In Part I of this series, I spoke about emotion and mystery as hallmarks of a compelling story. In Part II I added the ingredient of authenticity. Now, in Part III, I want to talk about a factor...

Art is the most personal act. By definition, an original piece of art can only come from within. Each if us is influenced by that which has come before, of course, but the finished product is...

“Today is a good day to die.” You have heard the phrase in numerous contexts, usually attributed to Native American culture. While the exact origin of the phrase is uncertain, I prefer...

I remember a time that I was perfectly content in my little house in my little home town. That was ages ago. I’ve been psychologically “running” for a long time now.

It happened...

The smell of the polish, the feel of the wood; after all these years it still brings me pleasure and no small amount of comfort to perform my ritual of preparation before I step on a stage or hit...

At the end of the day, it’s what we actually do. Professional creators in any field must contend with a dizzying array of support tasks. But the care and effort we bring to our craft is what...

My wife, Jenn is a creator of the fine art persuasion. She draws and paints and many of her creations are stunningly unique. At one point early in our relationship I commented, “Wow -...

“Sad songs, they say so much,” sang Elton John in 1984. The dark side of art was popular long before Bernie Taupin wrote those lyrics and remains so now.

Sophie’s Choice; The Road;...

This article is dedicated to all the creators out there working their butts off. All y’all (that’s Southern plural) creating content, watching trends, crunching numbers, tweaking...

As an existentialist, I don’t believe that we are born with a pre-defined destiny. Consciousness does not come with a road map, so you are free to choose your own self-meaning. Let’s...

Practical Existentialism is a term I use to describe the theoretical and clinical foundation of my work. It is a particularly effective mindset and operational strategy for creators.

Practical...

Mental health professionals are trained to notice so-called “magical thinking” in their patients/clients. We are taught that the belief that a person’s thoughts, words or actions...

We hear the phrase all the time: “I want to make it as perfect as I can.” But there are two issues with that statement that can lead to disappointment and disillusion. To understand...

The “P" word. The habit of procrastination is one of the great killers of productivity, self esteem and success in business and life.

Procrastination wastes our time, makes us feel bad about...

Millions of people have bought Rhonda Byrne’s book The Secret. If you don’t have a copy, I suggest you pick one up. I have never met Rhonda and I’m not affiliated with her...