"The Creative Journey" is a creative manifesto originally written in December 2012 as a culmination of Entrepreneurship 366: Creativity & Innovation, taken in the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. I am a 23-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a degree in architecture and currently work as a Social Media Specialist.

1. THE CREATIVE JOURNEY
my work in process
a manifesto by Ben Swofford
Created December 2012 | Modified July 2013

2. Creativity is a process.
The grueling journey of creation takes
time, effort, passion, failures, collaboration,
independence, balance, instinct...
This manifesto is a collection of the lessons I’ve
learned in my years as an architecture student,
as a curious individual, and as someone who
enjoys the act of making.
This is an evolving document. A few years, or
months, or moments from now -- it could be
very different.
But at present, this is what I will live by.
Maybe you can, too.

3. you ever start a project,
get yourself in check.
BEFORE

4. Be open
Be YOU
Find your passions
Harness your instincts
Recognize strengths
and weaknesses
and your
flexibility
will lead
you to new
possibilities.
and let your
unique talents
come to life.
and they will guide you to
the place where you can
contribute to the world.
and a clear vision will increase your
success.
and surround yourself with people
that can pick up your slack.

5. think different... & iterate!

6. & iterate!
Ask QUESTIONS!&
&
&
&
&
&
&
Defer JUDGEMENT!
Think BIG!
Keep TRACK!
FAIL!
Think small!
Take RISKS!

7. [But!]
sometimes your first idea is best.
SO WRITE IT DOWN.
[then forget about it, come back later,
and it will have improved immensely.]

8. EMBRACE CHAOS!
Come to terms with the stress associated
with creativity. Find ways to deal with it,
and to use it to your advantage. Chaos
may be the best place to discover new
ideas.
Try different ways to combat the struggles
that pop up, and take note of the ones
that work best for you.
Have your tools ready...
• Coffee
• Food
• Hydration
• Music
Get Inspired!
• Take a walk
• Visit cool websites
• Watch a movie
• Talk to people
• Find criticism
• Do something new!

9. but second to that is style.
Content is always most important,
In the end,
you have to
eventually make a
decision, stop iterating,
&
PRODUCE.
[This can be a challenge.]
But remember: presentation goes a long way!
Give it style. Make it elegant. Sell your idea.
WOW your audience.

10. Ultimately, you will have something to
show for all of this work.
So go show it!
Ideally...
your creativity will have become
INNOVATION
and you will have changed the world...

11. Thank you for reading.
THE CREATIVE
JOURNEY
is a creative manifesto by Ben Swofford,
originally written in December 2012
as a culmination of Entrepreneurship
366: Creativity & Innovation, taken in
the Farmer School of Business at Miami
University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. Ben is a
22-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio.
You are given the unlimited right to
print this manifesto and to distribute it
by any means -- though it cannot be
altered in any way or charged for.