Episode 62: Back to School, Back to Creativity

August 16, 2025

Greg, Alessandra, Devin, Shadows Pub, Hillary, Bobby B

If you could design your own “School of Creativity,” what classes or experiences might you include?

Today's crew answered a simple question:

If you could design your own School of Creativity, what would you teach and how would people learn?

The crew explored learning styles, program design, safety in learning, mentorship, mixed media delivery, and even angel investing as a creative path.

The theme:

creativity flourishes when people can choose how they learn, feel safe to explore, and have access to both wisdom and practical tools.

Back-to-school season isn’t just for kids. Today the team reframed “school” as a flexible, human-centric space where curiosity leads and structure supports.

Devin introduced angel investing as a creative practice and mapped the “spokes on a wheel” approach to interests.
Alessandra spotlighted the power of synchronous, live learning for motivation and follow-through.
Hillary laid out a tiered, mixed-media curriculum that adapts to different learners, with a vision for “CAD Coven” to mentor AutoCAD pros in the soft skills missing from industry onboarding.
Shadows championed self-guided study through books and articles over formal courses.
Bobby emphasized programs that flex to learning styles, elevate lived experience through forums and roundtables, and ensure access and follow-up.
Greg wrapped with the 80/20 rule as a way to cut through noise, then opened the door for listeners to sketch their own creative school.

Quote: “80% of the understanding of the subject comes from 20% of the content.”
Key points:


Prefers visual and audio learning.
Applies the Pareto principle to focus on the vital few concepts.
Invites listeners to define their own creative curriculum and share it.

Quote: “I imagine my creative interest as being spokes on a wheel… the journey always starts with a book.”
Key points:


Defined angel investing: early-stage individual investors who back startups they believe in.
Learning stack: book first, then communities, courses, YouTube as needed.
Would include angel investing as one “spoke” in a creativity school and stock the library heavily.

Quote: “First off, I’ve got to feel safe… when your nervous system is activated, you can’t receive the information.”
Key points:


Thrives with synchronous, live learning; struggles with video-heavy, asynchronous formats unless tied to a live event.
Safety is foundational to learning: without it, you can’t retrieve or encode information.
Shared a session insight: silence can signal deep thinking, respect for room time, or lack of psychological safety.

Quote: “Offer a variety of medias to let people choose how they learn or where they’re at in their path.”
Key points:


Tiered, mixed-media ladder: PDF → video → live interactive call for feedback and adaptation.
Prefers reviewing materials before live sessions to ask better questions.
Vision: “CAD Coven” school for AutoCAD drafters—time management, project tracking, professional navigation missing from typical mentorship.

Quote: “It would not be a school… I’m going to go for books, articles, maybe videos.”
Key points:


Prefers self-directed study through text; videos only when visuals are necessary.
Courses rank low; values autonomy and depth via reading.

Quote: “If you’re going to excite a spark in someone’s mind, try and make yourself available for the follow-up… one through a million.”
Key points:


Design programs to adapt to different learning styles rather than forcing one style.
Integrate experiential wisdom through forums, roundtables, and class visits.
Prioritize accessibility, clarity, generosity, and ongoing availability.

Learning style diversity isn’t a footnote—it’s the design principle.
Safety first: psychological safety unlocks attention, recall, and new encoding.
Start with books (for some), or live sessions (for others). Offer both.
A tiered media model lets learners choose just enough support to move forward.
Community and mentorship amplify motivation and retention.
Focus on the vital 20% to accelerate progress without sacrificing depth.
Bring industry reality into the classroom: soft skills, workflows, and time management matter.

Foundational Library: Curated reading lists per discipline; quiet study spaces; book clubs with live debriefs.
Mixed-Media Pathways: Each topic offered as a concise PDF, short video series, and a live interactive workshop.
Safety & Facilitation: Facilitator training in psychological safety; norms around silence, turn-taking, and feedback.
Mentorship Forums: Rotating roundtables with experienced practitioners; open office hours for follow-up.
Practice with Accountability: Live sessions that anchor pre-work and post-practice with peer review.
Angel Investing Track: Basics of startup finance, diligence, portfolio thinking, founder support ethics.
Creative Ops: Time management, project tracking, and professional communication for creative fields.
Community Build Lab: Tools and playbooks for building and sustaining creative communities.
80/20 Clinics: Identify the vital few concepts in any skill and build a lightweight, effective learning plan.

Silence isn’t absence; it’s data. It often reflects thinking, respect, or safety needs.
Video isn’t universally helpful; some learners find it draining without a live anchor.
The most generous teachers make themselves available after the spark.

What’s the first class you’d put in your School of Creativity?
Tell us your learning style. PDF, video, or live session - what works for you and why?
Try the 80/20 experiment: pick a skill, identify the top 3 concepts, and report back on your progress.
Interested in the “CAD Coven” or angel investing track? Drop a note to get updates.
Share with us at https://creativeworkhour.com.

Today’s Crew:

Greg, Alessandra, Devin, Shadows Pub, Hillary, Bobby B

Episode: 62: Back to School, Back to Creativity

Visit: https://creativeworkhour.com for episodes and updates.