Creative Combat

Okay, first, this may seem to fly in the face of The War of Art’s recommendation of enveloping yourself in a brand so you can put the pressure on. What we’re talking about here is putting the work into the brand rather than putting the word into the portfolio. If it helps you to get work done by wrapping yourself in your brand, then go for it. If it helps to put the pressure on, then do it. But if your goal is to get a certain level of work, and you think creating a brand will do that, you may be able to buy yourself a spot at the table, but you can earn your way there by doing great work. Your name is not bad. Your work will decide. Also, we lost count, but we’re pretty sure that the “in this day and age” Pete counter has gone into double digits. David Stanfield: Google it. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

The difference between having a “patron” and “selling out” is who controls what the art is about. A patron should let you continue making YOUR art for YOU while paying for your lifestyle. Selling out means that you let your patron tells you what art to make, and they pay for your lifestyle. Levi sells out every day because he works with clients. Pete changed style when he found a new company to work at, but that doesn’t mean he sold out. BUT, selling out isn’t bad. As long as you’re not doing something that would compromise your morals, then make the money doing the art, and do the art. Our Episode on Patrons: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat/20-patrons Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

No filter. It’s a way of discovery. Robert Rodriguez embraced digital filmmaking, not because it was “better” but because he was able to spend less “downtime” between thought and creation. Creating at the speed of thought can speed things up, but it can also help you take more risks and rely on instinct. The ability to create at the speed of thought reduces snags and barriers. Rebel Without A Crew: http://amzn.com/0452271878 Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

We interview the venerable Kole Ross and chat about his many podcast projects and how he stays focussed and efficient with so much going on. Kole’s “spark” was allowing himself to believe that he could do the things that he enjoyed consuming. Keep doing it. The motivation isn’t the fear of disappointing people. When you finish one thing, you can’t be sad, you can’t rest, because the next on is coming up. Check out his and (his creative ally) Gary’s work at http://duckfeed.tv Watch Out For Fireballs (our favorite of Kole’s podcasts): https://soundcloud.com/watchoutforfireballs Kole’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/duckfeedtv Kole on Twitter: https://twitter.com/koleross Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Pete’s been listening to podcasts about the thing he’s focussing on right now. He’s filling up his input channel with material that can help him do the things he wants to do. Bandwidth is limited, and if you fill your input channels with slush, then you don’t have room for the cream. It’s one thing to direct the energy, but you need to think about where you’re getting your energy. You get to choose your input. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Brand can be defined as a leading indicator of culture. So that means that everyone has a personal brand. Let’s move on. What are others saying about you? Because you don’t really control your brand, the public does. Be passionate about your job or your product, but be careful not to make that task or title your identity. A brand will reflect the truth. Identify the things in you (or your team) that no one else can do (or do the way you do it) and THAT is your brand. Know what you do, and know why you do it better than anyone else. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Maybe this is a part 2 to the episode about capturing ideas. Not sure. We basically just riff on our methods for capturing and keeping ideas. Pete talks about his notebooks. Levi talks about software. And Sharpie pens. Nerds. Basically, we’re saying write things down by hand, but then make sure you have a handy digital copy if you plan on doing something with it. And don’t be afraid of bad ideas. Just get the ideas down. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Blake called us and asked about portfolios. So, we talked about portfolios and how they are an outward-facing representation of what you’re capable of and what you aspire to. Because it represents you and your personal brand so much, you have to be careful what you put in it, and you have to be careful what kind of work you say “yes” to. Douglas Gautraud: http://www.douglasgautraud.com/ Ben Joyner: http://www.benjoyner.com/ Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

The internet, how does that work? It’s up to you to use social media for what you want to use it for. Of course. But in the pursuit of creativity, you need to ask yourself, “what is a distraction?” and then decide what kind of boundaries you want to put around that distraction. Also ask, “what can help me be creative?” and then figure out boundaries to stick to that keep you creative, without being a distraction. You can also use social networks for inspiration, but again, you need to look out for distractions and time-sucks. Pete’s latest social media blitz: https://www.instagram.com/p/BC1nrh6szy2 https://www.instagram.com/p/BC1nty4szy8 http://twitter.com/pdraber http://twitter.com/levibethune Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

33 - Being Creatively Creative (Don’t get too creative with your scalpel.) Todd Henry talks about this in his podcast and his books. When you have to create, all the time, how do you stay creative? There’s a high risk of burning yourself out and ending up not being creative, even when you’re expected to be. The grass is always greener where you water it. Todd Henry: http://www.toddhenry.com The Accidental Creative: http://amzn.com/1591846242 Podcasts: http://www.accidentalcreative.com/category/podcasts/ Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

When forces of nature act against you and keep you from executing on the thing you set out to do, there are two stances to take: Proactive or reactive. Today's unorthodox episode format is reactive. Stay tuned for more proactivity. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

This isn't an episode. Unfortunately, we couldn't record this week. But, we're experimenting with new ways to make this show. So, tell us your story! We'd love to include YOU in Creative Combat. How did you exercise (or exorcise) your creativity lately? Call us and leave a message: 510-426-6228 Thanks for hanging out with us. We'll be back soon.

This is the thing. Your thing is now out in the market, out in the wild. It's displayed. It's shipped. The Tool, The Toy, and The Teacher. This will end up being another trilogy, for sure, but for now we rant on these things. Your fire won't be a fire unless your fire is either a tool, a toy, or a teacher. And, you should highlight those things. The fire is hungry, and you need to feed it. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Part 2. First, there's a spark, an idea. Then, that spark catches, and it becomes a flame. But, now what? This flame is the tangible proof that the spark has a future. It's your working prototype. It's the thing that someone can point at and say, "look at that thing you did." It's something that is created. Sometimes you need to wait for the flame to become a fire. Obviously, buy this book: http://amzn.com/1517215013 Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Spark = Idea, Flame = Product, Fire = Market. Pete has been listening to a lot of Schoolhouse Rock. The spark is the nugget, the intangible and imaginable idea that no one can point to and say, "cool thing." It's vaporware, it's a dream, it's nothing. But! It can be everything. The warning here is to stay away from protecting sparks. That won't make you warm. It will only make you frustrated. The next step is to turn that spark into a flame; turn that idea into a product. Next time, on Creative Combat. Call in with your questions/stories: (510) 426-6228 http://creativecombat.blackfriday

Levi talks about the benefit of being in an environment where you can make mistakes without destroying what you're working on. Pete talks about engineering solutions for mistakes. Pete says that he can seep into failure easily. You can take a mistake, and learn from it, or you can make it something that defines you. Step back from your mistake, put your engineer pants on, and look at what that mistake meant. If you treat someone like crap, they'll be crap. If you treat someone like gold, they will be gold. Ask us a question: http://creativecombat.blackfriday/ask Comment and share on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat

There's another episode coming today. Enjoy this story about the game that Levi plays with his kids when he's looking to distract them from not having fun (while also burning energy).

Having fun is really important to any creative endeavor. You can learn a lot from watching kids be creative. They aren't getting paid for it. Their reward is the DOING part of the art. So, what are you doing in your not-free time that you would be doing in your free time, and how can you find the fun in that? Levi talks about his kids, surprising no one. Pete talks about a movie he puts on while he's working, surprising no one. It's not about tricking yourself into having fun. It's likely that you're doing creative work, or trying to do creative work because it was fun. Remember the fun. Don't forget what your original intent was. When you tell yourself that your thing you do for fun is now a job, it runs the risk of not being fun. Take some of the pressure off, and see if it becomes fun again. Then, you can keep pursuing the fun, and it will be more successful. 15 - What Does Victory Look Like?: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat/fifteen-what-does-victory-look-like-because-obviously-michael-bay-screwed-it-up Ask us a question: http://creativecombat.blackfriday/ask Comment and share on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat

Arian is an illustrator, teacher, designer, and mother of four boys. She is learning that her children need two things from her that are opposite: The need the immediate needs met (food, shelter...) but they also need you to be who you were made to be. So Arian is wrestling with the balance between the being right there for the practical stuff that takes time, and taking the time to be who she is. She knows that when her kids are grown–while they do need those immediate needs met–they will have wished she also was who she was meant to be. On social media: "Just because I share a pretty picture, doesn't mean the whole day was pretty." Buy Arian's art: https://www.etsy.com/shop/arian A few music videos Arian illustrated: Born Again by Josh Garrels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBWeRK-j0Hw Golden Skies by Seabird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBWeRK-j0Hw White Owl by Josh Garrels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMaXzRZw3Ok The video that Arian was in with Cladwell: https://youtu.be/nSv6gZP0Pnc Our theme music is by Jonah McClure: https://soundcloud.com/saola-music Ask us a question: http://creativecombat.blackfriday/ask Comment and share on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat

What is a Batcave? It's a home base. The intentional space you use to create. Organization is important. Pete talks about how Robert Rodriguez likes to create at the speed of thought. We talk about Casey Neistat's studio that is purpose-built for creating an environment for getting work done. Building a Batcave is something that you get to apply creativity toward, for the sake of creativity. Build a space that is for YOU (or your team/family). Pete's been collecting artifacts to remind him why he's in the game. That's an important thing to have in your Batcave. Your Batcave should be aesthetically pleasing, but also practical and useful. Remember, you're building it for you. Casey Neistat's Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb60rrtTddQ 21 - https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat/21-turn-your-cell-into-a-laboratory 17 - Everyone is Creative: https://soundcloud.com/creativecombat/seventeen-everyone-is-creative-kung-fu-is-the-answer