Narrowing down the final sources for DEAR CREATIVE has been a fascinating side quest.
As I bridge between historical research and our notification-heavy modern reality, I’m focused on one goal: making something useful for this moment that reaches the creatives making tomorrow better.
Years ago, my early drafting centered on business case studies — like the Harvard Business case study on how Glossier co-created their brand through an authentic, hands-on approach to community and content.
From there, I started getting curious about co-ops, employee ownership, and leadership development even more deeply.
Putting all the pieces together has been a winding road. In recent days, as you can imagine, I've found myself looping back to a section of Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny that I shared recently.
Snyder writes:
"Take responsibility for the face of the world. The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow... Notice the signs of hate. Do not look away... Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so."
This sparked a specific question I wanted to be able to answer more clearly: What did creatives do after the Civil War?
When the world is fractured, through fault or feeling, and certain structures and establishments need rethinking, rebuilding, and repainting — how have makers responded?
I set out to find source material that offers actual inspiration for the chapter we are all currently writing, featuring stories of people who have influenced more than many may realize.
Recently, I’ve picked up two books I can’t wait to integrate:
- A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects (written by Robell Awake + illustrated by Johnalynn Holland): on the legacy of Black artisans, who outnumbered white artisans five to one in the late 1800s, and how they used craft to define American identity against the odds.
- Fighting for Freedom (Edited by Gatson, Momon, Strollo): Featuring ten essays “exploring how the very concept of freedom was shaped and redefined by enslaved and free craftspeople who relentlessly fought for their rights and the recognition of their humanity.”
Answering the question of how creators navigated eras before us has been providing fresh context for so much of the refuel work I’m doing today.
The Motor City
I’ll be spending time in Detroit this spring — first for a solo writing retreat next month and in April for the Small Giants Summit. I’m excited to reconnect with that community and see how these ideas resonate with today’s purpose-driven leaders. See ya there?
A Roadmap, Not a GPS
I’m also revisiting Self-Care for Autistic People by Dr. Megan Anna Neff. To be clear: I’m not suggesting we all fall under one label.
But I do think the sensory and de-stressing methods that support neurodivergent folks often work wonders for neurotypical folks, too.
The goal is to provide a new, more creative and connected roadmap for the next decade. I want the stories and symbols we talk about in 2076 to be as bright and hopeful as they were once intended to be for everyone.
Support the Work
If you’d like to support this research and writing, consider grabbing a Do Less More pass. A subscription gives me the space to dedicate more time to these deep dives and provides more creative fuel for you.
My plan is for DEAR CREATIVE to be a book, but it's best to think of it as something between a business manifesto and a curation of creative wisdom. (That's why I almost went with the name And Everything In Between, by the way!)
Whatever form this story takes, I want to help it reach the right folks. I’m currently thinking through the best way to expand this circle.
Where do you find people like us looking to connect and build the spaces we wish to see? Should I pitch an article to a wider audience to get these ideas out there?
Doing less more looks like doing less better. Focusing on craft and impact. Not fast speed and flashy lights.
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On the Bookshelf
A few resources fueling DEAR CREATIVE:
🌈 Creative Fuel ⛽
If younger you looked at your current to-do list, which item would look the most like play?
Peace,
Andy
Founder, Creative Taxi Ltd. 🚕🫧
Moving creative minds.
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