What's Your Discovery?

What will you discover during 2019? There’s still plenty of time to make it a period of exponential growth. My mantra for the year, “Create not Consume,” relates to growing toward my goals by consciously avoiding distractions, interests, and diversions that take me off mission. I find that I’m the happiest and satisfied when I’m making things. 

So, inside the frame are: writing; video production; reading nutritious fiction; gaining proficiency with social media force multipliers Canva and Unfold; deepening my knowledge of presentation design, especially explaining complex information; developing my podcast; and helping others grow. 

Outside the frame: Close study of national political trials and travails; deep dives into social media; all-encompassing hobbies. 

Part of the creative process is recharging your batteries. Here are some of creativity-firing energy sources that I’ve been tapping over the past several months. 

Brain Food: 

• The Growth Mindset, by Carol Dweck– Deep incisive analysis of the factors that hold people back from realizing their potential and guidance and cutting loose.
• Made to Stick, by the Heath Brothers- One of the best books in a decade to teach how to get people to pay attention to your ideas. 
• Switch, by the Heather Brothers– How to drive change successfully within large organizations. 
• Start With Why, by Simon Sinek– Breaks down the essentials of leadership.
• The Moment, Brian Koppelman– Creator of “Billions” is exceptionally good at getting fascinating people to explain themselves on his podcast. 
• Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin- 
• The Turnaround with Jesse Thorn – podcast  
• The Dave Chang Show - podcast– There’s plenty of parallels between cooking and communicating within a corporate setting and we can learn from an innovator. 
• Ugly Delicious – Netflix documentary– (Salty) Visually rich, imaginative editing, strong point of view, better buckle up. 

What resources will inspire you to do your best work this year?