Being an artist at work is harder for some (actually most) than others. 

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t have any ideas. I’ve been phoning it in and staying in line for so long, I just don’t know how to go for extraordinary.”

My tip: Observe. Go to a restaurant or a basketball game or the place where you get your hair cut. What great stuff can you learn? Where do you see uniqueness and where do you see plain vanilla? Where do you see great and where do you see awful?

Maybe it’s great (or awful) interactions. Maybe it’s great (or awful) signage. Maybe it’s great (or awful) products or food. Maybe it’s great (or awful) restrooms, seating, job knowledge, attitudes, uniforms, whatever. 

You can even do this with a website. Is the imagery and/or verbiage great or awful? Is using it and traveling through it great or awful? How about the purchasing experience or the information presented, great or awful? Overall, are you ‘wowed’? Why or why not? 

What you want is to get ideas for what you can apply to your work. What can you add (or subtract)? What greatness can you begin delivering? What awfulness do you need to look out for?

Bottom line: How can you take what you learn and reinvent your work and make it your art? 

And don’t just do this once, lather, rinse, and repeat. Get as many ideas as possible. Observe everywhere, all of the time. Make notes. Find the things you’re comfortable with. Find what suits your style. Find what enhances the best of you and make your work reflect it. 

These “enhancements,” by the way, don’t have to (and shouldn’t) be over-the-top. They should …er… enhance. They should add a little spice or color. They should help you shine …and… improve what you do …and… create even more value. 

Endgame: Get up. Go out. Observe. Learn. Add to and subtract from your tool belt. Never settle for “OK,” go for extraordinary …always!

==> If you liked this post and want to know when new posts are published, CLICK HERE to subscribe.