That said, as an agency principle I had no choice but to adapt to the constant interruptions of my job. See my previous post, Bumblebee sex, which speaks to how I adapted to this block and found a new way to percolate my creative process - a method that I actually believe has many benefits. Of course, all this stuff is highly individual. But, if you have no choice, sometime you have to change your game.

I have the trust at work and (more often than not) with the clients. But my biggest creative block stems from interruption. You know the kind … somebody knocks on your office door JUST as you find the groove for that awesome headline or body copy. Or the phone rings. Or somebody sends an urgent email. Or there’s a problem only you can fix.

It gets harder and harder as I gain more responsibility at work, as I’m pulled into more and more “camp counselor” meetings - spending more time with maintenance, management and paperwork and less on the ideas.

Obviously the onus is on me to spread the word at the office - even get out, as necessary. (A laptop, a latte and a comfy chair at a great coffee shop are my go-to conjure secrets. That and a long run around the neighborhood.)

But then I go home to my three kids - all in grade school - and the immediate roll shift is seismic. I cannot change my role as mother, wouldn’t want to, and as such my creative thinking literally switches off. It can take hours, if not days, to get back on track … thinking the way I need to think for my clients. I need a different strategy, other than full-brain immersion, to help keep work farther top of mind when I’m home.

Other than the notebook in my purse, that is. Any suggestions?

The key descriptor in your observation is “key corporate executives.” It seems as if the size of a corporation is inversely proportional to its tolerance for risk/failure. In the once-great big ad agencies, it’s very rare to find the entrepreneurial spirit necessary to create breakthrough efforts; and as a result, it’s very rare to find decent work. The people who really “allow our people to fail” rarely say it. They simply walk the walk.

HighJive, regards to fear, the most hollow words I hear from top corporate executives is, “we allow our people to fail.”  Funny, because most of your people don’t feel that way.  Sure they hear the lip service.  But do they believe it?

Now, frankly, in many cases even when management means it, it is the people in the trenches who like to perpetuate the “they won’t let me fail” perception, it means they don’t have to try as hard.  I have a whole blog post about failure that’s percolating.  This is a pretty huge topic.  (Ain’t they all.)

I appreciate the exploration here around creative blocks.

Yes, Tom, it’s true that there is a positive form of procrastination that people can use to let things simmer and develop. If we deliberately employ that tactic, it’s a good thing. There’s another great book on the creative process that I’m sure most are familiar with: soakwashrinsespin by Tolleson Design.

Regarding combating fear of failure, I think it also ties to another “creative block” — specifically, having an environment that doesn’t reprimand people for failing. The great environments boast of applauding failure. If the failure is a result of trying to challenge convention and create breakthrough results, people should be rewarded versus reprimanded for trying. Of course, this doesn’t mean failure should be a goal. And if someone is consistently failing, obviously there’s a problem. But I hope y’all get what I’m typing here.

Re the elephant, I don’t think it ever really goes away. Not if you keep pushing your boundaries. When I stop seeing the big scary elephant, then I’ll really be frightened.

Some people, when they face the elephant, try slaying it the way they have done in the past, often playing the same old idea in another form. That’s a truer sign of creative stagnation than some silly ol’ elephant.

I believe one of the greatest barriers to success is past successes. You can bet you’ll hear more from me on that topic in this blog.