Interested in the intersection of creativity and organization? Ever wondered how renowned creative professionals and organizations like Seth Godin, John Maeda, Apple and Disney harness the power of organization to fuel their creativity? Are you curious about how the 'Action Method' can simplify your management tasks? Dive in to explore how organizing your creativity can lead to a greater impact!

Making Ideas Happen

In the book "Poetics of Music", composer Igor Stravinsky famously said, "Whatever diminishes constraint diminishes strength." He believed that creativity flourishes within boundaries. This notion challenges the modern obsession with innovation and the idea that creativity and organization are mutually exclusive. In reality, combining these two traits can move society forward by actualizing remarkable ideas.

Take the 2007 Behance poll, which revealed that only 7% of creative professionals felt "very organized." Many of these professionals wore their disarray like a badge of honor, believing that chaos fuels creativity. Yet, organization is the driving force of productivity. Without it, great ideas often fail to materialize.

Creative leaders like Seth Godin and John Maeda, as well as companies like IDEO, Walker Digital, and Disney, understand this. They integrate organizational principles into their workflows to bring innovative ideas to life. Apple, for instance, topped the charts in supply chain management in 2008, underscoring that even a company known for its creativity values meticulous organization.

Consider the equation: Creativity multiplied by Organization equals Impact. James Patterson, the record-holder for New York Times Best Sellers, and Thomas Kinkade, the prolific "Painter of Light," exemplify this. Critics may deride their work as formulaic, but their organizational prowess has made them household names. Patterson, with his background as CEO of an ad agency, and Kinkade, with his streamlined production methods, show that structured creativity yields remarkable results.

Bob Greenberg of RGA is another example. Since 1977, he has used a meticulous system involving specific pens and notebooks to manage his daily tasks. His method, while obsessive, keeps him consistently productive. Similarly, Microsoft’s Gordon Bell archived every aspect of his life, liberating his brain from static data and boosting creativity.

The Action Method, a strategy for managing projects, simplifies this organizational approach. It breaks projects into three components: 
1. Action Steps (specific tasks), 
2. References (project-related materials), and 
3. Backburner Items (ideas for future consideration). 
By focusing on these elements, you can transform creative chaos into actionable outcomes.

For instance, during a brainstorming session, capturing and prioritizing Action Steps ensures ideas are followed through. Maintaining a Backburner for future ideas can lead to unexpected breakthroughs, like James Taylor’s hit song "Sweet Baby James," conceived during a long drive.

In the digital age, managing the influx of emails, messages, and other information is crucial. Avoid the trap of "reactionary work flow," where you spend your day merely reacting to incoming tasks. Instead, designate specific times for processing your in-box, turning ideas into actionable steps and sorting references efficiently.

By organizing your creativity, you can achieve a greater impact. Whether you’re inspired by Stravinsky’s disciplined approach or Patterson’s prolific output, remember that structure doesn’t stifle creativity—it empowers it.

Can Organization and Creativity Co-exist for Greater Impact?

Imagine juggling multiple projects, each pulling for your attention. Your energy is like a computer's RAM—finite and precious. Max Schorr from GOOD magazine found his team drowning in ideas but wasting energy. They needed a method to manage their enthusiasm and efforts. 

Enter the concept of the Energy Line, where projects are mapped from "Extreme" to "Idle" based on their importance, not time spent. This visual approach helps teams focus on high-impact tasks, ensuring valuable projects don't get overshadowed by less critical ones.

But life's urgent demands often derail long-term goals. Walker Digital, known for innovations like Priceline.com, combats this with compartmentalization and a culture of clarity. Half the team dreams up new ideas while the other half manages patented ones. Their secret? A shared respect for ideas and a disciplined approach to energy allocation.

Prioritization also means distinguishing urgent from important. Tips include maintaining two lists: one for urgent tasks and another for long-term goals. Create a daily "focus area" to highlight top priorities, and avoid hoarding urgent items—delegate them instead. Use tools like the Responsibility Grid to clearly define who handles what.

Creative teams often face "Creator’s Immediacy," the impulse to solve everything immediately. Yet, successful execution requires patience and a bias toward action. IDEO excels at this with rapid prototyping, allowing ideas to evolve through early action rather than endless debate. Embrace skepticism to kill unproductive ideas, as Walt Disney did with his three-room process of ideation, organization, and critical review.

Meetings often drain team energy. Productive teams plan meetings sparingly and ensure actionable outcomes. Consider standing meetings to keep discussions brief and focus on measurable results.

Execution thrives on progress. Seth Godin champions "shipping"—the act of releasing work despite fears. Combat the "lizard brain," which amplifies doubts, by committing to always ship. Persistence, like Jesse Rothstein's relentless follow-up, propels projects forward.

Constraints, paradoxically, fuel creativity. Michael Bierut's innovative sign for the New York Times arose from stringent design limitations. Seek constraints to channel your energy effectively.

Visual organization aids productivity. John Maeda at RISD uses his office walls to map out thoughts and projects, keeping goals in sight. Similarly, IDEO's project rooms are physical to-do lists, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

Beware of "Insecurity Work"—tasks that quell anxiety but don't advance projects. Label these habits, set guidelines, and delegate where possible to free up creative energy.

In essence, making ideas happen requires smart energy management, clear prioritization, and relentless execution. Whether through visual tools, structured environments, or disciplined routines, the goal is to focus on what truly matters and keep moving the ball forward.

Mastering the Art of Productivity: Lessons from GOOD, Walker Digital, IDEO, and More

Ideas don’t thrive in isolation; they flourish through community engagement. Your ability to organize and execute is just one part of the equation. The input and collaboration of others turn ideas into reality. This engagement holds you accountable, refines your concepts, and shares the burden of execution. 

The community includes your team, mentors, clients, collaborators, friends, and family. Identifying and proactively engaging this diverse group is crucial for your success. Your community serves as a feedback mechanism, helps you stay nimble, and provides the platform for your ideas to thrive.

Creative individuals typically fall into one of three categories: Dreamers, Doers, and Incrementalists. Dreamers, like Frank the carpenter, generate endless ideas but struggle to complete projects. Doers focus on execution and logistics, ensuring ideas are actionable. Incrementalists balance both dreaming and doing, often leading multiple projects simultaneously but risking spreading themselves too thin.

Successful partnerships often involve a blend of these types, leveraging complementary strengths. For instance, Threadless co-founders Jeffrey Kalmikoff (a Dreamer) and Jake Nickell (a Doer) created a thriving business by balancing idea generation with focused execution.

Sharing ideas openly, despite the instinct to keep them secret, invites community engagement, which is instrumental in refining and realizing those ideas. Chris Anderson of Wired magazine exemplifies this by using his blog to refine concepts based on community feedback, turning ideas into well-received books.

Feedback is a vital tool for improvement. It provides a reality check, refines ideas, and fosters relationships with colleagues and clients. 

Similarly, Transparency boosts the exchange of ideas and feedback. Tony Hsieh of Zappos uses Twitter to maintain openness, which strengthens relationships and accountability. Sharing your progress publicly, like photographer Parris Whittingham did, can lead to unexpected collaborations and recognition.

Accountability can be further enhanced through circles—small groups that meet regularly to share progress and provide mutual support. The Impressionist painters and business groups like the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) demonstrate the power of such circles in driving creative and professional success.

Competition can be a powerful motivator. Noah Kalina’s viral “Everyday” project, where he took a self-portrait daily for years, was catalyzed by seeing a similar project by another photographer. Competition pushed him to present his work to the world, leading to widespread recognition.

Commitment is key to gaining community support. When you publicly commit to an idea, as seen with Rebecca the aspiring jewelry designer, you demonstrate seriousness, encouraging others to support you.

Accountability systems, such as coworking spaces, provide a structured yet flexible work environment that fosters focus and productivity. The coworking movement illustrates how shared workspaces can lead to job opportunities, feedback, and increased creative output.

Serendipity often plays a role in creative breakthroughs. Working in diverse environments and embracing mistakes can lead to unexpected insights and innovations, as seen in the accidental discoveries that led to the microwave oven and Post-it notes.

In short, leveraging the power of community, sharing ideas and feedback, embracing competition, committing to your projects, creating accountability systems, and seeking serendipity are all crucial for turning ideas into reality.

Can Community Engagement be the Secret to Your Creative Success?

Ideas rarely thrive in isolation; they need communal forces and feedback to gain traction. Consider the Washington Post's 2007 experiment with Joshua Bell, a world-renowned violinist who played incognito at a D.C. Metro station. Commuters, unaware of his identity, largely ignored his performance, highlighting how crucial context and marketing are.

Sara Horowitz, founder of the Freelancers Union, emphasizes that freelancers must spend half their time marketing themselves to avoid client droughts. Honest self-promotion is necessary, but it often carries a stigma. Effective marketing builds relationships and respect, not just visibility.

Take Noah Brier, a marketing strategist who created popular projects like Brand Tags and Likemind. His blog and networking events, although not directly profitable, established his reputation and led to significant career opportunities.

To market yourself effectively, identify your unique strengths and develop a communication strategy that highlights these attributes. Engage with diverse audiences by tuning into their needs without compromising your authenticity. This approach, akin to adjusting a radio frequency, helps you connect meaningfully across different groups.

Grounding your ideas outside your immediate community is essential. Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm" explains that early adopters alone can't sustain new ventures. Engage a broader audience, including skeptics, to refine and validate your ideas.

Finally, transitioning from a solo act to leading a team requires sharing ownership and fostering a collaborative environment. By involving others and focusing on what only you can do, you can scale your endeavors successfully. Respect-based self-marketing and strategic engagement can turn isolated ideas into impactful realities.

Mastering the Art of Respect-Based Self-Marketing: Lessons from Joshua Bell and Freelancers Union

In the creative world, the magic of ideas often falters without effective leadership. Misaligned incentives, poor team chemistry, and inconsistent management plague creative projects. The journey to successful leadership is experiential, demanding self-awareness and a willingness to learn from failures.

One fascinating approach to leadership involves re-engineering traditional reward systems. A long-term vision isn't sufficient alone; leaders need to keep themselves and their teams motivated through incremental rewards. Ji Lee, a creative director at Google, exemplifies this. By integrating fun and gamification into his projects, like the Bubble Project, he keeps both himself and his team engaged.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh offers another intriguing perspective, using happiness as a currency. Zappos thrives on a culture that prioritizes employee contentment over traditional financial incentives. This approach fosters a deeply committed workforce that excels in customer service.

Recognition also plays a pivotal role in team dynamics. Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus, for instance, emphasizes "we, not me," ensuring that his team gets the credit they deserve. This collective recognition can drive a team to greater heights than individual accolades ever could.

Chemistry in a team, another critical element, involves more than just hiring for skills. Diego Rodriguez from IDEO talks about the "T" people—those with a breadth of experience and depth in one area—creating a balanced and effective team. Flexibility in work environments, like the ROWE (Results Only Work Environment) initiative at Best Buy, further enhances productivity by respecting employee autonomy and focusing on output rather than hours worked.

In managing ideas, it's crucial to balance creativity with execution. Teams need a strong immune system to filter out bad ideas while nurturing good ones. Skeptics, often undervalued, play a vital role here by questioning and refining ideas without stifling creativity.

Conflict, often seen as a negative, can be a powerful tool for progress. Engaging in healthy debates can uncover the best solutions and combat apathy. Leaders should foster an environment where diverse viewpoints are explored and consensus doesn’t lead to mediocrity.

Sharing ownership of ideas is another hallmark of great leadership. Chris Anderson of Wired magazine and Peter Rojas of Engadget advocate for empowering team members to take ownership, which fosters a deeper commitment to the project.

Lastly, the power of appreciation in feedback cannot be overstated. Storyteller Jay O'Callahan’s method of focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses can lead to organic improvement and a more positive team dynamic. Identifying and nurturing "hot spots" or socially powerful individuals within an organization can also drive lasting change.

Leading creative teams is about more than just managing tasks; it's about inspiring and empowering others to take ownership, fostering a culture of recognition, and leveraging the strengths and chemistry of the team. This holistic approach can turn visionary ideas into reality.

Can Rewriting Traditional Leadership and Reward Systems Revolutionize Creative Team Dynamics?

The trickiest leader to manage is yourself. “Self-leadership” may not often cross our minds, but it’s critical. How do we conquer our biggest obstacle—ourselves? Creative leaders often find their greatest barriers are personal fears and insecurities. Ji Lee from Google Creative Lab emphasizes understanding emotions. In group therapy, he learned to express raw emotions, leading to a deeper self-awareness.

Consider the leader who faced a new, aggressive competitor. Instead of reacting rashly, she stayed patient, letting her well-thought-out strategy shine. This tolerance for ambiguity is a hallmark of great leadership. Rob Kaplan of Goldman Sachs taught that justice prevails over time, not instantly. Leaders must endure periods of ambiguity and injustice with patience and fortitude.

Failures are rich with lessons. Reflect on what external and internal factors contributed to a project's demise. Director Francis Coppola reminds us that art often comes from accidents. Embrace these unintended outcomes.

Beware of “visionary’s narcissism,” the belief that your challenge is unique. History, from the tulip craze to the dot-com bubble, teaches us otherwise. Creative leaders must balance learning from the past and challenging conventional wisdom. Contrarianism, or thinking against the grain, can unlock better approaches.

Entrepreneurial spirit is crucial. Andrew Weinreich, creator of SixDegrees.com, believes in jumping in without all the answers and staying in the game. Persistence and momentum, even in the face of repeated setbacks, are key.

Adopt a deviant mindset. Many successful creatives took unconventional paths, often facing skepticism and doubt. Society celebrates creative success but often shuns the process. Gaining confidence from doubt can drive you forward.

Keep an eye on the backward clock—time is finite. Use it wisely to push your ideas. Jason Randal, a master of many trades, attributes his success to a deep love for learning. His passion, not ambitions or rewards, fuels his relentless pursuit of mastery.

Lastly, remember the responsibility that comes with creativity. Every breakthrough, from novels to new businesses, requires immense effort. The world benefits from your ideas, so take your creative pursuits seriously. Embrace the journey with resilience and passion, knowing you’re not alone in facing adversity. Your creativity can make a lasting impact.

Unlocking the Secrets of Self-Leadership: Insights from Google, Goldman Sachs, and Renowned Creatives

Creativity thrives within boundaries. Embracing constraints can enhance rather than diminish creative strength, challenging the notion that chaos fuels innovation. Organization is essential for productivity and actualizing ideas. 

Despite many creative professionals embracing disarray, structured approaches lead to impactful outcomes. Leaders like Seth Godin and companies like Apple integrate organizational principles to bring ideas to life.

The Action Method simplifies project management by breaking tasks into actionable steps, references, and future considerations. Avoiding a reactionary workflow and managing digital information influx are crucial for maintaining productivity. Visual organization and prioritizing high-impact tasks ensure valuable projects don't get overshadowed.

Community engagement and feedback are vital for refining and realizing ideas. Balancing dreamers, doers, and incrementalists within teams can leverage complementary strengths. Sharing ideas openly and embracing competition and serendipity can lead to unexpected innovations. Accountability systems and structured environments foster focus and productivity.

Effective leadership in creative teams involves re-engineering reward systems, emphasizing team recognition, and fostering team chemistry. Managing conflict constructively and sharing ownership of ideas are essential. 

Self-leadership, emotional understanding, tolerance for ambiguity, and learning from failures are crucial for personal growth and effective leadership. Embracing contrarianism, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deviant mindset can drive creative success. 

Ultimately, creativity requires resilience, passion, and a commitment to making a lasting impact.

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Making Ideas Happen

Scott Belsky

7 Key ideas

19 MINS

4.7 (2.1k)

Interested in the intersection of creativity and organization?

Ever wondered how renowned creative professionals and organizations like Seth Godin, John Maeda, Apple and Disney harness the power of organization to fuel their creativity?

Are you curious about how the 'Action Method' can simplify your management tasks?

Dive in to explore how organizing your creativity can lead to a greater impact!