Defining your creative special sauce

Every creative brings with them a unique blend of traits, perspectives, skills, and passions.  Defining them for yourself and others is a generous act that can connect you with other individuals and projects where you can add creative value.

In the studio, we spend time in explorations and exercises that help us define what I call our “creative special sauce statement”.  A compelling special sauce statement should communicate not just what you do, but how and why you do it in a way that only you can.

We start by asking a few trusted friends about our creative essence and strengths.  In one class, I had a student who saw each student as a fabric and explained why.  One person was silk, exuding old world glamour, another was corduroy, expressing something old, worn and safe that you come home to again and again.  See if you can do the same and ask a few collaborators or fans how they see you and your work.  What strengths do they see, what is the essence of your energy, in what creative environments do they see you thrive?

Ask the same questions of yourself.  Think about creative endeavors where you found yourself in a state of flow or roles that really allowed you to express yourself fully or times when you felt you were standing in your power.

Once you have that information, start to see how it informs these prompts.  Start with the phrase, “I am an artist who…”, talk about what you do.  Fill your statement with words explaining what kind of work you enjoy, “I am drawn to work that…” or “I am drawn to stories that…”.  Describe your unique gifts, “I bring to my work…”.  Add a bit about your approach, “ I approach my work with…” and “My work wouldn’t be mine without…”.  Finish your statement with your personal intention and aspirational purpose for your work. “Through my work, I am aim to…”.

I find having this kind of clarity is really empowering and generous to share with others so they know how to empower you and how to best utilize your skills.  I encourage you to put your statement at the top of your resume or college essay.  How amazing would it be for the person on the other side of that resume to be met with someone clear, empowered and purposed?  What a gift.