Daily Creative with Todd Henry Todd Henry

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Are teams inherently more, or less productive than individuals? And, is there a way to structure teamwork so that it's less cumbersome?
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story of Philo Farnsworth, the farm boy who revolutionized the world with the invention of electronic television. Despite his humble beginnings and the lack of formal education, Farnsworth's vision and determination enabled him to outpace corporate giants like RCA, proving the power of individual ingenuity. However, this story sparks an important question: do individuals achieve more than teams, or is there a way for teams to function as highly effective, innovative units?
We explore this with our guest, David Allen, author of the international bestseller "Getting Things Done" and the new book "Team." David discusses the gap between individual and team productivity and outlines core practices from his book that can help teams function more effectively. These practices include capturing what has the team's collective attention, clarifying and organizing actionable steps, reflecting on progress, and engaging effectively.
Key Learnings:
Capture Team Focus: Identifying what captures a team's attention helps bring crucial, non-routine issues into focus.Clarification and Context: Clarifying captured points to understand their importance and context ensures the team is aligned on priorities.Organize Information: Having structured methods to organize and store team data and tasks ensures accessibility and streamlined workflow.Reflect Regularly: Periodic reflection, such as daily stand-ups or annual reviews, ensures the team remains current with objectives and progress.Engage Purposefully: Combining these steps allows teams to engage with purpose, rather than reacting to immediate pressures, thus making more informed and strategic decisions.
Mentioned in this episode:
NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now
Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

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In this episode of Daily Creative, we delve into the fascinating world of questioning and its impact on creativity and problem-solving. We start with a story from the 1980s about A&W Restaurants’ third-pound burger blunder, highlighting the importance of asking the right questions.
We then welcome Warren Berger, the author of "A More Beautiful Question," who shares his journey from a newspaper journalist to a "questionologist." Berger emphasizes that asking the right questions is a vital skill that often goes untrained, even in fields that rely heavily on inquiry, like journalism.
Our discussion reveals how innovators from Silicon Valley use questions not just to gather information but to spark creativity and solve problems. Berger introduces us to three fundamental types of questions—Why?, What If?, and How?—that can guide us through any challenge.
We also explore how leaders can cultivate a questioning culture within their organizations by modeling curiosity, transforming mission statements into mission questions, and encouraging open inquiry among team members.
Finally, Todd Henry challenges listeners to identify and overcome their own limiting assumptions, or "ghost rules," using curiosity-driven questioning.
Five Key Learnings:
1. Clear and effective questioning is crucial in marketing and creative work, as illustrated by A&W’s third-pound burger mistake.
2. Training in the art of questioning is often overlooked, even in professions that depend on it, such as journalism.
3. Innovators use questions to understand problems, imagine solutions, and take actionable steps—summarized in the Why, What If, and How framework.
4. Leaders can foster a culture of questioning by modeling curiosity, encouraging open-ended questions, and rewarding inquisitive thinking.
5. Challenging and reframing our assumptions (ghost rules) can unlock new possibilities and drive innovation.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Pre-order The Brave Habit, get the audiobook for FREE
You may have noticed that we're currently in the middle of a five part series on creative courage. That's because my new book, The Brave Habit, launches on January 23rd. It's been a multi-year passion project for me, and I really want you to read it.

So, if you pre-order the book before January 23rd and then register your pre-order, I'm going to give you the audio book for free along with a PDF of the brave habit workbook, super simple.

And you can do it all at ToddHenry.com/brave

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In this episode we delve into the intricacies of managing the spotlight and thriving within it. Our conversations with Michael Port, Tim Schurrer, and Richard Hytner unfold valuable insights on navigating the pressures of high-stakes situations, finding contentment beyond recognition, and fostering healthy dynamics within creative teams.
Michael Port shares his wisdom on overcoming self-absorption and neuroses by focusing on being helpful and the need for thorough rehearsal in high-stakes situations. He urges us to rehearse effectively for speeches and critical performances, ensuring we are well-prepared and confident.
Tim Schurrer draws inspiration from Michael Collins, the unsung hero of the Apollo Eleven mission, to illustrate the satisfaction found in contributing to a larger cause rather than seeking the spotlight. He defines the "spotlight mindset" and offers strategies to counter its harmful effects, emphasizing the importance of humble confidence and recognizing the contributions of others.
Richard Hytner provides a unique perspective on leadership from the shadows, advocating for the value of "C's" (consiglieri) who support "A's" (accountables) in creative organizations. He emphasizes the significance of reciprocal feedback, emotional intelligence, and the necessity for both roles to appreciate and leverage each other's strengths.
Key Learnings:
Focus on being helpful and well-prepared through thorough rehearsal to overcome self-absorption in high-stakes situations.Find contentment and success by contributing to a larger cause instead of seeking recognition and the spotlight.Cultivate humble confidence and create a culture that values and recognizes everyone's contributions.Understand the importance of the relationship between "A's" and "C's" in creative organizations and how both roles can thrive together.Embrace discomfort in the spotlight as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Mentioned in this episode:
NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now
Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more
Craft a brand story that makes sense. Work with Josh Gott. Visit GotClarity.com to simplify your message.

In this episode of Daily Creative, we explore the power of storytelling with guest Neal Foard, a seasoned storyteller with a background in advertising. Neal shares personal anecdotes that showcase the impact and importance of the stories we choose to tell. From moments of kindness and enthusiasm to lessons on being relatable and engaging through storytelling, we delve into the art of crafting narratives to create connections and leave a lasting impression.
Get the full 60+ minute interview with Neal Foard, as well as daily episodes, guides, courses, access to the full archive of hundreds of episodes, and more in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.
Key learnings from the episode:
The stories we tell reveal a lot about our character and can influence how others perceive us.Life becomes easier when people like you, and storytelling is a powerful tool to cultivate likability.Avoid making yourself the hero of your stories to foster genuine connections and camaraderie.Practice storytelling as a craft to perfect your narratives and create meaningful connections.Pay attention to everyday moments and choose to create stories that inspire, uplift, and connect with others.
Mentioned in this episode:
Craft a brand story that makes sense. Work with Josh Gott. Visit GotClarity.com to simplify your message.
NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now
Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more

In this episode, we delve into the pervasive issue of anxiety and its impact on creative work. Liz Bohannon shares her journey from corporate life to launching Sseko Designs in Uganda. She explains how the narrative of being "special" can foster fear and anxiety, leading to a reluctance to take risks.
ABC News Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman recounts his experiences with panic attacks, including a career-defining on-air mistake, and the strategies he's used to manage anxiety, which he shares in his book No Time to Panic.
Scott Mautz offers insights on building mental strength through fortitude, confidence, boldness, decision-making, goal focus, and positive messaging, outlined in his new book The Mentally Strong Leader.
Finally, Erwin McManus discusses the importance of creating for others and how love can displace anxiety. His new book is called Mind Shift.
Five Key Learnings:
The Myth of Being Special: Liz Bohannon highlights how believing you are inherently special can actually lead to fear and anxiety, causing you to play it safe and stifling creativity.Techniques for Managing Anxiety: Matt Gutman introduces various modalities, including physical activities and mindfulness techniques, that can help manage anxiety and prevent panic attacks.Mental Strength in Leadership: Scott Mautz outlines six core mental muscles—fortitude, confidence, boldness, decision making, goal focus, and messaging—that leaders can develop to regulate emotions and thoughts.Redirect Rhythm: A simple but effective four-step process called the "redirect rhythm" can help manage negative emotions and improve mental strength.Creating with Love: Erwin McManus emphasizes the importance of creating for the benefit of others and how love can be a powerful force in combating anxiety and enhancing creativity.
Listen to full interviews, and get daily episodes, guides, and access to the full archives at DailyCreative.app.
Mentioned in this episode:
NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now
Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more
Craft a brand story that makes sense. Work with Josh Gott. Visit GotClarity.com to simplify your message.

In this episode we dive deep into what it means to truly commit to your creative project, featuring stories from our guests, Daniel Troia (award-winning filmmaker of We're All In This Together), Brent Underwood (author of Ghost Town Living), and A.J. Jacobs (NY Times author of The Year Of Living Constitutionally). Daniel shares his unique journey of creating an award-winning film with minimal resources while relying on the kindness of strangers across America. Brent recounts his tale of revitalizing an abandoned mining town, investing all his resources despite numerous setbacks, including a devastating fire and the pandemic. And, A.J. Jacobs brings his usual blend of humor and wisdom to our discussion, elaborating on how he brings the lessons of his long-arc creative experiments to the world.
Here are five key lessons from the episode:
1. Pursuit of Passion Projects: Each guest highlights the personal fulfillment derived from pursuing their unique passion projects. Daniel Troia's filmmaking journey, Brent Underwood's revitalization of Cerro Gordo, and A.J. Jacobs' immersive experiments demonstrate the depths of commitment and the personal satisfaction it can bring.
2. Understanding Costs and Setting Boundaries: The experiences of Brent Underwood and A.J. Jacobs shed light on the importance of being aware of the sacrifices involved in chasing ambitious goals. They both stress the necessity of setting healthy boundaries to avoid burnout and ensure sustainability in their pursuits.
3. Value of Experiential Learning: Both Daniel Troia and A.J. Jacobs emphasize learning by doing. Whether it’s learning filmmaking on the go or experimenting with living by historical documents, these experiences provide unique insights and foster a deeper understanding of their subjects.

4. Impact of Deep Engagement: A.J. Jacobs’ approach to his projects, such as adopting the tools and methods from the 18th century, illustrates how immersive experiences can lead to profound reflections and unexpected revelations, proving the value of engaging deeply with one’s work.

5. Community and Support: Across the narratives, there’s a recurring theme of the role of community and supportive relationships. Whether it's the strangers who aided Daniel Troia on his journey or the need for people who can offer honest feedback as mentioned by Brent Underwood, the support system is crucial for navigating the challenges of intense, passion-driven projects.
Get full interviews and daily content in the Daily Creative app at DailyCreative.app.
Mentioned in this episode:
NEW BOOK! The Brave Habit is available now
Rise to important moments in your life and work by developing the habit of bravery. Available in paperback, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

Learn more
Mentioned in this episode
Work with Josh Gott. Visit GotClarity.com to learn more.