In this week’s “Five Questions for Creatives” we turn to Lynn Kindler, freelance blogger, writer and life/career coach. Lynn is also the host of the show “Book It! Words for the Soul” on the popular Coaching Commons web site – coachingcommons.org. Lynn’s web site can be found at sacredpathcoaching.com.
Lynn shares her insight on all things creative.
Q. What do you think is one of the biggest challenges to being a successful creative person?
Lynn: Yourself. Once you get over yourself and get out of your ego and on to the business of fully realizing your creativity you can then hear and heed advice, recommendations, and suggestions given to you to help you sustain success. It’s about learning to engage the atrophying side of your brain that we don’t usually use when we’re creative.
Q. What are three tips you would give to anyone who wants to empower their creative career, whether it be as a copywriter, web designer, artist?
Lynn:
1. There may be over a billion people in the world, but there is only one “you,” be the best “you” that you can be;
2. Meditate or take 30 minutes of time each day to teach your mind how to quiet itself and align with divine order (this may be more challenging than you realize!).
3. Identify and hire people and/or their services to do for you what you don’t do well. Feed the business beast side of your work so that you can be free to create.
Q. What is most rewarding about being on your own and working to grow your creative business?
Lynn: Not having to “answer” to someone that I don’t have respect for (yes, I’ve had authority issues in my life!). I love being able to create my own day with systems, processes and an environment in place that enables me to do my work without the adrenal depleting stress. There’s nothing quite like working on your own book with a cat purring in your lap and dogs asleep around your desk!
Q. What inspires you to be creative?
Lynn: What I call my “higher power”. When I am taking care of myself (head, heart, body and soul) then I can align with this higher power and the creativity flows through effortlessly. There is a really, really big lie floating around out there that says in order to be creative you have to imbibe large amounts of mind altering substances. Not true. If anything I believe that dilutes our creativity.
The musician Stevie Ray Vaughn was just hitting his stride in sobriety when he was killed. I wonder what music he would have created after several years of a connection to a higher source?
Q. What is the greatest benefit to working as a creative professional?
Lynn: I’m in my bliss and amazed that I get paid for doing what I do. I believe really everyone is creative it just reveals itself in different ways. I love the combination of intelligence and heart that shows itself through the creative work of the professionals I work with…I’m constantly delighted.
Bonus Question: What is your favorite book about business or creativity?
Lynn: I’m going to have to say Mitch Ditkoff’s latest book, “Awake at the Wheel”
About the author: Nettie Hartsock is a digital strategist helping authors, creatives, musicians and companies create actionable how-to 2.0 programs to establish a powerful base for attracting both blogger and journalists attention. Her website can be found at NettieHartsock.com.
