The Creative Now

As a kid I spent many a dinner at a table surrounded by my parents’ friends, an eclectic cast of characters — sculptors, writers, painters, creatives. That thread of creative community has remained in our offices, our teams, and our collaborations. But that thread feels thinner in this moment.

So I am asking, with the purpose of sharing, and of supporting and caring for this creative community in its current, uncertain reality. I asked what people are doing, how they are feeling, how they are sparking creativity. It feels important to share what we do, when we can’t do all our doing.

Reaching out first to some of 200-ish the talented people I’ve had the good fortune to profile though the Capitol Communicator portrait series. It’s my version of a virtual dinner table of sorts. Grab a chair.

Dionne Kumpe, Senior Account Manager of Elevation Advertising

What, if anything, are you doing differently?

Like many in the advertising industry, I’m home-based these days. Because I worked remotely for several years, this is familiar territory. However, the technology shift due to the current crisis will inevitably change our culture. To make sure that I’m poised for what comes next, here’s what I am doing:

1. I use a daily habits checklist to structure my day. It includes healthy practices like gratitude and exercise, as well as connection points with friends, co-workers, and online communities.

2. I do morning pages (like Julia Cameron suggests in The Artist’s Way), pray, and set my intentions for the day.

3. I challenge myself to shorten the time between thinking and acting so that I can have a greater impact.

4. I share a word of encouragement for someone each day and, in doing so, find strength and clarity in my voice.

Are you staying creatively active?

Definitely! Because I’m prioritizing creativity more now than in the past, I have a lot in the works. For example, I’m launching an online workshop to help people design a life that lights them up. I’m also collaborating with my brother, a lyricist and songwriting coach, to start a podcast about what it takes to be a creative entrepreneur. Lastly, I’m lending my marketing strategy skills to a few friends who own small businesses. We talk about what their goals and initiatives are, what the current situation makes possible, and how they can plan for what might be next.

How are you sparking yourself creatively?

I follow along as Nashville author Annie F. Downs shares her quarantine experiences on podcast episodes and in Instagram stories. I like watching how people are using technology to address the six human needs (certainty, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution).

I’m taking creativity cues from my 10-year-old son, too. His relentless optimism and curiosity remind me to exercise not only my body but also my imagination. Sometimes that means picking up a pen and sketching alongside children’s author Mo Willems in his lunch doodles video series.

Dionne’s original Capitol Communicator profile: https://capitolcommunicator.com/up-close-and-personal-gett…/