Ditch the maps, design your own creative blueprint

Nov 21, 2024

I was watching one of Colombia's soccer matches, and found myself captivated by an unrelated mystery: how do they do it? How does the coach conjure strategy for every game?

More puzzling still, how do the players untangle the chaos on the field in real time? It's like watching a chess match where the pieces have egos and sometimes trip over themselves.

It struck me then: creativity isn't a mystical gift bestowed upon the chosen few. It's a resource—like electricity or chocolate—that everyone needs. But without a proper structure to channel it, it fizzles out, leaving nothing but frustration in its wake.

As the match dragged on and Colombia repeatedly hurled itself against Ecuador's defense, my thoughts wandered further. How did I go from clinging to rigid routines to building a structure that felt not only useful but genuinely mine? It wasn't an overnight breakthrough.

For years, I clung to other people's routines: cold showers, early morning walks, 5AM alarm clocks. Spoiler alert: I burned out faster than a candle in a child's birthday party. The more I forced myself to fit into someone else's mold, the more I resisted the work I needed to do.

So, I started stripping away the clutter. Anything that didn't resonate got the boot.

What followed was a deep dive into myself. It was messy. It was beautiful. Slowly, three pillars emerged. Self-awareness unveiled the hidden believes driving my decisions. Self-mastery turned intention into action, regardless of mood or circumstance. And authenticity anchored my why with integrity.

These pillars helped me design my own creative blueprint. No more dreaded mornings, or overwhelming lists of tasks. I found a sustainable fire within, a dynamic flow between intention and action.

It's the energy that fuels my obsessions: software development, writing, martial arts, and whatever rabbit hole I stumble down next (ahem, blockchain).

This isn't some exclusive secret. Anyone can do it.

But we desperately need a holistic view of creativity and the structures to sustain it. In a world that celebrates constant output, we've overlooked the necessity of sustainability, the long game. To build that sustainability, we must ask: Who are we? What do we truly value? Why do we create?

So, here's my advice—simple, but not easy. Understand the fundamentals. Design your own blueprint. Build a structure to unleash your creative energy. Trust me: the right structure doesn't shackle you, it sets you free.