Archimedes famously said that if you gave him a lever long enough, he could move the whole world. And in 250 B.C. he was in fact challenged by the king to prove his claim—and he pulled it off. One man with a system of levers and pulleys was able to relocate an entire ship—the largest transport ship of his time fully outfitted, including crew, from shipyard to sea. He was using the same tools anyone... read more ›
556 reads
Jul
03
Jun
26
Creativity is an intangible, yet essential part of our lives. It's a trait that can take us down unexplored paths, to make something out of nothing, and ultimately bring life to an idea or concept. As creative professionals, it's not only our job but also our passion to constantly seek out new and innovative ways of creating something meaningful. I recently sat down with Zack Arnold of the Optimize Yourself Podcast to talk about what... read more ›
478 reads
Jun
14
Steve Turner is a multidisciplinary musician who played in three of the Grunge genre's most iconic bands - Green River, MudHoney, and Monkey Wrench. While groups like Nirvana are more well-known today, he is largely credited for inspiring the artists behind them. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that this man helped birth and shape a universe of music that's now listened to around the world. That's a pretty big accomplishment. One that makes... read more ›
610 reads
May
01
I’m a self-taught photographer. I progressed in fits and starts and plenty of dead ends. Yet no one was telling me what to learn. I was following my curiosity- just trying to take photos I wanted. Successes helped me solidify new techniques, and failures gave me opportunities to figure out what I did wrong. But here’s the thing. If you want to be the noun, you need to do the verb. I wanted to be... read more ›
793 reads
Apr
24
Are some people just born creative, or is creativity something that can be learned? Check this out: in 1968, George Land developed a creativity test for NASA to help them select innovative engineers and scientists. He then used the same test to assess the creativity of 1,600 Head Start program kids, and tested them again at ages 10 and 15. The results? Among 5-year-olds, 98% showed high levels of creativity. But by age 15, that... read more ›
625 reads
Apr
17
The idea of a solo creator who goes off to a cabin in the woods for a month and returns with a finished masterpiece? Purely a mirage. We desperately need to connect with others: those with both similar and radically different influences and interests, those who love what we do, those who will give us honest feedback. We become more fully ourselves when we are in a community of other creators. Working alone can be... read more ›
578 reads
Apr
03
Growing up, we build up layer after layer after layer of protection to keep ourselves safe. Every time we say something weird in class and the other kids laugh at us or we get picked last for a team, every time we put ourselves out there and fall flat on our faces, another layer of scar tissue is added. Eventually our real selves, and everything that makes us worth knowing, are buried. The central relational... read more ›
764 reads
Mar
27
A little-known secret that shouldn’t be one: collaboration is the secret to creativity. It's not just about working with other people, it's about working with the *right* people. I look for collaborators outside my area of expertise, people who bring new kinds of expertise to the table. A designer, a developer, a retoucher—everyone contributes to the vision in a different way. This is how I stretch myself as an artist. The benefits of collaboration go... read more ›
826 reads
Feb
06
Getting personal and a little scientific here... Once our basic three needs are met (and often even when they're not), there exists within the human species a hard-wired desire to pursue happiness. For me, happiness has always been inextricably linked with creativity, the two enjoying a direct relationship. The happier I am, the more creative I am. Or more metaphysically speaking, the happier I am, the more open I am to inspiration and creativity. As... read more ›
4.4K reads
Feb
01
When it comes to creativity, James Victore has made his name known in a number of ways. The renowned designer is a thought leader in his discipline, using his provocative style to help people find clarity and purpose in their life and work. He lectures and teaches all around the world, inspiring thousands to discover their unique gifts and find success in the projects they love. James is also a published author, having written the... read more ›
1.3K reads