creative maverick

Why don’t people change? Why do we struggle on with the same old problems, wanting to be happier, more successful, to have better relationships, but not getting very far?
To explain why I think this is, I need to talk about Bono, lead singer of U2.
A lot of people find Bono annoying, particularly in Britain where [...]

For a lot of us, particularly creative people, conventional goal setting and planning techniques just don’t work.
So how do we engineer a great year for ourselves without all that SMART goal crap? One doing the whole variety of stuff we enjoy while making a good living at the same time?
I gave a talk at January Scanners Night on [...]

I started this blog exactly one year ago and billed it as a one year experiment in creative living - an experiment to do what I love doing most, worry a little less about where it might lead, and see if I can end up getting “paid to play”.
Did it work?
Well in April of this [...]

I hope you have a good break coming up over the next few days. If you’re currently assessing what to do with your work next year, here’s a little something to ponder while you’re off…
Try this trick of asking yourself a question and then forgetting about it while you’re off work. Your subconscious will continue [...]

Would you like to know where to focus your work so that you can get paid for doing what you love? The key is to find your “moment of magic”.
Think back to a recent time in your work that stands out as a great moment; one when you did something you know you are great [...]

Tom Hodgkinson is editor of bi-annual magazine The Idler and author of several excellent books including How To Be Idle, How To Be Free, and The Idle Parent.
He very kindly agreed to be interviewed for my upcoming book about how to get paid to play.
We did the interview as a video call over Skype and [...]

Pat Kane is one half of Scottish pop duo Hue and Cry. Famous for hits in the late 80s and early 90s like Labour of Love, the brothers are still making music today and released Open Soul earlier this year.
Aside from music, Pat is also a writer, consultant, play theorist, and activist. He is author of The [...]

Chris Guillebeau makes a full-time living from his blog The Art of Non Conformity while travelling the world on his mission to visit every country on Earth. He very kindly agreed to be interviewed for my book “Screw Work, Let’s Play” and share a little of what’s made his lifestyle possible.
Chris, how do you answer [...]

I was interviewed by Dave Monk on BBC Radio Essex on Tuesday about how to find work you love, even in a recession. Dave challenged me with some tough questions - have a listen to see how I answered questions like:

Should you just fire off your CV to all the jobs you can find?
Isn’t it [...]

Derek Sivers is a remarkable guy. He’s best known as the founder of CD Baby which he sold for $22 million last year but he’s also been a professional musician and at one point a circus clown.
He is very much a Scanner who has found a way to manage his addiction to learning, creativity and variety to launch [...]