In school, my notebooks were for more than notes.
They were the home to some of my favorite art. Brand logos I couldn't get out of my head. Stories, ideas, characters, and most fondly… they were the birthplace of sprawling, detailed mazes. I probably have a few in storage that I’ll have to dig out one day.
Back then, it looked like I was tuning out. In reality, that was how I stayed zoned in.
I didn’t know my neurodivergent mind well back then, but I knew it well enough: tracing those paths gave restless energy a home, leaving my mind free to process what I was hearing with more clarity and less effort.
Teachers still didn’t like that, by the way.
Way back in a Driver’s Ed class, the instructor was going deep on acronyms and was in a moment of picking on folks he thought weren’t paying attention.
Looking back, I never stopped drawing.
So, of course, he asked me the trickiest question.
When I answered with ease and he stumbled, assuming I’d get it wrong, I knew there was something different in the way my brain worked. My method of notes-meets-drawings-meets-mazes doesn’t work for everyone… but it worked for me.
I could actually learn better when I gave my mind the right support.
I didn’t realize how detailed my notes were until much later, when I was working with an executive leadership coach back in ‘22. Old habits die hard. Documenting is how I make sense of things, especially over longer periods of time.
Still, I thought everyone practically had a full report ready to go before every meeting with a structured agenda. While that helped manage the back-to-back chaos, it didn’t help us get back to the real, deep creative thought.
That requires space.
Time.
Even a little boredom.
In seeing the ways bosses continue to ask for more while giving fewer resources to their teams, particularly in this heightened moment of stress for many, I’ve spent the end of last year and the start of ‘26 getting back to those roots, and working to create more resources to help more creative thoughts survive. I’m excited to share the result:
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A-Maze-Zine
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A-Maze-Zine + Coloring Pages (Volume I) is a 36-page "creative fuel" digital zine, featuring mazes, coloring pages, and motivational quotes designed to help you stay present and energized. It’s designed in a compact 5.8 x 8.3 format and comes with instructions for printing, folding, and keeping tucked away safely.
🪄✨ Download A-Maze-Zine Vol. I
Every purchase supports local art at Boardman Arts Park and the continued creation of tools that prioritize human creativity over metrics or productivity. For members, your free copy will arrive later today. (After-school activities call!)
Friday: I’ll be taking a moment offline tomorrow in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis, who are calling for a nationwide strike in response to the devastating federal immigration raids that have led to the unnecessary and tragic loss of life.
In a world that demands we stay constantly "on," I’m slowing down to create space for reflection and community instead. If you're looking for ways to support or learn more:
If you decide to grab a copy of the zine today, I hope it gives you a little bit of that "Driver’s Ed" clarity during your next long weekend.
See you inside the maze. 🚕🫧
🎫 You are cordially invited to Do Less More.
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$7.00 / month
Do Less More Pass
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🌈 Creative Fuel ⛽
Will Millennials final kill be centrist bullshit?
Peace,
Andy
Founder, Creative Taxi Ltd. 🚕🫧
Moving creative minds.
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