Creatives are wired a bit differently. We may have grown up hearing others praise our natural talent as though it was the fast ticket to an instant business. We’re looked upon with a tinge of envy as though our ability to create is an indication of self worth, but we don’t feel like creativity is a super power. Rather, the creative mind is as much of a curse as it can be a blessing. We are over thinkers, squirrel brained, and often unbalanced individuals. We stay busy in our minds, unable to rest and pained with thoughts.
Steve Jobs once said, “When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.”
We view the world in abstract ways, not because we choose to, but because it’s all we’ve ever been. What seems like endless talent and possibilities to others actually limits creative professionals, specifically in the area of time management and productivity. Let’s discuss struggle points creatives share in the workplace.
The Speed Dilemma:
Creativity is no respecter of time. Creativity can be a slow process which can ebb and flow through moments of inspiration. Because our minds are bouncing around multiple thoughts at once, we don’t always begin a project knowing with certainty the outcome. One idea may lend to another, which may prompt a new thought that leads down a different path that bypasses the goal to a finish we deem to be better. We enjoy flexibility and need time to think because, we’re not only problem solving, we’re also trying to sort out our thoughts to keep what is relevant to the task at hand. In a fast paced, deadline oriented work environment, creatives struggle against the need to perform quickly while remaining true to the mental headspace that is optimal to develop artistic provision.
Undervalued Time:
Any creative that has explored entrepreneurialism especially in the realm of handmade products understands the contention between value of time and price of product. A product is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it and, because creatives will always compete with the ‘fast handmade’ market, the struggle to receive fair compensation relies on educating our audience in the creation process and cultivating a respect for our time. Many creative businesses do not succeed simply because of the consumer’s lack of respect and understanding of the product creation process.
We must market our handmade products by focusing on the exclusiveness of purchasing a truly one-of-a-kind item, and consumers who are willing to pay fair value for these products often decide to do business with us by personal loyalty. This means that we have to sell who we are as much as we sell our product, which can feel disingenuous because we seek authenticity, and ‘selling self’ feels like selling out.
Hyperfocus:
Creativity stems from inspiration and inspiration can not always be planned. Because our mind searches to connect points of information in new and exciting ways at all times, we never know when inspiration will strike. Brainstorming sessions are helpful to propagate fresh ideas but when inspiration strikes, it can become like a virus of hyper focused attention that must exhaust itself. When a creative becomes hyper focused on a project, it can become like an obsession. What may seem like extreme passion to others looking in, the creative feels that she must do whatever it takes to bring the creative vision to reality (especially for those of us with enough self-awareness and foresight to know that eventual loss of interest will result in, yet, one more unfinished endeavor.) Hyper focused attention is a steroid for productivity. We do not choose to wake up at 2 am to write a chapter in a novel or sketch out a painting, but it is like a insatiable force that must be satisfied.
In a professional setting, hyper focused attention can create rigidity for creatives working with a team. If we become hyper focused we may refuse to compromise and become stubborn. We can lose sight of other priorities and deadlines which leads to a breakdown in time management.
Every individual adds value to their workplace. Different opinions and personalities working together to achieve a common goal develops the unique strengths of each person and vibrancy to the workplace. Creatives must understand and value their own contributions while also recognizing that the desire to do “all the things”, and envisioning a world with endless possibilities must be balanced by other’s abilities to lend structure and planning to project execution.
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