Towards the end of last year, my friend Michael Schechter was kind enough to invite me to chat on his 2×4 series.

The idea behind 2×4 is simple: one series that examines two topics, creativity and productivity, by asking those who make things on the web the same four questions on both subjects.

I had a blast answering Mike’s questions, and thought it’d be cool to share the answers here. In this first part, we talk Creativity – make sure you drop by on Wednesday for the Productivity answers.

Have you always considered yourself to be a creative person?

I’m not sure. I think it depends on how you’re defining creativity. If a kid makes a mess, is that creativity? Because it wasn’t there before, and the kid had to take actions and bring them to the fore to make the mess, so is that a creative process? I’ve always been passionate about writing and storytelling, and how that can impact on someone’s mindset. But then, that just kinda came natural, so I’m not sure if that counts. Sorry for the lame answer!

What mediums and inspirations do you gravitate towards to realize your creative goals?

Well, blogging is probably my number one medium, both from a writing angle and a reading angle. Some of the best, most outright and questioning content today is coming from blogs. People like Gini Dietrich, Adam Singer, Geoff Livingston, Olivier Blanchard and others like them are writing stuff that everyone should read. I’m also a big TED fan – if you can’t find inspiration from their channel on YouTube, you’re probably a zombie.

If you had to point to one thing, what specific posts or creation are you most proud of and why?

From a creation, it’d have to be the12for12k project. To see what started out as a simple idea to use social media to raise funds and awareness for charities turn into the community it did, has been pretty inspiring. I love the fact that people truly wanted to be involved – it was a real team effort, and the fact that everyone donated their time for free was just amazing. From a blog post angle, I’d say the one where I talk about my attempted suicide is the one I’m most proud of, because it helped others open up about their demons and understand they’re not alone. To me, that’s what blogging is all about – the human connection and the potential to change lives.

Any suggestions for those who feel they may not be creative take to unlock their inner artist?

Practice doing it. It doesn’t matter if that’s blogging, painting, making movies, taking picture or whatever. Make time every day – even if it’s just five minutes – and take a picture, or write a blog post, or shoot something on your video camera. You don’t have to publish it – just get into the habit of doing it, and learning your trade. You’ll be surprised at how you grow, both in creativity and the strength to actually make your creation public.

image: Imagine24

The 2×4 Interview: Creativity and How to Improve Yours originally appeared on Danny Brown - under a Creative Commons license.

Ideas are the platforms for greatness.

Ideas are the moments in time that will find the cure for cancer.

Ideas are the ingredients that become a recipe to feed the world.

Ideas are the words that join a melody and make a grown man cry.

Ideas are the architects that build shelters for the abused.

Ideas are the intent that lead to mission accomplished.

Ideas are gold. Don’t let yours be wasted.

Ideas Are Gold originally appeared on Danny Brown - under a Creative Commons license.

In life and in business, we’re constantly learning.

New knowledge; new ideas; new viewpoints. Anyone that says otherwise is missing out.

After all, when we stop learning, we (or our business) simply die. Your competitors are always learning; so should you.

But where do we learn from?

Where do we get the inspiration to make the changes we need to, and where do we learn how to do things right, and what may not be?

For me, it’s my little girl.

Even though I haven’t seen her since before her first birthday (she’ll be eight next January), she continues to teach me a lot about myself, and how I do business.

Nothing is Forever

Before my daughter was born, her mother and I split up. We had different views on the future, and it wouldn’t have been fair on our daughter to stay together. So we went our separate ways. My ex-partner then moved to be with her parents, and didn’t want me to have access.

Cut a long story short, despite trying through legal channels, I still don’t have access and the country my daughter is in doesn’t recognize U.K. law where this all started. So, always at square one.

But that’s taught me that nothing is forever, and patience is a virtue.

At some point in the future, my daughter will be old enough to make her own decisions. She can find me if she wishes, and I’ll make it as easy as I can to make it happen if she wants it.

It reminds me that you don’t always have to have something now, no matter how much you want it.

• Your business can still thrive long after early struggles.
• Your blog will get the readers and interaction you crave.
• Your promotion at work is still possible, even if you missed this time around.

We all want things to happen right now. That’s natural; that’s human nature. But the best things really do come to those who wait.

We Don’t Know Everything

When I was younger and full of romantic idealism, I always believed that we find love, settle down, have children and live happily ever after.

Obviously I soon learned different. Love doesn’t conquer all; happily ever after is often just for fairytales. What we think we know soon meets life’s reality.

I thought I knew how I’d raise my daughter. The stories I’d tell her. The hopes I’d help her build and achieve. The weekends we’d spend just doing whatever came up, since that’s how we roll.

But we don’t know everything, and what we think we did doesn’t come to fruition.

And that’s okay. Because we learn, and understand, and adapt.

• We tell our clients we’re unsure of something, but we’ll work it out together.
• We read our blog’s comments and see something new we didn’t know before.
• We listen to our bosses, because as much as they can be an ass, sometimes asses just make sense.

Because we don’t know everything, we make sure we learn what we need to, to know at least something. And that’s an advantage right away.

My daughter isn’t physically in my life at the moment, but she is in it in every other way, every single day. Every thing I do is for her, and any other kids I may have.

Because of that, I’m always learning. And asking. And (hopefully) growing. And I feel a better person for it.

How about you – where does your learning come from?

What I Learn From My Daughter originally appeared on Danny Brown - under a Creative Commons license.