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David Underwood

Welcome to Be Your Best Creative Self, the second course in the Personal Development for Professional Success Specialization.

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Welcome to Be Your Best Creative Self, the second course in the Personal Development for Professional Success Specialization.

This course is for creative professionals who want to work more efficiently and at higher levels of both job satisfaction and success. As students work through this course, they will:

• learn to make the creative state more reliable and productive

• fine-tune their personal brand so that they present themselves positively and accurately

• learn basic skills for working with others that will help to avoid traps as well as to enable success

As much as anything, this is a survival-skills class designed to help creative professionals take control of their careers. The assignments and exercises are intended to build a creative community in which students gain confidence and grow together.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Creativity and Effective Brainstorming
In this module, students will learn about both the practice and nurturing of the creative state. Students will also learn four reliable ways to brainstorm.
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Module 2: Your Personal Brand
In this module, students will learn how to apply the concepts of branding toward successfully presenting themselves to others.
Module 3: Working with Others
In this module, students will learn how to work with others. The lessons here will teach students the importance of honesty, communicating clearly , dealing constructively with criticism, and avoiding common workplace "traps."

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines the nuances of creative expression, a skillset highly relevant to creative professionals
Emphasizes personal branding, which is essential for professional success in the creative industry
Provides practical guidance on navigating interpersonal challenges in creative workplaces, a skillset vital for career success
Teaches reliable brainstorming techniques, which are fundamental skills for creative professionals
Offers exercises and assignments designed to foster a supportive learning community, encouraging students to grow together

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Reviews summary

Highly rated course for creative self-development

Learners say this highly rated course is great for creative self-development. They describe it as insightful, practical, and inspiring. Reviewers find the lectures motivating and engaging with down to earth tools and ideas you can use to develop your creativity. Reviewers did mention sound issues, namely that the audio was difficult to hear in some instances.
The course is described as inspiring by many.
"Este es uno de esos cursos que te cambian la forma de mirar la vida"
"I​nspiring, well tailored course about creativity"
90% of reviews are positive
"Nice leaning"
"Awesome course!"
"Excellent course!"
Focus on practical tools and advice
"great course that gives many tools to develop your creative self"
"a lot of practical tools and good ideas, advices"
Audio quality issues reported
"Very low quality audio, video, and content."
"I have difficulty hearing it"
"the sound was low"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Be Your Best Creative Self with these activities:
Review foundational concepts of creativity
Helps you establish a stronger foundation for the principles of creativity that this course builds upon
Browse courses on Creativity
Show steps
  • Revisit readings from previous courses on creativity
  • Review online resources and articles on key concepts of creativity, such as divergent and convergent thinking, and the role of incubation.
Follow online tutorials on effective communication and teamwork
Utilize online tutorials to enhance communication and teamwork skills.
Show steps
  • Identify online tutorials on effective communication and teamwork.
  • Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.
  • Apply the techniques you learn to your interactions with others.
Engage in peer feedback and discussions
Participate in peer feedback sessions to receive constructive criticism and share insights.
Show steps
  • Form a study group or connect with classmates.
  • Share your work with the group and ask for feedback.
  • Provide constructive criticism to others.
  • Incorporate the feedback into your work.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Engage in timed brainstorming exercises
Practice brainstorming ideas quickly and efficiently through timed exercises.
Show steps
  • Set a timer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Choose a topic and brainstorm as many ideas as possible within the time limit.
  • Review your ideas and select the most promising ones.
  • Repeat the exercise with different topics.
Attend a workshop on developing a personal brand
Attend a workshop to learn strategies for building a strong personal brand.
Show steps
  • Research and identify workshops on personal branding.
  • Register for a workshop that aligns with your interests.
  • Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions.
  • Implement the strategies you learn to enhance your personal brand.
Read and analyze “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp
Read Twyla Tharp's book to gain insights into developing a consistent creative routine.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp.
  • Read the book carefully and take notes on key concepts.
  • Identify the techniques and strategies that resonate with you.
  • Consider how you can apply these techniques to your own creative process.
Develop a portfolio of your creative work
Create a portfolio that showcases your creative skills and abilities.
Show steps
  • Gather your best creative work, including writing, designs, videos, or other projects.
  • Select the pieces that demonstrate your strengths and versatility.
  • Create a website or online portfolio to display your work.
  • Share your portfolio with potential employers or clients.
Mentor junior students or colleagues in developing creative skills
Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring others in the development of their creative skills.
Show steps
  • Identify opportunities to mentor junior students or colleagues.
  • Provide guidance, support, and feedback to your mentees.
  • Share your own experiences and insights to help your mentees grow.
  • Reflect on your mentoring experience and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete Be Your Best Creative Self will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Art teacher
An Art Teacher leads students in creating and appreciating art. This course can aid professional success for a prospective Art Teacher by helping them master more skills to foster creativity. Having the skills to teach brainstorming can help Art Teachers with their students, while knowing how to work with others can help them collaborate on projects with other educators to better the lives of their students.
Creative Director
Creative Directors oversee the artistic and creative aspects of advertising, marketing, and public relations campaigns. For those looking to enter into this field, this course can help build a foundation in creativity and effective brainstorming. It can also help build a foundation in personal branding and working with others, which are valuable to a Creative Director's success.
UX Designer
UX Designers research, design, and evaluate the user experience of products and services. This course can help foster understanding of creativity, personal branding, and working with others, all of which are critical to success as a UX Designer.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. For those looking to become a Marketing Manager, this course can help them to build a solid foundation for their career. It has lessons on branding and working with others which will be particularly valuable for success in this field.
Writer
Writers develop and create written content, such as articles, books, and scripts. This course can aid in the success of those looking to become a Writer. It can teach more effective brainstorming techniques, better branding strategies, and the ability to work more efficiently with others. As the role of a Writer requires constant creativity, these skills can greatly improve success in the field.
Public relations manager
Public Relations Managers build and maintain relationships with the media and public to promote a company or organization. This course can be of great use to a Public Relations Manager. It will teach them more effective ways to brainstorm, brand themselves as professionals, and work with others, expanding their toolset for career success.
Film Director
A Film Director oversees all elements of film production to create a visual story for a viewing audience. By learning to master creativity and effective brainstorming, this course can help one be more successful in the role of Film Director. The course will also help teach them how to work with others more efficiently to achieve creative goals.
Interior designer
Interior Designers plan and execute the design of interior spaces, such as homes, offices, and public buildings. As Interior Designers must constantly brainstorm and come up with creative ideas, this course can help Designers build a more solid foundation for working with others and branding themselves for more professional success.
Event Planner
Event Planners coordinate the logistics and details of events, such as weddings, conferences, and corporate functions. This course can greatly benefit an Event Planner through its teaching of personal branding and working with others. As Event Planners must often lead projects with large groups of other people, these skills are critical to success as an Event Planner.
Fashion Designer
Fashion Designers create clothing, accessories, and other fashion items. For those looking to become a Fashion Designer, this course can aid in learning creativity and effective brainstorming techniques. These skills will be useful as the role needs the Fashion Designer to be constantly innovating and coming up with new ideas for clothing and accessories.
Architect
Architects design and oversee the construction of buildings and other structures. This course may be useful for someone looking to enter the field of Architecture. It can teach more effective brainstorming techniques, while also teaching how to better brand oneself as a professional Architect.
Photographer
Photographers take and process pictures for a range of purposes, such as art, journalism, and commercial advertising. This course can help Photographers succeed by teaching more effective creative brainstorming techniques. It can also teach Photographers how to better brand themselves within their field of expertise.
Industrial Designer
An Industrial Designer designs and develops concepts and products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. As the design process requires creative brainstorming, this course may be helpful for an Industrial Designer looking to enhance their skillset.
Product Manager
Product Managers oversee the development and launch of new products. This course may be helpful for those looking to become a Product Manager. It offers instruction in creativity and working with others, both of which are valuable for those seeking a career in Product Management.
Music Producer
Music Producers guide and coordinate the recording and production of musical works, including albums, singles, and other audio content. This course may be useful for those looking to enter the Music Production field. It will teach the fundamentals of creativity, brainstorming, branding, and working with others in a setting that may be comparable to a potential role.

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Be Your Best Creative Self.
Delves into the nature of creativity and provides practical exercises to help readers develop their creative confidence and unleash their creative potential. It aligns with the course's focus on fostering a reliable and productive creative state.
Provides a comprehensive guide to branding, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and consistency in presenting oneself and one's work. It aligns with the course's module on developing a strong personal brand.
Explores the habits and routines of successful creative individuals, providing practical strategies for cultivating creativity and sustaining it over time. It aligns with the course's emphasis on developing a reliable and productive creative state.
Offers a unique perspective on creativity, combining practical exercises with spiritual reflections. It provides valuable insights into overcoming creative blocks and accessing one's inner creative potential.
Encourages readers to embrace their creativity and pursue their passions without fear. It aligns with the course's goal of empowering creative professionals to take control of their careers and achieve greater success.
Offers a motivational and inspiring perspective on the challenges and rewards of creative work. It provides valuable insights into overcoming resistance and embracing the creative process.
Explores the challenges and opportunities facing organizations in the face of technological disruption. It provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of innovation and its implications for creative professionals.
Introduces the principles of lean methodology as applied to startups and creative endeavors. It provides a structured approach to testing and validating ideas, enabling creative professionals to iterate and improve their work.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of design, with a focus on usability and user experience. It offers valuable insights for creative professionals in any field.
Offers a behind-the-scenes look at Pixar Animation Studios and its approach to fostering creativity and innovation. It provides valuable lessons for creative professionals in any industry.
Explores the elements of successful group dynamics and provides insights into how to create a culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. It valuable resource for creative professionals who work in teams.
Explores the mental and emotional states that enable peak performance in creative work and other fields. It offers insights into how to access and sustain these states, empowering creative professionals to reach new heights.
Provides a historical perspective on the concept of mastery and offers practical advice on how to achieve it in any field. It valuable resource for creative professionals who aspire to reach the highest levels of their craft.

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