Want to be Creative? Guard Your Happiness

I was reading a discussion with designer Allison House (www.carsonified.com), on her methods for staying up-to-date when designing for rapidly evolving technologies.  At one point she made the simple comment, “guard your happiness carefully.”

I must confess that, historically, my very best work always seemed to require the least effort to produce.  Even when these projects took a great deal of physical time, they did not feel like “work” while I was doing them.  Ideas flowed quickly, time seemed to evaporate, and my productivity soared.  Now I realize why those projects seemed so easy:  My motivation was fueled by happiness and self-efficacy.

I’ll openly admit that I’m addicted to the emotional rush of a project coming together just as I envisioned. At those moments, I have to suppress a Victor-Frankenstein-like desire to shout out, “It’s Alive!”  (I’ve been told that type of behavior is generally frowned upon at the office.)   So why does one project make me feel as if I am ten-feet-tall-and-bulletproof, while others seem so tedious I can barely bring myself to look at the files?  

The answer probably has nothing to do with the project itself, but with my state of mind at that moment.  Am I overwhelmed from weeks of juggling multiple jobs? Is there a poisonous co-worker bringing down the team?  Am I afraid to start because I’m still uncertain what I’m supposed to be building?  In all these instances, I now realize that my lack of motivation can be traced straight back to one thing: unhappiness.

Therefore, thanks to Ms. House, the next time it seems as if laboring through a project, I’m going to recognize that feeling as a valuable signal.  Simply being aware of the need to “guard my happiness” may help me control my reaction to negative influences in my life, increasing my motivation and creativity.



Sketchnote Junkie

Ever since I was in elementary school, I have doodled. But unlike the swirls, circles and cartoons that filled the binders and book margins of my friends, my doodles almost always incorporated words. I was studying for a High School American History exam when I suddenly realized I could remember many more details from a particular class lecture when that day's notes were filled with small pictures and illustrated words. Looking back, I recognize that was the moment I became a Sketchnote Junkie. 

Sketchnotes, or visual note taking, lets you combine images and words to better comprehend and recall complex, frequently non-linear, concepts and ideas.  I find that taking Sketchnotes during seminars and meetings actually improves my focus and attention, and I am frequently able to recall details from specific presentations months later.   

Recently, I was asked to create Sketchnotes for the BigDesign Conference in Dallas, Texas. During the event, I noticed that many people sitting nearby were watching me intently as I drew, and many actually asked to see my notes during breaks.  My particular technique is to fit all the notes from a single meeting or seminar onto a single page, within a perfect rectangle.  Here is a shot of my notes for Josh Clark's presentation. 

If you want to learn more about SketchNotes, there are many resources at your disposal.  Mike Rohde's Sketchnote Army (www.sketchnotearmy.com)  is a site dedicated to showcasing sketchnotes from around the world.  There are hundreds of styles, and the variety displayed on his site is amazing.  In addition, simply running a quick Google search on the term "sketchnotes" will uncover a wealth of information.

And don't forget to evangelize Sketchnotes when you are in the office. That way, your boss won't view your constant doodling as a sign you forgot your ADD meds that morning.  Instead, they will recognize your activity as a "cutting-edge, cognitive exercise to improve retention of complex ideas."