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.

Creativity Famine? Food for the Hungry

My wife saw this on her Facebook page: I love the honest call of this post’s author, and I’m convinced he’s not alone. I believe this is one of the main reasons I must blog: to encourage that professional and spiritual awakening. To inspire. To challenge. To feed the ‘hunger.’ This is why we write.… Continue reading Creativity Famine? Food for the Hungry

Dream Spinning Rumpelstiltskin Style: Honest Creativity

You’ve got a few projects to work on this week don’t you? A few reports to write, songs to compose, presentations to craft, deadlines to meet. Time for a fairly tale. You might empathize with the ‘miller’s daughter’ from the fairy take “Rumpelstiltskin.” Here’s a refresher on the story: Lies and Greed. The ‘miller’ lies… Continue reading Dream Spinning Rumpelstiltskin Style: Honest Creativity

Friday Light: Big, Superfluous Words Make Us Seem Smarter

As creatives, we’ll often bend toward the serious side of life. Our temperaments embrace the melancholy, rainy day, James Taylor-esque “You’ve Got a Friend” sadness that, for some reason, makes us feel comforted. Not happy, but comforted.Sometimes we gotta chillax. In an effort to blend balance into our creative lives, I introduce to you Friday… Continue reading Friday Light: Big, Superfluous Words Make Us Seem Smarter

10 Reasons Your Current Job is Creative. Really!

In a couple hours, I will don my costume for the day. I call it ‘business casual.’I will sport a professional, corporate look. I shall spend the morning and afternoon teaching sales methodology, basic manners, paperwork procedures, and a few ‘closing’ techniques. Ladies and gentlemen: I am a corporate sales trainer. Yet, I still consider… Continue reading 10 Reasons Your Current Job is Creative. Really!

Hot Air Ballooning in Amish Country: Six Facts

Last week I had the great fortune to do this: “Balloon with a View” This balloon launched with ours. *It costs money. Fortunately, for me, this particular trip was a gift. Thanks Dad. *Fear of baskets is a no-go. If you fear floating around in a human-sized Easter basket, this isn’t for you. *It’s not… Continue reading Hot Air Ballooning in Amish Country: Six Facts

Slightly Embarassing Creative Quirks

As creatives, we all have idiosyncrasies. I’d like to know your creative quirks that play into your art and creative process. And by ‘your art,’ I mean: getting the kids ready for bed, conducting a non-boring sales meeting at work, making a meal, or designing a dream from concept to fruition.We’re all artists. I’ll start… Continue reading Slightly Embarassing Creative Quirks

Fuel for Creatives: Time (Part 3 of 3)

Coffee is morning fuel. Gasoline is car fuel. Sunlight is plant fuel. What is fuel for creatives?Ideation + freedom + time = creative fuel. (Read Part 1, Ideation and Part 2, Freedom)Time. While training as an actor, our troupe garnered loads of great instruction from John Barton’s video series “Playing Shakespeare.” Actors such as Ian… Continue reading Fuel for Creatives: Time (Part 3 of 3)

Fuel For Creatives: Creative Freedom (Part 2 of 3)

Ideation + Creative Freedom + Time = Fuel for Creatives. Read part one on ideation here.Now that we have our idea, we gotta mix in a little freedom to create the idea and add a healthy dose of time to let it steep and brew.Freedom first. A picture = 1,000 words. So here’s my words… Continue reading Fuel For Creatives: Creative Freedom (Part 2 of 3)