Many things exerted an influence on me last month. A powerful call with my coach. Our new government’s actions. A big birthday on my horizon. A desire to GO FOR IT rose up in me that I couldn’t keep ignoring. It was clear that this is the time to really go for my big dreams.
I won’t share everything I am planning with you now. Okay, a sneak peek when you scroll down to the bottom of this article. But for now, let’s tay on this topic of how we actually make big changes.
Here’s my Big Dream that for years I have wanted, talked about, and never really done anything about:
I want to invent something is useful for women. I want to contribute something to make women’s lives better.
The notion that I could be an inventor came years ago, when I met the creator of the pumpkin carving kit. That’s right. I know this woman, a friend of a friend, a mother and a very spiritually-inclined person. It’s interesting how meeting one person who has done something remarkable makes me think I can do that, too.
When I mentioned my Big Dream to my coach, she took it seriously more seriously than I had. Her faith in me kindled my own faith. I asked myself, what if I actually went for this inventor thing? What does it take to be an inventor?
My HIP plan for going for my Big Dream
I really had no idea how to invent something, but it seemed that creative thinking was a place to start. My plan became to develop my thinking towards an innovation mindset. I am giving myself this entire year to change my thinking. Here is my HIP plan for developing my innovator mindset.
Healthy – tend to my health on a new level so I have the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual resources to be my best.
Input – take in new input to stimulate a sense of possibility and to spark new ideas
Process – process information in new ways.
Specific actions I am taking now:
Healthy
• yoga, walks, tough yoga classes
• aerobic exercise classes – dancing
• cleanse of sugar, dairy, gluten, etc.
Input
• read books that challenge me about creativity and innovation
• read books about successful innovators
• listen to podcasts about invention (How I Built This, Side Hustle School, The Moment, Design Matters)
• accessing things that are outside of my domain
• reading the Sunday New York Times and the New Yorker magazine
• listen to people to hear what their challenges are
• go to one local event per week related to design, creativity and innovation
Process
• notice my thoughts, especially the wimpy ones that make me think I can’t do this
• journal daily as an interaction with my Soul Self
• take notes about what I am reading
• make lists of things that bother me that I would like to change
• making changes in my daily work and creative practices to be a daily change agent
This will be a long-term process, and yet I am dedicated. I have given myself the entire year to develop new ways of thinking. This year is about cultivating an innovator’s mindset and I feel like a complete beginner.
How does this relate to you and to the Seth Godin interview? Ongoing change is required to be a fulfilled creative.
Am I changing you for the better?
I am here to be your change agent. Everything I do is an effort to help you be more creative, make more art, write more soulfully. My newsletter, blog, videos, art, classes, books, trips to Paris – all are my attempts to help you meet – and exceed – your creative goals.
How is that going? Have I changed you? Or have you resisted the change? We often think we want to change, but we don’t make efforts toward that. I thought I was doing pretty well on this score. But I saw that there are still plenty of places where I resist or ignore the call to shift. Sometimes we change only when we get the cosmic shove – a death, an illness, an abrupt change in our circumstances may be the only way we will change.
Big benefits from change
I prefer to initiate change, and to bring compassionate humor to my resistance and that of my clients. I’ve seen a lot of this in my Write ON online writers coaching program – the desire to change, the signing up for it, the resistance, the sometimes Herculean efforts to drive past resistance, and then all the glorious gains on the other side. Here are some of the things my students and my one-one coaching clients have gained from being willing to change:
Confidence in themselves and their art.
Self-trust when they say they will do their creative work.
Joy in creating; less angst.
Insight about what it takes to make things.
Personal power.
All of these benefits of change help make the creative life a rich and rewarding one. This year calls me to up level in many ways. I am ready for it.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I’m curious about your plan for going for your BIG DREAM this year.
And, I would really love to know: how can I help you meet your creative goals? If my newsletter, videos, art, books, classes and retreats aren’t helping you be your best creative self, what would? What is missing from what I offer you? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
Sneak peek: a BIG thing I am applying for this month is rallying all my forces of chutzpah. It’s a true ’Stand and Deliver’ moment and I am going for it. I am planning a BIG trip later in the year to celebrate my birthday. I will let you in on all the details very soon.
I love this post! HIP!
I’ve also begun to put more awareness on many of the same areas! I’ve found it really helpful to make health changes visible (in the daily journal or an app like HabitBull), and writing down inputs has made reading and watching more of an intentional exercise. For instance, I started taking notes on books and reviewing them a few weeks later.
And when acquiring new skills, a game-changer has been deliberate practice, the main premise of books like Peak and Make it Stick. Now I need to apply this to improve my drawing / sketching 🙂
Good luck with your exciting plan!
Thanks, Andy!
Hi Victor,
Thanks for your comment! I agree that it was bothering me that I don’t have a lot of metrics in place. I am still working on what change will look like – how do we measure a different perspective?
I like your plan to review your book notes later. I am going to keep those notes in a specific color of ink so they’re easily accessible. I am also working to tell someone about what I am learning so I can speak my learning and hopefully solidify it in myself.
What’s your plan for sketching more? 😉
Since you inspired me with your sketchnotes at WDS, I picked up Mike Rohde’s book and sketched for 30 days and progressed a lot! But I haven’t practiced since, so my plan is to re-read his book and while creating a sketchnote visual library, working on adding just one object a day for 30 days starting in March. There, I put it out here 🙂
Post what you’re learning here! Thanks for the inspiration!
Very cool, Victor! Do you have a place where you are posting your sketchnotes?
This sends me back to an idea I had earlier – to do sketchnotes of the books I am reading as a way to share and lock in the learning for me. I would want it to be simple and not have to do a lot of notes. I am torn between doing this or doing video book reviews, which I love!
So many choices!
You’ve been inspiring me since I first started following you years ago. I remember when you did your first videos. It encouraged me to try things.
I’ve shared with you how I’ve gotten politically active and formed a grassroots group of women. Well, yesterday I spoke at a moveon.org rally in front of Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office! Stood on a small chair, shaking, leaning on someone’s shoulder the whole time yelling into a mic, really going for it. First time ever doing something like that. What a rush!
I’m really expressing myself, doing something I think is so important for our country, showing my two daughters that you can push the envelope at any age.
I’m using my photography, writing, event planning, technology skills for something I stand for. I’m channeling those early videos that you had to learn how to edit! Go us! Thank you, Cynthia!
PS our group is in LA, – San Fernando Valley. Facebook page is Women’s Alliance LA. Nearly 200 of us.
You are so awesome, Bobbi! I love that you are so active and vocal. You have so much to say and share and you also are a rallyer of people. Thank you for all you bring into the world.
I am glad my videos inspired you! It’s good to know. I plan to make more.
Sending love your way, and gratitude.