Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” What do you do when a brilliant idea hits you unexpectedly? We all know the feeling- that little creative jolt of inspiration… but it’s not always convenient to drop what you’re doing and immediately begin working on this fantastic new idea. And even if you could, would you want to rely... read more ›
516 reads
May
16
Jan
10
Nothing intimidates a writer more than a blank page. Yet, the tranquillity in the white space is what stimulates thinking. As a communicator and storyteller, isn't creativity all about contemplating filling up those white spaces with words? Margaret Atwood is an award-winning author whose work has been published in more than forty-five countries in multiple forms of creative expression, including graphic novels, TV series and films. Her latest novel, The Testaments, sequel to her award-winning... read more ›
700 reads
Jun
28
If maybe this is the first you've heard, I made a shoe. It's called The Creator and it's available in limited quantities now. The opportunity to collaborate with KSWISS was a dream come true. In this episode I talk with KSWISS President, Barney Waters, about the creative entrepreneur journey. I share a few insights including what it takes to build confidence, how we are curators and creators of our own lives, and the implications of... read more ›
277 reads
Jun
01
How do you break out of creative ruts? On today's episode I take a question from Aaron, who feels uninspired and unable to progress as a photographer. My answer, applicable to any problem or craft, comes in two separate parts. First, personal style: the number one challenge I see with portfolio reviews is a lack of a consistent theme and vision in the work. Developing a distinct personal style is the foundation of what this... read more ›
266 reads
Apr
05
This is the age old question ... How do you get hired to do work that you've never been paid to do before because you need experience. But to get that experience, you need to do the work. Here are a three ways to overcome this chicken & egg situation: Listen to the Podcast Get Involved The fastest way to learn is to get involved in the community. It can lead to new partnerships, new opportunities, and... read more ›
7.3K reads
Mar
29
A talented photographer I know recently shared with me a blow-by-blow account of how tough he was with a client who was over-noodling his vision for an advertising shoot. “In the middle of the shoot I told them where to put it,” he said, proudly. “I’m an artist and they hired me for my vision, so that’s what I was giving them. Period.” Period? He was bragging. I didn’t get it. Seemed like he’d been... read more ›
505 reads
Mar
22
As a professional creative--or even an aspiring amateur--it's standard protocol to have a portfolio. Whether it's posted online or neatly bound in a black leather book bearing your name, or both, the portfolio is meant to be a cohesive sample of your work. But why is the thing so damned precious? Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of having a portfolio. I understand it's a core convention of creative professions and that it... read more ›
928 reads
Feb
24
If you’ve ever doubted yourself or felt truly underestimated, this episode is for you. Jamie Kern Lima is a self-made entrepreneur, champion of women, philanthropist, keynote speaker and Co-founder of IT Cosmetics, a company she started in her living room and sold to L’Oreal for $1.2 Billion, becoming the first female CEO in L’Oreal’s 100+ year history. Her journey from growing her fledgling company from her living room to 1.2 Billion came with hard-won wisdom,... read more ›
355 reads
Feb
22
People ask me all the time if there's one thing that's changed my life the most, what is it? No question it's the ability to learn quickly...new skills whether they be for life, hobby, or career... Life long learning is quite literally what has created anything I would consider a classic "success" in my life. SO... In today's episode of #cjRAW I break down my own learning process into 3 clear, easily repeatable steps. And then I go... read more ›
11.7K reads
Jan
11
A lot of my breakthrough creative thoughts come to me when least expected. I've talked about "finding creativity" and "creative inspiration" all over the place... on podcasts like this and this (twice for example) or given a keynote on it here at SWSW. That said, I've also learned from an entire life in the trenches as an artist what DOESN'T contribute to them (abusing myself, bad head space, partying too much), but more importantly, what... read more ›
9.7K reads