The Corporate Creative

I’m sure many of us believe ourselves to be creative but what are we doing to express it?

Here I am talking about creativity that feeds the soul.

Many of us are hired to be creative in the corporate context. We find solutions to tough organisational problems. We structure deals, draft agreements, work with numbers and software code. We teach or review the creative work of others.

That’s all perfectly fine. Work is work, and work can involve creativity.

But is there a creative inner self suffering neglect?

A version of you that wants to play music, sing, act, cook, bake, design, write, orate, make stuff or pursue countless other creative pursuits?

Did they make a flash appearance during the pandemic lockdowns only to retreat when we resumed our new normal?

That’s the version of you I want to talk to.

I’ve recently finished my second manuscript which took 3.5 years to write. I paced myself to write comfortably alongside other commitments. Moreover, I write out of passion and prefer to do so without pressure. 

While the book is not yet ready to share with the world, I’m hugely relieved knowing the hardest part is over. I began wondering how many other creative works are waiting to be birthed but won’t survive the perceived conflict with corporate life? When our financial needs and esteem are met by corporate jobs, nurturing creativity might seem optional, deferrable, selfish or whatever word excuse suits one’s context. However, those incubating unexpressed art know that failing to prioritise this will result in resentment. You’ll consider changing jobs, forgetting that the most important change is rather to make room to be your creative self. You’re responsible for making that happen, not your employer.

I’m excited for all of us Corporate Creatives to revitalise dormant dreams and just execute. What a pity and waste it would be to do for others (our bosses, clients etc) what we fail to do for ourselves.

I’ll share a 5-part weekly series as a short dose of encouragement. I’ll talk about:

1. Re-discovering creativity - I never lost it but I did neglect it. 

2. Setting the right pace - how to fit in time for creative work.

3. Feedback loops - inviting input from others early and frequently.

4. Staying committed - it might take weeks, months or years. Don’t give up!

5. Setting expectations - what should result from the experience?

I’m sharing my experience in the context of writing a book but I hope it will resonate for any creative project or hobby you would like to embark on.

I’m curious to know what you’ve been itching to create but haven’t done yet?

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