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Lyssna när som helst, var som helst

Todd Henry

Formerly The Accidental Creative.
Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love.  Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story. 

Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation. 

It's time to fall back in love with your work.

Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.

Daily Creative with Todd Henry

In this episode of Daily Creative, we share insights from my recent (grueling, yet rewarding) speaking tour across the United States, where I delivered nine keynote presentations in just 14 days. My travel provided me with valuable lessons and inspiration, captured as quick sketches and observations in my notebook. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain to discuss two powerful moments from my recent travels that challenged my thinking and revealed profound insights about creativity and leadership.

The first moment comes from a Q&A session following a keynote about The Brave Habit. A client's story about teaching his daughter the importance of bravery and wise decision-making led to an insightful takeaway on agency and optimism. The story of a man repeatedly falling into a hole but eventually deciding to take a different street, inspired us to consider how often we fail to fill the holes in our lives and how an optimistic vision and a sense of agency can prevent repeated mistakes.

The second moment of discovery happened unexpectedly during an Uber ride in Houston. Despite exhaustion, a casual conversation with my driver unearthed his aspiration to write. This experience reminded me that meaningful contributions often occur in small, seemingly insignificant moments. Sometimes, our impact on others happens in private, when we choose to be present.

Key Learnings from the Episode:

 • Documenting meaningful moments and insights during travels can fuel inspiration and creativity.
 • Bravery often requires an optimistic vision and a sense of agency to embrace challenges and prevent repeated mistakes.
 • Small, everyday interactions can lead to significant inspiration and encouragement for others.
 • Consistency over perfection is vital in achieving creative goals, such as writing a book.
 • Embracing little moments of engagement can enrich our body of work and contribute to the greater good.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Two Moments

In this episode of Daily Creative we are joined by Jenny Wood, author of Wild Courage and former executive at Google. We delve into the concept of mediocrity and how many bright creatives can inadvertently settle for less due to fear and external pressures. Jenny shares her transformative subway moment that led her to embrace "wild courage" and how she has applied this principle to various aspects of her life and work. We discuss the importance of taking action despite fears, and Jenny introduces us to her unique approach to courage, highlighting traits such as being "healthily manipulative" to enhance influence and success.

Jenny also explains the idea of "woo with you," a technique to build relationships through empathy and valuing others, while staying rooted in ethical practices. We explore how courage isn't about eliminating fear, but progressing despite it, focusing on subtle yet determined actions that lead to significant change. Jenny emphasizes rejecting imposter syndrome and owning one's strengths proudly. Her book, Wild Courage, encourages readers to pursue their goals with deliberate, courageous steps that defy conventional expectations.

Key learnings from this episode:

 1. Mediocrity often happens in small increments of settling, driven by fear disguised as wisdom.
 2. Wild courage involves taking calculated risks and acting even when fear is present.
 3. Influence can be cultivated through empathy and valuing others, embracing a mindset of healthy manipulation.
 4. True courage isn't about bravado; it's small, consistent progress toward meaningful goals.
 5. Embracing one's strengths and rejecting imposter syndrome is crucial for professional and personal growth.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Wild Courage

In this episode of Daily Creative, we delve into the concept of "Strategic Indifference," a powerful approach to leadership and creativity. We share insights on how Steve Jobs exemplified this concept when he returned to Apple in 1997 and made bold decisions that transformed the company. The episode explores the difference between prioritization and strategic indifference, highlighting the courage it takes to purposely ignore certain tasks, even when they appear important, to concentrate on what truly matters.

We discuss the art of not caring as a superpower, understanding the importance of timing, and how strategic indifference empowers teams to thrive. Additionally, we explain the paradox of priorities, emphasizing that sometimes, saying no to good things is necessary to achieve great things. The episode closes by asking listeners to identify their most important initiative and consider what they can let slide temporarily to focus on achieving long-term value.

Five key learnings from the episode:

 1. Strategic indifference involves deliberately choosing to ignore certain tasks to concentrate on achieving critical objectives.
 2. This approach requires courage and a clear vision, often involving letting go of seemingly essential opportunities.
 3. Timing and context are crucial in applying strategic indifference effectively; choosing the right moment can yield significant results.
 4. Empowering teams through strategic indifference enhances their independence and capability while enabling focused tactical execution.
 5. Prioritizing one or two critical challenges can drive immediate progress and pave the way for long-term growth.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

The Magical Power of Strategic Indifference

In today’s episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the crucial distinction between being a collector and a curator in the digital age. With endless streams of information bombarding us daily, it’s easy to fall into the trap of hoarding inspiration—saving articles, quotes, and ideas without ever transforming them into something meaningful. We explore how true creativity is about making the complicated simple and turning endless noise into valuable insight.

We walk through a practical, three-step framework to move from information overload to actionable insight: casting a wide net, curating what matters, and ruthlessly eliminating the rest. By asking ourselves key questions—what is this really, why does it matter to me, and what can I create with it—we can ensure that our collections fuel creativity and purposeful work instead of stifling it. Plus, we share tips for establishing regular curation sessions so these ideas don’t gather digital dust.

If you’re ready to stop drowning in information and start producing more focused, meaningful creative work, this episode is for you.

Five Key Learnings:

Collecting vs. Curating: 1. Collecting is about amassing information; curating is about making sense of it, connecting ideas, and generating insight.
The Three Questions: 2. Always ask, “What is this really?”, “Why does it matter to me?”, and “What can I create with this?” to turn stimulus into creative fuel.
Ruthless Elimination: 3. Don’t be afraid to let go of anything that doesn’t serve a clear purpose or add value—quality trumps quantity.
Regular Curation is Essential: 4. Scheduling time to review, connect, and synthesize ideas is the difference-maker for ongoing creative productivity.
Focus on Impact: 5. It’s not about the size of your information repository, but what you do with it—what you create is what counts.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Get free weekly articles by email to help you do your best work at BraveFocusedBrilliant.com.

Are You a Collector, Or a Curator?

In this episode we revisit Todd's powerful talk delivered at Schermerhorn Symphony Hall in Nashville, TN for the Story Conference. Todd discusses the importance of shunning comfort zones, overcoming fear, and identifying your productive passion to ensure we empty ourselves of our best work by the end of our lives.

He also delves into practical questions to help you discover your own productive passion and emphasizes the importance of fighting the right creative battles. With engaging anecdotes and suggestions, this episode is a call to action: define your principles, take bold steps, and strive to put your best work into the world, ensuring you live and ultimately, die empty.

Key Learnings:

Embrace Innovation Despite Resistance: 1. New and dangerous ideas often face strong opposition, but persevering is key to bringing transformative work into the world.
Avoid the Comfort Trap: 2. External validation can lead to complacency. Strive to continuously challenge yourself and push beyond your comfort zone.
Overcome Fear: 3. Fear often disguises itself as wisdom, preventing action. Recognize and confront your fears to unlock new opportunities.
Identify Your Productive Passion: 4. Discover what you're willing to suffer for—this dedicated pursuit helps navigate the forces of comfort and fear.
Live Purposefully to Die Empty: 5. Ensure you don't take your best work to the grave. Live each day with intention, contributing your unique gifts to the world.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Why Productive Passion Is Your Advantage (keynote)

Show Notes: Daily Creative - "So Emotional"

In this episode of Daily Creative, we explore the profound impact of emotion in our creative processes. We begin with a captivating story about Walt Disney and how his emotional response to rundown amusement parks sparked the creation of Disneyland—revolutionizing family entertainment forever.

We sit down with Greg Hoffman, former Chief Marketing Officer of Nike and author of "Emotion by Design," to delve into the power of creativity and emotion in brand building. Greg shares insights from nearly three decades at Nike, emphasizing that the most successful brands are those that form deep emotional connections with their audiences. He highlights the essential balance between analytical precision and the ineffable qualities of art, urging brands to respect the craft of storytelling rather than just producing content for distribution.

We also dive into a memorable story featuring legendary basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K), and how his advice to Nike’s marketing team parallels the creative journey—seeing what others don’t and transforming deep insights into iconic work. Greg discusses fostering a culture of risk-taking and empathy, which is vital in generating innovative and emotionally resonant work.

Five Key Learnings from This Episode:

Emotional Connection is Key: 1. Emotional responses to everyday problems can lead to groundbreaking solutions and innovations.
Balancing Art and Science: 2. Effective brand building requires a balance between analytical strategies and creative, human-centric storytelling.
Empathy as a Starting Point: 3. Successful creativity often begins with empathy, unpacking layers beyond simple observations to deeply understand the audience's needs.
Encouraging Risk-Taking: 4. Incentivizing risk-taking within your team can lead to more innovative and emotionally engaging outcomes.
Vision Advantage: 5. Developing a unique vision allows creatives to see opportunities others might miss, turning potential failures into compelling successes.

Get full interviews and daily episodes in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

So Emotional

In this episode, we explore the importance of the narratives we surround ourselves with, as highlighted by our guest, Gabriel Reilich, the head of content and innovation at Upworthy and author of the book Good People. Gabriel discusses the profound effects of uplifting stories and how they can reshape our perceptions and empower us to engage more positively with the world around us.

We discuss George Gerbner's "Mean World Syndrome" theory and its modern-day implications, emphasizing the need to consciously balance our media consumption. Positive stories are not just feel-good content; they can fundamentally alter our outlook, creativity, and leadership.

Join us as we uncover the power of good thinking and positive storytelling to inspire better leadership, creativity, and a kinder world.

Key Learnings from the Episode:

The Power of Humility and Generosity: 1. Dale Schroeder's life teaches us that extraordinary impact comes from focused intention, modest living, and generous actions.
Media Influence on Perception: 2. George Gerbner's theory of "Mean World Syndrome" highlights how media consumption can distort our view of reality and affect our creativity and leadership abilities.
Ripple Effect of Kindness: 3. Positive actions and stories can create far-reaching impacts, benefiting many individuals beyond the initial act.
Mindful Media Consumption: 4. Being intentional about the stories and media we consume can help maintain a more hopeful and accurate perspective of the world.
Everyday Interactions Matter: 5. Seemingly small acts of kindness can have profound effects on others, offering solace and support during challenging times.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Good Thinking

In this episode we explore the importance of remaining open to unexpected detours and serendipitous moments in our creative and personal lives.

Our guest, Bernadette Jiwa, a recognized authority on storytelling in business innovation and the author of the book Hunch, offers deep insights into how curiosity, empathy, and imagination are vital traits for spotting transformative opportunities. Jiwa explains the crucial difference between ideas and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of addressing real problems rather than merely generating ideas.

We explore the concept that sometimes our objectives and goals can act as blinders, preventing us from recognizing valuable peripheral discoveries. Jiwa shares practical strategies for developing better awareness and tapping into serendipity, fostering the kind of curiosity and attention that can lead to breakthrough innovations.

Throughout the episode, Jiwa provides examples of how successful entrepreneurs have turned seemingly mundane observations into impactful solutions, reinforcing the value of remaining curious and empathetic in our pursuits.

Key Learnings:

Unexpected Discoveries: 1. Often, the most significant breakthroughs come from being open to accidents and unexpected findings, as demonstrated by Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin.
Curiosity, Empathy, Imagination: 2. These three qualities are common traits among individuals who consistently generate great ideas and can be cultivated by anyone.
Opportunities vs. Ideas: 3. True innovation addresses opportunities (problems begging for solutions) rather than just coming up with ideas.
The Limitation of Objectives: 4. Strict adherence to goals can limit our ability to see valuable opportunities in our surroundings.
The Power of Noticing: 5. Paying attention to the world around us, asking pertinent questions, and listening to our environment can lead to significant insights and innovations.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

Hunch

In this episode, we explore the nature of taking a stand.

Our guest, Dr. Sunita Sah (author of Defy), a professor at Cornell University and an organizational psychologist, joins us to delve deep into the concept of defiance. Dr. Sah proposes a new definition of defiance—acting in alignment with your true values when there is pressure to do otherwise. She reveals insights from her research that suggests most of us are conditioned from an early age to comply and how this conditioning affects our ability to act on our values.

We also discuss the five stages of defiance that individuals go through as they act according to their principles. Dr. Sah emphasizes the importance of explicitly knowing and writing down our values to ensure that our actions align with them. 

Key Learnings:

Defiance Redefined 1. : Defiance is not about rebellion but about acting in alignment with your true values, despite external pressures.
Conditioned Compliance 2. : From a young age, we are conditioned to comply and this affects our ability to act in alignment with our values.
Insinuation Anxiety 3. : We often hesitate to speak up or correct others because we fear insinuating that they are wrong or unethical.
Stages of Defiance 4. : The five stages—tension, acknowledgment, escalation, threat of non-compliance, and act of defiance—help us understand the process of standing up to pressure.
Value Clarity 5. : Knowing and explicitly writing down our values can help reduce stress and align our actions with our principles.

Get full interviews, daily episodes, and more at DailyCreative.app.

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Defy

In today's episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the subtle yet powerful dynamics that can undermine our creative potential. Imagine you're driving down a familiar road, and your car begins to pull to one side, requiring constant correction just to stay on track. This metaphor perfectly encapsulates how certain hidden forces can slowly erode our creative output and lead us astray from our best work. These stealthy saboteurs are what we call the "Assassins of Creativity".

We'll explore how these assassins—Dissonance, Fear, and Expectation Escalation—work quietly behind the scenes to hinder our productivity and innovation. Through a recent keynote from Todd Henry, we break down these assassins and provide actionable insights on how to counteract them. From aligning tactics with strategy and purpose, to taking calculated risks in the face of fear, and managing expectations to maintain creative white space, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on sustaining creative excellence.

Five Key Learnings from this Episode:

Dissonance 1. - A gap between what we are doing and why we are doing it can create tension and zap our creative energy.
Fear 2. - When the perceived consequences of failure outweigh the perceived benefits of success, it prevents us from taking necessary creative risks.
Expectation Escalation 3. - Constantly increasing expectations can squeeze out the white space needed for creativity and innovation.
Unnecessary Complexity 4. - Overcomplicating problems can introduce dissonance and hinder a creative team's progress.
Opacity Phenomenon 5. - A lack of clear reasoning behind tasks can lead to dissonance and reduced engagement from creative professionals.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

Mentioned in this episode:

NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now

Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

Assassins

Chances are, you're probably not taking enough shots.

In this episode, we explore the importance of starting more and letting go of the pressure to finish everything. We discuss how embracing parallel creation and being unafraid to repeat ourselves can lead to brilliant work. We also hear from Becky Blades, Austin Kleon, Andy J. Pizza, and Ozan Varol about the significance of taking action on our ideas without being paralyzed by the fear of public perception.

Key Insights:

1. Overthinking can hinder creativity, so it's important to move from imagination to action swiftly.

2. Embracing the process of starting multiple ideas can help identify the ones worth persevering for.

3. Pay attention to the ideas that won't leave you alone, as they may be the keepers.

4. Life is more of a jungle gym than a ladder; sometimes the road ahead only becomes clear as you take each step.

5. Taking action on the ideas that resonate with you is crucial, as the world often lights the path ahead only a few steps at a time.

Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

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