The Context
The word project comes from the word proiectum. It means, something thrown forth. This is the core of what it means to be prolific. Throwing things forth. Melting the glaciers within you. Finding a productive obsession that galvanized you and serves your meaning making efforts. Brainstorming and creating and organizing and executing ideas and enlisting smart people to help you fulfill your vision. Not to mention, discovering the ecstasy within the process of the work itself and experiencing sublime joy of seeing things come together to produce an artistic whole. That’s a project. But when you’re an artist, somebody who makes a living launching projects, the hardest part is deciding which one to work on next. Uncovering a new and exciting idea with enough momentum to catapult you out of creative limbo. Because you can’t force it.
The Tool
Project Junkie
PROJECT JUNKIE — A brainstorming framework to decide which venture to tackle next
Creative people make this mistake all the time. They start working on a project they want to want, but in their hearts, it’s not the best use of their time and talents. It’s just some silly, puny, uninteresting pursuit that does little for the world. It may help to scoot boredom out the door, but ultimately, it doesn’t point them in the direction of reality and accomplishment. It doesn’t serve their meaning making efforts. If you find yourself at this point in your creative process, here are several questions to consider. What problems can I solve? What skills can I use? What interests can I mine? What themes can I address? What markets can I serve? What assets can I leverage? What technology can I use? What change can I create? What projects can I emulate? That’s how the brain works. Once you empty it on a piece of paper, all you have to do is sit back and listen for what wants to be written.
The Rest
If you’re a project junkie like most creatives, somebody who constantly needs a mental task to bite into, somebody who needs to feel engaged and tested and stretched, make it easier on yourself. Use this framework to uncover and nurture an idea that fascinates you into something real in the world. How do you know what your next project will be?
The Benefits
Build additional momentum when intuition and inspiration take the day off
Overcome a lack excitement around not having discovering something worth doing
Uncover and nurture a new idea that fascinates you into a real project in the world
Unlock new opportunities to combine your talents, passions and skills into something meaningful