Daily Creative with Todd Henry

Todd Henry
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Daily Creative with Todd Henry

Formerly The Accidental Creative. Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love. Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story. Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation. It's time to fall back in love with your work. Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.

  1. The Magical Power of Strategic Indifference

    2D AGO

    The Magical Power of Strategic Indifference

    In this episode of Daily Creative, we delve into the concept of "Strategic Indifference," a powerful approach to leadership and creativity. We share insights on how Steve Jobs exemplified this concept when he returned to Apple in 1997 and made bold decisions that transformed the company. The episode explores the difference between prioritization and strategic indifference, highlighting the courage it takes to purposely ignore certain tasks, even when they appear important, to concentrate on what truly matters. We discuss the art of not caring as a superpower, understanding the importance of timing, and how strategic indifference empowers teams to thrive. Additionally, we explain the paradox of priorities, emphasizing that sometimes, saying no to good things is necessary to achieve great things. The episode closes by asking listeners to identify their most important initiative and consider what they can let slide temporarily to focus on achieving long-term value. Five key learnings from the episode: Strategic indifference involves deliberately choosing to ignore certain tasks to concentrate on achieving critical objectives.This approach requires courage and a clear vision, often involving letting go of seemingly essential opportunities.Timing and context are crucial in applying strategic indifference effectively; choosing the right moment can yield significant results.Empowering teams through strategic indifference enhances their independence and capability while enabling focused tactical execution.Prioritizing one or two critical challenges can drive immediate progress and pave the way for long-term growth. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

    10 min
  2. Reverse The Search

    APR 1

    Reverse The Search

    In this episode of Daily Creative, we discuss how to make yourself stand out in a competitive job market by reversing the traditional job search approach. We highlight the inspiring story of Nina Mufleh, who broke through the job market noise with her innovative product listing resume, showcasing the exact qualities employers seek: creativity, problem-solving, and calculated risk-taking.  Madeline Mann, our guest and author of the book Reverse the Search, shares insights on transitioning from being a job seeker to a job shopper, a mindset that attracts opportunities rather than chasing them. We explore the importance of focusing on connections during interviews, demonstrating authenticity, and shifting the narrative from telling your story to solving the company's challenges. Key learnings from the episode: Job shoppers focus on presenting their value, creating opportunities for companies to sell them a position.Effective differentiation is key to catching an employer's attention in today's competitive job market.Avoid autobiography syndrome by focusing on how you can solve the company's needs instead of just sharing your story.Reduce perceived risk for employers by being transparent about your strengths and weaknesses.Approach interviews as conversations, emphasizing connection over perfection. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

    14 min
  3. Wild Courage

    MAR 25

    Wild Courage

    In this episode of Daily Creative we are joined by Jenny Wood, author of Wild Courage and former executive at Google. We delve into the concept of mediocrity and how many bright creatives can inadvertently settle for less due to fear and external pressures. Jenny shares her transformative subway moment that led her to embrace "wild courage" and how she has applied this principle to various aspects of her life and work. We discuss the importance of taking action despite fears, and Jenny introduces us to her unique approach to courage, highlighting traits such as being "healthily manipulative" to enhance influence and success. Jenny also explains the idea of "woo with you," a technique to build relationships through empathy and valuing others, while staying rooted in ethical practices. We explore how courage isn't about eliminating fear, but progressing despite it, focusing on subtle yet determined actions that lead to significant change. Jenny emphasizes rejecting imposter syndrome and owning one's strengths proudly. Her book, Wild Courage, encourages readers to pursue their goals with deliberate, courageous steps that defy conventional expectations. Key learnings from this episode: Mediocrity often happens in small increments of settling, driven by fear disguised as wisdom.Wild courage involves taking calculated risks and acting even when fear is present.Influence can be cultivated through empathy and valuing others, embracing a mindset of healthy manipulation.True courage isn't about bravado; it's small, consistent progress toward meaningful goals.Embracing one's strengths and rejecting imposter syndrome is crucial for professional and personal growth. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.

    16 min
  4. Trust + Enough

    MAR 18

    Trust + Enough

    In this episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the essential dynamics of trust within creative organizations and our personal relationship with money. We start with a discussion on how trust is foundational in the creative process, emphasizing the significance of a reciprocal relationship between team members and leadership. When trust erodes, it can lead to workplace inefficiencies and cause talented individuals to leave. We then explore how our internal trust, particularly in the context of money, influences our professional lives. Our guest, Elizabeth Husserl, author of "The Power of Enough," joins us to unravel the complexities of valuing creative work in a financial market. She offers insights into how personal narratives around money can either empower or hinder our careers and stresses the importance of understanding and re-shaping our relationship with money to match our creative aspirations. Key Learnings from the Episode: Trust in creative organizations must be a two-way street—team members need to trust leadership, and leadership needs to trust the team.The natural cycles of creative intensity and recovery must be acknowledged to avoid overwhelming team members.Personal relationships with money greatly affect how creative professionals value their work and handle financial matters.Understanding one’s personal money story is crucial for improving financial decision-making and satisfaction in professional endeavors.Separating personal value from monetary value can lead to a healthier, more strategic approach to creative work. Subscribe to Brave, Focused, Brilliant at BraveFocusedBrilliant.com. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

    20 min
  5. Two Moments

    MAR 11

    Two Moments

    In this episode of Daily Creative, we share insights from my recent (grueling, yet rewarding) speaking tour across the United States, where I  delivered nine keynote presentations in just 14 days. My travel provided me with valuable lessons and inspiration, captured as quick sketches and observations in my notebook. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain to discuss two powerful moments from my recent travels that challenged my thinking and revealed profound insights about creativity and leadership. The first moment comes from a Q&A session following a keynote about The Brave Habit. A client's story about teaching his daughter the importance of bravery and wise decision-making led to an insightful takeaway on agency and optimism. The story of a man repeatedly falling into a hole but eventually deciding to take a different street, inspired us to consider how often we fail to fill the holes in our lives and how an optimistic vision and a sense of agency can prevent repeated mistakes. The second moment of discovery happened unexpectedly during an Uber ride in Houston. Despite exhaustion, a casual conversation with my driver unearthed his aspiration to write. This experience reminded me that meaningful contributions often occur in small, seemingly insignificant moments. Sometimes, our impact on others happens in private, when we choose to be present. Key Learnings from the Episode: Documenting meaningful moments and insights during travels can fuel inspiration and creativity.Bravery often requires an optimistic vision and a sense of agency to embrace challenges and prevent repeated mistakes.Small, everyday interactions can lead to significant inspiration and encouragement for others.Consistency over perfection is vital in achieving creative goals, such as writing a book.Embracing little moments of engagement can enrich our body of work and contribute to the greater good. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

    12 min
  6. Bambino (replay)

    FEB 25

    Bambino (replay)

    Chances are, you're probably not taking enough shots. In this episode, we explore the importance of starting more and letting go of the pressure to finish everything. We discuss how embracing parallel creation and being unafraid to repeat ourselves can lead to brilliant work. We also hear from Becky Blades, Austin Kleon, Andy J. Pizza, and Ozan Varol about the significance of taking action on our ideas without being paralyzed by the fear of public perception. Key Insights: 1. Overthinking can hinder creativity, so it's important to move from imagination to action swiftly. 2. Embracing the process of starting multiple ideas can help identify the ones worth persevering for. 3. Pay attention to the ideas that won't leave you alone, as they may be the keepers. 4. Life is more of a jungle gym than a ladder; sometimes the road ahead only becomes clear as you take each step. 5. Taking action on the ideas that resonate with you is crucial, as the world often lights the path ahead only a few steps at a time. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app

    22 min
  7. Brave New World

    FEB 18

    Brave New World

    In this episode we delve into the concept of adopting a brave mindset in our daily lives, drawing inspiration from Todd Henry's book "The Brave Habit." Throughout the episode, we discuss the significance of choosing which narratives to respond to in defining our identities. We emphasize that bravery is not synonymous with bravado; rather, bravery involves self-sacrificial actions that pursue visions outside of oneself. We further explore how acts of bravery can influence those around us, encouraging others to recognize and follow their path to courage. Five Key Learnings from the Episode: Bravery vs. Bravado: Bravery is about self-sacrifice and pursuing visions beyond oneself, while bravado is often mere posturing.Choosing Your Narrative: Our true names are not what we're given at birth, but the identities we choose by our responses to life's challenges.Influencing Others: When we act bravely, we inspire and call out bravery in others, raising the collective standard.Bravery in Discomfort: Embracing discomfort for the greater good is a key aspect of living bravely.Individual Impact: While we may not change the world, we are called to transform the world around us by leading bravely. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

    13 min
  8. 10% Better?

    FEB 11

    10% Better?

    In this episode, we delve into the powerful concept of incremental improvement, using the inspiring example of one writer's simple but effective writing routine. We're joined via a 2016 interview by Dan Harris, author of "10% Happier," as he shares his transformative journey from a skeptic of meditation to an advocate, following a live panic attack that stemmed from mounting stress and self-medication. Harris discusses how meditation provided him with mindfulness—an essential tool that enhances focus, reduces reactivity, and promotes calmness. We explore how mindfulness practices can profoundly impact decision-making, creativity, and leadership. By being mindful, we can navigate life's challenges more wisely, transforming how we respond to stress at work and in personal relationships. Dan offers practical advice on starting a meditation practice, emphasizing the importance of consistency, even if it begins with just five to ten minutes daily. Five key learnings from the episode: The Power of Routine: Maya Angelou's disciplined daily writing practice demonstrates how small, consistent actions compound over time into substantial creative work.Mindfulness Benefits: Meditation can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and rewire the brain, leading to improved focus and calmness.Mindfulness in Decision Making: Practicing mindfulness helps break unproductive thought patterns, enabling better decision-making and creativity in challenging situations.Consistent Practice: Starting with just five to ten minutes of meditation daily can yield significant benefits; consistency is crucial to maintaining mindfulness.Grace in Practice: The key to sustaining creative and personal practices is granting oneself grace and understanding that starting again is part of the process. Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app. Mentioned in this episode: NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more

    14 min
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    4.5
    out of 5
    511 Ratings

    About

    Formerly The Accidental Creative. Being a creative professional should be the greatest job in the world. You get to solve problems, express yourself, bring something new into the world and you get paid to do it. What's not to love. Yet every day, creative pros face, tremendous pressure and uncertainty. The temptation is just to play it safe, surrender to distraction and settle for less than your best daily creative is about making sure that's not your story. Each episode focuses on a topic relevant to creative pros, like how to come up with ideas under pressure, or how the collaborate when you're overwhelmed, or how to lead your team and help them discover motivation. It's time to fall back in love with your work. Listen to Daily Creative wherever you get your podcasts or subscribe in the Daily Creative app at dailycreative.app.

    Information

    • Creator
      Todd Henry
    • Years Active
      2005 - 2025
    • Episodes
      50
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2005-2023 Accidental Creative
    • Show Website
      Daily Creative with Todd Henry

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