geenie in a bottle: edition 001

Over the last four years, I’ve truly existed at a remarkable level of hypocrisy.

It’s been a case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ with a lack of planning for my own social media, no strategy to grow my database and no proper website for a long time. Ick.

My excuse has always been an industry classic: I’m too busy prioritising my clients’ work to fix my own sh*t.

But since my move to Cornwall, I set a personal intention to become more creatively expressive. No timeline. No measuring performance. My only form of ‘success’ that I’m expressing myself creatively on a regular basis. And for those who have been around since the Project Twenty Something blogging days will know I adore writing.

So that’s what I’ve been doing.

The notes on my phone are once again full to the brim. They are notes from my annotated mind. There are one line theories that need a little more time to evolve into feature pieces, poetry that surprisingly falls out of my brain in one go and dating diary entries that will probably never see the light of day.

But what I have come to realise is that creativity withers in silence.

The closer we keep our creativity to ourselves, the safer it feels. Because to be truly honest through our creativity is to be seen. To be seen is to be vulnerable. And to send something out of your mind and into the wild, is to be available to judgement. But seriously, what the f*ck are we all waiting for?

I know for sure 80 year old me will want to reminisce on how much of a badass we were.

So despite what fear whispers, when I do share my creativity, I’m met with such warm reciprocity. People love people. And people love relate to each other. To be heard. People have highlighted back to me the specific lines of a poem I’ve written that they see themselves in. And in that moment, you’re so connected. You see each other.

Equally, people will also see my words and think “this is utter garbage” (which fyi is pronounced gar-bah-shhh). And that’s ok. You can’t be everything to everyone and nor should you try.

I know now that by filling up my own creative cup (and sharing it) it’s forging more space and imagination in other areas of life. Personal connections deepen, unearthing fresher perspectives for clients and generally more momentum towards what feels right for my own business.

So yes. Point your finger guns and I’ll put my hands up. As far as following my own marketing advice goes, I’ve managed to set the bar in hell. But here’s me officially closing the gap between knowing what to do and creating more space to bring creativity to life.

What started as a newsletter about work and insights has really evolved into a desire to connect. So I hope something in here resonates with you, and if you ever fancy chatting about creativity over coffee, hit me up.