What is creativity?

Over the last several months, I’ve been exploring creativity. It has many facets. Writing, drawing, speaking, playing, and much more. Creativity is something we define for ourselves. It’s a personal adventure with ideas and expression.

Yet, it’s also something we’ve forgotten how to explore. Our formal education, societal expectations, general busyness, and other outside factors box in our creativity. We doubt our creativity. Worse, we lose sight of its importance. Maybe even its existence.

What’s there to explore?

All of these observations have made me curious about creativity. I’ve been reading academic studies, following TikTok creators, and guiding my own students through creativity exercises. The more I learn, the more curious I become.

With so much to explore, I find that my definition constantly expands. It feels as though the big bang popped in my brain! While the central theme of creativity is solid, I see wisps of related ideas that  capture my attention. At first, it seemed like chaos. Now, I think it’s chaos theory in action.

I haven’t seen everything – yet?! – but I am starting to see patterns in the information. And I’m excited to follow those patterns for meaning. To do that, I am redirecting my attention with the intention of satisfying my curiosity about creativity.

Here’s an example: Last Tuesday, I was driving home after teaching a lecture-lab for my content planning class. Seemingly for the first time, I saw the #14 bus – a legendary route in Vancouver. While I’ve never ridden this route, I had seen the play, The Number 14, back in 2009. The imagery from that play sticks with me today.

That’s creativity in action. I seek a better understanding of how that works and what it means.

Why be curious about creativity?

The few friends I’ve shared my new curiosity with have asked if this is my next book. My answer is cryptic: Not at this time but, maybe, one day. These ideas feel bigger and brighter than anything I’ve written before. I need time to follow my curiosity and see where it takes me.

Now is my opportunity to enjoy the journey.

I’ll be sharing the journey here on my (oft neglected!) blog. I, also, hope to put a spotlight on creative minds along the way. For more, follow along on my TikTok and Instagram. It’ll be fun, I promise!

The post Curious About Creativity appeared first on Angela Crocker.

As an educator, I spend much of my year working with students at BCIT, a Vancouver-based, polytechnic university. I also teach assorted workshops, seminars, and guest lectures at other venues. I teach content planning, digital marketing, public relations, work from home skills, digital decluttering, and more.

Lifelong Learning

Typically, I work with a group of students for a single semester, about twelve weeks. One of the lessons I hope they takeaway is the knowledge that everything digital is constantly evolving. To be successful, it’s vital to become a lifelong learner who is consistently curious about what’s new and what’s stayed the same.

My Go To Experts

I know from experience that it is impossible to stay up to date on everything of interest on my own. I need to update my knowledge regularly, as needed. The gaps between updates vary depending on the work (or play) that holds our attention at any given time.

To help make it easier to stay up-to-date on topics of interest, I curate this constantly evolving list of go to experts. The names on this list offer expertise that intersects with mine. They generously share their work, research, and other relevant information online.

To help my students (and readers) jump start their own list of experts, I’m sharing my list. Below, grouped by subject matter, you’ll find a list of professionals whose work I know and admire. In no particular order, here are my go to experts:

Marketing

Tara Hunt has an extraordinary mind when it comes to digital marketing. Her research and experience across several industries makes the work she shares invaluable. Check out her video on owned versus earned media for an example and don’t hesitate to use brand personality cards.

As both educator and food writer, Rebecca Coleman’s research and practical experience in social media is brilliant. Her Instagram stories are well-planned yet spontaneous, personable, and fun.

More than one million Canadian listeners tune into Terry O’Reilly’s engaging podcast, Under the Influence, each week. Each well-researched and engaging episode is filled with an entertaining look at some aspect of the marketing business. My current favourite episode is Number Fever: Surprising Stories of Bottle Cap Marketing (Season 11, Episode 1).

Business Communication

Catherine Blyth’s book, The Art of Conversation, is a much-needed reminder to make the most of every conversation. As she wrote, “Conversation is brilliant at both polishing thoughts and frothing up new ones.”  (p4)

Vicki McLeod brings decades of experience to work around digital communication. She passionately advocates for us all to be  more human in a digital world. Her most recent book, Effective Communication at Work, is a must-read for anyone wanting meaningful communication at the office. This excerpt from her blog is a good starting point, “Empathy connects us to one another, creating resonance and helping people feel seen, heard, and understood.”  (And I’d be remiss if I didn’t note that she is also my Digital Legacy Plan co-author.)

Productivity

When it comes to productivity, I’m most likely to refer people to Mike Vardy’s work. From his Timecrafting productivity framework to his popular A Productive Conversation podcast, Mike’s work is filled with actionable advice. (He also enjoys alliteration as much as I do!) I recently enjoyed his conversation with Annie Duke – tune in if you need help making decisions.

Author Chris Bailey’s experiments in productivity illuminate the dilemma all digital marketers face – online distractions. As he wrote, “The internet can destroy your productivity if you’re not careful… disconnect from it when working on a high-impact or ugly task… and disconnect as much as possible throughout the day.” (The Productivity Project, p.76) And be sure to check out this time-tracking hack from Chris’ blog – easy and insightful.

Solopreneur Stephen Warley identifies the skills entrepreneurs need to get the right things done. Be sure to check out the Life Skills That Matter podcast and blog. Stephen’s thoughts on making time for self-reflection caught my attention. He “[regards] self-reflection as a check-in conversation with myself to see who everything is going.”

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, shows us the value of small, incremental changes to shift how, when, and why we commit to new habits. His 1% approach is almost sneaky; it’s so simple (based on complex research). We’re also  on the same page when it comes to the value of no.

Technology

Steve Dotto is one of my favourite tech geeks. His robust (and free!) webinar Wednesdays are a treasure trove of weekly learning opportunities on a wide range of topics. He’s also host of Grey Matters podcast guiding mid-career and late-career professionals. (He recently interviewed my Digital Legacy Plan co-author, Vicki McLeod, on writing.)

Journalist and CBC Radio host, Nora Young, offers a fun and informative look at new technology. On her program, SPARK, she explores how technology impacts our lives at work, at play, and at rest. This episode about how online communications impacts are relationships resonated with me.

Most weeks, I turn to co-hosts Mike Agerbo and John Biehler for the latest tech news. I regularly listen to the podcast edition of their live radio shows, Get Connected and The App Show, to hear tech news. With informed opinions on the new gear, related public policy, and real world application, it’s easy to keep up to date.

Creativity

Meghan Parker‘s book, Teaching Artfully, influenced my perception and understanding of how we communicate ideas. If a graphic novel and a comic had a baby, it would this delightfully visual exploration. One of my main takeaways is to use more varied elements of art (line, color, form, texture, shape, space, and value) in my note-taking. Check out her Instagram feed for a closer look at her work.

Whenever I’m struggling with writer’s block or procrastination, I reread Steven Pressfield‘s The War of Art. It’s just the reset I need to remember what Pressfield calls “resistance”. This repelling force…[that] aims to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work”. Because resistance is “self-generated and self-perpetuated”, the reminder helps me reset my creative mojo.

Given my academic background, I’m a stickler for citing sources. That said, I enjoy Austin Kleon‘s observation in his book, Steal Like an Artist. As Kleon wrote, “… a good artist understands nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.” I find this freeing as I explore different ideas. I’m always seeking new connections, new interpretations, and new presentations to help me understand what I’m learning.

More go to experts to come

Over time, I anticipate this list of go to experts will grow. Check back from time to time. Meanwhile, keep learning! Always.

(I’m also open to suggested additions. Drop me a line if you’d like to recommend someone for this list.)

The post Go to Experts for Lifelong Learning appeared first on Angela Crocker.

p.s. Be sure to check out Christoph’s new book, Going Live: Livestream Your Podcast To Reach More People. It’s on my “to read” list.

The post Interview: Business Storytelling Podcast appeared first on Angela Crocker.

Recently, I experienced The BIG Ready, as speaker and attendee. I left the day feeling both tired (Zoom is exhausting!) and inspired.

With synergy, a global roster of speakers, panelists, and workshop leaders came together. Hosted by my friends, Mike Vardy and Vanessa Tharp, this crew shared their outstanding productivity-related research. Several themes caught my attention and I’m going to share them with my readers in a series of posts over the next few weeks. This first post in the series, however, is about community.

Better Together

The BIG Ready Panelist DJ Ramirez noted, “As humans, we’re better together. We’re better as a team.” I couldn’t agree more. While many of us work from home these days and, mostly, on our own, it’s vital to include human connections in each day.

While you may be surrounded by family, a professional community is important, too. Remote workers employed by larger organizations get that sense of community from their colleagues. They might connect through a Slack channel or videoconference on a daily basis. Those working alone — entrepreneurs, artists, writers — have to take action to ensure they connect with other professionals.

Layers of Community

Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, your work likely has many facets and these need to be reflected in the communities in which you interact. To get the most out of community, you’ll “go to different communities for different things,” Trav Sherry shared. It’s about finding the community pieces that fit into your work life to connect with the people who understand the work you’re doing.

As an example, I connect with marketing colleagues in the Phlywheel community, productivity peeps in the TimeCrafting Trust, and enjoy the perspective of fellow business women in RevolutionHER. I’ve also got less formal pockets of community with smaller groups of people who support and inspire me.

Community Is About People

Mike Vardy observed, “You need to make time for [community]. At the end of your life, you’ll look back and realize it was about the people moments.” Reflect on your own work and think about the people who influenced you along the way. Was there someone who offered sage advice? Or, perhaps, someone who gave you a kick in the pants when you needed it? Or, maybe, someone who offered empathy as you grieved a failure?

Knowing that time is a limited resource, we have to be intentional about the way we use the time we do have to stay connected. Nobody’s got time to waste on drama queens, Negative Nellies, or distracting duds.

Building Community

Once you’ve found your people, it’s time to bring them together. But how do you do that?

First, it’s important to know that “Nobody builds a community alone,” as Vanessa Tharp shared. So true!

Taking time to engage with fellow members amplifies the value of each community in which you choose to participate. As Kaycee Brown commented, “You get out of a community what you put into it.” So, take time to answer questions, participate in challenges and events, and share your work, where appropriate, in the spirit of helping your community connect and grow.

DJ Ramirez commented that the beautiful thing is that “Community is compounding … it’s like a seed … it grows over time.” Much like a garden, the more attention and effort group members spend on a community, the more value everyone enjoys.

Key Takeaway

In life, and in work: Don’t go it alone. To maximize productivity, you need community. Peers support your goals, act as an ongoing resource, and cheer you on when the going gets rough.

In Appreciation

Thanks to The BIG Ready’s panelists Vanessa Tharp, Kaycee Bowen, Trav Sherry, DJ Ramirez, and Mike Vardy for sharing their thoughts and perspectives on the community.

This is the first in a series of posts inspired by The BIG Ready hosted by Mike Vardy and Vanessa Tharp.

The post Finding Productivity in Community appeared first on Angela Crocker.

I first learned about time, talent, and treasure mid-career. At the time, my job was to cultivate relationships with a nonprofit’s corporate sponsors. Some of those sponsors donated volunteer hours (time). Others contributed special skills (talent). Most contributed cash (treasure).

I often introduce this concept to my business students as they learn how to strategically implement digital marketing. On the job, they’ll need to know how to budget for every element of each campaign, from video editing to social media analytics and much more. Deciding whether to take photos with a staff member’s mobile phone (using available time) or to hire a professional photographer (spending treasure) is a juggling act for every marketing team. Time, talent, and treasure becomes a helpful lens that applies to organizations of all sizes, from that of the solo entrepreneur to that of a large corporation.

I also apply this in my everyday life. My family and I only have so many hours, so many skills, and so much money to run our household. Sometimes, our individual priorities are different so how we spend our time, talents, and treasures requires some extra negotiation.

The Time, Talent, and Treasure Trifecta

Ideally, every household, or every company has access to all the resources it needs. In practice, we all have to prioritize and plan around limited resources. Figuring out the winning combination of resources creates the perfect trifecta.

What about time?

Time is a finite commodity. We each have 86,400 seconds (that’s 24 hours) to spend every day. Only a portion of that is spent working. We’ve also got to budget time for sleep, meals, exercise, and leisure.

The more people on your team, the more time you have. At home, my family of three has less time available than a family of six. But then, the more people you have, the more laundry to do!

At work, the available hours vary depending on the size of your team. The solopreneur has to do it all, while a larger company will assign tasks to specific employees.. A marketing coordinator might take on blog writing while a marketing intern looks after podcast editing.

If you work at home, your available time is stretched between family tasks and work tasks. That juggle isn’t always easy. Time limits impact us all.

Who has talent?

Talent is about skills and know-how. At home and at work, people have different talents. For example, I know how to do the laundry but, in our household, my husband takes care of this weekly task. Meanwhile, our teenage son is on a learning curve in the laundry room!

Sometimes tasks fall to the person with the talent even if they hate the task at hand. At work, you may have a colleague who excels at digital decluttering even though they detest file management. Work has to be done even if someone’s talent means they get the dirty jobs.

My content planning students learn a wide range of digital marketing skills from developing audience profiles to analyzing metrics. I constantly encourage them to practice content-related skills while they are students. Those hired right after graduation are often those who experimented with text editing, photo editing, video editing, audio editing, and more.

While learning at leisure is much less stressful than learning on the job, ongoing professional development enhances the talents available to any team. Everyone can learn something new.

Intermixed with hands-on skills are supporting talents. Some are technical, like those of the helpful folks in the IT department. Others are soft skills or more informal roles such as team leadership, morale boosters, or mentors. These skills show up at work and at home. They are wonderful talents to have.

Treasure hunt

As Jerry Maguire said, “Show me the money!” Think of money as treasure.

Everything we do has a potential cost. If we take on a task ourselves, we spend money on tools to complete the task. If we’re short on time to complete a task, we hire help. If we don’t know how to do something, we hire more help or invest in training to learn how.

At home, our treasure is the total take-home pay, savings, and borrowing power we have available to us. We spend our treasure on groceries, transportation, clothes, entertainment, and so on.

At work, investments and revenue are spent on people, services, space, and equipment. That expenditure is our outlay before we consider the costs to produce goods or services. For example, staff cost money in salaries, benefits, perks, and office space. Services are an expense as well. For example, there’s no such thing as free internet so, at a minimum, you’ll pay an internet service provider.

Equipment needs may be capital costs but they add up, too. Computers, software, cameras, microphones, tripods, and more are all expenses. Tools are an ongoing cost, often with a fee to pay monthly or annually. These might include a social sharing dashboard, analytics monitoring, graphic design apps, and other services.

Time, Talent, and Treasure Budgets

With limits on time, talent, and treasure, everyone has to think about where to spend their available resources and where to conserve.

Some things can only be obtained with cash. You’ve got to buy those things first.

Everyone has different talents. Play to your strengths. Learn what you can. Share what you know.

Time is finite. Spend yours to maximum effect. Don’t forget rest!

What To Do When Resources Are Scarce

We’re all short of resources sometimes.

At home, we may have unexpected expenses or an ever-growing grocery bill. (Did I mention I have a teenage son?)

Workwise, the size of the company influences the volume of available resources. Often, employees are asked to do extra tasks on unpaid time to fill the void. (This is a problem to discuss another day.)

Tough decisions have to be made. Sometimes, we’ll compromise quality. Other times, we’ll postpone a project. When needed or desired, we’ll seek out extra time, talent, and treasure.

Even when resources are limited, tasks at home and at work still need to be done. Using the time, talent, and treasure framework we can decide how best to spend the resources we have for maximum effect.

The post How to Spend Your Time, Talent, and Treasure appeared first on Angela Crocker.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of things about writing and publishing — even more so if you count my publishing degree and work in book retail, book publishing, and book advocacy. I thought I’d share ten of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I think you’ll agree many of them are universal truths for writing and for life.

1. Writing Is Work

To be a writer you need to sit down and write. That seems simple enough but in practice it can be tough to do. Sometimes, I’m not sure what to write and other times the words just won’t come. Then there’s self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and the critics. Sigh.

Life gets in the way, too. Household chores, parenting responsibilities, and digital distractions reduce writing time. My biggest writing hurdle came in the months after my mom died. I couldn’t write anything. Thankfully, my publisher was gracious about missed deadlines and The Content Planner was still published. Phew!

There’s a different layer of writing work when you collaborate with a co-author. Kim Plumley, Peggy Richardson, and I shared the work of our audiobook but that was complicated by being in different cities, at the time. A few years later, Vicki McLeod and I experienced a different depth of work as we co-wrote Digital Legacy Plan. It was challenging, at times, to navigate our own experiences of death and dying in the 21st century.

Thanks to these ten years, I’ve built up a lot of techniques to overcome these impacts on my writing, including this one. Maybe I should develop a workshop on overcoming distractions for other writers? Hmm …

The lesson: Write on.

2. Editors Are Everything

Writing books means working with editors. For my first book, I worked with seven different editors. It was quite the process! I was a new author working with a gigantic publisher. Through the process, I made the journey from the desk of the acquisitions editor, to the development editor, to the technical editor, and so on, with reasonable grace. I also learned that no one sees all their writing mistakes. You need outside eyes to get to effective writing.

For my more recent books, I’ve worked closely with one editor, in particular. Eileen Velthuis has been an extraordinary partner in crafting my books. She knows my voice and catches my frequently repeated mistakes. (Sorry about the homonyms, Eileen!) Best of all, she asks the perfect questions to help me see what’s missing. My work is better because her work is outstanding.

The lesson: You need a good editor.

3. You Need Cheerleaders

Writing is lonely work. No matter how engaging your topic or how dedicated you are, you’re still alone at your desk. Putting words on the page is exciting but the process also comes with tears of frustration, desk thumping, and tech stress. Here are some ugly truths: I’ve thrown papers around my office, yelled at my husband, slammed doors, and burst into tears at least once for every book I’ve written.

To counteract the loneliness and minimize the outbursts, you need cheerleaders. Your squad of people will love and encourage you no matter what. My cheerleaders gather in different places including a secret Facebook group, a Signal text thread, frequent phone calls, and, thankfully, caring embraces and cups of tea (from my occasionally beleaguered husband).

The lesson: Embrace your squad and let them embrace you.

4. Read EVERYTHING!

My dad can confirm that I read under the covers with a flashlight when I was a little girl. Mysteriously, my flashlight never ran out of battery power. Dad might know something about that, too.

I loved to read then and I read lots now — for research, for relaxation, and for curiosity’s sake. The more I read, the more I learn this truth: You don’t know what you don’t know. There’s always something to learn! Every month I read novels, nonfiction, magazines, and social media. I also find time to read essays, poetry, cartoons, and more.

Reading makes me a better writer in two ways. On the one hand, I’m experiencing other points of view. I haven’t lived the life of a person of color (POC), an Indigenous person, or as someone who identifies as male. It’s good to see how others see the world. At the same time, I’m seeing the craft of writing applied in a hundred different ways. For example, while there are rules of grammar and style guides to follow, talented writers also break those conventions to convey their meaning with impact.

The lesson: Read widely and as much as you can.

5. Writing Lessons

As with everything, the more you learn about a subject the more you realize what you have yet to learn. I learn by doing and through observation. The more I write the easier it gets. The more I read other writers, the easier it gets. I’m always learning.

Writing skills don’t mature without ongoing practice and study. Beyond high-school grammar lessons, I made sure to invest in training as a writer. This included assorted workshops and, more formally, my technical writing certification. Without doubt, I have many more writing workshops in my future.

The lesson: Be a lifelong learner.

6. Exercise Your Writing Muscle

I’ve been writing for practically my entire life. The first thing I had published was in my fourth grade class newsletter and the next year I wrote an award winning poem — about prepositions. #TrueStory

When I got to high school I was a reporter (and eventually co-editor) of my high school newspaper. Later, I went on to write university essays, research papers, press releases, several books, and countless social media posts.

Many writer friends agree that writing is a workout. We have to wield our pens and/or our keyboards regularly to stay in fine form. If I stop writing for a while, it takes time to get back in the groove. My writing practice includes a variation on Julia Cameron’s “morning pages,” regular snail mail correspondence, and this blog, as well as ongoing writing in my weekly lesson plans. My books alone total about a quarter million words so far but I imagine I could round that up to a million words written, if I’d kept a tally.

The lesson: Write regularly.

7. Marketing Skills Are Essential

Over my career, I’ve marketed thousands of books on a huge range of nonfiction topics. I’ve helped promote new Canadian authors and the books of globally recognized celebrities. While publishers invest in some marketing work, the long-haul promotion is up to the author. I became an author with a kit bag filled with marketing know-how but I haven’t always done the right things to promote my own books.

One of my biggest problems was that I didn’t see myself as an author, even after my first book was published. It took years before writer friends convinced me I am an author.

I beat myself up sometimes because I’ve launched failed newsletters, neglected this blog, and promised a never-released podcast. On the other hand, I’ve done well with media interviews, speaking engagements, teaching opportunities, and more. I try to give myself some grace. I, also, have to remember that the marketing things I haven’t done are really the marketing things I haven’t done yet.

The lesson: You can always do more promotion.

8. Invest in Author Photos

Other than writing, one of the best author things I’ve done is invest in great photos. They appear on my book covers, website, media interviews, and so on. For more than a decade I have worked with Wendy D Photography. I love how her style creates flattering and engaging headshots and editorial photos. Here are some then and almost-now moments:

The lesson: You look marvelous!

9. Money Isn’t Everything

To quote David K. Foot, my years as a published author have been “boom, bust, and echo.” Writing books is a big investment of time. It is also an exercise in patience while you wait for royalty cheques.

Let’s be honest, too: Some authors see no real monetary profit.

While my books have been profitable, they’ve also given me indirect financial opportunities including teaching assignments, paid workshops, affiliate income, library talks, and other appearances. Beyond money, books have also given me the opportunity to meet amazing people and to experience interesting events. Bottom line: My life is richer for being an author.

The lesson: Most authors don’t get rich from books, but being the person who wrote the book opens other doors.

10. Share What You Know

I freely share what I know about writing, publishing, and more. I’ve been frustrated for years about the amount of misinformation circulating that preys on aspiring writers. I worry about the writers who don’t know what’s a legitimate publishing opportunity and what’s a scam offer. I hate to see writers bilked out of thousands of dollars for a single project with little hope of recouping their investment, left with a low quality book product tainting their reputation.

For five years, I worked closely with Kim Plumley and Peggy Richardson. Together, we were “The Book Broads.” We worked hard to share our collective knowledge about writing and publishing. We even self-published an audiobook. It was a guide to creating your marketing plan before you write the book. While The Book Broads have been dormant for several years, we’re exploring some potential future plans.

The lesson: Shared knowledge makes us all better.

Celebrating Ten Years

I’m going to spend this day celebrating ten years as a published author. I’ll start the day going live on my Facebook page and end the day partying with my friends and colleagues at the launch party for The Big Ready*. In between, I’ll be on Instagram and spend time with friends at RevolutionHER and Phlywheel digitally. I’ll raise a glass of something bubbly and hope you will, too. Let’s connect online and celebrate my author anniversary and your successes, too! We can chat on social media and one-on-one via Zoom. You can even send me snail mail if that’s your jam. (I love getting cards and letters!) Let’s connect soon.

**Full disclosure: If you make a purchase using this affiliate link, I’ll earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The post 10 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years as a Published Author appeared first on Angela Crocker.

Part of my enthusiasm comes from my admiration and respect for The BIG Ready’s hosts: Mike Vardy and Vanessa Tharp. Together, they have curated a wonderful lineup of speakers, workshops, and panels.

The rest of my enthusiasm comes from the speaker list; I was thrilled to see so many of the thinkers I deeply admire contributing to The BIG Ready. This event fosters community where speakers and guests interact and connect meaningfully during the event and in the weeks to follow.  That is to say, I’m really looking forward to that element.

If you’re interested in spending the day with me and many of the world’s leading experts on digital productivity, mindful living, and time management, you can. I hope you’ll join us on February 2, 2021. If you can’t attend, know that I’ll be taking lots of notes and will share my key takeaways in the weeks ahead.

Srinivas Rao

Srinivas Rao’s book An Audience of One: Reclaiming Creativity For Its Own Sake  is one of my favorites. His work deeply influenced my return to paper craft making — for myself alone. Time spent on this long-time hobby feeds my soul. I can’t wait to hear what Srinivas has to share at The BIG Ready.

Courtney Carver

Courtney Carver is a leading thinker when it comes to decluttering your life, calming your mind, and connecting with what really matters. Her recent book, Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really Is So Much More, was an inspiring read. While I haven’t adopted the capsule wardrobe, I appreciate Courtney’s advice on mindful fashion. In many ways, I see alignment with my digital decluttering work.

Chris Bailey

Excerpts from Chris Bailey’s books, The Productivity Project and Hyperfocus, are required reading for my content planning students. Chris brilliantly explains how digital distractions affect us all and how to better manage our attention and energy to get the important things done. I’m enamored of his “productive procrastination” approach.

Vicki McLeod

I’m delighted to return to The BIG Ready* as a speaker: This time, in partnership with my Digital Legacy Plan co-author, Vicki McLeod. Vicki’s award-winning and best-selling writing echoes the mindful digital living principles she models in all her social feeds. Her most recent book, Effective Communication at Work, is a practical look at the essential elements of workplace productivity. Something we all need! Together, we’ll be presenting a workshop on digital legacy planning; a vital task for anyone living a digital life.

Russel Lolacher

When it comes to effective leadership and workplace communication, Russel Lolacher offers insightful, grounded wisdom. As he wrote, “Trust is lost in the gap between words spoken and actions taken. Mind the gap.” When it comes to action, I think any chance to spend time with Russel is time well spent. Unbelievably, we travelled the same speaking circuit for nearly a decade before Mike Vardy introduced us. I’m so glad he did!

Do you need The BIG Ready?

While the people I mentioned are just a handful of the 29 speakers at The BIG Ready*, they represent a good sample of the wisdom, integrity, and fun that the entire roster will bring to the day. And, if I know Mike and Vanessa as well as I think I do, there will be some fun surprises along the way. I can’t wait to be part of it all and hope to see you there. For more information and to register, click here*.

*Full disclosure: If you make a purchase using this affiliate link, I’ll earn a commission. There’s no extra cost to you.

The post Why I’m excited for The BIG Ready 2021 appeared first on Angela Crocker.

In this interview, Angela joins Jennifer Palma on Global TV’s morning news to discuss digital decluttering. For more tips to help you organize your digital life, check out Declutter Your Data.

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Pronouns Need Context

They explain him. She describes it. 

The previous two sentences are puzzling without context. Pronouns need context so that writer and reader share a mutual understanding of the people, places, or things referenced by pronouns such as he, she, they, etc.

When we can quickly refer to any object in writing, or in conversation, the language we choose has more variety. Done well, pronouns make it easier to comprehend meaning and they make language lyrical so we’re more likely to pay attention and understand.

An example without pronouns: Natalie creates beautiful cards. Weekly, Natalie sends cards made-by-Natalie to friends and family. Natalie enjoys sending mail.

A more enjoyable example with pronouns: Natalie creates beautiful cards. Joyfully, she sends her cards to friends and family every week.

Normalize Pronoun Check-ins

Social justice is in the news every week as we collectively strive for a more inclusive and understanding society. One way we can obtain that kind of society is to normalize pronoun check-ins to ensure individuals of all gender identities and cultures feel included. Knowing what to use when referring to specific individuals is evolving as more and more people come to understand gender identity and cultural diversity. Let’s take steps to normalize pronoun check-ins.

People whose physical appearance and/or name matches their preferred pronouns may struggle to understand why check-ins are important. By normalizing pronoun check-ins, you contribute to an inclusive society that doesn’t segregate or draw extra attention to people who are transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming.

Avoid misgendering

Using language that reflects the wrong gender is misgendering. For example, don’t use the honorific “mister” to address someone who identifies as a woman and requests you use she/her to address her. When you misgender someone it deepens the loss of their identity and draws unwanted and unnecessary attention. While it can be an innocent mistake, apologize promptly when you misgender someone and do your best not to repeat the mistake.

Culturally diverse names can also make it difficult to identify gender based on names alone. As a teacher, I see hundreds of names from dozens of cultures each year. While I’m culturally curious, I’m not knowledgeable about all the names in the world and their gender conventions.

In addition, many names are gender neutral. Sometimes, a name is feminine in one culture while the same name is masculine in another culture. Having long thought of Amber as a female name from my Canadian perspective, I recently learned that it is a male name in another culture, for example. Without asking, it’s impossible to know if I should address Amal, Chris, Malak, Alex, Blake, Adi, Kyle, Aviv, Chandra, and Drew as they/them, he/him, or she/her.

New social conventions for pronouns

The social conventions around asking about pronouns are new and evolving. Some schools, nonprofits, advocates, and other organizations are early adopters, exploring different ways to incorporate pronoun information into existing processes. In my classroom, for example, I ask students to introduce themselves in the first lesson by sharing answers to a few questions including their preferred name, pronouns, fields of study, and superpowers (or some other fun question depending on my pop culture mood)! Everyone answers all the questions so there’s no need for a transgender person to feel awkward sharing their pronouns. It’s simply something everyone must do.

Industries, social groups, and businesses are observing and adapting to echo what the early adopters are doing. Still more are unaware of the issue and have yet to take any action. It’s a work in progress.

What Pronouns Should I Use?

Using correct pronouns is a sign of respect and taking time to find out someone’s preferences demonstrates care and concern for those around you.

Here are some ways to share your pronouns and, hopefully, learn other people’s pronouns:

• Note your pronouns on social media accounts. This can be part of the profile name and/or included in any short biography.
• Add your pronouns to the display name on Zoom, Skype, Teams, and other video chat channels.
• List your pronouns in email signatures.
• Ask attendees to state their names, positions, and pronouns when introductions are made before a meeting.
• Request that your students include their pronouns in written introductions.
• Be alert to individuals who state their pronouns, and reciprocate in kind. Become a person who takes the time to share your pronouns in every introduction.
• Make space on name tags to include pronouns. Conference organizers, schools, and social planners can facilitate this. If not, use a marker to add yours or wear a pin on your lanyard declaring your pronouns.
• Use “Mx.” as a gender-neutral honorific if you’re not sure whether Mr., Ms., Mrs., or Miss are appropriate.

Historically, masculine pronouns like he/him were used when gender was unknown. Today, it is considered gender-neutral and inclusive to use the singular forms of they, them, and their until pronoun preferences are confirmed.

Incorrect pronoun usage makes most people uncomfortable. It brings identity into question. To counteract that discomfort, we can all take steps to normalize pronoun check-ins.

We All Make Pronoun Mistakes

Even the most vigilant pronoun user will make mistakes from time to time. You might misgender someone or forget to share your pronouns. You’ll use plural when you mean singular. You’ll mess up when you try to use possessive pronouns. It happens to everyone, even professional writers and devoted activists.

Much like environmental citizenship, the goal is for everyone to make their best effort. Apologize when you make a mistake. Correct errors when you can. Collectively, pronouns and the people they refer to will be better served when we all contribute to inclusive, diverse pronoun use.

Written with Respect

While I’ve taken steps to inform myself about gender identity and pronoun use, my understanding is continually evolving. This article was written with respect and intended as an accessible resource for my readers. To ensure I am sharing the best practices, I will update this page as new information comes to my attention. If you have suggestions to improve this resource, please get in touch. For the record, my pronouns are she/her.

The post Let’s Talk about Pronouns appeared first on Angela Crocker.

Ideally, My Three Words becomes part of our daily practice. It’s a shorthand reminder of the things we’ve chosen to focus on and a touchstone to ensure we’re investing our resources (what I call time, talent, and treasure) in alignment with our goals. As an example of how I remember to check in with these words, I write them on every page of my paper planner so that I see them every time I look at my task list.

My Three Words in Public (for the First Time)

I’ve played along for many years but rarely, if ever, shared my three words publicly. That changes now. For 2021, I’ve picked three simple but meaningful words: care, calm, and create.

Care

Everyone needs Tender Loving Care (TLC) sometimes. 2021 is going to be a big year for looking after ourselves and each other.

For me, care encompasses the self-care I need to do to keep myself mentally and physically fit. I want to thrive, not just survive. I know I need long walks, good sleep, healthy foods, some treats, companionship, solitude, connection, and so on. I see care as the things I must do for myself every single day.

Care is also about looking after the people around me. I think of this as community care. My family comes first, of course. I also do what I can to look after my neighbors, my students, my friends, and, sometimes, strangers. This care manifests as practical support and social support, with the occasional infusion of TLC via snail mail.

I also want to embrace a broader worldview of care. I want to counteract “who cares?” online by vanquishing fake news, being alert to bias, looking for gender equality, and seeking diverse views. I can’t fix the internet alone but I can model these behaviors and demonstrate that I care.

Calm

As the carol Silent Night goes, “all is calm, all is bright.” While it’s impossible to be calm all the time, I want calm to be my default state. I’d like to be at peace, aware, and ready for each day. I find I am most productive when I’m calm. At peace, I make better, conscious choices in all areas of my life.

I also have a theory that people who exude calm can create calm in others. I’m sure there’s some psychological term for this. It’s the opposite of mass hysteria. If my calm can ease someone else’s day, that’s a good thing.

Create

Create may be last on my list but it’s my brightest touchstone for the year ahead. I want to make things and make things happen.

Most of my professional projects use words as their building blocks. I’ve got a new book coming out this year. It takes a lot of time, research, energy, and focus to create a book. I can’t wait to share more about this one with you.

I also want to spend more time creating things with paper. I make one-of-a-kind journals, notebooks, calendars, and other practical things at my craft table. I love to play with paper and it’s a hobby that has been frequently neglected in recent years. It’s getting more of my attention in 2021.

And, maybe, along the way, I’ll help create social change as I introduce my university students to topics such as representation, accessibility, and corporate social responsibility.

I also want to inspire them to be mindful of how and when they use social media and guide them to create personalized plans to counteract doomscrolling.

Upon Reflection

In retrospect, my three words for 2020 — scaffold, visualization, and affluence — were complex words for what turned out to be a complicated year. Let’s hope my simpler choices for 2021 reflect an easier year ahead for us all.

Share Your Three Words

If you like, share your three words in the comments or on social media. I’m @AngelaCrocker on Instagram and Twitter. Add #My3Words to join Chris Brogan’s global conversation: Search to see what’s been posted with that hashtag. It is also a great source of inspiration!

The post My Three Words for 2021 appeared first on Angela Crocker.