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Creativity Blog Week 7

1. One of the most critical factors in a successful team CPS process is deferred judgement. It’s so quick and easy to say that an idea isn’t good or it’s way too far off. Having that mindset doesn’t allow for full creativity and full use of the right brain. Also, having someone judge your idea can be hurtful and will cause an individual to retreat and think of more “safe” ideas.

2. One way that I helped during the CPS process was when my group got stuck coming up with ideas during brainstorming. We felt we hit a wall and I was able to redirect the discussion when I felt the group needed more guidance.

3. I learned that you can use both right and left brain in a set process that maximizes collaboration and really utilizes how the brain thinks and works. It was a great way to take a seemingly difficult task and make it fun, while still getting great ideas out of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience! 

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Creativity Blog Week 6

1. I found that the ideation/brainstorming was effective at generating new and creative ideas because it gave us a framework for our minds to explore. If someone were to just tell me to come up with a cool new idea for a soda flavour, I would have a hard time knowing where and how to start. This process helped get use the right and left side of the brain. Using this process will be more effective once the people brainstorming and coming up with ideas are more comfortable around the process. It is hard at first to defer judgement and to speak freely about ideas. Once each person becomes more comfortable with the process, the more powerful the tool.

2. I participated as a facilitator and as a contributor. I found as a naturally creative person, it was difficult for me to only facilitate because I had so many ideas I wanted to share but I also wanted to help guide the group discover their ideas.

3. This will definitely help me be more creative in the future because this process was fun, easy to use, and my group got great results out of it. It is also a fund team bonding activity which I can even use as a game with family and friends to see what ideas we can come up with.

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Creativity Blog Week 5

1. 1 issue that I’m facing at school is co-op. I don’t quite have the experience a lot of the job postings are asking for, so I want to create a visually interesting resume that really catches the eye of the hiring manager, while still having all the necessary information on it. I want to be competitive against other students with more and better experience than me, so I want to make my resume stand out.

Below is how I solved the issue using Solve It!

Solve It!: A Five Step Process

1. Determine the critical issue or opportunity

- I lack experience for a lot of the jobs on the co-op job board

- I need my resume to stand out to recruiters

2. Write a clear problem statement

- I need a resume that highlights my transferable skills while standing out against all the other generic resumes

3. Generate Ideas

- bold font/hip font 

- sections

- block letters with sleek text

4. Identify the Best Idea

- all of the above! show that I have creative skills and am highly visual

5. Write Your Vision

- to create an easy to read, easy to follow resume that highlights my abilities to do any job

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Creativity Blog Week 4

1. The mind mapping tool was very interesting as I was able to get in the zone pretty quickly. I picked up on how to create one pretty fast and in no time, I was digging deep into my thoughts, free of judgement, and putting it down on paper in a way that made sense to me. This will allow me to be more creative because it’s a better way to write out my creative thoughts in a way that is better for my brain. I am able to organize my thoughts, and better remember what I wrote down because of this technique.

2. I started using mind mapping in Steve’s strategy course. His teaching style is mainly to stand up in front of the class, talk about the material and ask us questions and share personal stories. His mind wanders sometimes and most of the time he isn’t totally linear so mind mapping helps me keep track of Steve’s thoughts and turn them into useful notes.

3. For the mind map exercise, I chose to study the salt stains on the floor. By using the mind map, I was able to see the salt stains in a different light. I used to think they made the floor look dirty, crusty and looking at it makes one think that Sheridan doesn’t have any cleaning staff. I was able to look at salt stains in a beautiful way, and imagine them as clouds, or as cotton candy. It was an eye opening experience to be able to look at something in a totally different light.

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Creativity Blog Week 3

1.  What are your three creative blocks?

Fear of rejection 

Lack of time

Self doubt

2. In what ways did you determine that you could break through these blocks?

I realized that it wasn’t so much a “lack” of time, but rather that I wasn’t making time. I started scrapbooking for my wedding in 2020 and I love being able to just sit down and immerse myself in stickers, photos and markers. I kept telling myself “I don’t have time” and “I have other important things to do right now”. I was limiting myself because I wasn’t making time for creativity in my day. I wasn’t allowing myself to get into creative flow and express my creativity.  

3. For your one block selected what did you actually do to bust the block? Were you successful? If so why? If not, why not?

Not only was I successful in making time for my scrapbooking and being creative, but it made me realize that I need to make time for other things in my life. I started to allot time to play an hour of video games and read at least 20 minutes a day. This allowed me to have more balance and equilibrium in my life, and lowered my stress levels. 

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Creativity Blog Week 2

1. What is your creative inclination?

My creative inclination is to take photos. I love being able to frame the world in the way that I see it. I also have the ability to edit and be creative with the photo even after I’ve taken the photo.

2. Using the creative definition and your creative process (jump or plan) do one new thing in your creative expression in your creative inclination.

I prefer to take landscape and street photography, so I decided to give portraits a try. I used to get scared when taking photos of people because I didn’t want to represent them in a way that wasn’t true to who they are or how they felt in that moment.

3. Describe what you did and what you learned.

I learned that my fears about how I represent people in my photos, is actually reality. I photographed my boyfriend who wasn’t in the best mood. His brow looked tense and his jaw didn’t look relaxed. He looked angry, which isn’t his normal look. But I realized that, in the moment, he was angry. My photo did accurately represent him in that very moment. I learned that all photos don’t have to be “beautiful”, and that real photos are actually more appealing.

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Week 6

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Week 5

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Week 4

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Week 3

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Week 1

1.1. Back in 2011 when I was still in high school, I was named the captain of my varsity field hockey team. The first time I ever played field hockey was in 2008, in my grade nine gym class. I decided to tryout the next year, and made the team the next two years. In 2011 and 2012 I was named to the All Star field hockey team, and I represented my high school and joined the Oakville team in the all star tournament.

Growing up I was naturally very athletic. I started playing soccer at the age of 6 and played house league until I was 10. I played competitively for the town of Oakville until I was 18. My team played all across Ontario, competing in tournaments with older girls and at the age of 17 I was playing with 21 year olds. I started playing volleyball in grade eight, my last year of elementary school. Volleyball was one of my favourite sports, but it was also the sport I was the least skilled at. I couldn’t overhand serve and spiking was extremely awkward. I found my place as the setter, and earned my way to a starting position in my first year playing. I joined a competitive volleyball team in 2010 and played for one year. I rarely played, only in games that we were for sure going to win. Playing competitive soccer and volleyball while in school was difficult, but I made it work because I loved playing the two sports. Throughout high school I also played for the soccer and field hockey teams. Although I wasn’t very good, I captained the school volleyball team in grade 10 and 12. I was also the only student to be named captain of the soccer team in grade nine, and I was named captain every year after that.

I will never forget the experiences I had growing up, captaining many sports team with different types of players. Yes I was gifted athletically but I don’t think that was the only reason why I was lucky enough to wear the captain’s band so many times. I always took sports very seriously. I was insanely competitive and I absolutely hated losing. There was nothing worse than watching my teammates only give 50% and then laugh when they messed up. I was always right up front, listening to what the coach had to say. Because I was the captain, I knew how important it was that I took everything seriously and tried my hardest.

As a captain, I made sure my voice was heard. I was constantly communicating with my teammates. During practice, I would praise them for a nice attempt on goal or a hard hustle to get the ball. During games, I would yell at them to run quicker, kick farther and pass harder. Not because I was mad and wanted to yell at them, but because I knew they were capable and if they had that verbal support from their captain and other teammates, that they would strive to be the best player on the field. 

I enjoyed every second of my responsibilities as captain. I felt pride in my team and I was ecstatic for each player when they made progress. During drills I pushed them physically and mentally. I was gifted with skills, so I challenged them and I always went as hard as I could against them so both of us could get better. I can recall so many times on the soccer field being so out of breath because I was running around so much and screaming at the top of my lungs.

I realized I was a strong leader in 2010, when I was named the captain of the field hockey team after only playing for one year. There were girls that were far better than me but I kept thinking to myself, why was I chosen? Looking back I know it’s because I had a love for sports and a love for my teammates. I showed up early to help set up drills and the nets, I brought snacks for everyone after practice and I pushed everyone to work hard. I made fun of the coach in a lighthearted way, creating a relaxing and trustworthy environment for the team. I wasn’t shy to give compliments, because I know how frustrating and embarrassing screwing up in a sports game can be. When you’re the one responsible for a point loss, or a change from attack to defence. 

1.2 By being a captain for many teams and different sports with different styles, I learned that there was one important trait that I needed to pass on from team to team. I had to care about my teammates, and I only learned that by having the best coaches and other captains to learn from. The captain of my competitive soccer team worked the hardest and was the most verbal. She pushed all of us to give it 110% every time, because she gave 110% every time. In workout sessions, she was at the front so everyone could see her. We were all paused on our stationary bikes, huffing and puffing and she was still on her bike, covered in sweat and still going as hard as she could no matter how tired she was. She had incredible drive and her aura alone was just enough to motivate even the laziest player. She also didn’t hang up her captain’s band after we left the soccer field. She cared about her teammates, always inviting us to her house, having one on one chats with us about boys, school and work. In 2009 we had a coaching change. The friendlier assistant coach became our new head coach and he helped turn things around for the team. He took the time to work with us individually on what we could improve and he trusted us. While I hated people who didn’t give it their all, I learned that I couldn’t be mean to those people. I learned I needed to be the better person and inspire others with my effort. Effort to work hard and effort to help my teammates. Instead of being cold to those who didn’t care, I got closer to them and encouraged them to try again and to try harder. After seeing positive results in my teammates it felt good to be a leader, so I continued. I strived to be a role model to my teammates. If we had a 6am practice and I was sick, I would still make it to practice to show my support. I learned from my own captains and coaches that if you invest time in your teammates, they will improve and strive to be better people because they have someone believing in them.

2. Two leadership strengths that I have that work well together are honesty and good communication skills. I was working as an Assistant Production Coordinator on a severely understaffed feature film with a production manager who only cared about herself and her husband who also worked on the production. She was overpaying herself and her husband and was asking other crew members to volunteer, and cut down on the budget with people’s wages. We took on an “intern” to act as our production assistant but he did way more than he should of. He was trying to break into the industry and was trying super hard to impress everyone, especially the production manager. He was using his own money for production, was volunteering himself on tasks that he shouldn’t have to be doing and was going above and beyond for the production that wasn’t paying him for his hard work. I had a sit down conversation with him at lunch one day because I couldn’t stand him being taken advantage of anymore. I told him that we know he’s trying to break into the industry, but that he was working too hard for no money. My mantra is that if anyone is getting paid, then everyone should get paid. I explained to him that he was working extremely hard, and that everyone could see it. I told him that I was once in his shoes, desperate to look for work and somewhere to get into the industry. I told him that he was doing a great job but to take it easy since I could see him overworking himself. I explained to him that his hard work was really appreciated and that I would recommend him as a production assistant to every producer I knew. I also gave him some tips on how to network and more on how the industry works. 

Two other leadership skills that I have that worked well at the same time are confidence and sound decision-making skills. I was producing a small budget commercial for a beard oil company and two days before I was supposed to go to camera my road occupancy permit was denied. I was devastated and had a panic attack. I cried out all the stress in the bathroom and I called my assistant director to let her know what was up and that I would get back to her with more info shortly. I had barely any time to think, so I focused on the most important tasks which were contacting the cast, crew and client about the cancellation and figure out another date to shoot. As soon as I sent the email out crew called me and came to visit me in my office asking what was up and I just had to be as clear and confident as I could be. There was no use in stressing because that was only going to make the situation worse. As the producer, I had to show strength and confidence so my crew members wouldn’t waiver and stress. I had to make really important decisions with little time and under a lot of pressure but I was able to re-apply for the permit the next day which got approved, and I had to re-organize all my rentals and thankfully the cast and crew were all still available. 

3. One skill that I would like to work on is delegating. I have had too many bad experiences in the past where other crew members haven’t pulled their weight and I just did it for them. I’ve had a hard time trusting people to get their job done properly and it has cost me. I want to learn how to delegate the jobs to the right people and not micromanage them. Another skill (not quite sure if this is a skill) I would like to learn is how to be more approachable. I like approaching people and talking to others but I have resting bitch face which makes it look like I’m worried or mad all the time, when I’m not! People have told me in social situations that I look upset, and I’m worried it will translate into my work life where people will think I’m mad when I’m not. I’ve been told by some classmates that I’m “scary” and intimidating. If I had a production manager that was scary I would find it hard to talk to that person and come to them when issues arise, and I don’t want that!