In today's fast-paced world, we're often told that individual hard work and relentless pursuit of personal goals are the keys to success. However, this approach can lead to burnout, isolation, and a sense of disconnection. What if there was a different way? A way that harnesses the power of collaboration, creativity, and shared courage to drive innovation and foster personal growth?
Chris Deaver's book "Brave Together" presents a compelling alternative to the traditional individualistic approach to success. It introduces the concept of cocreation as a powerful tool for transforming adversity into opportunity, unlocking creativity, and building meaningful connections in both personal and professional spheres.
The Power of Collective Bravery
The book opens with a vivid example of cocreation in action. Ian Clawson and Dave Arcade, two creative professionals, embarked on a journey to develop an animated series called Spaceland. This collaboration wasn't just about combining their talents; it was a test of their ability to overcome the fears that often accompany creative endeavors.
These fears are familiar to many of us:
- The fear of failure
- The fear of losing our identity
- The fear of negative judgment
For Ian and Dave, these fears threatened to stifle their innovation. The fear of falling short of expectations loomed large, as did the worry that their individual creativity might be lost in the partnership. They also grappled with anxiety over how Spaceland would be received by audiences.
However, their experience reveals a crucial truth: by embracing the concept of being "brave together," it's possible to navigate these fears and achieve creative success. This principle of collective courage allows us to overcome personal barriers and unlock our full potential.
The Mirror Test: A Path to Self-Reflection and Growth
At the heart of personal growth and the ability to cocreate effectively lies the mirror test. This introspective exercise is designed to help us delve deep into our true selves and align our actions with our values.
The mirror test involves asking yourself some challenging questions:
- Are you simply managing an external facade, or are you genuinely building towards a future self that embodies your core values?
- What is your current trajectory, and does it align with your fundamental beliefs?
- How can you learn from past missteps and use that knowledge to shape a more authentic future?
By undertaking this test, you commit to a path of self-accountability. It requires rejecting the comfort of excuses in favor of actionable change. This journey of self-reflection deepens your self-awareness and sets the stage for meaningful collaboration and collective success.
The mirror test underscores the critical role of self-clarity in breaking free from complacency. It advocates for a future shaped by creativity, teamwork, and decisions anchored in solid principles. Through this process, you learn to align your daily actions with your long-term aspirations, charting a course toward a more intentional and fulfilling existence.
Embracing Cocreation in the Workplace
In today's dynamic work environment, creativity and relationships are often the cornerstones of future success. However, many corporate cultures still prioritize results over nurturing creative spaces, leading to work environments that stifle innovation.
Deaver argues that a shift in leadership styles and an embrace of cocreation offer a robust alternative to traditional employer-employee dynamics. He likens cocreation to nuclear fusion, generating more energy and possibilities by uniting elements rather than dividing them.
The modern workforce often finds itself caught between two extremes:
- Traditional employment: Offers security and predictable career paths but can stifle passion and creativity.
- Entrepreneurship: Promises freedom and the chance to forge your own path but is marred by high failure rates and uncertainty.
This tension highlights the need for a new paradigm that integrates the benefits of both approaches. Enter the cocreator mindset.
The Cocreator Mindset
This revolutionary approach to the workplace merges the strengths of traditional employment and entrepreneurship. It encourages:
- Collaboration
- Diversity
- Collective innovation
The cocreator mindset enables employees to contribute meaningfully without leaving their jobs and allows entrepreneurs to create inclusive environments that drive collective success.
To adopt this mindset, Deaver suggests:
- Reimagining meetings as collaborative forums where every participant contributes ideas.
- Shifting workplace culture to prioritize the brightest ideas, regardless of their source.
- Fostering an environment where joy, innovation, and a shared mission thrive.
- Redefining leadership to inspire and achieve communal goals.
By embracing cocreation, we can combat isolation and significantly impact both business growth and personal fulfillment.
Transforming Adversity into Creative Power
One of the most powerful concepts in "Brave Together" is the idea of turning setbacks into opportunities. When faced with business decline or personal adversity, our instinct might be to view everything as a loss. However, Deaver argues that transformative power emerges when we shift our perspective toward recognizing and harnessing gains.
The book illustrates this principle through the story of Clint Schaff and LA Times Studios. Faced with a struggling business, Schaff chose to innovate rather than retreat. By tapping into the team's collective passion for storytelling, they explored unconventional ideas like launching a podcast. This not only salvaged the business but also redefined their industry.
This story highlights the untapped potential within collective creativity and passion to discover new opportunities and redefine paths to success.
Turning Pain into Power
The principle of turning pain into power is pivotal in this transformation process. It requires:
- Diving deep into challenges - not to dwell on them, but to comprehend their nature.
- Transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Applying this approach to both professional and personal adversities.
The Role of Passion
Passion plays a crucial role in this transformative process. It's the energy that propels us to deeply engage with our work and pursuits. Deaver emphasizes the importance of acknowledging that passion evolves as we do. This realization frees us from the pursuit of a singular, unchanging passion and allows us to adapt and revel in our evolving selves.
Dealing with Negative Emotions
Anger and the desire for revenge can often sidetrack us from our goals. Deaver stresses the importance of transmuting these emotions into constructive forces. While challenging, forgiveness and releasing resentment are vital steps. They not only liberate us from the past but also steer our energy toward productive, creative endeavors.
To turn negative emotions into something constructive, Deaver suggests:
- Identifying the lessons within our adversities to reveal new paths forward.
- Embracing our passions to reinvigorate our approach to work and life.
- Cultivating an environment where forgiveness is valued over revenge.
- Using creativity to transform our deepest struggles into sources of innovation.
By viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, leveraging our passions, and redirecting negative emotions positively, we can find innovation and success in the face of adversity.
Empowering Change Through Compassion
The book takes a powerful turn when it introduces the story of Malala Yousafzai. In the face of extreme adversity - bombs, Taliban oppression, and a ban on girls' education - Malala stood firm. Her weapon was not violence, but her voice.
Malala's journey from anonymously blogging about education rights to surviving an assassination attempt and becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate encapsulates a profound truth: the power of individual conviction can ignite global change.
The Compassion Principle
Deaver introduces the compassion principle, which teaches that true fulfillment comes not from self-centered pursuits but from dedicating ourselves to the betterment of others. Unlike the fleeting satisfaction derived from personal achievements, serving others offers a deeper, more enduring sense of purpose.
The compassion principle challenges the conventional emphasis on individual success. It highlights how a life centered on making others the mission enriches not just the lives of those served but also the life of the server.
Shifting Focus Outward
The book encourages us to shift our focus outward, to engage with the world not as individuals seeking personal gain but as members of a community striving for collective well-being. This compassionate approach to living and leading paves the way for meaningful connections and transformative experiences.
By prioritizing the needs and dreams of others, we unlock a wellspring of joy and potential that far surpasses what we could achieve alone. The compassion principle reminds us that in the fabric of society, each thread is interwoven, and by strengthening others, we fortify the whole.
Small Actions, Big Impact
Deaver invites readers to consider how their actions, big or small, can contribute to a more compassionate world. Malala Yousafzai's journey illustrates that when others become our mission, the impossible becomes possible.
It's a reminder that in the pursuit of a better world, our greatest strength lies in:
- Collective compassion
- Shared resolve
- An unwavering belief in the potential of every individual to contribute to human progress
Shaping Tomorrow Through Creativity
In the final sections of "Brave Together," Deaver explores how creativity and cocreation can shape our future. In a world teeming with uncertainty and rapid change, creativity emerges as a beacon of hope and transformation.
The Evolution of Creativity
Recent global events have accelerated a shift in how we approach work, life, and innovation. This evolution has spotlighted the invaluable role of creators – individuals who:
- Challenge the status quo
- View the world through a lens of endless possibilities
- Possess an innate drive to bring those possibilities to life
Creativity, once seen as a solitary endeavor, is being redefined in the collective consciousness. Deaver points to monumental collaborative efforts, such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, as examples of the power of cocreation. This moment in history wasn't just King's vision but a shared dream, a cocreated singularity that propelled society forward.
Cocreation in Education and Industry
The book highlights the rise of creative endeavors within institutions like Brigham Young University's Animation Department. Here, students aren't just taught technical skills but are encouraged to build teams and create together, leading to remarkable successes in the animation industry.
Similarly, the corporate world is witnessing a transformation. Companies are beginning to recognize the untapped potential of "misfits" – those who operate on the fringes, questioning and reinventing the way things are done. By embracing these unique perspectives and fostering an environment where creativity flourishes, organizations like Pixar and Dell have achieved groundbreaking innovations and reshaped their industries.
Creators vs. Influencers
As we move forward, Deaver emphasizes the distinction between creators and influencers. Creators aren't just seeking attention; they aim to inspire, move, and engage deeply with their audience. They understand that creativity isn't about proving your worth but about moving others through genuine connection and shared experiences.
Embracing Our Creative Potential
In this evolving landscape, we're all invited to embrace our creative propensity, to see ourselves as part of a larger tapestry of innovation. Deaver encourages us to step into a brave new world where:
- Creativity lights the way
- Cocreation is the path to realizing our most audacious dreams
- Collective dreaming, daring, and doing shape our future
Key Takeaways from "Brave Together"
As we reflect on the insights presented in "Brave Together," several key themes emerge:
Collective Courage: By facing our fears together, we can overcome personal barriers and unlock our creative potential.
Self-Reflection: The mirror test helps us align our actions with our values, setting the stage for personal growth and meaningful collaboration.
Cocreation in the Workplace: Embracing a cocreator mindset can revolutionize our work environments, fostering innovation and fulfillment.
Transforming Adversity: By shifting our perspective, we can turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and innovation.
The Power of Compassion: Making others our mission leads to deeper fulfillment and positive societal change.
Creativity as a Collective Force: When we create together, we can achieve extraordinary results and shape a better future.
Conclusion: A Call to Cocreate
"Brave Together" is more than just a book; it's a call to action. Chris Deaver challenges us to rethink our approach to success, creativity, and personal growth. By embracing cocreation, we can:
- Transform adversity into opportunity
- Unlock our creative potential
- Build meaningful connections in both our personal and professional lives
- Drive innovation and positive change in our communities and industries
The path forward isn't about individual achievement at the expense of others. Instead, it's about collective courage, shared creativity, and compassionate action. As we face the challenges of an ever-changing world, the principles outlined in "Brave Together" offer a roadmap to a more fulfilling, innovative, and interconnected future.
By being brave together, we can overcome our fears, tap into our collective creativity, and cocreate a world that reflects our highest aspirations. The journey may be challenging, but as Deaver's book reminds us, the rewards of cocreation far outweigh the comfort of staying within our individual silos.
As we close the pages of "Brave Together," we're left with a powerful message: our greatest achievements lie not in what we can do alone, but in what we can create together. It's time to step out of our comfort zones, embrace our collective potential, and be brave together as we shape a future filled with innovation, compassion, and shared success.