42: William Willis - The Uncaged Creator

Creativity isn't just some abstract topic for artists. Think beyond the "in-demand skills" of today and learn how to build creative muscles that unlock a better life for you. William Willis (aka The Prolific Creator) joins us to share his transformative story (flowing between big tech and a "creator" entrepreneur), plus enlightening tips for cultivating meaning and tangible rewards inside and outside of corporate. Weekly newsletter for Uncaging yourself: try Wednesday Wisdom Show website: UncageYourself.FM  *** TIMESTAMPS 03:04 Impact of science fiction 07:22 Wrestling with a "successful" tech career 10:56 Personal learnings from experimentation 15:37 The anti-niche approach 19:42 Identifying your golden thread (EPIC) 23:45 Cultivating your scenius 32:56 Practical creativity for those feeling "caged" 37:10 How you're capping your potential 41:01 How William is methodically designing corporate re-entry 48:44 Rapid-fire questions 56:27 Every second counts *** TAKEAWAYS 1. There's immense power in unbounded experimentation (with no fixation on outcomes). 2. Be EPIC: [E]xplore interests, observe [P]atterns, [I]dentify common threads, and [C]urate creations. 3. We’re all born to create. The question is, "what are we supposed to create?" 4. Curate your environment (including people) to level up to where you want to be. 5. We become conditioned to value professional effectiveness and efficiency. 6. You're capping your potential if you're not flexing your creative "play" muscles. 7. You are an autonomous being in your world. Don't let others have you believe otherwise. 8. Don't spend your entire life building someone else's dreams (the graveyard is the wealthiest place in the world). 9. All you have is this moment. Don't settle. What can you do right now? 10. "A small, caged life is no way for a human being to live." *** RESOURCES Check out William's site: The Prolific Creator William's Substack newsletter Connect w/ William on LinkedIn Follow William on Twitter Live Uncaged: try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube