Creative Designs

"I learned I had to be willing to show up and suck until I could show up and shine." (Anonymous Student)

OK. I confess. I have been watching "Project Runway", a reality TV program. The "survivors" in this case are an assortment of fashion Designers who are competing for the chance to show their signature fashion collection. The leaders of "Project Runway" assign a series of challenges to the fashion Designers. For each episode they must follow the directions and prepare a particular look. They have a very limited budget in dollars and time to do this. Despite the contrived drama that is inherent in any reality show, I have gleaned some helpful insight.

When we talk about creativity, we often do so with the idea that it always springs from within us. Any outside forces that we credit are usually considered to be peripheral to our creative project. Right?

Let's get real! Much of the time we are creating in response to an assignment or challenge from a client, a supervisor, or another person. And our muse could be any number of people or things.

In "Project Runway" the contestants must channel their creativity to satisfy a client, the judges, and themselves. We watch them as they work with all of these factors in mind, and we see how it affects their relationships with each other. This is the most entertaining and instructive aspect of the show. By watching these contestants you can consider how you might behave in their situation. Would you be able to stay focused, with the clock ticking away and your competitors working on their Designs only a few feet from you - often commenting on your work?

It is a real testament to the maturity of the finalists that they can learn from the judges' critiques, respond objectively to other comments, and concentrate on how they are improving their professional skills through this rigorous process.

How well do you think you would do in this type of high-pressure atmosphere? Maybe that's where you are now in your own life. Your Design challenge may be different, but your issues are similar. What are you learning?

"The very struggle of the process is what makes you sharp and gives you valuable experience and maturity . . . True growth is not cheap. Emotional maturity and seasoning come through an intimate understanding of the process of life, the love of the journey, and the depth of subtlety that is achieved through a commitment to patience." (Baron Baptiste)

Anna Watkins is a Career Coach with a special interest in group coaching and Master Mind Groups, networks of like-minded people who support and help each other stay on track with their life goals.You can learn more about the resources she offers through her website: http://www.one-e-anna.com

posted by lks  # 3:14 PM 0 comments