If you reading this, there's a very good chance you are interested in exploring ways to spark innovation and creativity. If so, I invite you to click the link below and register for a FREE 5-day, online conference on AWAKENING CREATIVITY, beginning on Monday, September 27th. I will be one of the featured speakers. My presentation can be viewed all day on Wednesday, September 29th, starting at 12:00 pm EDT. There will be a total of 60 speakers and performers for what promises to be a very dynamic conference.

Click here to register

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:41 AM | Comments (0)

Stories can be told in many ways -- not just with words. Here is a great example of how it's done with public art in Springfield, Massachusetts. Storytelling is all about the art of communicating a message in a way that is inspiring, memorable, and meaningful. Mimi Ditkoff and her team of muralists are a great example of how this is done.

What medium can YOU use to tell a story that needs to be told?

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 05:07 AM | Comments (0)

Dear Ellen, Fran, Prentiss, Hugo, Patti, Greg, Patricia, Anita, Gera, Tucker, Sameer, Esra, Jawwad, Mehreen, Corrine, and Lana:

Greetings from the International Headquarters of the YEAR OF LIVING CREATIVELY -- my kitchen. What follows are the self-inquiry pages you had the option to reflect on during the two months of the course. Some of them you've worked with. Some you haven't. NOW, here they are all in one place in case you want to revisit ones you've already done or explore ones you never got to. And, at the bottom of the page are five BONUS pages -- ones you've never seen before. Oh boy!

NOTE: These self-inquiry pages are for your eyes only! Please do not forward this page to anyone. Thank you!

SELF INQUIRY PAGES

Frame Your Real Question
The Art of Self-Reflection
Follow Your Calling
Clarify Your Vision
You Are on a Hero's Journey
Make More Time to Create
The Practice of Creativity Is Like Gardening
The Wisdom of Beethoven
The Art of Asking for Help
Dreaming Big: Blue Sky Thinking
Four Great Videos on Creativity
On Giving and Receiving Feedback
Rumination: The Effects of Rumi's Poetry on the Creative Process
Putting the Moment Back in Momentum
The Wisdom of Frida Kahlo
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
Nurture or Fracture: The Dance of Creativity in a Relationship
Steve Jobs on What It Really Takes to Be Creative
Just Say Know: It's OK to Be Ignorant, But Only for a Little While
The Wisdom of Leonardo daVinci
The Wisdom of Elon Musk

BONUS PAGES

How to Change the Old Story You Keep Telling Yourself
The Wisdom of Albert Einstein
Take Some Risks
Overcoming Obstacles: Trick the Trickster
Get Out of the Box

ABOUT THE COURSE
Overview of The Year of Living Creativity course
More about the course

Big thanks to Hugo Hanson for the idea to put these all in one place!

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 07:45 PM | Comments (0)

Do you have an inspired idea or project you want to manifest, but... er... um... just can't seem to get things rolling? Chances are good your reasons why are on the list below. No problem. Join the club. Without beating yourself up, simply note the ones that are your Achilles heel, then try the simple "go beyond excuses" exercise at the end of the list. You're welcome.

1. I don't have the time.
2. I don't have the money.
3. I have neither the time nor the money
4. Coronavirus!
5. I've got too much on my plate right now

6. I'm just not feeling it
7. I'll feel crappy if I fail
8. I'm just not that organized
9. I'm juggling way too many projects
10. My moon is in Sagitarius

11. I'm not good at presenting my ideas
12. I don't have enough support
13. The Illuminati!
14. My customers aren't asking for it
15. I don't have any customers

16. I don't have an office/studio/desk
17. I'm an artist, not a business person
18. My day job takes all my time
19. I don't have the right equipment
20. What if I'm just kidding myself?

21. I've already got enough headaches
22. I don't need yet another thing to do
23. My home life will suffer
24. I'm not disciplined enough
25. It's an idea way ahead of its time

26. I don't have an assistant
27. I don't have enough information
28. Someone will probably steal my idea
29. It will take me way too long to get results
30. We're in a down economy

31. I don't like filling out paperwork
32. People will laugh at me
33. My significant other will think I'm crazy
34. I need to chill for a while
35. The concept is too disruptive

36. I have to take care of my parents
37. I don't tolerate ambiguity all that well
38. I have to walk the dog
39. Now is not a good time to start a new project
40. I don't have the right personality for this

41. I'm going through too many changes right now
42. Where do I even begin?
43. If I succeed, too much will be expected of me
44. My laptop's in the shop
45. Things are changing so fast, my head is spinning

46. I need a break
47. I don't have enough clout to get things done
48. It's just not worth the effort
49. I'm getting close to retirement
50. My other projects will suffer

51. Been there, done that
52. I don't want another thing to think about
53. I won't have any time left for my family
54. A more nimble competitor will beat me to the punch
55. I don't have the right collaborator

56. I've never done anything like this before
57. I probably won't make any money from this
58. I'm not as young as I used to be
59. I don't have the right credentials
60. I need more information

61. I can't find my wallet
62. It will be hard sustaining the motivation
63. I've tried before and failed
64. I'm not smart enough to pull this off
65. I don't want to go to any more meetings

66. It will take too long to get up to speed
67. I have to do my laundry
68. I don't know how to get the funding I need
69. Winter's coming
70. The marketplace is too volatile

71. This is a luxury I can't afford
72. I need to get my ducks in a row first
73. I don't have any ducks
74. I'm trying to simplify my life, not complicate it
75. The dog ate my homework

76. I don't like long lists like this
77. I have to pay the bills
78. I don't have the patience
79. What if this doesn't work?
80. I'm too right-brained for this sort of thing

81. I need to lose five pounds
82. I'm getting too old for this
83. Who am I kidding? It's a ridiculous idea.
84. I don't have a business plan
85. I don't have an instagram account

86. It's just not in the cards
87. What's that sound? Over there. By the refrigerator.
88. Market conditions aren't right
89. I need to focus on making some money first
90. My carbon footprint is too big

91. What I really need is a vacation
92. I don't have a marketing plan
93. Mercury is in retrograde.
94. Nostradamus didn't predict it
95. Maybe next year

96. Time for dinner
97. Project? What project?
98. I would if I could, but I can't, so I won't
99. I can't afford a lawyer
100.I just don't have the time

HOW TO GO BEYOND THESE LAME EXCUSES

1. Make a list of your most bothersome excuses.

2. Turn each excuse into a question, beginning with the words "How can I?" (For example, if your excuse is "I don't have the time", ask yourself "How can I make the time?")

3. Brainstorm each question -- alone and with a friend.

4. Try this. It's free

5. DO something about it within the next 48 hours.

Idea Champions
MitchDitkoff.com
What you get when you google "excuses"
ZoomStorming

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:53 AM | Comments (0)