People who live without asking this question fulfill other people’s dreams. Their own dreams die, never realized. Companies who exist without asking this question function solely as money-making machines, destined to crumble after 10-15 years of success. They never aspired to a greater focus and purpose.
Author: Andrew Zahn
I'm a son, husband, dad, business owner, actor and good sleeper/eater.
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.
Childhood Playtime for Creativity
What did you love to do as a child? Who did you play with? How did you play? Where did you play best? When did playtime stop? As I recall my own childhood playtime:
Work in Progress: Weirdest Blog Post Ever
This morning, I started two blog posts. And didn’t finish them. It feels a bit like my work today is a failure. A flop. I even considered not posting at all today… But it’s time to make some lemonade. Ladies and Gentlemen: the weirdest blog post ever…
Ideation Exercise for Creative Flow
15 minutes on the timer. Write down as many ideas as possible. Rules: no rules. Even the ‘dumbest’ idea can eventually become amazing art or science. Make bubbles professionally. Eat only orange things. Grow something new. Climb a rock and write a poem on top of it. Spend a day living like a blind person.… Continue reading Ideation Exercise for Creative Flow
iPad 3 and the Technology Buffet: Does Technology Help Creativity?
With the new iPad coming out in a few days I’ve heard a voice creeping up from inside me. It says things like: The iPad 3 will help you be more creative. You’ll write more if I buy and iPad 3. The iPhone and MacBook are just distractions. You can use an iPad 3 just for… Continue reading iPad 3 and the Technology Buffet: Does Technology Help Creativity?
An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life
From: You Subject: Your Creative Life Date: Today To: You ——————————————————– Dear You: Remember me? I’m you, but it’s 20 years down the road. I know this is kinda weird because you don’t remember writing this e-mail, but I’m sending it anyway. I wanted to remind you that you’re amazing, you have what it takes,… Continue reading An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life
Picture Poem
Molasses thick clouds stretch the sky like pulled cords of salt water taffy. I stop. Is the sky expanding before me? My chest sinks into the gooey love place, embracing its smallness. Everything I need, I already have. Add your own picture poem in the comments based on this picture.
The Shortest Short Stories: Tiny Stories
Whilst traveling, my wife and I ran into a friend who had this book: It’s a fascinating (tiny) book of idea generators, saucy illustrations and super teeny-tiny stories. Coupled with this post of writing prompts I read yesterday, I thought I’d try my hand at a few tiny stories as well. Please leave your own… Continue reading The Shortest Short Stories: Tiny Stories
Where the Beauty Is (or Isn’t)
A few years ago Joshua Bell, a Grammy award-winning world class violinist, played a brief concert in a Washington DC subway for 43 minutes and made $32.17 in donations. He usually makes around $1,000 per minute. The Washington Post conducted the experiment. A short excerpt from the full article: “His performance was arranged by The Washington… Continue reading Where the Beauty Is (or Isn’t)
How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes
Blog Mistake Number One: Poor Title The best way to keep readers from enjoying your awesome posts is to write a poor title. Your title should engage the reader, build value and provide them with a possible answer to a question they’ve always wanted to know. For instance, you’re reading this post (most likely) simply… Continue reading How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes