Some Would-be Travellers

In writing this programme we have studied the approaches of numerous actors, writers, artists and musicians (both famous and those with more modest, local successes).

In doing this we have identified what makes these people successful and we have used this learning to formulate some unique creative coaching concepts and insights.

Remember this: We can increase our chances of success by learning from those that have gone before.

What did we learn?

Many of the creative people who have studied knew the following things at the time of their accomplishment:

• They knew the purpose of their creativity and had a compelling vision of how it would benefit their lives

• They knew the rules of the road

• They knew the importance of today

• They knew how to take the first step

What is the effect of any of these missing elements?

We know that to coach ourselves to increasing creativity we need to combine planning and dreaming with doing and moving on, easy to say but harder to do.

How well do you do? If you are struggling tyo achieve all you want creativitely then you might recognise yourself in one of the archetypical characters that fall along the wayside...

Meet Some Would-Be Tarvellers

The Dreamer

The individual who doesn’t know the importance of today.

Dreamers tend to under-estimate the discipline required to see their dreams accomplished, or else see the doing as a last priority when compared to life’s other temptations.

These people never have time to work on their own creative projects but they have already planned the canapés at the reception of the opening of their first photography exhibition. One day they will buy a camera.

The Perfectionist

The perfectionist doesn’t know how to take the next step.

Perfectionists have been known to procrastinate when it's time to start. They are unable to see the draft as a draft and so they are unable to move on until they have reached perfection with the pilot. They know discipline, but not the discipline of moving on without finishing it to the very best of their ability.

They are certain that they have a great idea for a novel and if they can just get the opening lines right the rest will just flow right out.

The Dilettante.

The dilettante doesn’t really have a compelling ‘calling’

or a sense of how being more creative will benefit his or her life. These people are great at starting but their energy seems to fizzles out and their enthusiasm wanes.

For the dilettante, each new day brings a new opportunity to start a new thing, each more exciting and important than the last. These people would have been pianists if the trumpet lessons hadn’t got in the way.

The Critic.

Critics don’t know all the rules of the road.

They often have great energy and a sense of great purpose that soon turns to anxiety, frustration and self-doubt.

These people would have followed their creative dream already if someone hadn’t already done it better. They often tell themselves it would be egotistical to be creative.

Sound familiar?

Sometimes it is easy to self-diagnose. You spot the description and immediately a blind-spot is exposed and is no longer a blind spot at all.

At other times we see ourselves and decide that the best way forward is more of the same. Harder, stronger, more, more, more. On these occasions the thing that holds us back, the limiting belief, is more firmly embedded in our world view and it is not seen as a blind spot, but a truth.