Continuous Creation Challenge

If you don't know about the Continuous Creation Challenge, check out the announcement explaining it before reading this. The context is essential and the comments are anywhere from revealing to hilarious. The recap article is also well worth a look.

If you read this between September 9th through the 14th, I'm neck-deep in a grand experiment and challenge.

The 120 Hour Continuous Creation Challenge has begun and more people are joining every day.

Although I'm in the middle of a creation binge and consumption fast – literally and figuratively – it's much more important what you're experiencing or have experienced.

This article today is short and to the point. Please don't get used to it. 🙂

Who's Doing It

If you've conducted your own Continuous Creation Challenge (or are passionately following our exploits), we want to hear from you!

Great ways to do that include:

  • Leaving a comment below for our community to be dazzled by, respond to, and to help cheer you on. We want to see how you've tweaked the framework and made it your own.
  • Use the Twitter hash tag #ContCreChal to join the real-time conversation and follow everyone's experiences
  • Send me an email at joel@valueofsimple.com and ask questions, share unexpected outcomes, or let me know how I can make this even better for you (if you don't want everything on public display)

Inspiring people in our community like Denise, Amit, and Jane are doing it right now. But remember: even if you can't participate this moment, don't be stopped from doing your own in the near future. The longer you go and the more kinds of consumption you eliminate, the further ahead you'll want to plan for it.

The goal is to get 100,000 people to complete their own challenge by the end of 2014. I need your strength and your help to spread awareness of this!

Alone, I can't influence much. United, we can achieve unbelievable things.

Why You're Doing It

I want to know why you did or will be doing the Continuous Creation Challenge. More than anything else, having a clear purpose or set of goals is required to enjoy and be rewarded by this.

If you can't think of your “why” yet, don't start until you do. This is our second pillar principle, also known as:

Find Your Big Reason for Change before Attempting It

What Does It Look and Feel Like?

I also want to know what you created during your challenge. I'm talking answers to burning questions like:

  • What did the list of your creations contain? We want to pat you on the back for your awesomeness!
  • What kinds of consumption did you successfully eliminate or attempt to eliminate but fall short on?
  • What did you achieve that you thought was impossible?

Once you have the answers to these questions (or your own), here are some great ways to share them:

  • Write a blog post about your experience
  • Type up a summary using the Share Your Story page
  • Comment in this post right here
  • Send me an email
  • Make a groovy video and upload it to YouTube

Whatever you do, get creative. And make sure I know about it so I can feature how incredible you are in a recap article for our community.

Bonus points will be awarded to people completing their Personal User Guide during the challenge.

When and How Long

Accountability can be a tricky thing or the easiest thing in the world.

When we commit to something in public, most of us will do anything not to break that commitment. Do you want in on this but are worried about actually following through? Tell us right now when you'll make it happen and how long you plan to let this baby ride.

I promise to pick you up if you fall down. There will be no judgment here, only support.

Place Your Bets!

It's always fun to predict what someone's going to do on an unpredictable journey. If you're not participating in the Continuous Creation Challenge itself, you can still be an essential part of the action.

Besides what I've already told you I'm going to do, leave a comment about something you hope I'll be doing. You could also leave a comment about what you think someone else is doing on their challenge or what you would do on your challenge.

On Your Mark…Get Set…GO!!

Here we go folks!

Thanks to everyone participating! I can't wait to hear all about your experiences!

And thanks to everyone who can't do this yet but wants to empower us all by sharing this article with friends, family, and their social network. The more people who know about this, the more we can change the nature of our consumption crazy world. So share freely on Facebook, Twitter, G+, email, or through whatever medium you like best. Before you close this window, find one (or two or three) ways to support our refuge of simplicity.

And get excited for a huge recap article on September 20th with details about my experience and everyone else who dazzles me with theirs.

Start consuming less and creating more. What are you waiting for?

Photo Credit: Chris JL