The official letter from The Innovation Doctor. Your weekly prescription of practical creativity to get your ideas unstuck.
🎙️ Are you waiting for the perfect notebook?
|
Hey Reader, I recently started a 28-day sketchbook challenge, and immediately hit a wall that had nothing to do with drawing. It was a powerful reminder of how we can get in our own way. More in this week's lab notes. Dear Creativity, I started a tiny sketchbook challenge this month—just 10 minutes of drawing a day. But before I even began, the multipassionate perfectionism set in. Which notebook should I use? Should I buy something new? The love of new supplies, the desire for the perfect setup, put a hold on something that was meant to be simple and joyful. Once I finally let go, grabbed a notebook I already had, and just started... everything changed. I take 10-minute breaks all the time. Why not a creative break, too? It’s a simple shift, but it feels profound. Instead of waiting for a big block of inspiration, I’m learning to schedule a small rendezvous with you, Creativity, throughout the day. The possibilities are endless. I just have to be willing to commit and show up, imperfectly and all. What if the creative life we want isn't found in a grand plan, but in a simple, 10-minute "yes" today? Innovatively yours, “From the Studio” is where The Innovation Doctor shares her weekly lab notes. The call-in lines are always open. If you have a question or a story for the Doctor, you can leave a message for her right here. |
The Doctor Is in // Lab Notes From the Studio
The official letter from The Innovation Doctor. Your weekly prescription of practical creativity to get your ideas unstuck.
Hey Reader, I just wrapped up teaching a two-week class. It was my third time running it, and while almost the entire curriculum evolved, one cherished activity stayed the same. More in this week’s lab notes from the studio. Data mapping activity from my Data Story Design for Influence course Dear Creativity, Every time I run this class, you show up through my students' hands the moment I take away the easy answers. The assignment is simple in structure, but demanding in practice: each team...
Hey Reader, There's a singing bowl that sits on my desk. I look at it every day, but only play it when the spirit moves me. The other day, something different happened. More in this week's lab notes. A view from my desk. Look right toward the singing bowl. Dear Creativity, I remember the day I bought this singing bowl. The seller explained that to make the tone last, you have to be completely relaxed. For a long time, I struggled. My notes were always short-lived. Then, the other day, it...
Hey Reader, I went to see Phantom of the Opera for what must be the fifth time, expecting a nice afternoon but no real surprises. I should have known better. This week's lab notes are about what happened next. One more to add to the collection of playbills (Broadway San Jose -Phantom of the Opera) Dear Creativity, On my way into the theater, I was carrying all the usual static of the world—annoyance at the woman who tapped my bumper in the parking garage, the frantic rush to get to our seats....