Createfulness: Recent Episodes
Gary Hirson
Many fantasise about moving from the big city to a small town
Graham Abbott made such a move. His passion is photography and his love for this art, combined with his desire to contribute to those around him led him to create the Barrydale Analogue photographic festival.
In this episode, “Transforming life in a small Karoo town,” we speak about, the transformation needed to live in a small Karoo town, what it took to create such a festival, and what made it a success.
The difference between working as a CEO and a Solopreneur couldn't be bigger.
As a CEO you have teams reporting to you, and limited "me," time.
As a Solopreneur you have to motivate yourself and be accountable to keep on moving forward and It can get lonely.
In this latest episode of the Createfulness podcast, "Creating the Balance," I chat with Sabine Lehmann.
Sabine is the ex-CEO of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, the ex COO of the Zeitz MOCAA Museum, and now heads up her own gig.
In this episode, we talk about the challenges and rewards that all 3 positions bring and all things Createful.
In this latest episode of the Createfulness podcast, the tables are turned as the usual host, Gary Hirson is interviewed.
For 20 days he was trying to raise funds via a crowdfunding platform so that he could get to see his photographs that are to be exhibited in the Swiss Museum of transport.
In this episode, he speaks about his 20-day journey as well as the ins and outs of driving a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Coping with shutting down a successful business and laying off staff members due to Covid, and then managing to pick yourself and carrying on takes some doing. Open and honest communication has to happen. New boundaries and priorities need to be set and structure needs to be placed so that continued growth can e allowed to happen. All of this and more is discussed, with Grant Greeff, in this latest episode of the Createfulness podcast.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who sheds so much light on a topic that you realise that your perception related to it was so wrong? Well, that's what happened to me during my chat with Jolanda de Villiers Morkel of Stadio Higher education on this latest episode of the Creatfulness podcast where we chatted about Design Thinking. If you're up for learning more about what it actually is, then have a listen.
Some dream of being an internationally recognised DJ, and a tech entrepreneur. As fantastic as it all is, there is still all the behind-the-scenes- work to make it happen. We also need to look after ourselves, by playing, while finding the creative inspiration, and acting in a certain way by taking action on the inspiration - so to get to the desired outcome. In this latest episode of the Createfulness podcast, I chat with Dave McKinley about how he keeps it all going, as well as his thoughts about all that is Createful.
"Creativity is not, are you smart?" But rather, "how are you smart?" "Create the best with what's in front of you." It's not about "me," it's about "we," as co-creating and collaborations lead to more." All form part of this latest episode of the Createfulness podcast. In this episode, I speak with coach, trainer, facilitator, and visionary - Renee Lighton (who also has the coolest surname) about her interpretation of what it s to be createful.
When is a good age to start with personal leadership development? Jayne a Life Coach and ex-school teacher, along with her husband Chris have created a multi-media platform to introduce personal leadership skills to young teenagers. Have a listen to my chat with Jayne as we discuss all that she and Chris are doing, the benefits, and her take on being Createful.
Paul Zamek's mantra is, "keep it light, keep it interesting, and keep it going!" An icon in the global music industry and a fantastic raconteur, Paul, along with his wife -living according to their ideals, beliefs, and aspirations, ventured to foreign lands to start a new. In this episode, Paul not only talks about his journey, including an interesting Elton John story but he also gives us his take on what it is the be Createful - to Play, Lead, and Create.
Helene Marie Ceillier, like many others, was dramatically affected by the onset of Covid. As a creative entrepreneur, she realised that she had to pivot, and quickly. In this episode of the #_createfulness_podcast, we chat about pivoting and her journey which resulted in her tapping into the pleasures she found as a child and an almost forgotten qualification. Helene Marie is known as the_restyler (Website and Instagram handle,) and is a partner in an Interior Design Agency - Redress.
In this 3rd episode of the Createfulness podcast series, I chat with Gordon Ros of Ideacircus 1965. One of the reasons some feel that they're not creative is because they're not a published author or don't have a picture hanging in a gallery. To dispel that myth I speak with Gordon Ros about his creative expression, his opinion on creativity, his daily routine when it comes to creating, and his opinion on how creativity and leadership skills are connected...which is what #_Createfulness_ is about. I hope you enjoy it.
In this second episode of the Createfulness podcast, I chat with Trisha Lord Rule. Trisha heads up Braveheart Life which linked to the works of Nancy Klein's Thinking Environment. During our conversation, we discuss - among other things - how our thinking and assumptions affect our opinion on whether we're creative or not and whether we can develop as a leader or not. As important, she discusses how we can shift those assumptions just by incorporating a few mental and physical changes.
In the very first episode of the Createfulness series, I chat with Berenice Chabanel. Berenice is the head Girl at Woodridge College. As a young woman, we chat about her thoughts about leadership, her brand of creativity, and how they are connected.
Her insightful opinions showcase that both leadership and creativity apply to us all, no matter our age.
Welcome to the intro of the Createfulness podcast
I believe we are all uniquely creative and I know that Leadership skills can be developed. I also believe that there is a lot of synergy between the two. No matter what the level of the creative project – whether it’s just a hobby, or something more, it usually involves working a lot by ourselves whether a future collaboration is involved or not.
A lot of thought goes into it, a lot of planning, and a lot of creative exploration. This is not too dissimilar to how a leader operates. A lot of the work is done internally and alone before collaborating and bringing in the team. And that is what this podcast is about. It’s about exploring creativity and leadership.
How they are both joined at the hip, how exploring both of them benefits each one, and how we can develop them both.
For me being considered creative isn’t about having an artwork hanging at a gallery or having won a prize for a short story or the likes, it’s being able to create something from an idea or transforming something from one state to another. It’s a transformation in action no matter whether it’s an external project or a desired internal change.
The interesting thing is that it relates to what a leader does – they create a vision or work towards one, implementing transformation within the idea and the team, achieving something new for both.
I feel that if we are willing to be curious, be courageous, commit, be adaptable, be optimistic, put in some effort while having fun – some of which are traits of a leader, we can discover and enjoy our unique brand of creativity.
So how does this connect to developing leadership skills?
Being Creative involves, trying new things, being curious, and being prepared to make mistakes. And we need to embrace this to become a better leader.
Being Createful is the combination of mind, matter, motivation, and the effortfulness related to creative expression.
The Mind part, is how we think and feel about being creative, and how it applies to us.
The Matter part is asking the question, what is it that we offer creatively?
The motivation part of it is twofold, what motivates us to do it, and secondly, what do we want to do with it?
And the “effortful” part, which is a term I picked up from a Brene Brown talk, is related to “how much effort do we want to put into it?”
Basically, Createfulness is a holistic approach to creativity while incorporating the traits of a leader.
The important thing about being Createful is that it’s not about whether we’re good or bad at it, but rather the feeling it invokes in us and the enjoyment we get out of participating in it. The other important thing is that creativity and leadership are available to everyone.
And that is what this podcast is really about. How developing our Createfulness can excite, motivate and stimulate us further, and how developing our leadership skills can help us to lead our way through life as opposed to just managing it. As I believe that, especially now, being creative and acting as a leader can contribute greatly to our wellbeing as we journey through life.
So what will this podcast include?
Twice a month I’m going to be chatting with people – whether leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, remote workers, artists anyone willing to share their take on what it is to a createful. Besides the guest sharing their valuable input, there will also be takeaway points for you the audience to play within your own time.
Each month will be themed, and the podcast will form part of a bigger interactive membership program. gX7nTCoaEOQfJDHhdtcA