, and it works very well. But I think I like this idea even better. Get together with others. Pick their brains. Discuss. Debate. Take some notes. Fill the tank. Simply listen.

I’d love for you to join me in a group like this. What kinds of ideas do you have for filling one’s creative tank?

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Creating a Job You Love

Imagine if you walked through the door on the first day of your brand new job, and you were told that you would be working there for 45 years.  How would that make you feel?  Would you dread it?  Would you be excited?  Would you walk right back out?

The other night my dad was honored with a retirement party after spending 45 years as a professor, administrator, coach, and head of the drama department at Concordia University — Wisconsin. One of the things I admire about my dad’s 45 years at CUW, is that he made his career into something he really enjoyed.  For the most part, he taught classes revolving around the literature he loved.  Early in his career he coached teams revolving around the sports he loved.  When he gained an interest in theater, he started a drama department at the school so that he could have another outlet involving something he loved.  His love for travel was fulfilled when, as an administrator, he took advantage of traveling to various places in the world, helping to fulfill the mission of the university.

I never got the impression over all those years that my dad was burned out, or bored, or ready to move on to something “bigger and better.” He took what he had and made it into something special.  He knew that in order to love what he was doing, he could do the things he loved.  So that’s what he did.

When you feel as though you have reached a dead end in your career, creatively make ways to do the things you love. It all has to be done within parameters, of course; but I bet you could come up with ways to do the things you love…even within those parameters.  It would make you happier.  It would mean more productivity.  It would bring a better attitude.  It might even be contagious to those around you.

Creativity is often born within the realm of doing the things you love. Do what you love, and creativity will follow.  Do what you love, and your career will undoubtedly advance.  Do what you love, and your whole world will be a better place. Do what you love, and you may find yourself in the same place for 45 years, enjoying each and every day.

How can you create ways to do the things you love within your life as it now is?  I’d love to hear your ideas!