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I have never felt as creative in my life as I do now in my early 40s. I think the best way I can describe it is that it changed for me from my 20s, where I was

I have never felt as creative in my life as I do now in my early 40s. I think the best way I can describe it is that it changed for me from my 20s, where I was driven by what I wanted to do — the end result — and along the way, would pick up the knowledge needed. It’s similar now, but it’s more driven by what I can learn along the way and how I can connect it to everything else. Experience has shown me that more things are related than you think. And I feel like drawing these connections has made me think across disciplines and to try to connect things in multiple ways during the process, which has the side effect of creative solutions or accidental findings along the way. I have dozens of pages of notes and snippets and am constantly adding — things I could make, topics I want to learn about. The amount can be overwhelming, but it’s also liberating to write them down so that I can move on, and I feel like even doing that sort of validates that I’m “being creative” and keeping juices flowing. Don’t get me wrong — these are not world-changing ideas. But I’ve found that letting those flow has let little solutions or ideas here and there flow easily in the midst of bigger problems. It also helps to have internalized the idea that the value is in the execution, not the idea. This is typified by a client who wants you to sign an NDA to hear about what their idea even is. That’s a red flag that they think the golden egg is the idea itself and not the months or years, as well as discipline in saying no to a million little things, that will bring a good version of that idea to life.

pier25 6y ago
> my 20s, where I was driven by what I wanted to do — the end result — I totally understand what you mean here. In my early 20s I was into electronic music and I wanted to make music like my idols. I was really more in love with the idea of doing it, or the end result, than the actual act of doing it. Because of that, I didn't really know anything about synths, synthesis, playing an instrument, etc. Which, ironically, are the fundamental skills needed to be able to actually do the damn thing. Maybe if I had had someone to guide me it would have been different. Most of my friends were in rock bands, and those who were into electronic music production were just as lost as me. These days with Youtube it's a lot easier, everyone sharing their tricks and techniques.

pier25 6y ago

> my 20s, where I was driven by what I wanted to do — the end result — I totally understand what you mean here. In my early 20s I was into electronic music and I wanted to make music like my idols. I was really more in love with the idea of doing it, or the end result, than the actual act of doing it. Because of that, I didn't really know anything about synths, synthesis, playing an instrument, etc. Which, ironically, are the fundamental skills needed to be able to actually do the damn thing. Maybe if I had had someone to guide me it would have been different. Most of my friends were in rock bands, and those who were into electronic music production were just as lost as me. These days with Youtube it's a lot easier, everyone sharing their tricks and techniques.