Farewell 2020! Even though we spent the entire month of January in lockdown, it came loaded with positivity and hard work, for what it felt like 3 months condensed in just one. We enjoyed working with new and established clients, delivered on-going projects from last year, and started a new publishing journey. We also finished getting our new business venture on-point and finally received our business cards. Although it will be a while until we can actually give the cards to others in person.

In other news, the list of 12 things that inspired us in 2020 we shared in our previous email was followed by a lot of positive feedback from some of you! So we've decided to keep it going and share 5 inspiring links + a quote every month, hoping to light everyone's creative spark even brighter. We will alternate between books, films, articles, music, podcasts, hamaka news and any other practice that catches our attention, Hope you enjoy it! Please share with your friends if you find it fitting, and invite them to subscribe to our Creativity Lab newsletter!

Thank you for the reading time!

Short film: Never grow up

Soul by Pixar. This movie will gift you with a river of happy tears and a kind reminder to appreciate life. "Soul strives to help us remember that life itself is a blessing, even when it doesn't go as we planned." In line with Coco and Inside Out, Soul follows displays vivid visuals topped by a great soundtrack and touching story, ultimately inspiring you to look, listen, learn and enjoy every single day.

Also, the landing page for the movie has a description of the design process of each character and world that we found wonderful to read.

Book: Company of One

Company of One by Paul Jarvis. This is our latest read. We haven't finished the book yet, but what we've read so far really resonates with our way of thinking. We used to believe in the traditional definition of success, but our mindset has been shifting over the past 3+ years. It sounds flashy to scale up and have a big corporation, but keeping a business simple and small can bring untold personal satisfaction. Everyone has a different definition of success; for us, it is being able to make enough money to sustain our lifestyle while working on projects we enjoy and leaving enough room for leisure, family and friends.

Hamaka Sessions #1: Float

Carl has been dusting off his music cabinet and bringing back memories from his days as a D&B music producer and radio show host. We now have Hamaka Sessions, where we'll be sharing with you a set of playlists loaded with great tunes. Each month inspired by a different theme and aimed to unlock diverse states of being.

These playlists will be for the curious and those looking to discover new music genres and artists. We recommend setting the time aside to listen and get lost in the beats; maybe get a glass of wine too? January is titled "Float" and includes a combination of mellow tunes and upbeat songs that will make you sway from side to side. We started gently, but we'll start dropping off the more weird stuff in the coming months!!

Note: Turn off shuffle mode in Spotify; these playlists are designed to flow naturally and create an immersive sound experience.

App: Centred and free

Headspace just released a meditation series on Netflix called Headspace Guide to Meditation, which serves as an excellent introduction for those interested in incorporating meditation into their daily habits. We used to have a subscription with Headspace, and it laid a solid foundation for our meditation practice with its inspiring short clips, the calming voice of Andy guiding you through, and the dozens of themes. We enjoyed their new format on Netflix and their unique animations.

The most challenging part of adopting any new habits is committing to dedicating the time to it during the first months, while you can't see the benefits yet. Once you pass that initial barrier, your own body and mind will crave the practice, so you will find it very difficult to skip a day. Who would have thought! Over time, you will also start discovering the benefits of consistency, which will also help you stay engaged. Hard work leads to positive rewards, and positive rewards continue to feed hard work. A divine cycle that applies to nearly everything in life.

Article: A dash of magic

The Case for Slow Design: Make art, not products. The article speaks about the ever-changing ways to do business. The old-school mindset gives speed and quantity the highest priority over slow pace and quality. Modern deadlines and consumerism make creators compromise on details, leading to the decay of good taste and good products. "Getting a product out is considered better than getting it perfect. Speed drives quantity over quality, and the durability and lifespan of our stuff have been steadily declining."

The new generation of craftsmen is working hard on creating masterpieces that are as much art as they are products. We no longer care about acquiring — we care about connecting with each other, ourselves, and our environment. “When a startup does win, it's often not because they were fast, but because they were focused.”

“Craftsmanship is the new advantage. We can't be afraid to push our timelines to get something right. Magic takes time. Magic takes craftsmanship. We have to stop selling ourselves short."

Quote

"Instead of working toward retirement, work toward your ideal lifestyle. There is usually a path to get there in a few years instead of a few decades." - James Clear

Creativity Lab Report #1: New beginnings and magic