Hi! Welcome to the 4 CreativeWheels newsletter — your weekly dose of insights on creativity and fuel for your creative journey.

Just one more week and we will celebrate the 20th issue!!! But for now, we’re in Week 19. And the “Take it, Learn it” series is going strong! This is Part 2 of the second episode.

Thank you for your uplifting and positive messages! I’m super grateful for you all. And I’m glad you’ve been loving the episodes.

In this week’s issue, we are back with our guests Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash) and Banksy.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

(Missed Episode 2 Part 1? Here you go!)

Main Wheel

2. Identify your strengths

For Banksy, it was easy to either choose to let the original documentary be about him or ditch the documentary completely. It was not as interesting as he expected. However, Banksy noticed what most would miss. He identified the strengths he could use. And that's the second step in using your strengths as puppets.

Banksy realized how interesting Thierry's story was. Not only it became the documentary's context, but it became one of its best aspects. It opened the door to explore the journey of Thierry, a journey that started way before the meeting with Banksy. The audience got to know about Thierry's life and history with art.

We got to know him as a person. And we got to root for him as a character in his pursuit. Thierry was a relatable bloke. He had a goal and chased it. Moreover, Thierry's passion and dedication were another strength Banksy identified.

Many would shrug off the appeal of the story about a man's unhealthy obsession with filming. Some would see it as weird. Yet, Banksy saw the value in it. He saw how Thierry's dedication led him to capture what could have been lost.

Due to Thierry Guetta's dedication, there was enough footage to tell the wonderful story of Exit Through the Gift Shop. All of it combined with Banksy's own art and artistic vision, Banksy identified his puppets. The documentary had enough pillars to stand on.

This, of course, applies to us too. Having the story and purpose in mind, you can start spotting the puppets you possess. You will notice what most would not see. You get to realize the parts, tools, or moments that would add value to your work.

To identify them, you must ask yourself:

"Is this really a strength of mine? Or do I like the idea of it being one of my strengths?

Will this help the work move forward? How would this contribute to making the work interesting? Does removing or displacing this affect the work?"

In answering these questions you need to be honest. If you are not, you'll have a marionette with a cut string. There would be no connection between you and the strength you have "identified." You need to look deep and think of the strength in your context. When you do so, the space will be filled with puppets ready for action.

3. Understand their best positions

Banksy saw the passion in Thierry Guetta. He saw how dedicated he was. He understood how the audience would be more interested in Thierry's story than his own. Yes, Thierry Guetta came to film him. Still, Banksy made it all about Thierry.

However, to know that Thierry's story was better would have not been enough to make Exit Through the Gift Shop the documentary it is. Banksy had to understand the puppets he had. He had to comprehend how they could be used.

Banksy had to see where each strength fit. He figured out the places his anonymity, Thierry's dedication, and his own art would take. He understood how the anonymity in his art and persona would help highlight Thierry Guetta's story. Banksy became just another artist. Another cog in the story that would explore the whole street art movement through the life of Thierry.

In any other documentary, these strengths would have not hit as special as Exit Through the Gift Shop did. The combination of all of them made the documentary special.

That's the third step to using your strengths as puppets. You need to understand your puppets' positions. See how your strengths fit in the areas where they can be used best.

In a story, the big puppet might fit better as the monster. The little puppet might fit better as the overlooked character in the story. The biggest puppet might fit as the misunderstood and paradoxical character whose appearance is contrary to his person.

There is nothing certain. Nothing is set in stone. Every strength with every context will require various and different positions. This is why you need to understand your strengths' positions while remembering your story and purpose.

Two people can have the puppet of painting mastery. Though they are the same puppet, the same strength, the best positions will differ. The best position for Person 1's puppet could be painting for galleries and museums. Meanwhile, the best position for Person 2's puppet could be using their mastery in painting to create unique clothing lines.

They both had the same puppets, but their best positions were different. That is how essential understanding the best positions for your strengths is.

4. Pull them strings together

Now that you have a story and purpose in mind, identify your puppets, and understand their best positions, you can pull the strings.

This is the final part. This is where the documentary was made. Banksy got a story, identified the strengths, understood where they fit best, and went on to produce an amazing documentary as a result.

He used them all together to tell the story. Banksy did not leave out one thing or another. He didn't rely on a certain puppet and called it a day. Banksy and the whole documentary crew worked on using each element to effectively communicate their message. The message they wanted the audience to keep in their hearts.

When you have a story in mind, know your strengths, and understand where they fit best, you need to use them together. You could use them in isolation or separately from time to time. However, the biggest impact comes when we use our strengths together. It's when they help each other to accomplish the common purpose.

This is for everything in our creative life. We all have strengths, known and unknown. We all have beautiful stories and purposes. Our projects may differ but we all desire to have a great ending.

It is in pulling the strings of our puppets together that we end with a harmonious and beautiful show. So, let's pull them. Let's be the best puppeteers we can be and give life and animate what was once inanimate.

Fin! See you next week for Episode 3!

Inspiring Wheels

Here are two (or more) creative works that you’ll not regret checking out:

• "Stop Pouring. Start Drinking" - Ali Gallop | An amazingly done video with a wonderful reminder. Sometimes (and for some of us, most of the time), we acquire knowledge and then acquire more. We learn and learn but take no action. But without action, nothing happens. Don’t want to spoil the video for ya. Just go watch it.

• "The Seven Phases of Madness" - 7mesh | Masterpiece. Simply, a masterpiece. I had this on my Watch Later for a long time. And I'm glad I finally watched it last week. It's a splendid encouragement for all creatives out there, especially the ambitious ones.

Want to share this issue of 4CW with a friend, colleague,… any human being? Just copy and paste this link: https://4creativewheels.beehiiv.com/p/august-29-2024 😉 😃

Thank you so much for reading! 

As always, feel free to reply to this email & share your thoughts, stories, and any experience related to this topic. I’d love to hear them!  

C ya next Week! 

Embracing Creativity™,

Richard M.

Want to work with me? Contact me here