Choosing Creative Work That Matters
Core Idea: Project selection is the strategic process of deciding which creative projects to pursue, involving alignment with personal values, assessment of creative growth potential, and practical considerations of time and resources.
Key Elements
Selection Criteria
- Resonance with personal values and interests
- Potential for artistic growth and skill development
- Alignment with long-term creative vision
- Resource requirements vs. available capacity
- Market viability and audience considerations
- Uniqueness and distinctive contribution
- Gut-level excitement and energy response
Using Fear as Guide
- Projects that generate fear often have greatest growth potential
- Resistance as indicator of important work
- Distinguishing between fear of growth and genuine mismatch
- The "would this matter on my deathbed" test
- Resistance to a project may signal its importance to your development
- Projects that challenge identity often have transformative potential
- Comfort with a project may indicate either alignment or lack of challenge
Balancing Factors
- Commercial vs. personal projects
- Safe vs. risky endeavors
- Short-term vs. long-term commitments
- Building on strengths vs. developing weaknesses
- Exploiting current skills vs. exploring new territory
- Solo work vs. collaborative opportunities
- Responding to external demands vs. following internal compass
Decision Frameworks
- Portfolio approach (maintaining mix of project types)
- Seasonal strategy (alternating between project categories)
- "Hell Yes or No" decision making
- Pilot projects to test commitment before full investment
- Opportunity cost analysis
- Energy-based selection (what consistently energizes vs. depletes)
- Values-alignment assessment
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Creative Career (long-term implications)
- Applications: Fear as Compass (using resistance in decision-making)
- See Also: Creative Motivation (understanding deeper drivers)
References
- Pressfield, Steven. "The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles"
- Newport, Cal. "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World"
#creativity #decision_making #project_management #creative_strategy #priorities
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