Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 8

Let's Get Evaluating!

I hope you had fun testing your ideas and writing down your observations.

What did you notice?

What went well?

What went not so well?

Where can you improve?

This week we are following on from last week.

This is an awesome way to help you get to the final product (hold your horses - we are still four weeks away from your finished product/service).

The processes you learn in this Creative Challenge will help you in all other areas of your life too - and I do hope that your creative juices are going crazy already.

So let's get tuck into this weeks challenge!

Challenge Tip 8

Let's Get Evaluating!

To do this successfully we need to go through the whole 'questioning' process again.

By the way I hope you can see and feel the power of asking empowering questions.

Following from the above questions, let's continue and ask; 'What can I do to improve this? What resources do I need now? Who can help me? Is this good, excellent or can I do better?'

Another way to evaluate your progress and to test your product or service or your masterpiece-in-the-making is to 'take the initiative, be bold' and share it with your loved ones.

OK, I know you nearly panicked!

They are usually the tough ones and we do usually get disheartened by their incorrect response.

Ok, so why not ask your random social media friends? Or maybe some forums? 

Use the means you have available (and I know you do have them available) and ask.

Remember, it may be a product or service you're working on for the benefit of others so it makes total sense to ask them now.

Yes you are at the unleashing your creativity phase but in life to succeed we have to take that first step - even if it makes us uneasy.

We only feel uneasy because we know internally that we are stepping outside of our comfort zone and by stepping out of it and feeling uneasy or even resistance actually means that you are in your growing phase.

See, it's all good really! :)

Once you get some feedback from random souls and once you evaluate your progress as well as the masterpiece-in-the-making get to re-working it with the additions, alterations and deletions.

This is a fun process.

Remember, YOU are in charge here - this is your masterpiece-in-the-making so have some fun with it.

Let me know in the comments below how this phase is for you and how I can help.

Now get evaluating and re-working it - we're almost at the finish line - I can smell victory! :D

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 7

Let's Get Testing!

Hey there my Creative Geniuses.

We are in Challenge Tip 7 this week.

I hope you have been enjoying and benefiting from this challenge course.

It started in the New Year and will go on til end of March 2014.

We will have 12 challenges and if you are joining us for the very first time then firstly welcome to turBo flow Academy and secondly you can start straight away by scrolling down to week 1.

This Challenge Tip course was primarily created to help individuals who are shy to get creative or try new ideas, who are stuck in a limiting belief that they are not creative, to set the tone for 2014 - be more creative and have more fun - and learn to unleash your creative juices.

This challenge course is also ideal for creative-pros too if you want to enhance your creativity or just want to read something different. This blog Academy!

So last week we had an intensive coaching and mentoring session and today we shall...

Challenge Tip 7

Let's Get Testing!

It's time to test our ideas now.

This may sound little bit daunting but remember all geniuses created masterpieces after trial and error and many drafts and ups and downs.

The vital key here is to 'Never Give Up! Especially if you truly believe in your ideas.

Listen, I've been there and as an entrepreneur I've had my share of crying, sleepless nights, doubts in my own abilities and skills and the constant I quit sessions in my head.

Had I quit then today we would not be in week 7 and I would not be running 11 different brands.

I'm a daily work in progress - just like you - but the key is to persevere and keep going.

So this week I want you to go ahead now and test your invention masterpiece in the making.

Weather that was creating a physical product or something virtual - i.e. online videos, books, eBooks (like I am) or whatever you are working on - test it.

You may have gone through this already where you have come up with some challenges, hesitations or resistances.

That is a good sign!

Grab your creative journal, pen/pencil (with the rubber) and jot down your observations.

This is like being back at school in science lab! :D

Write down what worked, what didn't work, what new approach you can try, what you can add, delete, move around etc.

Create mind maps to answer these questions and you will find your answers.

That's your homework for this week.

Get testing your masterpiece in the making and continue the awesome creativity! :)

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 6

Let's Get Coaching!

We're in week 6 and welcome back my Creative Geniuses! :D

I hope that you've been enjoying the challenge and have been actively getting creative.

Remember, this Challenge is all about helping you unleash your creative juices and to help you live a more confident and creative life - starting right now.

If you are new to this and reading this for the very first time and want to join in then just simply scroll down to Challenge Tip 1 and begin!

Right, so, in this weeks Challenge we will take one of your ideas and work through making it happen.

I hope you've got your journals and pens/pencils (with the rubber) ready to take notes.

Just to point out - we all have our unique ways of taking notes.

You may be someone who likes taking long notes.

You may like to take notes in bullet-point form.

Or you may even doodle and make creative bubbles (mind-maps) to jot notes.

What works for you - works for you, so feel free to work the way that makes you khaapy!.

Challenge Tip 6:

Let's Get Coaching!

I want you to take one idea from the top three hat you chose.

If you can't decide then get creative.

Write the ideas on a piece of scrap paper, put them in a hat, close your eyes and choose one! 

Done? Cool.

So, whatever your ideas - here's how we will make it happen.

I'm going to use the example of writing an eBook.

So to begin with my goal or 'intention' (as i like to call it) is to write an eBook and publish it on to Amazon Kindle.

So here insert your goal or intention................................................

Now, here comes my uniqueness in coaching. Ask yourself; 'How sincere am I in this intention?' 'Why is this goal or intention important to me?' 'What do I want to achieve'.

With the eBook example I would answer by saying; 'I'm very sincere (typical answer) as I want to take my writing skills further. This goal is important to me as I have an important message which can inspire and motivate those who are seeking soul therapy and I want to help people find inner peace by understanding their soul'.

Your turn! Take your goal or intention that you pulled out the hat and answer those questions and jot them down in your journal.

You may get lots of answers - not just one - and that is awesome as your brain has gone into 'search for answers' mode and this is helping you now.

The next question we will ask is; 'What are my options and obstacles in making this (insert your intention goal here) a reality.

So I would answer that by saying; 'My options are that I can give someone else my topic (a ghost writer) to write my eBook if I don't have the time. However, I love writing so I will write it myself. I can get someone to proof-read and give feedback (I suck at grammar). I can self-publish. I can hire someone to make me the cover design if I don't know how. I can do it myself because I'm creative and I love creating.'

Options are limitless once you allow your brain to go into 'search' mode.

Answer this question for your goal intention and once again jot down the answers in your journal.

Next question is; 'What actions do I need to take to make my goal a reality?'

For my eBook it would be; 'Research my topic and chosen niche. Research what other material is out there on this topic. Research the Amazon Kindle terms and conditions. Set time daily to write'.

Answer this question for your goal.

And the final question is; 'What will I do NOW?' 'What three things will I do now to get going?'

It's all good planning and researching and thinking - but at some point we actually need to do the do - as that's how things are created.

So I would jot down three things and for my eBook I would schedule in time in my diary for next 7 days when I will sit and write without interruption, I would get on Google and start researching my topic and title names and I would open a word document and start writing.

Take your chosen goal and write down what three things you will do now and then go do them now!

***********************************************************************************************

*Phew* 

That was our Coaching and mentoring session for our Challenge Tip today.

How does that feel?

Now stop reading and get doing and I'll see you next week on Challenge Tip 7! :)

(Ps - I am writing an eBook which is set to publish on Amazon Kindle on 28th Feb!)

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 5

Let's Get Creating!

Welcome to today's Challenge Tip.

So, how was last week?

Did you get random and weird?

Did you raid your recycle bin??

What lessons did you learn from this exercise???

I really hope you enjoyed this exercise and got some stress-relief therapy too.

This challenge is also quite therapeutic - so have lots of fun with it!

So in today's challenge we are going to put the last 4 weeks exercises into something BIG!

But hold on - don't feel too overwhelmed as I will break it down week by week.

Remember you can go back to week 1's challenge anytime for a refresher and we have been building on it for the last 4 weeks - building on your confidence and giving your creative juices permission to flow.

Right, so let's get into today's Challenge Tip!

Challenge Tip 5: 

Let's Get Creating!

So for the past 4 weeks we have started from the basics - getting a journal and pens/pencils (with the rubber) together all the way to getting random objects and seeing what random things we can make from them.

Now, I want you to create something!

Yes, YOU the creator of your creative innovation.

No this can be anything - and I mean absolutely anything as the creative possibilities are endless.

It could be something as small as a knitting a heart (that's a note to self!) to writing an eBook (which is my main focus this year - more eBooks and books) to writing a poem, to launching your own creative ideas company!

Honestly - whatever you want.

Now you're probably scratching your head and thinking; 'Well, where do i begin?'

Take all the lessons you have learnt from the last four weeks and get to work.

Do you remember the 'Let's Get Thinking' Challenge in week 2? And those 15 minute exercises? And the exercise in nature?

Well, grab your journal and do that exercise again for today's challenge.

Brainstorm ideas - narrow them down to like-minded categories (i.e. knitting, sewing, crocheting - or - vlogs, animations, adverts, etc).

Get the picture?

Awesome.

So go ahead now and get brainstorming - and using the idea from 'Let's Get Pinteresting' Challenge and your creative folders you created? Remember?

See, we really were building on each week for something big.

Choose 3 categories and then 1 idea from each category and then the top one from those 3.

It can be whatever you want from that list and then brainstorm that idea on how you will actually go about achieving it or making it happen.

Next week I will break this down for you further and go through a whole coaching model with you (Since I'm a Creative Coach) and I will also have a webinar next week for my personal development brand which will also be beneficial for you with this challenge.

But for now - get into it and comment below with what idea you will work on for your 'Creative Genius YOU Challenge Project!' :)

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 4

Let's Get Random and Weird!

I bet (betting is haraam!) this one made you go; 'Huh?!'

See, what happens is that, years of conditioning - family/school/society - can sometimes leave us very vulnerable and somewhat 'scared' to show our true personalities. 

Think about it for a moment - you are on this challenge for a reason - and maybe one of those reasons is that you always wanted to unleash your creative juices but were 'afraid' of what others would say and think that you are weird or random (two words sometimes associated with creative souls).

I know how that feels - because that is how i felt too!

And I'm one of those uber-weird-random-spontaneous souls who comes out with alsorts.

Being random and weird is actually quite cool.

I mean, even this challenge was born out of random spontaneousness - and look we are now in week 4 already- AND something random inspired this weeks challenge.

Basically i finished eating a box of chocolate nibbles and started playing with the outer packaging which was made from soft card.

It was all bendy as it was used to seal the transparent box - so my choc-nibbles wouldn't fall out - and as i sat there on the floor, by the fire (it's rainy and cold) i just started playing with it and lo behold i came up with so many different shapes (and it was kinda therapeutic too!).

And so this inspired me for today's challenge.

Ready to get weird and random?

OK, let's go!

Challenge Tip 4:

Let's Get Random and Weird!

Go through your recycle box and pick out an empty box or it's outer packaging.

Now for the next 15 minutes just play with it and see how many shapes or designs or usages you can come up with.

The trick is to just go for it and play with it at random.

Try not to force yourself into creating something or coming up with something, for if you are new to this, (and we did do this as kids and even in adult days we do this randomly and don't realise it) then you'll just end up annoying yourself for not being able to come up with anything.

Try this exercise and then find some other bits and pieces in your recycle box and have a play with them also.

This is opening up your confidence and you are now allowing yourself to explore and experiment with your creativity without being scared or thinking that you'll be judged.

It's actually quite fun - I had to drag myself away from the packaging! lol.

Right, so this is your challenge for this week and as the week progresses do this exercise once every day and you'll see how your personality also develops and how you start to live your personality openly a little more.

Have fun! :)

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 3

Let's Get Pinteresting!

Well alrighty then!

How are you doing this week? Have you been enjoying Challenge Tip 1 and 2 so far? Have you shared it with your loved ones? Are your creative juices flowing?

I hope so!

There's still plenty time to get your loved ones onto the challenge and hey maybe you could do the challenge together? :)

OK, so just a quick re-cap before we dive in with this weeks challenge. Challenge Tip 1 was all about getting your creative genius tools together - which you did, well done - and then last week Challenge Tip 2 was broken down to part a, b and c - some thinking exercises, some nature gazing, some doodling, googling and getting your files and folders in place.

I know that everything seems to be available at an instant online and we all love the instant online world however do try to keep a physical offline folder/file too.

Just like your journal and/or notebook it is a cool handy tool.

Right - let's get into this weeks challenge - you ready? I sure am! :D

Challenge Tip 3:

Let's Get Pinteresting!

So this challenge is all about getting your files and folders in place and creating some creative boards for yourself.

You may have heard of 'Visual Boards' - a board where you put picture and images of all the dreams you want to achieve in your life and maybe you already do this - that's awesome. 

But i wanted to share a tool with you which i use - you may already be using - or looking into using - and what it does is that it helps you create online visual boards of what you like.

I use something called Pinterest (here's my profile http://www.pinterest.com/turboflow/ i was updating it today and had lots of fun).

This awesome and cool tool helps you create your own boards and 'Pin' pictures/images that you like.

Go to Pinterest dot com - set up a profile and start creating a board.

You could even create your very own 'Creative Genius YOU Challenge' board and if you do then please share it with me on Pinterest.

Do add your friends on their (especially your social media friends as they may already be using it) start following boards and re-pinning - you'll love the follow back!

Another awesome point about Challenge Tip 3 is that now you are starting to sift things to what you like and prefer.

In Challenge Tip 2 we were letting our mind wonder and google whatever and doodle what came to our mind and you may have had things pop into your head or even on google that you were not too happy with or did not resonate with.

So here we are getting selective with what we like.

It is always good to keep an open creative eye and do continue to do that however i want you to stay focused and happy with this challenge.

Sometimes we can get bored with a task we don't really enjoy or don't see any benefit from - so instead of getting you to focus on whatever i now want you to get specific with what YOU like.

It makes me happy!

So there you have it - this is our Challenge Tip 3 - time to get pinteresting!

As always do like, share and comment on this post or email me - i love to hear your feedback on this creative journey! :)

Creative Genius YOU: Challenge Tip 2

Let's Get Thinking!

OK my creative souls - how was 'Challenge Tip 1?'

Did you get your journal, notebook, pen, pencil (with the rubber) and colours together?

Did you start doodling and googling already?

I'm sure you have - you're already ahead of me on this ;)

So, today - or shall I say this week - our challenge is to...but wait...there are three parts to this weeks challenge tip. Ready? :D

Challenge Tip 2:

Let's Get Thinking!

Yes I know you already do that and you're pretty awesome at it too - however the idea now is to start daydreaming, doodling and googling.

But where to get inspiration or what to think?

Part a - Here I would say set a timer for 15 minutes to do nothing but drift off in to day-dream land.

We are not forcing ourselves to think anything in particular and I know you want to give it your best shot and you may be worried that you may get those unsolicited thoughts that you don't want during this 15 minute session - but it's OK, remember it is all a process and we are in early days taking baby steps and just learning.

Once your timer pulls you out your dream land start jotting down your thoughts - draw them - doodle them - whatever suits you.

Again, right now we are just getting the hang of this so allow whatever comes to you.

Part b - Also in this weeks challenge I want you to start doodling.

How?

Grab your notebook or journal, pop on your music of choice, get out into nature - observe, listen, drift off with the sounds and pretty scenes and just let your hand guide your pencil!

That sounds deep!

And - Part c - get on google and google!

Really, just google keywords from your doodlings and your note-takings (from parts a and b) and see what images come up (I'm so praying it's nothing haraam and explicit!).

Create a folder on your PC, laptop, ipads, smartphones and call it 'TFA - Challenge 2014) and save the images in that folder - we'll need them later.

Right, so that is this weeks challenge and if you're serious about this challenge which I know you are then each day for the next 7 days spend a maximum of 45 minutes on all parts (that's parts a, b and c).

Yes, you can spend longer - however - if you are a newbie you don't want to get overwhelmed with it all - but if you enjoy it then go for it.

That's it for this week. I'll be back with Challenge Tip #3 next week - in the meantime like, share and get interacting with this post and challenge - I look forward to hearing from you! :)

Have an awesome and creative week ahead!