Ed Catmull on The Creative Process (and how it applies to life).
“Don’t wait for things to be perfect before you share them with others. Show early and show often. It’ll be pretty when we get there, but it won’t be pretty along the way.”
Ed Catmull, the co-founder of Pixar, describes the creative process in his book, Creativity Inc., as having two fundamental laws: story is king and trust the process.
What he means is that you can shoot on really terrible devices like an iPhone and still tell a great story. And secondly, trusting the process is about having somatic faith in the work you are doing and knowing it will work out.
Beyond the binary business applications, these two laws of creativity are apt for life.
Law #1: Story is King
The story you tell yourself on a day-to-day basis will determine the quality of life. No matter what has happened to you or what will happen to you, just know, that life is always happening for you not to you (shot Mr Tony Robbins for that).
We are tribal beings. We think in stories. So it’s important that the story you tell yourself daily is one that has meaning.
Law #2: Trust the Process
Like creativity, trusting the process of life can be difficult. It requires you to not connect the dots going forward, as Steve Jobs famously said at his Stanford commencement speech, but only after the fact.
Trusting the process is a skill. Trusting the process is a mechanism to let the unseen forces of the universe elicit serendipity.
It may take years, but the process is the process, and trusting it will be one of the best things you do.
What story do you tell yourself moment-to-moment?
See you in the comments.
Much love, Josh.
The conversation features Patrick Belem—a filmmaker, musician, and spiritual seeker—who offers an authentic perspective on plant medicine. Patrick co-directed the film 'Eskawata Kayawai,' which explores the culture and traditions of the Huni Kuin people in Brazil. The discussion touches on the film's depiction of the revival of the Huni Kuin culture, the intricacies of ayahuasca ceremonies, and the importance of honoring indigenous practices. Patrick shares his journey into spirituality influenced by his upbringing in a culturally diverse Brazilian family and his transformative experiences with ayahuasca. The conversation also covers the need for proper context and respect when engaging with plant medicine and the potential pitfalls of cultural appropriation. The episode ends with reflections on the integration of plant medicine experiences into daily life and Patrick’s insights into his personal and artistic growth.