Taylor Swift and creative themes

Everybody knows that Taylor Swift writes songs about love and heartbreak. Fans know that she often uses color images to describe love. Real Swifties will know the other common themes she continuously explores (her relationship with fame, the industry, and her fans, betrayal, redemption, karma, and revenge).?

Some may say that an artist who only writes about the same themes lacks depth and originality. “Her songs are all the same”. But if you have even wet your toes on some creative endeavor, you know we are all bound by the themes that define our creative journey.?

All the greats have them. From Dali to Christopher Nolan, no matter the creative medium, all creation is a constant exploration of passions until passions become obsessions. In science and tech, it is well known that you must return to the same topic many times to push an idea forward. In sports, repetition makes perfect. So why do we shy away from them?

It may be because we do our thing in a corporate environment, which breaks the heart. We are not artists, so who cares? But a creative is a creative, no matter the jar you put them in. A creative needs to stay connected to their themes to drive meaning from their job and meaning is the best vaccine against burnout.??

Florida!!!

How do you know what your creative themes are? Imagine you get kidnapped, and after a couple of hours, your captors release you because they are sick of hearing you talk about the same things. Those are your creative themes.?

If you are young, you won't notice yet, but if you are past the first act of your career and look back, you will see the stones you have repeatedly stepped into. There will be images that bring you joy, phrases that put a smile on your face, and details you can't get past. They are also the compass you can turn to when you get lost or stuck.?

I'm obsessed with time, and I'm convinced that having good timing is essential to happiness. I'm also a morning person, and I enjoy beginnings more than endings. So, I have an image I use whenever I'm facing a blank Figma.?

The user starts their day with a cup of coffee. They sit at their desk, open their computer, and want/need to see/do….?

That image later evolves into how users want to cruise their day, week, and month and how they want to see themselves in a year. I imagine the solution will help them have good timing in their decisions and jobs. It’s an image that starts with me and builds a bridge to them.??

Your themes will give you a starting point, a map, and the enthusiasm to keep exploring.

I hate it here

You can't choose your creative themes; they choose you. They come from who you are and your experiences. As Andrew Stanton would say, they are the itch that you can't scratch, and because you will never scratch them all the way, they are an infinite well that you can go back to again and again, and it will always have water for you.?

This personal and unique relationship with the added benefit of abundance makes them very good counselors when choosing where to work. You will never get tired of your creative themes, so if you find a job that pays you to explore them, you are golden. On the contrary, if you work in a place where you don't get to play with them, chances are you will hate it eventually.?

Growing up, my parents only talked about their work. I knew every detail of the places they worked in, the people, the routines, the politics. Often, they rehearsed challenging conversations and conflict resolutions at the dinner table. As I grew older, many of their challenges and complaints were related to new technology or tools they were forced to use. I gravitate towards complex, work-related systems because every problem takes me back to that kitchen table, but now I have something to say.

Your creative themes are why you are creative, so choose a place with a WHY that aligns with yours.?

My boy only breaks his favorite toys

Knowing your team's creative themes becomes your superpower when you are in a leadership position. By connecting tasks to their themes, you can help them find meaning and value in any task. But beware. While the task may become more joyful for them, it will also take them longer. They will break stuff along the way.?

Their themes may sound weird or off-topic to you. When you are getting close to a deadline, you may feel the temptation of cutting them off and putting them to work into what’s in your mind, the “real” work. Listen to their rant on how they got to that color or the philosophical meaning behind the user’s action. Hold as much space for their uniqueness as you can. Enjoy walking by their side while they develop their signature. It will be your proudest day when you can look at something and recognize the signature you helped mature.?

The black dog

So, how do you find them? You don't, they found you. You just need to pay attention. What do you care about? What brings you joy? What can't you stop yourself from doing (even when your boss tells you not to do it)?

If you are young, don't rush it. You don't get a certificate by being able to name them. This is one of those things that only come from living. So go live your creative life.

Pay attention and be intentional about the things you allow to develop because, as the GOAT says… old habits die screaming.?