Please read this in your underwear: A thought on the new public speaking

I want to write more. I do.

But the thing is… writing is f#$%ing hard.

But, as I sit here with knots in my stomach trying to tie up my first blog post on the whiteboard, I’m realizing that writing isn’t actually the hard part. In fact not only is it not hard, it’s kind of easy. ‘Kind of enjoyable.

Actually, I kind of love writing.

And to be honest I’ve always loved writing. I have notebooks filled with poems, prose, noodles, doodles, sketches and scripts. Not necessarily the kind that wins awards or gets A’s on essays – but I have writing. Lots of writing. So this should make it easier right?

Nope.

Because that is when my inner critic creeps around the corner of my cranium. Especially, and ironically, since joining the d.school.

I should have a handle on this stuff, right? Creative Confidence and stuff, right?

Not exactly. So, that inner critic, that designated backseat driver of my creative work makes sure to ask plenty of questions and shout plenty of comments.

<Start reading in a wrinkly mean voice with sneering eyes and a jagged pointy finger>

Why are you writing that? No one will care. Ummm thats not proper grammar there! You can’t wrote a poem! Don’t you do those doodles! Those doodles make no damn sense! People expect stories from you. Isn’t that your job?! Do your job. At least teach them something! Why are you crying!!??!

</Stop reading in a wrinkly mean voice with sneering eyes and a jagged pointy finger>

So, after sitting here stirring my thoughts in a procrastination pot for a few hours I decided to go for a walk. Jog the brain a bit. Draw up a battle plan.

That’s when it hit me.

The battle isn’t getting the pen to the paper, but getting the draft to the post. Getting the words through the ego. Sharing.

The battle is sharing. That’s the barrier.

Okay. Reframe. So now what? How do I get over it?

 

POEM PIVOT

Grab a page from Design Thinking 101

Bite the bullet and Bias Towards Action

Kick that old creepy critic to the curb

And just start sharing all those poems, doodles, and words.

 

So there it is.

I’m going to just start sharing. Often, early, and anywhere in between my creative workflow finds me. The good, the bad, the ugly. Sometimes, I’ll incorporate rhyme and reason to distract you from the fact that there is no rhyme or reason.

This place is crazy like that. As soon as I find myself feeling like I know my way around the mindsets, a hidden door pops up and says, “Hey! This way.”

So simple: Bias towards action — but also so, so scary.

Am I terrified?

Absolutely.

Will my inner critic finally be silent?

Absolutely not.

Will I try to drown him with bottles of Creative Confidence.

Everyday.

And as one last good measure I’ve taken solace in the old public speaking adage

“Imagine the crowd is in their underwear.”

This might get awkward. I apologize a head of time.