My friend Natalie Nixon joined me for a quick visit, a little grub, and a new introduction last night. Inside secret: along with an imaginary Instagram account (of epic proportions), we also create imaginary graphic t-shirts from the best things we hear everyday. Words from Marian Wright Edelman (through Nat’s voice last night) were immediately (mentally?) added to our imaginary graphic tee of the day: “It’s hard to be what you can’t see.”
To the truth in those invaluable words, if you haven’t already met Natalie, I would like to introduce you to her and her work. Natalie is the the author of The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, And Intuition At Work, a book about unlocking creativity (and applying it to real life) that is equal parts inspiring and practical.
And, we think, especially applicable to this very unique year.
Natalie brings such a strong, beautiful, motivational spirit…to everything she does. And this recent book is no exception. It’s the most timely of reads. Without any prior knowledge regarding these ‘unprecedented times’ that none of us knew we’d be living through…Natalie somehow had the foresight to write the book on strategies for how to not just survive these times, but to thrive through them. Timing on perfect point Nat, thank you!
I was lucky enough to interview Natalie for The Mom Edit, so get a cuppa and click the video above for a fun watch/listen as we chat everything from where she’s from, to the value of rituals, the importance of daydream breaks…and the best leap she’s taken in her own life recently.
If you might be looking for a little more of that inspiration yourself, here’s more on Nat, her new book, and information on a virtual event we’d love for you to join tomorrow night!
…leaping only moves you forward.
– Natalie Nixon-The Creativity Leap
The Creativity Leap
In her book, Natalie defines the concept of taking a creative leap and the momentum required for it. She also pauses to give value to the concept of pausing — something that is necessary for those creative leaps to happen.
Natalie interviewed more than 50 superstars across multiple professions and likens her work in creativity and innovation to jazz. And sorry (spoiler): you’ll take away from her book two new favorite vocabulary words: Wonder + Rigor — and plenty of real life ways to hold them closer to your own heart, mind and work.
The Creativity Leap, and Natalie’s well-researched way of framing a process were a necessary reset for me. I can’t keep myself whole, my ideas fresh, and my actions meaningful and efficient — sustainably — without every now and then, zigging and zagging (Nat’s words) how I go about doing so. The book is a quick and easy read, on tricky subject matter. You kinda have to be a genius to strike that exact balance — the one where you take complicated concepts, and break them down to real life exercises and action items that we can all digest. She is absolutely pure genius, and she nails it in her work and her book.
The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation, and Intuition at Work
Join Natalie Nixon For Creativity Class Thursday Night!
#Goodthingshappeninphiladelphia, that much I promise you. One of the best of them is women supporting women and taking ideas to action. You know that rule about reading the book before you come to class? Mmmhmm…another spoiler: Nat’s book pretty much is the book we all need for the real life class we’re currently taking in how to pivot — in all areas of our lives. But yes, there’s also a class, and no you don’t actually have to read the book before you show up for it!
If I could host you ALL on my back patio, safely, believe me, that would become a ritual before you could even blink. For now, virtual will have to do: (Creatively) Leaping To Conclusions — Thursday 10/15 5:30. Mark your calendar for this week’s Twilight Lecture Series, hosted by Drexel, and absorb as much Natalie as you can — or at least the central ideas of her book. We’re here for every minute of Natalie, The Creativity Leap, and ALL the WONDER + RIGOR she brings through this Zoom event that we hope you join us for!
(Creatively) Leaping To Conclusions | Thursday 10/15 5:30 | Join Us!
Natalie is a gift, and sharing her book, and a few minutes of talk time with her, with all of you, is my pay-it-forward. So check out the video, like and follow all the socials, get the book, read the book, and leap into living it.
Don’t forget to register for the event if you are free Thursday night! It’ll be a gift to your own self, I promise, and I can’t wait to see you there! #becurious #wonder+rigor #thecreativityleap
Also — follow Natalie on social: Twitter | Youtube | Instagram | Speaker Reel
xo, A
PS: Follow along with me on Pinterest for more Home Inspiration and other random distractions via pretty visuals.xo, A
Oh, hey….This one’s for the pinners!
