Monday Memo #36
Do good work.
The Monday memo is food for thought to fuel your week.
Hi everyone,
Someone says: Do good work.
So you work. But how do you know your work is good?
Good work meets a standard that you set for yourself. But even though you set the standard, it’s not up to you if the work is any good. That’s why you have to put it into the world. Surround yourself with other creators, other makers. Ask them what good work looks like. Ask for examples. We learn through effort and then by comparison. How does your work measure up?
Immerse yourself in really good work. Work that sparks your imagination, curiosity. Work that moves you, draws you in. What makes it magical? Deconstruct the magic. Cultivate opinions. What makes work good? What artists do you admire, and why? We stand on the shoulders of giants.
To write a book you will have to write. To make a painting you will have to paint. Find a material you love and work with it. Make simple things. Take a sketch or rough draft and finish it. Put it into the world.
You can’t think your way into it, you have to make your way into it.
Exercise.
Here’s your exercise for the week: Do good work. Put it out into the world and see what happens.
Our next Collaboratory.
In our next Collaboratory, Brandy Agerbeck will help us explore the messy middle of creative projects. What are the monsters that hold us back? How do we stick with a project when it’s not fully formed yet? Brandy is a veteran of many creative projects, both personal and professional, as well as the author of several books, including the Idea Shapers and the Graphic Facilitator’s Guide.
For $25 you can buy a one-time ticket for this event on Brandy’s website, or become a member today to access this live, interactive session, on Wednesday, August 21, from 9 to 10:30 am Pacific time.
Project studio.
I’m also planning a change-up from our Collaboratory format in October. Starting October 16, I will run a six-week intensive I’m calling project studio. I will provide a lightweight structure within which we will work together to complete our personal creative projects, encourage and support each other, and hold each other accountable to being true to our creative selves. Project studio will meet weekly, every Wednesday, from 9 to 10:30 am, starting October 16 and wrapping up on November 20, just before Thanksgiving in the US. So mark those dates on your calendar and stay tuned for more details. Project studio will be free for members.
Members get access to all events, event recordings, and our archive.
As of this week we have 80 members. In 2025, membership dues will increase to $30/month, $300/year. If you join now, you will lock in the $20/month, $200/year rate for as long as your subscription remains active.
If you’re already a member, thank you. You’re making this possible.
More information for members is below the fold.