The Continuous Creation Challenge Resource Kit
Welcome to The Continuous Creation Challenge!
This page and the resource kit will explain what the Continuous Creation Challenge (CCC) is, why it exists, how it works, and the nifty tools available for you.
The Nutshell
A Continuous Creation Challenge is a period of time where you shift all your energy from the many forms of consumption into channeled creation.
There's huge flexibility in your plans and execution of a CCC – including how long, when, what projects to create, and what consumption to eliminate – but it's disruptive enough to open your eyes on what's possible.
In other words, it turns your experiences into things that happen by you instead of to you.
“I loooved this challenge! I painted, painted, and then painted some more. I photographed my work, uploaded it to my art website, and made incredible progress writing my book. I also walked my dog in the country every day, went to yoga, and really tried to let go of trying to figure out everything. In other words, the Continuous Creation Challenge was a very clarifying event.”
The Origin Story
I used to spend most of my time consuming (serious bummer, I know). So I decided to experiment with non-stop creation for seventy-two hours in April 2012 and it blew my freakin' mind!
Then, in September 2012, I roped other people into trying their own version of a Continuous Creation Challenge. They reported that it was self-awareness raising, inspiring, invigorating, unsettling (in a good way), and other groovy things.
It was then I knew this CCC thing had legs and that other people could benefit from it – plus help everyone else around them.
How It Works
If you'd rather listen to how this works, check out my podcast dedicated to the CCC.
Just remember that there's no “right” way to do a Continuous Creation Challenge. You don't have to (and probably shouldn't) do it the way that I do or that anyone else does.
Here's the overview with a complete look coming in the planning guide and checklist in a moment.
1. Plan Creative Projects and/or Be Spontaneous: Round up all the projects you'd love to work or never seem to get to and let them fuel your CCC. This could include writing, speaking, cooking, peace and quiet, art, new relationships, or awesome spreadsheets. Alternatively, be partially or completely spontaneous with what you create.
2. Choose the Types of Consumption to Eliminate: Pick from your typical forms of consumption and get intentional about which ones to eliminate. This could include reading, food, watching things that require electricity, listening (e.g. music, podcasts, or the radio), playing (e.g. video games), searching or browsing, errands and non-essential chores (as you define them), social events, or non-essential communication. Just honor your needs and keep it safe!
3. Pick a Length of Time: The minimum recommended length is twelve hours – to ensure this feels somewhat challenging and disruptive – but you could go much longer if you wanted. This is totally up to you and based on your lifestyle and goals.
4. Plan the Specific Day(s) You'll Do It: There are many variables for this decision and each is discussed in detail in the planning guide and checklist.
If you want to see what a CCC looks like in the real world, click here to see examples of how other people have done theirs. There are also groovy FAQs found here if that's your kind of thing.
“Like most experiments, it’s not enough to do it once. If you try the Continuous Creation Challenge and don’t see the benefit right away (although you probably will), then do it again. The most important thing I learned is that what I need to stop consuming is different from other people. And it took the 3rd attempt to get to this a-ha moment.”
The Resource Kit and Planning Process
There are two main resources for planning your own Continuous Creation Challenge.
The planning guide is designed for people who like to type up their plans while the checklist is intended for folks who like to make decisions based on a template. Most people just use one or the other, but you can certainly use both.
Downloadable Resources
The Planning Guide
The Complete Checklist
More People Need These Tools (and I Need Your Help)
It's my sincere hope that the Continuous Creation Challenge makes it easier for you to simplify, build community, and be authentic. And when that happens, share its existence with others who will benefit.
We're here to consume less and create more – together – and I need your help to make a huge impact!
So here are some great ways to spread the word about the CCC:
Social Media Sharing
Here's a tweet you can share to help get the word out and you can expand or edit it however you want for Facebook, LinkedIn, or anywhere else you like:
Tweet: Consume less, #create more. It's the Continuous Creation Challenge from @joelzaslofsky and it rocks! Learn more –> http://bit.ly/1mECdoz (click here to tweet)
Click here to share on Facebook
Thanks for your help! We all need more people like you.
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Me, Briefly
I bring together diverse communities, podcast about smart and simple matters, and get you excited about spreadsheets. Let's explore how to live intentionally, embrace our multipotentiality, share our gifts, build authentic relationships, and have tons of gratitude. No prior experience is required.