Ten Commandments for Creatives

January 9, 2012 — 41 Comments

Ten Commandments for Creatives

1. Give space, time and energy to your creativity.

Ten Commandments for Creatives

Sue Hasker (Creative Commons) Ten Commandments for Creatives

If you don’t, your space, time and energy will go to things you don’t value. 

2. Creating is an act of worship. (Tweet this)

Not creating is self-centered and selfish. 

 3. Your creativity is a gift given to you.

Share gifts.

4. Date your artist.

Most of your best ideas come unexpectedly. 

5. Don’t be an expert.

The minute you believe you’re an expert, you stop learning from others.

6. Jealousy is the death of creativity.

Celebrate others.

7. Don’t give up. Don’t give up.

Don’t give up.

8. You have what it takes. . . now.

‘Later’ rarely happens. 

9. Authenticity breeds beauty.

Create from your core.

10. Want what you already have. (Tweet this)

Utilize your current resources.  

Which one of the ten commandments for creatives is your current focus… or needs to be?

Want More? I’ve finished my first creativity e-book based on the ten commandments above! It’s a powerful tool for creatives and I’ve loved writing it! Check it out HERE to get it on your Kindle or as a PDF e-book. Many thanks for visiting!
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Andrew Zahn

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I'm an actor who spends some time as a Public Relations Manager. On this blog, I pave a highway for creative growth by providing food, water, and shelter for those wishing to live, work, and play with creative zest.
  • http://andyswordsandpictures.wordpress.com Andy

    5, 7, and 9 particularly resonate with me but all are powerfully good rules to follow!

    • Andrew Zahn

      I’m a fan of of #5 particularly as well Andy. It pretty much goes in any venture doesn’t it?

      Happy designing and writing and eating and… ;)

  • jennie throckmorton

    I like this may I make a poster out of it. I will send it to you for approval. Thought it might make a nice freebee. Jennie

    • Andrew Zahn

      Exciting Jennie! Can’t wait to see it! I’ll repost it once you jazz it up!

      A graphic designer I am not ;) Work your magic….

    • Duane Hespell

      Wow, these are all great, Andrew. Nice variety. I think Jennie’s idea for a poster is great. I was thinking of being jealous of it, but am choosing not to be. That’s the thing. We need to consciously practice these disciplines. That’s why I think my idea of a poster…to hang in the kitchen rocks!

  • http://www.talleygilly.wordpress.com Alexandra

    What a great list, Andrew. Am going to print these out. Especially love #3, #8, and #10. Thanks for the inspiration, as always. You have a gift for boiling things down to their essential elements.

    • Andrew Zahn

      Print away! Glad you found it helpful. Always appreciate your input Alexandra!

      • Aimee

        Favorite: #9. I think every best or popular creative work comes from the raw core of a person. If you can let yourself go to that place in yourself when you are creating, people respond.

  • http://AspiringCreativity.com Dannon Loveland

    Concerning #6: There are many things that have been attributed to the death of creativity. I am not sure if I would consider jealousy one of them (or at least not in such general terms). Generally, I don’t know if I would consider any emotion the killer of creativity. People are motivated to create by a variety of ways.

    As for celebrating others… yes, yes, yes.

    • Andrew Zahn

      It’s an interesting conversation indeed Dannon. I always enjoy your input.

      In Exodus, the 6th commandment is “you shall not murder.” As I was ruminating on this, I ended up thinking of the movie Amadeus… and though it’s not a 100% true retelling, I was recalling the character Saleri and how jealous he was of Mozart.

      What if Saleri didn’t waste his energy on being jealous? What if he used that energy to create works of his own? Interestingly enough, in the film Saleri murders Mozart.

      Just going on the ‘what if’ journey is what took me there.

  • http://www.scrollwork.blogspot.com Scrollwork: Quirkyisms from a Tropical Transplant

    My mind has been on #2, creativity is an act of worship. I’m reading Eric Nykamp’s “Art as Prayer: Visual Communication with God” because for months now I’ve been mulling over #3, creativity is a gift. It’s churning in there, and there might a post that comes out of it.

    But when I look at my spare bedroom, it’s definitely #10! If I buy any more fabric I will qualify as a hoarder.

    I like how you distilled these truths into the Ten Commandments.

  • jen wooten

    how about: Exploit every opportunity to use your creativity in every situation. :)

  • http://www.indueseason.net Skottydog

    #7 is MY #1 right now! It’s too early in the year to be in a rut! I didn’t expect to be fighting negative feelings this soon! We’re not even ‘double digits’ on the calendar yet!

    Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement! Thanks for being our ‘Moses of Creativity’!

  • Duane Hespell

    What a list, Andrew! Nice variety. I think Jennie’s idea for a poster is great. I thought of being jealous of it, but then #6 popped into my head. That’s the thing. We need to find ways to consciously apply these disciplines. That’s why I think my idea for a poster is a really good one!

  • http://seymourjacklin.co.uk Seymour

    I like 2, 3, 5 … yeah, heck, basically all of them :-) Nice one!

  • http://danblackonleadership.info Dan Black

    What a wonderful list. I really like #3, Our gifts, talents, and skills are meant to benefit other people.

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  • http://michaelrcarter.blogspot.com/ Michael

    Excellent. I plan to share this with my students… maybe in poster format!

    • Andrew Zahn

      Thanks so much Michael.

      If you make it into a poster, please send me a copy! I’d love to see it!

      • http://michaelrcarter.blogspot.com/ Michael

        will do!

      • http://michaelrcarter.blogspot.com/ Michael Carter

        FYI- I plan to share these during a conference I am helping Michael Card with. Here is a link to the schedule-
        http://www.gleneyrie.org/spiritualretreats/conferences/thecreativelife/pageitems/schedule?mode=na&RequestId=e294536b

        Blessings!

        • Andrew Zahn

          Awesome! I’m so honored Michael. I hope Mr. Card likes the 10 Commandments as well.

          • http://michaelrcarter.blogspot.com/ Michael

            I meant to ask- Will you elaborate on #4… date your artist?

            • Andrew Zahn

              Treat your artist right. Like you would if you were going on a date with your significant other. Take your artist out. Just you and your artist. Spend money on your artist that you wouldn’t normally spend on yourself.

              More here: http://zahndrew.com/artist-date-vlog

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  • http://JaredLatigo.com/ Jared Latigo

    #3 For sure. I’ve always been interested in doing what you love to do…for life. I’m trying more and more these days to turn my passion into a career. Great idea on this post!

    • http://www.zahndrew.com/ Andrew Zahn

      Thanks Jared! I appreciate you stopping by.

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