I remember how wonderful I felt at first when I was hired to run a national company. I was thrilled with my new title and excited to take on the challenge of resurrecting a company that was doing poorly. I was up for the challenge.
The position meant a move to Chicago from the east coast and a departure from my comfort zone of colleagues, family, and friends. My management skills were on the line since the company had 210 on site employees and another couple of hundred employees working around the country. I needed to constantly assure them all that they could trust my leadership ability to move the company forward. Creating that credibility and trust was almost a full time job in itself. I needed to be visible at all times.
My office had glass walls and I felt like I was in a fish bowl most of the time. Of course, the glass walls were meant to enhance the “open door” policy and open management style, but what I remember most is never having that private time to reflect and be creative. I always needed to be “on” and for myself, at least, it’s critical to turn “off” the outside world for private time to reflect and think creatively to solve problems.
Now I have my own company and I can tap into my creative zone as often as I need to. I can block out periods of time that I don’t take calls or emails, even leave my office for a break from the routine of business to spark my creative juices. The major challenge is blocking out the time when your to do list is a mile long.
I believe that taking this break from your routine and nurturing your creativity is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your business. It is easy to completely fill your days with tasks. There is no end to the work load. There is always one more thing that needs to get done. When you are frantically doing, however, it’s almost impossible to look at your business objectively and brainstorm about new ideas, projects, or perhaps a new direction for your business. It’s so easy to get lost in the abyss of busy work.
In his book, Linchpin, Seth Godin challenges us all to think outside the box and differentiate ourselves; to break from business as usual. This is how we truly become indispensable at work. I am now outside that glass box and in my own creative zone to move my business and career forward.
My advice is to schedule this “free” time. I find, for example, that if I am driving a long distance, if I turn off the radio and my blackberry, I can find that creative zone. I suggest you add some free time as often as necessary to your ongoing to do list. As a result, your business and your career will benefit tremendously.
What about you? How do you make time to be creative and brainstorm so that you can move your career and business forward?
Ah, the luxury of creative time. I also must have it. But rather than schedule time for it, IT schedules time for ME. Often when I’m walking to work, in the shower, perhaps on the treadmill. But, like you, it comes when I let my mind wander. And it’s an extra special treat when it happens early in the program development stage.
You know, this is what we do best! Think. We would not be called Entrepreneurs if we didn’t have this time. Every quarter, I try to set time aside to get away from the office and operations of the business, and sit somewhere off to myself, that helps me clear my mind of the hustle and bustle of everything, and let my entrepreneur side run free. On a nice warm day I may go to a park, or on a cold winter day, maybe home in front of the fireplace. It really helps to have this time regularly.
I’ve always been really creative and after 3 years of being cloistered, and then starting 2 companies, that side of my life suffered. You’re right, you really do need to set aside time to recharge that side of your personality. I recently read this book (I’m not affiliated in any way, so this isn’t spam, I just really love the book), and highly recommend Gail McMeekin’s The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: a Portable Mentor. I hope you like it as much as I do. 🙂
I don’t schedule my time to think creative. During my work I often provided creative solution to several problems. It’s happen many times. But when I am in stress, it doesn’t work for me. I spent 2 hours for travel daily. Sometimes I just closed my eyes and think about some problem. My mind wandering here and there, lots of ideas created. I took a solution from those ideas. I did this when i am in bed. Initially I have no ideas. But now I can able to provide many solutions to a single problem. I think positive dream can give more solution.
Ashley,
I applaud you for taking the time to schedule “down” time. It’s just not easy to get out of our routine and move away from our to do lists.
Jaylyn, thanks for the book recommendation. I will check it out.
Although my career is creative in focus, as an independent business owner there are so many tasks to accomplish that I can lack creative “space” Lately I have learned to embrace those times that I awaken in the middle of the night or twilight hours just after dawn. I frequently have creative insights that eluded me the day before. Often I even get up and sketch them or search my fabric sample room to find the solution. I return to bed and sleep well knowing that I’ve been receptive to new solutions.