In a creative industry, I think we are always keeping our eye out for inspiration. We’re looking for a moment that sparks an idea or fires us up about a project. Recently I’ve noticed that these moments come from collaborating and surrounding myself with other creatives—those people that have the same but completely opposite brain as me all at once.
I discovered a group called Creative Mornings that offered that kind of creative community. This group organizes breakfast lectures once a month that pulls in all kinds of creative types. Each month a national theme is announced and a local maker, doer, designer or entrepreneur is highlighted and they give a talk in each city. Plus, it’s 100% free AND you get free coffee. (Coffee, you know, the creative fuel.)
For 90 minutes there is a unifying, creative energy in the room. Ideas are sparked. Thoughts are shared that resonate with the audience. By the time the talk ends, everyone leaves with their idea tank filled up.
CM/CHI
The last Creative Morning I went to was in Chicago in a warehouse. Yes, a warehouse! The warehouse is being transformed into a workshop collaboration space called Lost Arts by one of the co-founders of Kickstarter, Charles Adler. The best thing he shared was “Rules are not meant to be broken. Rules are temporary.”
There are over 100 chapters of Creative Mornings all over the world—so go be creative beyond the 9-5 and meet some awesome people in your city!