Integrating the Thing
The calendar was clear for the afternoon, the pull toward making something was strong.
But what could I make? Paint a picture, write a song, record a meditation, create marketing material for Framed, write a blog post. These are the creative mediums I like to work with but the juggle sometimes leaves me feeling stuck, in a state of choice paralysis.
My wife looked up from her coffee. "Why don't you write a song about cleaning windows?"
Simple, but brilliant suggestion. A cascade of ideas immediately flooded my brain. This suggestion was the exact permission my nervous system had been waiting for from the person who I needed to hear it from.
Creative work with no guaranteed return can be difficult to invest time, energy and sometimes money into amidst the hum of adult responsibilities. To create something for the love of it, to share a little joy can feel like a luxury, something you only get to do if you've done enough of the serious stuff first.
Taking an afternoon to write a song about window cleaning bridged the gap for my logical brain between the creative act with no obvious outcome and creating a tangible asset to improve the visibility of my business. Reflecting on recent real-life experiences gave me an opportunity to process how I felt about the business of cleaning windows and in an unusual twist, led me to writing a story-based song that captured the Framed window cleaning client journey.
This simple song became a catalyst to really clarify what Framed window cleaning is about, who it serves and how it benefits their lives. It also made way for recording a fun film clip with my son starring as Jeff.
The act of playfully creating together gave us a tangible father-son project. We made something fun, something we could share with family and friends, something we can look back at in years to come.
When the simple idea strikes, moving into action as soon as possible leads us down a path of discovery. We learn about ourselves, the people around us and even what lies at the heart of a seemingly mundane service business.
