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

Just like the day, we’re in Week #27! Our “Take it, Learn it” series continues with its 8th Episode. And as every good thing, it will come to an end. This is the last episode of our “Take it, Learn it“ series. It was a pleasure to create and release its episodes. I’m glad and thankful for your positive feedback and support.

But do not worry. This is certainly not the end of 4CW. There’s more to come. Stay tuned.

In case, this email gets cut due to length, you can read it in full here.

In this week’s issue, our guests are Baymax and Hiro Hamada.

Without further ado…

Let’s start the ride!

(Missed Episode 7? Here you go!)

Main Wheel

Have you ever had an interest in doing something new or unfamiliar? If so, you've heard the phrase "Trust the process" or "Love the journey" in one way or another. These phrases are mentioned countless times that they have become cliche.

Unfortunately, by becoming cliche, people stopped to think genuinely about them. They ceased to contemplate how the phrases were true to their experience. I was sadly among these people.

I had a hard time writing this essay. It took me deep reflecting hours to reach here. I had to dismantle old views I held on to leave space for the ones that would show what was true. I was challenged because I did not want to face the truth. The truth is I ought to cherish the process and the journey. It's a must, it's necessary. And it's not optional. How was it difficult to do? Let me elaborate.

All creatives know the importance of the process. The creative process is where every creation is produced. Also, every creative recognizes how crucial the journey is. The journey of each creative helps shape them.

However, at times, it's a hustle to fully accept the process and journey as they are. It's a battle to cherish it for what they are. And it's a war to experience them as they present themselves. Hence, the task of cherishing them is a struggle. And there is more to that.

The process and journey are the costs. They give and increase the value of the finished work. In business, multiple elements play a part in making a product. These elements affect the cost of the creation of the product. By the time you buy the product, the process from the idea of making the product to you picking the product up, determines the value of the product. This applies to the creative process and journey.

They are the value givers. They determined how far a creation and a creative will go. The process and journey are not only to be trusted and cherished. The two coexist and influence each other.

One of the best examples in fiction is the underrated Disney animated film, "Big Hero 6." In the movie, we see how the process of the work and journey of the creative worked together for the creation's value and hero's growth. Baymax, the robot, is the work. Hiro Hamada, the young and gifted inventor, is the creative. The two impacted each other so well that it's difficult to see progress in one without the other. And that is the reality for every creative.

We all know well the creative process. It's simple. The creative process may vary from one work to another, from one medium to another. However, there are 3 crucial and common stages. These 3 stages are the ideation, production, and completion of the work. When you are in the ideation, you are seeking ideas. You experiment and dig.

After you find that idea, you pass to the production stage where you work on the idea. Ultimately, you arrive at the completion stage where you edit, revise, and polish the piece. Finally, you publish, release, or start using the work. All these steps are time, energy, and attention invested. The challenges you had to face, the walls you had to annihilate, the hurdles you had to jump over, all of them are costly.

They are what makes the process priceless. It's where the work's worth abides. They are things creatives have to repeat over and over. Sometimes you have to repeat it for one creation. That was the case for Baymax and Hiro Hamada.

Baymax was an invention by Tadashi Hamada, Hiro's big brother. Tadashi aimed to make Baymax a personal healthcare companion. However, after Tadashi's death, Hiro became in charge of Baymax. When he discovered that the person who stole his microbots was also responsible for Tadashi's death, Hiro decided to avenge his brother. And he worked to transform Baymax for the hunt.

He was in the creative process on multiple occasions. Hiro had to alter multiple things about Baymax. He had to rethink what was present. He had to see what was needed and answer to those needs. Moreover, Hiro had to try and try again.

Within the process, time shines light on the essential details. The details that make the big difference in the piece. And those details help make connections and solve problems. Because of the process, you have, at times, to go with the speed the work demands.

Because of the process, you get to know and love your work. In the process, you gain time to see the value in what you do and appreciate your progress. Thus, when you eventually arrive at the end product, you will more likely communicate the value of your work well. Your words will express the love and respect you have for the work. And you will be more confident about showing it to the world.

The world might receive it poorly or the work might not be on par with your initial idea and aim. However, because of the process, because of the time, and the experience you had with the work, you will learn from it, desire to enhance the work, and continue to believe in it. In this process of transforming Baymax, Hiro was transformed as well. And that's where the process and journey overlap.

To borrow from Steve Jobs' definition of creativity, creativity is connecting dots that would normally not be connected. You pull a dot from one area and attach it to another from a distinct area. The best dots we have as creatives are in our knowledge, experiences, and imagination.

So, the more knowledge we get, the more we can thrive as creatives. The more experience we acquire, the more we can grow as creatives. And the more imagination we reach, the more we can be creative. The path to increase these areas is through being in the creative process continuously.

The processes of the works we create drive us to evolve in our creative journey. As Robin Williams once said, "You have to fail in order to find the new." The creative process is full of minor and major shortcomings. And you have to be constantly engaged in it to discover the new versions of you as a creative. It will propel you to higher heights in your journey.

Furthermore, you will naturally start looking for new angles. You will perceive things differently. The way you encounter and approach a situation affects and influences the situation and even changes it. Hence, your creative journey takes novel forms.

This was what happened to Hiro Hamada. He was the one working on Baymax. He updated his operating system. He included new programs in Baymax. Plus, he made an armor to protect it and change its appearance. The armor had weapons included as well. Baymax became a fighting robot. Yet, Hiro was the one who was the more modified by the experience.

The process of revamping Baymax inspired Hiro to enhance his friends' capabilities. He invented the machines and suits that would make Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Go Go Tomago, and Fred more powerful. Hiro Hamada became a better inventor and creative thinker. And the 6 of them grew to be capable of taking down the villain.

That is how potent the results can be when a creative is completely in the creative process and journey. Real interest and confidence do not come from emotions. They come from evidence. And the evidence comes from actions. The process and journey are action-filled. They are the fountain where creatives can water their plants of love and confidence in their work and themselves. The process makes the work, the journey makes the creative.

This is why the process and journey are to be trusted and cherished. The two coexist and influence each other. With the two, you can turn into the greatest creative you will ever be. And that is why, in creating, you recreate yourself.

Fin! It was a wonderful ride!

Inspiring Wheels

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

• "Anatomy Of The Artist Brain" - Gawx | A masterpiece of a video explaining from different perspectives the question on inspiration.

• "You’ll Never Be Ready" - Nathan Zed | I watched it hours after its publication and rewatched it days after. An incredible watch. It’s more of an experience. Hence, I can’t comment much. You just have to watch it.

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/december-26-2024 😉 😃

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.

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