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Feeding Your Creativity

Feeding Your Creativity

I recently attended my first TED conference – TEDxLansing.  I  was moved to attend the event not only because it was taking place at my alma matter (Michigan State University) but more importantly I knew it would be a perfect way to make a huge deposit in my creativity bank.

Your individual creativity is a limited resource, just like your time or money.  There is not an endless supply. You cannot consistently make withdrawals and never make deposits.  Much like your financial bank account too many withdrawals and not enough deposits will leave you broke and overdrawn.

As a marketer, I am constantly being asked to provide my creative resources to clients. I am called upon to generate unique ideas that can help businesses increase their bottom line while building relationships with their customers.

Education, life, family, and jobs tend to suck the creativity right out of us. Therefor we must consciously and actively seek out things that can enhance our creativity.

Because we are all unique, what may inspire me and be a deposit in my creative bank, may not inspire you. We must make it our mission to find the things that inspires us and make sure we are adding those things into our life.

Here are some things I try to do on a regular basis to ensure my creativity is being fed.  Add some things that help feed your creativity in the comments section below and I will add them to this post.

  • Go to the beach
  • Doodle or color w/crayons
  • Watch children at play
  • Listen to TED talks
  • Swim
  • Play with my dogs
  • Meditate
  • Window shop
  • Participate in networking events
  • Read, read, read
  • Volunteer with animal advocacy organizations
  • Nap
  • Enjoy a glass of wine
  • Learn a language or a new skill
  • Attend idea pool events s like 140 Character Conference
  • [YOUR IDEAS HERE]

About the author / Jillian Koeneman

Juiced about social media & digital. Entrepreneur. Founder @freshlimemktg | Connector. #MSU Alum. #Detroit native. Dog lover.

Latest comments

  • Carley Oberdoerster
    June 16, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    Great Post Jill! One of my favorite ways to make sure I’m capturing all of my creativity is by keeping a journal or notebook by my bed. Personally I feel that when I have time to take a step back from the day, zone out, and allow my thoughts to solidify organically I tend to have my best “AH HA!” moments.

    Oh, and GO GREEN!!

    • Jillian Koeneman
      June 16, 2010 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks Carley! Great idea. You never know when a great idea will strike. And yes, GO WHITE!!!

  • Stephanie
    June 17, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    What do I do?
    – Nothing, just nothing, which is quite difficult !
    – ride my horse

    • Jillian Koeneman
      June 21, 2010 at 1:09 pm

      Stephanie – it is really hard to do nothing but out of those moments of solitude often come the best ideas. That’s awesome you have a hobby like horseback riding that can help clear your mind and spark your creativity.