Creative Marathon: Week 4 Training Schedule

It’s the last week of The Creative Marathon, and you’re nearing the finish line (details coming soon). Keep up the momentum and finish strong.

Monday
Warm-Up. Laugh. Stop right now and laugh out loud. Laugh about the project in front of you. Laugh about the nagging problem living rent-free in you head. Laugh about the deadline staring you in the face. Laugh about the jerk that slammed your idea. Laugh about the dumb mistake you made last week. Laugh about yourself. Laughter leads to lightness and lightness leads to creativity. So what are you laughing about?

Tuesday
Sprints. Take a project or problem and give it a series of mind sprints. At the top of a blank page, write the challenge as a question. For example, your question might be: “How could I use social media for this?” Then mind-sprint by quickly writing at least 10 answers to the question. Don’t judge if the answers or good or bad – just make a fast list. Once the sprints are done, edit and prioritize answers. Then move into action.

Wednesday
Cross-Train. Phone a new acquaintance. Pop in on a supplier. Tour a friend’s office. Immerse yourself in a client’s world. Visit a different retailer. Have a heart-to-heart talk with an associate whose opinion you value. Chat with another associate whose opinions you usually disagree with.

Thursday
Rest. Head for bed tonight with pad and pen nearby. As you begin drifting off, notice any ideas that emerge when you’re not quite awake, not quite asleep. The subconscious often yanks off its chains and delivers wild ideas during this drowsy stage. Repeat the process tomorrow morning by setting your alarm for a few minutes earlier. Stay in bed for five minutes and let your mind wander. Capture ideas and insights on paper.

Friday
Finish Line. Look back at your results with the marathon exercises. Celebrate breakthroughs. And while you’re at it, give yourself a shout-out for successful ideas you’ve had during the past six months. Make a list of those ideas – whether you’ve had two or two thousand—and reference the list when you’re bummed out over a project or problem.

Also spend a half-hour searching through files and notebooks for your good ideas that never reached reality. Consider how you can bring these ideas to life – and see if any of them could solve challenges you’re facing right now.

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