Are you in creative purgatory?
This blog post is bought to you by Kwaku Amprako (@amprako.co) & Jonathan Clarke-Ezzidio (@jce.design)
Ive been a prisoner my self, and feels like mental warfare. Even though I was producing small fruit, I felt it wasn’t good enough.
Having many conversations with friends and family, I found that there are many different creative situations.
The word ‘creativity’ is not just about imagination. The term ‘Inventiveness’ highlights the importance of bringing an idea to life, with action, persistence and resilience.
Creativity = Entrepreneur
I always mention that, being a creative is the same as being an entrepreneur. There are many crucial skills required to be successful. It’s not just about the imagination, but following through with the idea, as well as how to effectively execute it.
Everyone has a dream, and creativity plays a huge part when accomplishing it.
I often find myself in conversations trying to drive a creative individual into pursuing their creative side. Despite these conversations, this may often not have any impact. I often wondered why/what are the reasons for individuals to not pursue their dreams.
Shortly realising, everyone can be in different positions within their lives due to many external factors. I also discovered that there is certainly different types of creative behaviours hindering ones creativity.
I believe almost everyone who eventually pursues their creative side (or still hasn’t), may identify within them selves, one of the following behaviour types:
Types of ‘creatives’ in purgatory:
The Lost
Has beard fruit, and is often assumed by others that they are doing well. There is no denying this individual has a clear sense of hunger, but generally not sure which meal to eat (path to follow). Also being confident and sure of their ability.
Sometimes suffering from ‘shiny object syndrome’ making it difficult to stick to one thing.
This individual is not realising they are at the beginning of their journey.
The Deluded
They think they’re making progress but are not producing any fruits from their ‘effort’. They believe what they are doing is either valuable and continue with this mind state regardless of the truth.
Typically focused on others creative situation and quick to critique.
The Dreamer
Has many creative ideas. Ideas mean nothing when not carried through. Everyone has Ideas, but not everyone does them. No fruit produced, but if any, very small and often shows clear signs of procrastination.
keeps saying they are going to do something creative but don’t actually do it. Generally very creative as a person, but a great lack of discipline and commitment.
Sometimes thinks about reality, but often pushes the thoughts out of their minds. Also hasa huge fear of failure.
The People Pleaser
This individual is extremely supportive for others missions and ideas. Has solid, feasible and functional ideas of their own. Can sometimes forget they can too produce good fruit. However, has a hard time to actually commit.
Also great barriers preventing them such as “What will people think…?”. Also containing attributes from ‘The Dreamer’, such as signs of procrastination, and an ignorance to reality.
Long term, this can leave them suffering the consequences.
The Excuser
Has shown good fruit in some areas, and also clear signs of commitment. However, can often be afraid of taking it to the next level or feel the timing is not right.
The best excuses are the ones that you are fully convinced there is a barrier for accomplishment.
This individual has a small flame of hunger, but waits for it to be mysteriously fuelled.
The Wishful
This person is a free sprite. They may work on absolutely anything or focus on their output regardless of quality. They do so in hopes for the best, without a plan or considers the realism of reality e.g. how to generate leads or account for profit within their pricing.
Hoping for everything to work out - similar to waiting for the puzzle to solve it’s self.
Can be in a great position in life, but not necessarily where they want to be/ on a path that doesnt satisfy them.
SNAP OUT OF IT!
This is not intended to offend anyone, only to help those that resonate with this. Identify the problem.
Creativity can be harder than what people actually think. Coming up with an idea is one thing, but to follow through can be incredibly difficult.
Can you imagine how many people in the world came up the idea of allowing passangers to hop into anyones car for a lift? Possibly thousands, but only 2 individuals decided to follow up with the idea - Travis Kalanick and Garret Camp founders of Uber.
The point is simple. Ideas can come easy, but pursuing them is the hard part.
As mentioned above, there are many different behaviours indicating you are in creative purgatory. The solution to all of them, is actually just ‘Do it’.
It sure is easier said than done, but small steps day-by-day can bring you closer to your target.