In 2012, as a long-time columnist at 99U.com and a coach for delegates at the 99U Conferences in New York, I was invited to contribute to a series of books for creatives, designed to help them do their best work, build a remarkable career and make their mark on the world.

The books were edited by Jocelyn K. Glei, and the other contributing authors were outstanding writers, artists, creatives, academics and thought leaders in the creative world.

Published by 99U and Amazon Publishing, the books became international bestsellers, and remain valuable sources of guidance for 21st century creatives wanting to carve out a remarkable career.

Manage Your Day-to-Day

Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus and Sharpen Your Creative Mind

Behance | Amazon US | Amazon UK

I contributed two chapters to this first book in the series:

Laying the Groundwork for an Effective Routine

This chapter opens the book by setting out the building blocks of a daily routine that protects your creative time. I argue that the single most important change any creative professional can make is to switch to creative work first, reactive work second – blocking off time each day for your most important work before opening email or attending to others’ demands.

Getting Unstuck

In this chapter I identify six common types of creative block – inspiration drought, emotional barriers, mixed motivations, personal problems, poverty of resources, and presentation problems – with practical strategies for breaking through each one.

Editor: Jocelyn K. Glei

Contributing authors: Dan Ariely, Leo Babauta, Scott Belsky, Lori Deschene, Aaron Dignan, Erin R. Doland, Seth Godin, Todd Henry, Christian Jarrett, Scott McDowell, Mark McGuinness, Cal Newport, Steven Pressfield, Gretchen Rubin, Stefan Sagmeister, Elizabeth G. Saunders, Tony Schwartz, Tiffany Shlain, Linda Stone, and James Victore.

Maximize Your Potential

Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build an Incredible Career

Behance | Amazon US | Amazon UK

I wrote this chapter of the book:

Leading in a World of Co-Creation

Who was the architect of Chartres Cathedral? It’s a trick question – there was no architect in the modern sense. Instead there was a succession of Master Builders who combined creative vision with hands-on craft and left space for their teams to improvise and contribute within an overall structure. This chapter draws on that model to explore what genuine creative leadership looks like today.