Open your eyes and ears to everyday life
"Every time I have a memorable experience, I feel sorry for other people. As a writer, I can turn this experience into a story. What do the others have?"
I was watching "David Sedaris teaches Storytelling and Humor" on Masterclass.
Mind - blown! 🤯
When David said the above quote (paraphrased), I looked away from my screen.
I was mulling over his words staring at the shrubs and trees and walls and buildings whizzing past on my train ride home.
Isn't it the same in marketing? And copywriting? And design?
Let me explain.
If your work pays you to be creative, consider yourself lucky.
While your job is hard - how does one quantify creativity? - everyday things take a new meaning. You view them through the lens of a writer, a designer, an architect, a video producer... a creator.
This iconic advertisement by Tesla.
Rihanna's Fenty Beauty putting the beauty industry on notice.
Branding blunders like this one.
Minimalist architecture of Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe.
The fascinating artwork of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
They stop you in your tracks.
They inspire your work.
It goes deeper when you bring psychology into the mix.
"Why do Apple users pay top dollar for the newest iPhone knowing there are cheaper, better alternatives?" (Great, consistent branding and world building)
"Are all purchase decisions rooted in rational thinking?" (No!)
"Why did more users click on this version of the ad versus that?" (A/B testing)
And so on.
The creator's world is a fascinating place.
Mundane, everyday things have more colour. Meaning.
The creative work of others, doesn't just awe us. It fuels us.
But only if you take pride in your work and keep your eyes and ears glued to the world around you.
If you show up like "everyone else" to just "do your job", you are not only missing out on opportunities to enrich your work, you're doing yourself and others a disservice.
So, starting tomorrow,
- take copious amounts of notes
- open a swipe file
- keep learning
- study from other disciplines.