Episodios

  • It’s Time to Discover Your Creativity

    It’s Time to Discover Your Creativity
    Apr 3 2023
    Welcome to our very first episode of The Creativity Companion!  Dan Nestle, creator and host of The Dan Nestle Show, and Andrew Silberman, author of Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity, are teaming up to talk about all things creation and creativity. Get ready to embark on an enlightening journey as they break down inspiration, innovation, and collaboration!  In this episode, Dan and Andrew are connecting to unpack our understanding of creativity, how they exercise their creative muscle, and the different facets of creativity that foster imagination, problem-solving, leadership, and more. They also offer you some valuable practices to begin discovering or recovering your creative energy, such as meditation and free writing.  “Discovery is finding that inspiration, finding something to get your creativity going in some ways.” – Dan (3:22) Through this podcast, Andrew and Dan want to send you out into your life armed with this understanding of creativity:  “We’re here to say that everybody is creative, and you owe it to yourself and you owe it to your job or your family or whatever to open up that creative vein, to discover that creativity.” – Dan (10:48) We’ll be back next time to talk about gathering creativity, so follow along on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to join us!  In This Episode: (0:58) Andrew discusses discovering creativity in the context of his book (3:35) Dan shares how he accessed his creativity early on in his career (8:15) The different facets of creation (12:08) Writing as a craft  (14:55) Injecting creativity into your daily life  (15:55) How to discover or recover your sense of creativity Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Dan Nestle Show  The Remote Work Companion   Mentioned: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron 
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    23 m
  • The Next Step – Gather Your Resources

    The Next Step – Gather Your Resources
    Apr 11 2023
    So you’ve discovered your creativity, but what’s the next step in the creative process? How do you keep those creative juices flowing? In this episode of The Creative Companion, Dan and Andrew are taking you to the next step in the process of creativity and breaking down the importance of gathering your resources and energy.  Whether we’re talking about accumulating the physical tools you need to create or just trying to find the time, energy, and brain space to imagine new possibilities, this episode is all about developing the skills that will allow you to gather the resources you need to conduct and funnel your creative energy.  “What are the things we can do to gather? OK, we go out and seek what other people say can help in terms of your resources. One of my favorite lines Tony Robbins gave us a long time ago – I don’t know where he got it from – was, ‘It’s not about the resources; it’s about the resourcefulness.’” – Andrew (8:09) There are a variety of ways to bring intent and resourcefulness to your creative journey, but Andrew and Dan are here to offer just a few tips to gather your resources as you work to maximize and hone all of your creative potential!  Keep an eye out for our next episode where we explore circulating, available wherever you listen to podcasts! In This Episode: (1:38) Why gathering creativity is the next step in the process (4:10) The ritualistic nature of creativity  (9:40) Approaching your creative journey with intention (11:41) How you can gather your creativity and intent Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show  Mentioned:  The Healing Promise of Qi by Roger Jahnke
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    16 m
  • Circulate to Access Your Creative Energy

    Circulate to Access Your Creative Energy
    Apr 17 2023
    Are you experiencing a creative dry spell – a season of writer’s block or just struggling to access your imagination?  In this episode, Dan and Andrew unpack this common occurrence for most creatives and how you can combat it when that dry season is upon you. As they share their thoughts on fostering inspiration to get the ideas and sparks flowing, you’ll learn some valuable tactics to circulate and access that creativity.  “A lot of people tend to sit down and then think about what they want to write. And I say that’s not the way to do it. You want to get out. You want to be walking around or doing other things while you can be thinking, so that then you can sit down, and instead of thinking about what to write, you just write down what you’ve been thinking.” – Andrew (4:12) They also dive into the importance of being in a community and how developing connections with others can offer us new perspectives on creation. We have to keep moving forward in pursuit of new positions, new friendships, new projects, etc. In the words of Woody Allen, “a relationship is like a shark. It has to keep moving forward or it dies.” The same concept applies for creativity!  “So you don’t want your creativity to become a dead shark. And the more I think about it, I think it’s like that. You do need to keep some sort of movement and momentum going. You have to keep replenishing the water running through your gills if you’re the shark. Otherwise what you’ve got on your hands is a dead shark.” – Dan (9:32) And keep an eye out for next week’s episode wherever you listen to podcasts!  In This Episode: (1:25) How does circulating work?  (6:30) The importance of connections for incoming inspiration (8:30) Keep moving forward (11:43) The ways networking can help us learn and grow (14:08) Why curiosity is importance for creatives (16:28) How you can practically circulate  Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show  Mentioned:  The Healing Promise of Qi by Roger Jahnke
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    19 m
  • Practice and Purification Go Hand-in-Hand

    Practice and Purification Go Hand-in-Hand
    Apr 24 2023
    What does it mean to refine and purify that which we create, and how do we even develop our very own purification process?  In this episode of The Creativity Companion, Dan and Andrew are breaking down what it means to “purify” your content, your vision, your thinking, etc. and how the purification process is unique to each creative individual. They also discuss internal and external motivators and the role of commitment and pressure in collaboration and creation.  “For me, I think as I embark on a creative endeavor, if it’s self-generated, I’m more likely to hit those obstacles. If it’s externally generated, then I have other motivations to get the shit done.” – Dan (6:15) Creativity requires practice, and sometimes the most valuable technique is to just begin! Often it just takes sitting down and beginning the creative process, and purification can aid you down the road when you’re ready to refine everything you’ve come up with.   “Let’s imagine it’s a hose, and we’re gonna put water through it… What if it’s got some leaves in there or some dirt. Well, you’re not going to get rid of that until you start pumping water through it. And the water that comes out at first is not going to be clear. It’s not going to be pure. But after enough water has been thrown through it, then it almost naturally gets clearer. That’s how I work.” – Andrew (9:19) Drop by again next week to hear about the next topic in our creativity series – available wherever you listen to podcasts!  In This Episode: (1:11) What is purifying in the creative process? (4:35) What and how you purify is unique to YOU  (9:14) Andrew’s hose analogy for purification (11:45) Why you have to find the courage and discipline to just begin (12:50) Sometimes the imperfections become your best work (14:22) Develop your purification ritual  Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show 
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    16 m
  • Direct Your Resources & Devote Your Attention

    Direct Your Resources & Devote Your Attention
    May 1 2023
    Last week we talked about purification – the refinement phase of the creative process – but it can be difficult to get there if you’re busy, scatterbrained, or have trouble focusing on just one thing.  Directing is your answer.  In this episode, Dan and Andrew discuss what it means to direct your attention and resources to the process of creation. Your energy is one of your greatest assets as a creative, so they’re sitting down today to offer you valuable insight on how you can utilize this and direct that energy toward productivity and commitment.  “When we’re in that mode or we want to get in that mode, it’s time to be nurturing for that creative self. So it’s not the time to punish, discipline… Look, if you’re aiming to get those creative thoughts coming, they come from being open and joyful and happy, usually.” – Andrew (11:03) Creativity requires a certain level of intention but also grace. If you’re struggling to sit down and focus, there are a few things you can try. Whether it’s cultivating stillness to restore balance or creating a routine to foster that intention, always remember that these are tools to simply access your creativity. The resources inside yourself are invaluable.  “Recognize that you… transmit empowering resources. It’s like, ‘I have empowering resources inside myself, and I can transmit them. I’m directing – I can transmit them to specific areas.” – Andrew (17:05) Check back in next time to hear about another facet of creativity.  In This Episode: (1:04) Directing resources and focus (6:22) Your energy is critical to your creativity (9:19) The struggle to focus on one thing (10:06) How to use intent and grace as tools for focus  (12:28) How to balance and manage different creative possibilities  (14:19) Dan reveals the enemy of creativity (14:58) A few exercises to restore focus, balance, and harmony Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show 
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    21 m
  • Understanding How and When To Conserve Your Creative Energy

    Understanding How and When To Conserve Your Creative Energy
    May 8 2023
    The idea of conserving energy often brings up thoughts of “saving up” or “holding back.” However, there is another way to frame conservation - and it just might help you become more attuned to how you access and use your creative energy.   In this episode, Dan and Andrew unpack the seemingly counterintuitive idea of conserving your creative energy, not as a means of holding back but as protecting and nurturing your creative essence until the time is right. As they share their thoughts on what conserving creativity looks like in their lives, you’ll learn how strategies for implementing the concept of conservation in your own creative endeavors. “It seems to me that this whole idea of conserving Chi or conserving your creative ability is all about when you decide to do it.” - Dan (5:47) They also look at all the different sources creatives can draw and absorb inputs from, how to decide when you should push your creative limits and when to protect and nurture your creative energy, and they discuss the idea of more not always being better. Dan and Andrew wrap up by emphasizing that conserving is all about making intentional decisions on when to put in 100% and when to only put in 70%.  “[But] the whole idea of letting your muscles recover or even what they call supercompensate. I think that concept of super-compensation happens in creativity as well. If you can actually allow yourself that time to say, it sounds so mumbo jumbo-ish to say accumulate subtle ingredients of refining the inner elixir.” - Andrew (11:04) In the next episode, Dan and Andrew will discuss the next element of creativity - storing. In This Episode: (1:04) What it means to conserve your creative energy (5:47) Deciding when to conserve your creative energy (6:16) Creatives absorb creative energy from many sources (9:23) Know when to hit the throttle and when to stop and hold back  (11:57) More doesn’t mean better  (14:10) Conserving is hard to judge for beginners (14:38) Burnout is real - don’t overdo it Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show  Mentioned:  Mindfulness Meditation: Sam Harris When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing: Daniel Pink Purity of Essence: Dr. Strangelove Jim Carrey MIU commencement speech
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    17 m
  • The Role Of Storing In Creating Creative Potential

    The Role Of Storing In Creating Creative Potential
    May 15 2023
    Last week we discussed conserving - the act of nurturing and protecting your creative potential until the right time. However, conserving is only part of the equation.  Enter stage, Storing. In this episode, Dan and Andrew discuss the concept of storing creativity - the act of actively stockpiling and organizing creative energy and sources for use. They share their thoughts on the key differences between conserving creative potential vs. storing creative potential. As they do so, you will begin to understand how interconnected these two elements of creativity are.  “Conserving seems to be about managing energy, whereas storing isn't. You're actively creating, or you're taking the excess that you have created.” - Dan (4:13) They also discuss the idea of storing within the framework of a reservoir of creative potential, something that can be filled and emptied as needed for creative endeavors. Furthermore, Dan and Andrew discuss the benefits of creative tension and how storage is used as a catalyst to help you unleash your creativity. To wrap up, they discuss how to visualize and fill up your storage reservoir to stockpile and organize your creative potential.  “So that's why that image of this… I create, maximize and sustain this…reservoir of potential. I mean, isn't that just cool? Like you got this feeling, it's like, oh, it's time for me to go do something creative. Well, I got this reservoir of potential.” - Andrew (10:13) In the next episode, Dan and Andrew will discuss another element of creativity - transforming. In This Episode: (1:34) Storing energy vs. conserving energy (5:03) Storing requires a framework to keep your potential organized and accessible (7:53) Store and conserve overlap and are interconnected  (10:55) Does a full-capacity creativity reservoir give rise to risk-taking?  (12:28) The benefit of creative tension for the creative process (13:03) Is everyone creative, or just some of us? (14:27) Storage is the catalyst for most people to unleash their creativity (15:24) A framework for capitalizing on filling your reservoir potential  Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show  Mentioned:  The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi Psychological Study on creativity
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    18 m
  • Achieving Unlimited Creative Potential Through Transforming

    Achieving Unlimited Creative Potential Through Transforming
    May 22 2023
    Last week we discussed storing - the concept of stockpiling and organizing creative material and potential in a reservoir. So, what do you do with this material once your reservoir is full? You transform it into something new. In this episode, Dan and Andrew discuss the concept of transforming creativity - the process of taking your creative material and converting it into something new. They converse about transformation’s role in the creative process for not just the creative material, but the creator’s need to transform as well. As they talk, you will be exposed to unique perspectives on the importance of evolving as a creator in order to be able to produce innovative creative products.  “Every single thing we see around us, every physical expression of matter is originated at some kind of thought, right? Yeah. So somehow that gets transformed.” - Andrew (3:25) They also liken the concept of transformation to alchemy, taking elements and combining them together in creative ways to transform those elements into new materials. Dan and Andrew also compare transformation to evolution using examples such as a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly to emphasize the necessity of a product to evolve into something new and better over time. Dan even talks about his podcast and how both he and his show evolved and transformed over time. To wrap up, they talk about the importance of embracing change during the transformation of you and your creative potential.  “And that evolution, it doesn't mean that you have to necessarily change your values or you can keep your core, but it's really about taking the inputs, the elements of the world as you see them that are around you, the new information when it comes available, because new information is always available, and creating that and putting that into what you do so that you are able to transform, to evolve that product, to change from being ineffective to being effective.” - Dan (11:52) In the next episode, Dan and Andrew will discuss another element of creativity - “dissolving in”, so be sure to tune in! In This Episode: (1:49) Transformation’s role in the creative process (3:23) Transformation is converting an idea into something new (7:01) Creativity is a different perspective (8:14) Creators and their creations go through transformations  (10:37) Transformations are creative solutions for problems (11:20) Transformations work on many levels (14:40) Andrew’s advice for being mindful of transformation Resources & Links: Dan Nestle LinkedIn Andrew Silberman LinkedIn Get a G.R.I.P. on Creativity by Andrew Silberman The Remote Work Companion   The Dan Nestle Show  Mentioned:  The Alchemist: Paolo Coelho
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    17 m