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Do You Need Some Creative Inspiration?

- April 25, 2012 | by April -

Let’s have some fun today.

In today’s video, I’m giving you an assignment that I think you’re really going to like.

As creative entrepreneurs, we’re constantly creating. This is one of the reasons that I read daily. I need inspiration for the many posts, articles, videos, digital guides, and courses that I create. I need to constantly learn new things, feel inspired and excited by new ideas, and fill up my creative tank.

You don’t want a dry tank. Watch today’s video for my solution to keeping that tank full.

Want some ideas on fun videos, podcasts, books, and websites to fill up that creative tank of yours. I’ve listed 10 below that inspired me. {None are affiliate links–they’re just awesome.}

1. A Beautiful Mess {website}

2. The Fire Starter Sessions {book}

3. The Power of Unpopular with Erika Napoletano {podcast on BlogcastFM}

4. Vlogging 101: How I Found My Voice – The Story I Thought I’d Never Share {video on heartmade}

5. The Creative Habit {book}

6. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future {book}

7. Creature Comforts {website}

8. Guide to Businessy Goodness {digital guide}

9. Unicorns for Socialism {website}

10. Marie Forleo’s music videos {videos on MarieForleo.com}

Do you have something to add to the list? I want to know about it. Leave a comment letting me know what’s inspiring you–website, book, podcast, video–anything goes.

{Side Note: It’s my mom’s birthday today and she ALWAYS watches my videos. So, happy birthday Mom! I love you longer than the road and higher than the sky}

24 Comments · Filed Under: Creativity

Comments

  1. Kim Gosney says

    April 25, 2012 at 6:08 am

    Happy Birthday Aprils’s Mom! April it’s soooo funny that two of the people on your top 10 are my fans too! I just LOVE Mayi’s Vlogging 101 series and it inspired me to create my own vlog…I’m up to episode #3! I would be so honored if you would watch it!
    http://hopelovescards.blogspot.com/2012/04/personaliday-whats-your-cupcake-part-2.html

    Oh and I just discovered Marie Forleo’s Imma Be video about two weeks ago and I totally ROCK it out in my car to Imma Be EVERYDAY now…I have decided to make it one of my inspiration songs.

    Filling your creative tank is an AWESOME idea…I keep a teeny tiny notepad around for when inspiration STRIKES me. I decided to put myself out there and GO FOR IT – and it’s always good to jot those ideas down so you don’t forget them later on!

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 8:50 am

      Yay for putting yourself on video!!! It looks like you’re having so much fun with it.

      I love having a notebook around to write down those inspiring ideas–that’s a great tip. I have one of those notebooks!

      Reply
  2. Kim Gosney says

    April 25, 2012 at 6:14 am

    Ooops…I left out one thing…I LOVE your backgrounds…I was totally thinking “How can I make my video background April worthy…all WEEK! Thanks for inspiring me!

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 8:57 am

      Thanks lady!

      Reply
  3. Alicia says

    April 25, 2012 at 7:50 am

    good ideas! love your background! two of my fave ways to fill the tank are art museums and going to events I’ve never been to for an all new experience. Cheers!

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:01 am

      Oh yes! Getting out of the house can really help. I love going to the fabric store and taking in all the different patterns and textures.

      Reply
  4. Laura of Rather Poetic says

    April 25, 2012 at 9:17 am

    I LOVE the way you include Mr. Blacksburg Belle’s totally unprofessional comments at the end of the videos 🙂 it makes me laugh and I think it’s so sweet to see you guys interacting 🙂

    Off to check out the links. I just discovered Marie Forleo a few weeks ago (I had heard of her, just never taken the time to check her out) and I just bought the Fire Starter Sessions on kindle! 🙂 Both have been super helpful so far, so I am stoked to see what else you have recommended 🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:02 am

      Hahahahahaha….glad you like it! 🙂

      So glad you’re checking out Marie–she knows her stuff and she makes learning about business stuff fun.

      Reply
  5. lisa @StudioJewel says

    April 25, 2012 at 9:51 am

    oh my word. i love the inspiration…and i love you two together. you make me smile and proceed to knock my socks off! xoxo

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:03 am

      Thanks Lisa!

      Reply
  6. Mayi Carles says

    April 25, 2012 at 10:33 am

    Oh my that polka dot dress (or t-shirt) is divineeeeee! Oh + I’m adoring you for including me on your list of inspiration. I LOVEEE A Beautiful Mess too 🙂

    I would just add these two to the list:
    Simon Sineks TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

    The Element (a book):
    http://www.amazon.com/The-Element-Finding-Passion-Everything/dp/0670020478

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:04 am

      T-shirt! Isn’t it so fun?!? Anthropologie!

      Oh yes…that TED talk is amazing. I haven’t read that book, but I just added it to my wishlist on Amazon!

      Reply
  7. Sage says

    April 25, 2012 at 11:32 am

    I’m totally an over-researcher. Thanks for the links. I love seeing what other creatives are reading/watching.

    I look forward to all your videos. They’re the little push I need to make it through the rest of the week. 🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:04 am

      Thanks Sage! I hope you enjoy the links 🙂

      Reply
  8. Marian says

    April 25, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    Love the polka dots AND your good advice. Thanks!

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:04 am

      Thanks Marian!

      Reply
  9. Tabassum says

    April 26, 2012 at 4:37 am

    LOL! Don’t we just loooove those romantic tongue ´n´cheek comments our husbands make….in public 🙂

    Your lovely background with the blue top is all about summer-love that! Sorry, I’m a fashion designer, I can’t help but focus in on colors, clothes, and patterns…:)

    To fill my creative tank, I not only keep up-to-date with what’s going on in fashion but I also look outside of my industry too. Right now, I’m “tanking ” up on the latest Jamie Oliver series not only because I am a serious longterm fan of his+foodie, but also I love the way he does his shows.

    It’s not only about food. He includes trips, gets into the history, gets into the culture+people, nature, etc. For me it gets me thinking about how can I do more than just fashion, how I can mix in culture, people, and places and deliver an experience and a product that is more than the physical garment.

    I mean if I were to only fill up my tank on fashion, I would unconsciously start churning out stuff that other people are already doing. I want to do things differently, so obviously I have to look in different places or as Twyla Tharp says in her book that I love: “scratching” in new places. That’s exactly what we do really “scratching” around for inspiration.

    Looking forward to next week’s video 😉

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:06 am

      Hahahahahaha!

      Thank you so much for sharing. I so agree that you need to look outside of your own niche. That’s where I get my very best ideas.

      Reply
  10. Sandy Bowles says

    April 26, 2012 at 8:45 am

    Love you and Mr. Blacksburg Belle! Kris just got another title and I just love it!
    My house smells so great! Roses are my favorite.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Back at ya with “longer than the road and higher than the sky!”
    I’m a lucky Moma!

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:07 am

      Love you, too!

      Reply
  11. Dana says

    April 26, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    Another great background April! I look forward to seeing what background will be next each week!

    At the beginning of your Six Weeks to a More Passion-Filled and Profitable Business, you mentioned a quote from the book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” I got the book on my Kindle, it was a quick read and it did help me change the way I have been thinking about some of the challenges in my life. Highly recommend it! I also LOVE “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield…one of my all time favorite books!

    The other thing that helps me fill my creative tank is to get out into nature. Take my horse on a trail ride, walk my dog in the park, or go hiking inthe woods. I always feel very refreshed and a lot more focused when I do that.

    Thanks for the great video!

    🙂

    Reply
    • April says

      April 27, 2012 at 9:09 am

      And, I have fun planning them out! I’m not sure my husband loves helping me put them up 🙂

      That book is a good one! I haven’t read The Success Principles–it’s going on my Amazon wishlist.

      Yes–thank you for mentioning getting out into nature. I walk my dogs every day and that time is so necessary for my creative work.

      Reply
  12. Tyla B says

    April 28, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Creative inspiration, yay! I am one of those that probably fall into the trap of over-researching. But it’s so dang fun. Anyways, have you ever looked at Keri Smith books? I always love her approaches for finding creative inspiration in everything and exploring new techniques that can get you there. I have “How to Be an Explorer of the World,” it’s a great resource for getting you out of a rut and just plain doing something!
    As always, thanks for your weekly videos; I really look forward to getting them in my inbox!

    Reply
  13. Shenandoah Podiatry says

    May 2, 2012 at 8:55 am

    This is such a great idea to have a go-to list of inspiration, thanks for this!

    Reply

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