Create Your Own Creative Assets

University of East Anglia
Norwich Business School
Employability, Creativity, and
Personal Development
NBS-5015Y
SEMINAR 1
8 and 11 February 2021
Dr. Fahri Karakas
F.Karakas@uea.ac.uk

3
 Create Your Own Assets
◦ Brainstorm on Your Asset Creation Project
 Creative Challenges

Lessons From
My Own Journey of
ASSET CREATION

6
What I Learned from Publishing 222 Articles on Medium (January 2020)
https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/what-i-learned-from-writing-222-articles-on-medium-
42f3ec6129af?sk=285f371e5406582815e08227b48da070
What I Learned from Publishing 200 Articles on Medium (December 2020)
 https://medium.com/illumination/what-i-learned-from-publishing-200-articles-on-medium-
78ce8e2153d3?sk=a8df96c6cd0e1dbad10918a115c363fd
What I Learned from Publishing 150 Articles on Medium (September 2020)
d9520326160e?sk=f2a25d84f6a01d4d8895dd536a157d37
What I Learned from Publishing 100 Articles on Medium (July 2020)
c9b914c48c6e?sk=577e3a9eac25b350777e2a595db8dd2b
Invest in Your Medium Content Shop
If you write consistently and grow it for a decade, you will be like Walmart.
 https://medium.com/2-minute-madness/invest-in-your-medium-content-shop-
fef0cc64a393?sk=b6dc357aa52e7ff99f0b866daf5ea05b

12
https://www.youtube.com/c/FahriKarakas

13
https://www.youtube.com/c/H2MTv1

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https://selfmakingstudio.com/
https://www.https://selfmakingstudio.com
/amazon.co.uk/Self-Making-Studio-
Inspirational-Self-Discovery-
Employability/dp/173077282X/

HERE IS A PUZZLE:
He was a lawyer. He started staying up late
between 22.00-02.00 every night and
started writing mystery novels. He
finished writing a book every 6 months. He
is one of the best selling mystery novelists
now and published more than 40 books.
David Baldacci

David Baldacci on Mystery & Thrillers

HERE IS THE LESSON:
Super-successful people take a long term view, develop smart
systems of creative work, and they carve out time to create
assets that will make everything enjoyable and profitable.
The strugglers, on the other hand, live from project to project, gig
to gig. They are always too busy or too skint to do the work they
really want to do. It is exhausting and demoralising. They are
depleted.
• Creating your own assets is a marathon
game.
• You need to create your own game:
Navigate blue oceans, carve out your
own niche, create your own category,
and master& own that category.
• Compound yourself (your skills,
knowledge, networks, and assets) over
the long term.

Focus on Creative Assets, not Career Ladder
• If you are a creator, you can create your own assets. Out of thin air. (Plus imagination and
hard work.)
• Some of these assets generate money directly – like a book, an artwork, a software app,
or an album that can be sold.
• Others create non-financial rewards, and/or generate money indirectly – like a YouTube
channel, a podcast, a networking event or a blog.
• If you look at your hosting fees and the time you devote to it, your podcast may look like
a net loss on your accounts. But looking back over the past few years, you realise how
many clients and projects, not to mention how much fun and friendship, have come to
you because of the podcast.
• Your avant-garde novel may not sell a million copies, but it may win you the respect of the
discerning audience you are writing for, and connections, opportunities and money may
flow from that.
• So forget the career ladder. Instead, create the kind of assets that will bring you more
creativity, connections, and emotional and financial buoyancy in the years ahead.

Creative Assets
• A creative asset is something you create yourself that (a) is worthwhile and satisfying in
itself, and (b) will make life easier, more rewarding, more profitable and/or more fun in
future.
• Most creative assets are intangible; the obvious exceptions are physical artworks and
artisanal works.
Types of creative asset:
• Creative work – your signature asset; your portfolio of the work you are most proud of.
• Social assets – your network; your audience
• Reputation assets – your brand; association with prestigious brands (publishers,
galleries, record labels etc); prizes and awards
• Online assets – a website; a blog; a podcast; a mailing list; a social media profile
• Intellectual property assets – the trademark associated with your brand; the copyright
in your works
• Systemic assets – a productivity system; a business model that generates value for your
customers and your business.
• Business assets – your product range; your company

Keep Doing (Creating)
• We’re all entitled to a day off, but for those of us who desire the best of ourselves,
we’re not entitled to making up the rules. Or rule. In fact, here’s the simple rule of life
that’s been proven time and again:
• The people who operate most efficiently, most effectively and with greatest consistency
win.
• Consistency and repetition are the sharpest tools in the toolkit of winners. Keep doing.
Keep creating and producing. This is what “The Rolling Stones model.” The Rolling
Stones became one of the most famous music groups of all time by making a lot of hit
songs.
• But you know what else The Rolling Stones did? They produced a lot of mediocre and
just so-so songs. A lot. But what do people remember? They remember the hits, the
best stuff. And you have to admire their overall body of work because they kept
churning out the best work they could. They never stopped. They’re still going!
• Keep producing and churning out the best work you can. That may not be viewed as the
best work by others. But it’s a heck of a lot better than doing nothing.

Treat 2020 as the year of ASSET CREATION
In your individual project in the summer semester, you will be
creating assets for your future.
SEVEN I PROJECT (Kickstarter type project)
ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL (Shark Tank type
project)
• Think about the assets you want to
create for your future
• Do not think like a student. Do not
treat this as assignment.
• Do this for your own future.
• Do something real – create something
real and fresh.

My Promise to You: I will also create alongside you
I will also work very hard to kick-start my second book project.
My goal is to start writing/drawing/creating my second book (after
Self-Making Studio).
• I will be accountable to you.
• Please ask me to report to you:
• What did you do for your book, Fahri?
• Please keep me accountable – be
harsh and question me.

Don’t Bother Waiting For Inspiration.
It’s Not Coming.
• You need grit, struggle and urgency.
• The cold reality is that sometimes, it’s a real struggle to get your best work into the
world.
• That’s why so many of us admire great creators, artists and thinkers but so few of
us will ever become one.
• If you wait to be inspired to do your best work, you’ll be waiting a long time.
Possibly forever.
• Waiting for inspiration is an amateur move. It’s not coming today. It may never. It’s
not coming to you. But you can seek it out.
• The solution: start the work now.
• Do it on the sunny days and the rainy days. Stop giving yourself a “pass” to leave
your gifts on the table unopened. Stop allowing yourself the excuse not to create.
• Push through the uncomfortable stage
• Struggle actually leads to more inspiration
• You don’t get inspired, then do great work. You do great work, then get
inspired.

HERE IS A PUZZLE:
He quit his job and decided to travel the
world. Every day, he created 1-minute
travel/inspiration videos on Facebook. He
did this for 1000 days non-stop. Who is he?
Hint: His videos end with
“That’s one minute, see you soon"
Nas Daily (Nuseir Yassin)

Nas Daily: 1000 Days of Video Creation!

HERE IS THE LESSON:
Seek out small victories. Small victories build new receptors
in the areas of the brain responsible for reward and
motivation. This increase in receptors enhances confidence
and eagerness to tackle challenges. When you achieve a
series of small victories, the boost in your confidence can last
for months.
Small and consistent actions/habits every day is key.
• Be consistent and disciplined – create
every day – do not break the chain.
• If you establish smart habits every
day, you will achieve a lot in the long
run.
• Compound yourself (your skills,
knowledge, networks, and assets)
over the long term.

Life Advice:
A Poster Guide
Why You Need To
Create Your Own
Assets

LESSON
Failures of
Imagination

Take-away
•Use your semester project as
an opportunity to create your
own intellectual and creative
assets.
•Your most crucial task is:
Create your own creative
assets. Start now!

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 25% of your individual portfolio is “Your
Asset Creation Project”.
 The word limit for this part of your portfolio
is 3000 words (The other parts are not
counted).
 Decide which option you will be doing for
the 25% of your individual portfolio
◦ Option A: Seven I Project
◦ Option B: Entrepreneurial Business Proposal

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 Start creating ideas about your coursework
 Come up with at least half a dozen of ideas
that you can choose from
 Do some initial preparation, research and
brainstorming
 Bring some ideas to work with to the next
seminar (in 2 weeks)
 You will be working on your ideas in the
upcoming seminars.

34
 A) Please write a story using the following words:
◦ Pepper
◦ Fashion
◦ Journey
◦ Chaos
◦ Lawyer
◦ Bird
◦ Disgust
◦ Dancing
 B) Please illustrate this story. You can doodle or
draw in any way that you like. You can create a
storyboard or a comic story. Do as you wish!

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 Imagine that you are given an 8th day every week. This day
will be your secret gift. However, this cannot be just another
day. You have to do something unusual or remarkable on
this day.
 A) Please design this day as your ideal day. How would you
make these 8th days memorable, creative, and full of
adventure? You can write or draw or doodle on this as you
wish.
 B) This will also be a day where you have an artist's date with
yourself (See Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" to learn more
about this method). Fill your day with lots of inspiration. Get
inspiration from lots of sources. What could be some of
these sources? Brainstorm below. You can consider places,
people, films, books, artwork, travel, hobbies, theatre,
museums, cafes, nature, and more.

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 A) Walk around the city of Norwich. You need your cell phone and
an attentive eye for this project. Pay attention to the doors of
Norwich. This project is all about doors:) Please find at least 12
different doors (of different styles, periods, colours etc.). Take
their photographs. Tag each or give each a creative title. Did you
learn new things that you have not realised before? What are they?
 B) Imagine that one of these doors open to your childhood. Go
down on your memory lane and find a sweet memory from your
childhood. Where were you? How old were you? What were you doing?
Were you alone or accompanied by others? Describe your memory with
all the details - make it vivid and rich. Write it down as a story.
Why did you choose this memory? Reflect on its significance for
you.

37
 A) Please go on a treasure hunt for 8 of the images below and
capture them with your phone or camera.
An animal in a cloud
A UEA bunny
Spirals in nature
Your reflection on a glass or window
A plate of food that you have organized to make a portrait (such as human face)
Colourful flower patterns on clothing
A dinosaur in a human-made object
A person who looks like s/he belongs to another century
Two inanimate objects that appear to be in love
The ugliest image you have seen this week
A close-up of a paper sculpture or an origami object
The most interesting sidewalk or walkway patterns you come across this week
The funniest advertisement image (or message or poster) you have come across this week
The above are only suggestions. You can also photograph other interesting images that come up. The pictures don’t
have to be literal representations. They also don’t have to look good—as a matter of fact, the less perfect, the better.
Close up blurs are welcome. Work quickly without thinking too much. You don’t need to spend more than 20-25
minutes on this unless, of course, you just can’t help yourself. Feel free to take friends on your treasure hunt. Chances
are they will see things that you don’t.
 B) Create a collage work or a mood board or an artwork using these photographs. Feel
free to add photos from your own collection. Feel free to digitally alter or manipulate
photos or create mashups. Give a title to your artwork. Please write an artist's
description of your work.

38
 Imagine that you come across yourself in a cafe in London. You
are shocked at first, but then you realize that this is YOU living in
an alternative universe. The other version of yourself invites you
for coffee. You will catch up and have a conversation about your
lives. You are intrigued.
 A) Please write a long and detailed description of the other you
living an alternative life.
◦ Where does s/he live? Imagine all the details - family, career, house,
friends, projects, travel etc. If you want to retain some (indispensible)
elements from your current life, that is fine. However, this must be a
different life. An alternative life that is exciting and full of more adventure
perhaps?
 B) Draw or doodle about your alternative life. You can design it
visually or come up with a concept map.
 C) Imagine the conversation you are having with your alternative
self. Write down that conversation.

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 Please respond to the following questions:
1. When did you last feel curious, playful, and excited?
2. How can you increase these ‘magical moments’ in your daily
life?
3. If money was not a factor, how would you spend your life?
4. If you were able to take one year out to learn a new skill, what
would you learn? Why?
5. If your life were 120 years long and you would choose four
different careers, what would you like to do? Imagine four scenarios
(think of lives or jobs that would be fun and exciting to have).
6. If you do not worry about failure or self-image, what might
you try doing?
7. If you could only work 1 hour for your creative project on one
day; what would you do during that hour?

40
 Please respond to the following questions (you will find 10
different answers each time).
1. If I did not have to do it perfectly ……..
8. If I did not have to do it perfectly ……
10. If I did not have to do it perfectly …….

41
 Fill in the Blanks (10 times, each will be a different answer):
1. A risk that I would like to take is……

42
 You will revisit your failures in various aspects of your life. You need to be
very honest with yourself about failures. If you want to lead an interesting
life, you will be taking risks and face failure all the time. Failures can be
viewed as stepping stones - they can be turned into learning.
 Find and revisit these failures or U TURNS in your life: Something happened
or it did not work. You changed approach, pivoted, or dropped it entirely
perhaps? What happened?
A) Entrepreneurship or Professional Work
or Career
 What were the challenges?
 How did you resolve (or fail to resolve) the challenges?
 What did or did not work?
 How would you do it differently next time?
Going Forward: Identify one small action in each domain that you can
implement in your life. How will you go forward? Identify your action plan
and write down an action for each domain above.

43
 You will revisit your failures in various aspects of your life. You need to be very
honest with yourself about failures. If you want to lead an interesting life, you will be
taking risks and face failure all the time. Failures can be viewed as stepping stones -
they can be turned into learning.
 Find and revisit these failures or U TURNS in your life: Something happened or it did
not work. You changed approach, pivoted, or dropped it entirely perhaps? What
happened?
B) Creativity and Arts (music, visual arts, film,
theatre, crafts, dance, writing, and design)
 Please re-visit each area above - one by one.
 What were the challenges?
 How did you resolve (or fail to resolve) the challenges?
 What did or did not work?
 How would you do it differently next time?
 Share your reflections.
Going Forward: Identify one small action in each domain that you can
implement in your life. How will you go forward? Identify your action plan and
write down an action for each domain above.

44
You will write yourself two letters. You will imagine that you are 80
in the first letter. You will imagine that you are 8 in the second
letter.
A) The first letter: From your 80-year old self to your current self.
What words of advice and encouragement would this 80 year old,
wise, loving, content version of you, with the benefit of hindsight,
send to the you of today – what guidance would you offer yourself?
B) The second letter: From your 8-year old self to your current self.
•What would your child self tell your current self? Reminders?
Advice? Wisdom? Principles? What is important?

45
 There are 36 fantasy challenges below (6*6). You can choose 6 of the 36 mini fantasy
challenges below and implement them. You can also choose any mix you prefer. For example, you
can go on 1 fantasy adventure from each link below. In total, you will go on 6 adventures/fantasies.
 1. Create six fantastic adventures set in virtual reality
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/create-six-fantastic-adventures-set-in-virtual-reality-
c5a89d0eaa8e?source=friends_link&sk=7a2f0ffed0901fa6021b586351b14f6b
 2. Create six epic adventures set in outer space
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/create-six-epic-adventures-set-in-outer-space-
c903c471799?source=friends_link&sk=013d0a3074417338c022237b63ba7469
 3. Imagine you can be part of any fantasy universe
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/imagine-you-can-be-part-of-any-fantasy-universe-
ee9d5a4c7c66?source=friends_link&sk=629595f0d3675efe998080dc5f98163c
 4. Imagine you can travel back to any period in world history
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/imagine-you-can-travel-back-to-any-period-in-world-
history-5fda34e8326a?source=friends_link&sk=ff1fef995d1a5500b37c51739e1671c9
 5. Imagine you can travel to the future (any future period and location)
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/imagine-you-can-travel-to-the-future-any-future-period-
and-location-10334bcf61f3?source=friends_link&sk=d16706bedd31a8008f5993d0f9b179a2
 6. Imagine you will go on six adventures in six countries
 https://medium.com/the-innovation/imagine-you-will-go-on-six-adventures-in-six-countries-
43d53675a947?source=friends_link&sk=331356c413d1d354f5280b7b9a9753c1

46
You will choose 2 of these 11 challenges
Please complete your selected challenges.
You will attach them in your individual portfolio due on
August 26 2021.

HERE IS A PUZZLE:
He loved playing games. He turned it into a
passion. He is a legend on Fortnite.
He now makes $500,000 a month by playing
games.
His wife is his manager.
He is the world’s most famous gamer.
His net worth is more than $20 million.
He was chosen to Time 100. Who is he?
NINJA (Tyler Blevins)

How Ninja makes $500,000 per month playing Fortnite

51
You will choose Seven I or Entrepreneurial Proposal.
Start working on your asset creation project.
Remember: You need to implement it and share it with
the world.
You will include your asset creation project (3000 words)
in your individual portfolio due on August 26 2021.

Create Your Own Creative Assets

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