Tanner Christensen is a creative online producer and consultant who helps people meet their creative side. He's an author of an inspiring book: 'Think Unstuck-Over 100 Ways To Stimulate Your Creativity' and also provides valuable resources and tools to help enhance creativity.
Tanner was a graphic designer for many years before shifting his interest towards helping others who are not sure how to utilize the right side of their brains more efficiently.
Recently we published an article '07 Blogs To Stir Up Those Creative Juices' and Tanner was one of the experts listed in the list for his "Creative Something" blog. Fortunately we were able to get in touch with him for a small interview where he shares his story, expertise, experience and some truly inspiring words of wisdom.
Tanner, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.
When I was growing up I wanted to be a super hero and help make an impact on the world. Today, I'm not super by any measure, but I like to think I'm doing my part to change the world by helping people use their creativity effectively.
Tell us about your blog 'Creative Something'.
Creative Something started as an exploration into creativity and has quickly grown into one of the world's top resources for inspiration and ideas. Initially the purpose of the blog was for me to find what was behind this mystical "creativity" that I was hearing about all of the time.
You write about inspiration. I am keen to know what inspires you?
Inspiration is a tough topic. There are inspiring things that make you say "Wow, that is beautiful!" and then there are really inspiring things that make you not only look, but also drop everything you're doing and create something yourself. I think the former is dangerous for people who want to actually get things done. For me, anything that gets my blood pumping and motivates me to do real work on an idea is true inspiration. People like Seth Godin or the entire 37signals team, videos from Gary Vaynerchuk and podcasts featuring Merlin Mann. What really inspires me lately has been the incredible work being done by anyone who has launched something recently. It sounds cliche to say, but it's true.
Tell us about your book 'Think Unstuck'. What is it all about and how was the experience writing it?
Between two or three years ago I realized that there weren't many resources available to creatives who needed that initial creative boost that many of us struggle with. I spent a year compiling some of the best ways to force inspiration in my life and then I spent another year rewriting, modifying, cutting, and getting feedback on the book. While the book has been doing surprisingly well, the lesson I've learned from it I think is the most rewarding part of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing the book on my own. The lesson I learned is that everyone wants to embrace their creativity, but hardly anyone knows where to start. It's important enough - I believe - to make an entire business around the idea of how to use creativity to really make an impact in our lives. Think Unstuck was just a start.
Initially, you were a graphic designer. What made you switch to write about creativity, inspiration, motivation?
A critical part of design and web development is problem solving and creativity. Without creativity businesses would be stuck with dull logo designs and dysfunctional websites. My passion for design stemmed entirely from the process of coming up with new ideas, of embracing creativity and inventing the unimaginable.
You've worked on so many projects! Which project is the closest to you and why?
Seth Godin (and many before him) write that the key to real success lies in failing often. I believe that all ideas are worth pursuing, which explains the multitude of projects I've worked on (from a design business to a geolocation service, a web template gallery to a creativity book). Undoubtedly though, my latest, upcoming project is what has been keeping me up, excitedly, at night. I'm so excited to be sharing what I've learned about thinking and idea and failing and success and changing the world with everyone who will listen. Without all of my failed projects I don't believe I would know what would make me happy today. Failing a lot and working on anything and everything has allowed me to find what I'm really passionate about. Anyone can do the same, you just have to start, and you have to start right now.
Has blogging helped you in any way? If yes, then how?
Blogging has been immensely helpful in exploring concepts that I was formerly unfamiliar with, but blogging had also enable me to find "my tribe" of people who share similar interests and who are doing good work. If you want to learn about something the first thing to do is dive into it, the second thing to do is blog about it for a few years (it's how I learned about SEO and online marketing, and it's how I'm exploring creativity now).
What are the other things that interests you? What is your passion(s)?
There is so much to do these days that I find it incredible when anyone says that they're bored. Personally I love reading - only if the book can teach me something though - and talking with people to hear their life story. Any opportunity to learn and do good work (keeping in mind that I strongly believe work is play and play is work) are what I love doing. I'm also a novice rock climber, tea drinker, and cinema enthusiast though.
What's next? What is your vision for 'Creative Something' as a whole?
Recently I've had luck meeting other creative writers and entrepreneurs who are doing incredible work and together we're doing some truly remarkable things. Creative Something is going to grow into something much more than it has been, and a new resource is going to become available for everyone around the world who is ready to make an impact but isn't sure as to where one should start. I'm very excited.
What message do you have for our readers?
Don't wait for anything. Just don't. Life really is too valuable to sit by waiting or thinking too much. Instead, get out there and take action. Make things happen. You won't regret it.
Thanks Tanner for taking the time out for an inspiring interview, we wish you all the success in the future.
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