Born To Create

We all know developing our creativity is vital to our success. But with our busy lives, it’s easy to put creativity on the back burner because it may seem too complicated and time-consuming. In this episode, you’ll learn ten simple ways to grow your creativity. You can even do many of these very cheaply, and with family and friends. Creativity doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—pick one of these suggestions and watch your creative life begin to grow. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Facebook! Check it out here: http://KentSanders.net/facebookgroup. 

In the previous episode, I outlined four questions you can use to help decide which creative projects to pursue. These questions are filters to keep you focused on the right projects. They will also help you avoid the ones that are dead ends. In this episode, I’ll walk through a case study describing how I used these questions to choose my next major creative project, which is a book. I’ll share what the book is about, where the idea came from, and how it “passed” the filters of these four questions: What are you passionate about? What will help you achieve your goals? What will help other people? What is my audience asking for? I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http

My friend Mark Revisky sent in a question recently: He wrote, “I am at a creative roadblock. I have completed my memoir and a play, but I don’t know what to do next. A book, another play, a fictional story? How do I find a direction to go?” This is an area where I have struggled quite a bit over the years. I imagine everyone reading this has struggled with it as well. In this episode, you’ll learn how to choose your next creative project by asking four important questions. The questions will give you clarity and help you stay headed in the right direction. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Fa

What is the key to being a successful author? Is it talent? Marketing? Great ideas? Writing a lot of books? While those are all important, I’ve just finished reading a great book that tells you how to develop a critical aspect of becoming a successful author. In this episode, I’ll share why I love Joanna Penn’s new book, The Successful Author Mindset. The book is filled with great tips and practical advice that will help every writer thrive in their creative life. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Facebook! Check it out here: http://KentSanders.net/facebookgroup. 

I had an interesting conversation with someone recently about a hypothetical situation: what if a sincere, devoted Christian legitimately can’t stand the music at their church? How should they deal with this problem? In this episode, I’ll offer 8 suggestions for people who are struggling to enjoy the music at their church. You’ll learn to gain a new perspective on music and how you can be a support to your church even if you don’t necessarily enjoy the music. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Facebook! Check it out here: http://KentSanders.net/facebookgroup. 

Are worship songs too complicated these days? How does the key of a song affect its “singability” in church? What lessons can we learn about worship songs from Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God”? These are some of the questions we’ll answer on this episode, which is Part 5 of our series, “Whatever Happened to Singing in Church?” We’ll look at several musical factors that have impacted engagement and participation in worship, and how to handle them. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/singing-musical-factors. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on

How has the role of the worship leader changed over the last 10-15 years? Is the struggle between authentic worship and entertainment a new development, or an old one? And how do you choose between a worship leader with a great heart, and one with more talent? These are some of the questions we’ll answer on this episode, which is Part 4 of our series, “Whatever Happened to Singing in Church?” We’ll look at several leadership factors that have impacted engagement and participation in worship, and how to handle them. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/singing-leadership-factors. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://Ken

How do sound, lighting, and video impact people’s participation in worship? Why is it important for a church to invest in good equipment and training for tech staff and volunteers? And why should you treat them like royalty? These are some of the questions we’ll answer on this episode, which is Part 3 of our series, “Whatever Happened to Singing in Church?” We’ll look at several environmental factors that have impacted engagement and participation in worship, and how to handle them. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/singing-environmental-factors. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join ou

How do art and music programs in public schools affect worship in the church? How does pursuing excellence in worship impact those who aren’t musicians? And how do visitors feel when they come to church and see people singing together, which doesn’t happen much in everyday life? These are some of the questions we’ll answer on this episode, which is Part 2 of our series, “Whatever Happened to Singing in Church?” We’ll look at several cultural factors that have impacted engagement and participation in worship, and how to handle them. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/singing-cultural-factors. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy h

One of the most important ways that we express ourselves creatively is by worshiping in song with a faith community. Singing is the oldest, and still the most widely practiced, way that God’s people worship together. In this episode, we’ll begin a short continuous series on why people don’t sing in church anymore. I’ll share why I’m talking about this topic, and three reasons why singing in church still matters. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/singing-foundations. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Facebook! Check it out here: http://KentSand

If you’ve ever traveled in a car with kids, you have probably heard the question, “Are we there yet?” But it’s not only kids who have trouble waiting. We adults are just as impatient, especially when we’re in the midst of the struggle to reach our goals. In this episode, you’ll learn three lessons from my recent struggle with learning to be content while trying to reach my goals. These lessons are helping me find joy and contentment in the journey and not just the destination. I know they will help you as well. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/struggle. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase.

Do you ever feel like your art is in a separate “box” from the rest of your life? Maybe you feel a disconnect between your art and your church … between your art and your faith … or your art and the broader culture.  But what if there was a way to integrate your art into every area of your life? One of the best ways to do this is by getting back to the basics and studying artists of the Bible. When you do, you’ll begin to see how much God values the arts. You’ll also see how He has used artists to lead, serve, and inspire His people through the generations. This is the first episode in a new series Great Artists of the Bible, that will unfold periodically over the coming months. God has woven threads of the creative arts into the tapestry of his redemptive story. In this post, we start at the beginning by taking a look at the master artist: God himself. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://KentSanders.net/great-artists-god. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to lea

I am a huge fan of “Hamilton,” the smash Broadway musical created by Lin-Manual Miranda. “Hamilton” won 11 Tony awards in 2016 and has been the most talked-about musical in decades. It’s one of the greatest works of art that has been released in my life. But there’s another reason I’m such a big fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda: he took the time to send my son a handwritten card in the mail. As a result, I’ve found an even deeper respect for this celebrated artist. I’ve also learned three important lessons about valuing people, which I’ll share in this episode. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/lin/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your cop

As creatives, it’s important for us to understand why and how stories work. A great place to begin is by studying screenwriting. You may not consider yourself a writer, or don’t plan on writing a screenplay. Even so, understanding the storytelling process can help you in a variety of ways. In this episode, you’ll learn how screenwriting principles can help you, and why you should check my hands-down favorite book on screenwriting, Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder. This amazing (and funny!) book will help you understand story structure, appreciate the movies you watch, and inspire you to create your own stories. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/savethecat/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s S

La La Land was one of the most well-known movies featured at this year’s Academy Awards. It’s a bright, inventive film that takes place in modern-day Los Angeles and hearkens back to the days of old movie musicals. La La Land completely won me over by its playful spirit, engaging story, and sheer audacity. In this episode, I’ll share three specific lessons on creativity I learned from La La Land. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, these lessons will inspire you as well.  For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://KentSanders.net/lalaland. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community o

Most of the time, we don’t give a lot of attention to organizing our workspace. But it’s worth setting it up for maximum efficiency since this is where you create your art and do your work. When you work in an uncluttered environment, your mind is free to focus and be creative. In this episode, you’ll learn five steps to clearing the clutter from your workspace. The result? You’ll have less stress and anxiety because the clutter is not there to distract you from what’s really important. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/declutter/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born

When we see other creative people who are successful, it’s difficult not to feel jealous. The question foremost in our minds is, “Why do they have ______, and I don’t?”  In this episode, you’ll learn to ask better questions that start with “What” instead of “Why.” This small shift in your vocabulary will have huge results in your creative life because you’ll be focusing on what you can proactively do instead of what other people have. You’ll also learn how to escape the trap of a poverty mentality and begin thinking with an abundance mentality. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/jealousy/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy her

Most of us dream of having large blocks of time we can use to think and write. For most of us, this dream rarely becomes a reality. Most of us lead very busy lives filled with jobs, family commitments, and church or community responsibilities. In this episode, you’ll learn how to get more writing done by using four unusual methods. These tips will help you take advantage of the time you do have and be more productive in your writing. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/unusual/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. Grab your copy here: http://KentSanders.net/suitcase. Join our growing Born to Create Community on Facebook! Check it out here: http

One of my readers, who is a college student, recently sent this email: "With all these different things I want to do and hope to achieve, I sometimes get lost in keeping track of all the things, and I get a bit discouraged. In my head, I keep trying to create an inhumane time schedule for each day. And maybe it’s not unachievable, but it’s also quite strict, and I won’t be able to keep up with it over time. Do you have any advice on handling many projects at once and not getting lost?" Most creative people can relate to this. We have so much we want to do, and not enough time to do it. In this episode, you’ll learn five practical tips for juggling multiple projects at once. These strategies will be helpful no matter what your age or what type of creative work you do. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/juggle/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSander

After many years of feeling guilty for my mistakes, I am finally learning to see my failures as stepping-stones to success. Some of my biggest failures over the last two or three years have involved business decisions that didn’t go quite as planned. Although I wasted a lot of time spinning my wheels, I learned several valuable lessons from these experiences. In this episode, I’ll share the background of these three business failures, why they failed, what happened when I quit each of them, and what I learned. As I share these, I hope it will be an encouragement to reflect on your own failures and learn from them. For the post that accompanies this episode, head over to http://www.KentSanders.net/business-failures/. I definitely appreciate your feedback! If you’d like to leave a rating & review for the Born to Create podcast, you can do so here: http://KentSanders.net/itunes.    Ready to break through your creative barriers, navigate fear & doubt, and get clear on your priorities? That’s why I wrote T