The three stages of creative work

My experience — and it may not be unique to me, or to my chosen field — is that the life of a Creative happens in three distinct stages.

In Stage I you are figuring stuff out. You work on building up your skills. You learn your tools, work on your craft, learn to play with others, and help clients get projects done. In Stage II you take ownership of projects, people ask you to take the lead, and you build large things. And in Stage III your scope widens. You strive for meaning, see the long game, play at more points in the process, and build for longevity. And as you strive to keep the brands in your charge relevant, culture, technologies, and business goals shift – sending you back to an earlier stage to retool.

This never-ending cycle draws me to creative work, and to the Creatives who embrace it. I’ve been privileged to work with a wide range of incredibly talented people, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Thanks for stopping by.