Kris Krüg

Creative Mornings Vancouver with Dana Chisnell (@danachis) - amazing talk about design and our civic duty. In partnership with Design + Content Conference. To taking action!

“If you want users to love your design, fall in love with your users.” @DanChis. Thanks @johnathonv & AJ Graphics for the postcards! (at SFU Woodward’s)

Welcome our latest support partner @Hcma.ca, an architecture & design firm who cares deeply about creativity, conversation & community.

Samantha Reynolds is the president and founder of Echo, a storytelling agency that makes books, videos and digital stories for companies that need to engage employees and customers, and for individuals who want to leave a legacy.

Since 1999, the award-winning agency has produced over 300 story projects for clients across North America, including local clients such as lululemon, the PNE, Rocky Mountaineer, St. Paul’s Hospital, Goldcorp and JOEY Restaurant Group.

Samantha was named one of Vancouver’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2005, is a sought-after speaker on how to use storytelling to engage employees, customers and even your kids. Samantha and her company have been profiled in over 150 news stories in print, radio and television, including the New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Canada AM, Maclean’s and Canadian Business.

How do you define creativity and apply it in your career?
Creativity is not a skill; it’s a mindset. I apply it every day as a leader to try to stay porous and gutsy. Porous to let each day seep in so that I don’t ignore a spark that could ignite a big new idea. And gutsy so that when I smell an opportunity, I don’t analyze it to death – I trust my creativity instinct and go for it.

Where do you find your best creative inspiration?
Listening to or reading other creative people reflect about their creative process.

What’s the one creative advice or tip you wish you’d known as a young person?
You don’t need to wait for a big stretch of uninterrupted time to be creative. It’s not about the outcome. It’s the being. It’s seeing the world through creative eyes that is the true rush.

Who would you like to hear speak at CreativeMornings?
- Douglas Coupland
- Dave Eggers
- Pete McCormack

What has been one of your biggest Aha! moments in life?
“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

What practices, rituals or habits contribute to your creative work?
I write a poem every day. Usually at night before I go to sleep. Nothing arcane, just a short download of something I noticed that day. It keeps my noticing muscle alive.

Some SERIOUS love going out to our Creative Mornings Vancouver supporting partner BrainStation! Thanks for being awesome!

What if #CMVan were an audio series? What past talks would be your favourites to listen to? Email us at vancouver@creativemornings.com.

Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful minds, but great actions speak to all mankind. –Theodore Roosevelt

Do something your future you will thank you for. It’s all worth it in the end.

Why is CMVancouver important for our city & community?

Vancouver, famous for rain and boredom, needs opportunities like CreativeMornings to wake up, be present, learn about, and show off their creative community. Utterly integral, for us West Coast mouth breathers, is the chance to rub shoulders with our creative neighbours and be infected with their passion, energy and subsequent motivation. CreativeMornings is a movement that inspires and stimulates the coolest pockets of each city’s creative people, and Vancouver creative folks thrive and grow from opportunities to sit in a room together, rain or shine. I need to be in the room for CreativeMornings, and so do you. Get up, wake up, and be Present. Be Creative. — Bif Naked, Musician

It’s happening this August 7th at Creative Mornings Vancouver - Dana Chisnell is going to bring ACTION to Vancouver!