Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book

Your New Hit List: 5 Things That Every Creative Person Should Get (and Give)

—

reads

  • Total: 3.4K
  • Facebook2.9K
  • Twitter29
  • Pinterest473
  • Buffer42

coffee smile chase jarvisGive. Whether to yourself or to a fellow artist in need. Every photographer, director, painter, writer, creative, entrepreneur, whatever mold into which you fit (or don’t) has basic needs. And thankfully, these needs are mostly free of charge. I’ve read 100 artist biographies, studied my own life and the creative LIVES of those around me and distilled some of the commonalities — and the outliers — for how and when, under what circumstance creatives kick ass. A pattern emerges. Therefore I suggest that you immediately (or ASAFP) give to yourself or to others….

Listen to the podcast

1. Adventure + Experience. Whether in mind and spirit OR in actual physical practice, give yourself adventure and experience. Do stuff. Some stimulus, some INPUT is required as the raw building materials of a creative life. Profound is good, but unnecessary. What’s necessary are emotions, highs & lows, chinks in one’s armor, dents, road wear, and a range of experiences. What are yours? Some people go looking, others get hit but the truck, but in every case an experiential narrative is required for inspiration. So let me be blunt. Get off your ass. Given the chance to “go” or “stay”, you go. Whether you really go looking or metaphorically do, you won’t find “creativity”, you’ll find the stuff that creativity glues together. You’ve got to either cultivate, dig up, source, uncover or live these raw materials, these bricks, the sticks, and the meat to make something that only you can make. Live a life so that you can have a point of view.

2. Space. Creative synthesis doesn’t happen during your adventures, amidst the chaos and the noise. The mayhem and the delight of life gives you the ingredients, but synthesis only happens when you’re quiet, when you’ve got space, a moment to breathe. Sometimes it doesn’t require much space: a sleepless night, a shower, or an hour inside your head. Other times it requires more. But I guarantee it won’t be while you’re in the thick of it. Inspiration might rain down upon you, but building that inspiration into something meaningful takes more room than you’re giving yourself right now; it takes time (even a sliver), and it takes iteration. Rarely if ever will something come to you fully formed, despite all the fairy tales you’ve heard. Provide some respite, some space after inspiration, and harvest you will.

3. A Mirror. Give yourself a mirror. Not literally, but a figurative mirror to reflect on that voice inside your head, and capture that voice in an emotion. The raw materials of which I spoke above, are certainly out there in the world, but a quick reminder that you’ll not find any answers per se “out there”. All those answers – and I mean every one — are “in here”. In you. Things coming from you – from an only-you-could-have-made-this perspective is a requirement of outstanding art and creativity. Hence the mirror. No opportunity to reflect, no creative answers.

4. A Schedule To Make, Ship, or Do. Give yourself the schedule you hate – the one that says make it today, ship it, build it, do it. Chuck Close said (paraphrased) that… “If I sat around and only made art when I was ready, I wouldn’t have made much art.” It’s because Chuck knows that we excel at what we practice. And if we practice everyday – even in the absence of the raw materials, the mirror, the space, we’ll certainly be ready when all that shit lines up. Trust me on this one. And don’t try and say I’m contradicting myself, given the above points. You’ve got skills that need honing, even in the absence of the creative moon lining up with the creative Venus. Make things every day. Publish, launch, post, iterate, share. By God it’s the only way anything gets done.

5. A Break. Give yourself a damn break. You don’t have to be weird, unhappy, in ecstacy or pain to create great stuff. You have to be there. You have to be in the game, not on the sidelines. Adventuring and synthesizing, and reflecting and creating and shipping all take work; and that work won’t always be great. Don’t be a critic. The lives of critics are boring, ugly, short and full of yuck. Haven’t written a book? Don’t hate on one. Haven’t made a film? Be generous in your commentary. Don’t take, give. Give time, give gratitude, and by all means give yourself and others a break.

That’s it.

And don’t think you’ll get by with just one of the above. You’ve gotta wrangle all 5. Trust me on that.

joseph beuys_creativity capital

snapshot of Joseph Beuys "Creativity = Capital"

Related Posts

10 Things Every Creative Person (That’s YOU) Must Learn
051026_ChaseJarvis_einstein_writing_vlrgwidec
Writing Makes Photographers More Creative — 5 Easy Tips
Daniel Pink: The Power of Regret
Chris Hutchins of Chase Jarvis LIVE
Chris Hutchins: All the Hacks to Maximize Your Life
Chris Burkard on Chase Jarvis LIVE
The Wayward Path of Photographer Chris Burkard
Make Your Message Heard with Victoria Wellman

46 replies on:
Your New Hit List: 5 Things That Every Creative Person Should Get (and Give)

Comments navigation

Previous
  1. Pingback: your new hit list as a creative | make your mark

Comments navigation

Previous

Comments are closed.

BUY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE NOW!

Get weekly, curated access to the best of everything I do.

Popular Posts

20250611_CJLIVE_Failure_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast
A smiling man with gray hair against a dark background with a geometric pattern. The text on the image reads "KEY TO A FLOURISHING LIFE" in large, bold yellow and white letters. An arrow points to the man with the label "Harvard Neurologist." In the top right corner, there is a logo for "The Chase Jarvis Live Show." The overall design uses a black, yellow, and white color scheme.How To Tap Into Infinite Creativity Through Consciousness
A melting white canvas on a wooden easel, with a clock face placed in the center. The clock hands are black and point outward from the center, but the white material seems to drip and melt off the edges of the canvas, pooling at the base. The background is gray, providing a stark contrast to the melting white substance. To the left of the canvas, yellow and black text reads: "The Chase Jarvis Live Show," with the words stacked vertically in a bold, modern font. The overall composition evokes a surreal and creative aesthetic.The Creative Pause: Why We Need to Stop Asking “What’s Next?”
Promotional image for The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show featuring Henry Shukman. The text reads 'USE MEDITATION TO HEAL' in bold white and yellow letters on a black background. On the right side, there is a smiling portrait of Henry Shukman, a bald man with a beard, wearing a dark blue shirt. In the top right corner, the show logo 'THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW' is displayed in yellow and black.The Deep Connection Between Creativity and Meditation
A person sitting at a desk, holding their head in frustration, while flames seem to emerge from their head, symbolizing intense mental stress or burnout. The fiery scene contrasts with the calm surroundings of a room filled with books and papers, enhancing the feeling of overwhelming mental exhaustion. The expression on the person's face shows deep concentration or distress, and the bright colors of the flames highlight the inner turmoil they are experiencing.Creative Burnout Destroying Your Passion? (Try These 4 Quick Strategies)
On the right side of the image, the bold text reads: “THIS IS WHY MEN ARE FALLING BEHIND” The words "THIS IS WHY" are in bold white, while "MEN ARE FALLING BEHIND" is in bold yellow. The text is set against a dark, textured background. On the left side, there is a photo of a man wearing a suit and tie, looking off to the side with a serious expression. The show's logo is displayed in the top left corner, featuring "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" in black text inside yellow rectangles. The entire graphic is framed by a yellow border, matching the color scheme of the text and logo.Gender Equality Isn’t What You Think (Here’s Why)
A silhouette of a person standing triumphantly on the edge of a cliff, arms outstretched, against a vibrant and colorful sky. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds in shades of blue, pink, orange, and purple, creating a breathtaking and awe-inspiring scene. The image conveys a sense of freedom, achievement, and connection with nature.Why Playing It Safe Is Riskier Than You Think
Gabby BernsteinHow to Unlock the Hidden Power of Your Inner Self
Image of Arthur Brooks with the text "Is This True Happiness?" overlayed. The background features a dynamic arrangement of falling dollar bills and coins. In the top left corner, the logo of "The Chase Jarvis Live Show" is visible, framed in a bright yellow box. Arthur Brooks is positioned on the right side, wearing glasses and a suit, looking directly at the camera with a slight smile. The overall design is intended to provoke thoughts on the relationship between money and happiness.Arthur Brooks: The (Real) Reason You’re Not Happy
The show's logo is displayed on the left side, with "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE" in bold black text inside yellow rectangles, stacked vertically. The right side of the image features a robotic figure, resembling a humanoid robot, meticulously working on a canvas. The robot is painting or drawing a grayscale portrait of a human-like figure. The robot's detailed mechanical components are visible, and the scene evokes themes of artificial intelligence, creativity, and technology. The background is minimal, allowing focus on the robot and its artwork. The composition suggests an exploration of AI's role in creative processes.Is AI the End of Creativity or Just the Beginning?

Daily Creative Projects

© 2024 Chase Jarvis. All rights reserved.

My New Book Is Here!

This book is a powerful compass for embracing risk and creativity in all aspects of life. Chase shows us how to step out of our comfort zones and become who we were meant to be.

SOPHIA AMORUSO
Serial Entreprenuer
NYT Best Selling Author of Girlboss

BUY NOW!

My New Book Is Here!

This book is a powerful compass for embracing risk and creativity in all aspects of life. Chase shows us how to step out of our comfort zones and become who we were meant to be.

SOPHIA AMORUSO
Serial Entreprenuer
NYT Best Selling Author of Girlboss

BUY NOW!