Site Seeing: Lucy, I'm Home!

Want the back story on the creativity behind American TV? Look here: the Archive of American Television. Fascinating interviews with so many people -- from Walter Cronkite to Betty White. Makes me miss Meathead.

Look around and find your favorite.

Creativity Tips: Rehearse

Every year, my synaogogue conducts a special service to honor the Holocaust survivors in our congregation and their families. It's a beautiful service, with special songs and readings. Most of us who help lead it have been singing or reading the same parts for years. We could practically do them by rote.

Yet, every year, we rehearse. Why? Because we know this is a creative endeavor that matters. So we approach it wholeheartedly; we don't put it in neutral and coast.

Is there a creative task you've been doing for so long you could do it with your eyes closed? If so, this is the week to bring it back to consciousness. Why? Because it matters.

Whether you're writing a resume, reading a bedtime story or baking a cake, it matters. Otherwise, why are you doing it?

As long as you're doing it, here's my advice: Put your whole heart into it. You might even want to rehearse. (How do you rehearse a resume? Easy. Pretend you're the HR director. Now, pick up your resume. Ask yourself: What makes this stand out? Da-da! You just rehearsed.)

And if you decide to rehearse the baking, let me know ...

Friday Fun: Twitteleh

With the Jewish New Year beginning at sundown, it's the perfect day for advice from your favorite Jewish mother: Forget Twitter. Try Twitteleh.

P.S. Thanks to Leslie for the link!
P.P.S. If you're Jewish, you're allowed to have another favorite Jewish mother. Maybe two. But that's it.

Creativity Tips: Celebrate!

Never miss a chance to celebrate! I just noticed that we hit the 500 posts mark with yesterday's post. 500! Woo-hoo! Yakka-bakka and yadda yadda! The Creative Instigation team totally rocks!

We should also never miss a chance to say thanks. A big shout-out to Mike Brown for getting me started on this, back in 2007. It's been fun. And it still is!

(Really and truly -- these are creativity tips. Celebrate. And say Thank you. People do better creative work when they're appreciated and their work is valued. Besides, it's simply the right thing to do.)

Creativity Tips: Be Nice to Yourself

For those of you who wondered why nothing posted on the blog at 4:22 a.m., here's the deal: I didn't have anything creative to say last night. I wasn't feeling well, and I went to bed early.

The lesson? That's OK. Nobody is creative 24/7.

As the flu and allergy season kicks in, listen to your body. Get your vitamin C. Have some tea. And when you need a nap, take one. Your friends will understand.

Creativity Exercise: Honor Angus

This is just fun -- and an easy way to beef up* your creativity. Visit Honor Angus and write a two-word headline for a McDonald's billboard.

I'll take my holy hamburger with fries. And, of course, a diet Coke.

*Self amuse. It's a good thing.

Creativity Tips: Fill 'er up!

This past Saturday, I was making plans to visit a friend who has been ill. I started the phone call by explaining I'd been to a parade to watch my daughter perform with the drill team, I was taking her to lunch, I needed to run a few errands, then check on my mom and take the dog for a walk.

"After that," I said, "I'll be over to see you."

"Your life is full!" she replied.

One short sentence -- and it stopped me short. I've never been a "glass is half-empty" type of gal, but I wasn't thinking my life was full. I was thinking it was freaking insane.

But she's right. My life is full. Wonderfully, astonishingly, fortunately, temporarily full. It's all a matter of perspective, and I'm changing mine.

Here's to creative perspectives, and a week filled with good friends and good work!


P.S. I wonder how many people reading the blog are old enough to understand the "Fill 'er up!" headline. I remember sitting in the back seat of dad's '62 Buick, watching some guy in coveralls washing our windows while he filled the tank ...