Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when you focus on a problem, that problem intensifies until it’s several orders of magnitude larger than it was when originally brought to your attention? Say you have a neighbor who plays an instrument for a living. They were in a band, you think, and also gave lessons on the side. You never really paid attention because they usually … Continue reading Energy flows where attention goes
I read the book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (not an affiliate link) many years ago when I first started teaching yoga. Written by Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills, the short book lays out four simple-sounding codes of conduct for navigating the world on a personal level. The agreements are: Be impeccable with your word Don’t take anything personally Don’t make … Continue reading How the four agreements help me as a creative team manager
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering if the work you do is any good, if your coworkers appreciate you, if anyone even recognizes the time and effort you put in to projects, or anything along those lines, this tip is for you. How to make a reminder binder The simple key is: take screenshots of nice things people say to you—or about you—in emails, messages, … Continue reading Why you need to keep a reminder binder (or a smile file)
As I was trying to decide what topic to write about next, I poured a cup of coffee and mulled out loud to my husband. “Not sure what to write about next,” I said. “Any suggestions?” In the many years I’ve been blogging, I’m pretty sure I’ve never once asked him for help coming up with a topic. Usually it’s because I keep an ongoing … Continue reading The importance of not doing everything by yourself
If you’re an independent contributor (IC) on a creative team in tech or in a tech-adjacent field—like writing, design, or video—your direct manager also likely has a background in a creative area. Many writing managers are (or were) also writers; many design managers are (or were) product designers themselves. This isn’t always the case, of course. Some designers report to product managers, for example, and … Continue reading Is listening the most important skill a creative manager can have?
andrea drugay 