Misfit Entrepreneur January 2024 - 387: Think8 - How to Ignite Your Creative Spark and Maximize Entrepreneurial Potential with Mark Shekter

Subscribe and Listen Today!

Inspiring and Actionable Content Weekly from Misfit Entpreneurs

Subscribe on Itunes

Subscribe on Stitcher

Subscribe on RSS

Dave Lukas Chats with Mark Shekter

387: Think8 - How to Ignite Your Creative Spark and Maximize Entrepreneurial Potential with Mark Shekter

This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Mark Shekter. Mark is a former internationally acclaimed producer, writer, and composer. Throughout his incredible career, he has collaborated with legendary figures including Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, Elton John, Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles. Mark’s talents have earned him prestigious accolades, including Emmys, New York Film Critics awards, and US Parents Choice Awards.

But, with all that success, he found a bigger calling and left to fulfill his mission of helping people and businesses learn to innovate and tap into their creativity through his firm, Think8. Mark has pioneered an entirely new system of creative thinking to empower companies, entrepreneurs and organizations to succeed beyond their expectations.

He has trained thousands globally, and helped created billions for his clients, And his latest book, titled "Think8: 8 Steps to Ignite Your Creative Genius in Business, Career, & Life” is sharing his philosophy and system – and I’m excited to dig into it with him in this episode.

https://think8globalinstitute.com/

Don't Miss Even More Resources to Help You Each Week. Click Here and Subscribe to the Misfit Minute!

Show Notes

Mark initially started out on the path to becoming a lawyer but discovered a passion for writing and composing. He took a leap and transitioned to the entertainment industry and quickly became on one of top writers in Hollywood. But, even with all his success, something was missing and eating at him. He felt a calling to explore a different path and took a seven-year sabbatical traveling the world. During his sabbatical, Mark studied philosophy, religion, and different cultures, gaining a broader perspective on life. This led him to find a deeper purpose and he found that purpose in a new system of creative thinking he called Think8. Think8 are the eight principles for unlocking creative potential which he now teaches and consults on throughout the world.

What is the state of creativity?

There are a lot of abundant tools for creativity yet a potential lack of initiative from individuals in the world today.
There is a difference between AI tools like ChatGPT and individual creative initiative. Those tools are useful to aid the creative process, but cannot be relied solely upon for it.
Part of the manual creative process has to remain intact as the magic comes from individual thinking and ideation.

How does someone tap into their creativity and innovation?

People must understand the connection between purpose and unlocking creative potential.
Finding that passionate reason that is beyond financial gain is the catalyst for true creativity. It creates that burning desire to innovate and create opportunity.
There is an innate capacity for unlimited creativity in individuals, but many times it is blocked by self-imposed limitations. If you can understand that these limitations are just that – self-imposed, and work to remove them, it will unlock a whole new world for you.
The magic that occurs when purpose aligns with creativity. Purpose gives direction and activates creativity. Once there's a mission, creativity emerges to figure out how to achieve it.

Talk to us about Think 8 and the 8-step scale. Take us through your process and explain it.

The eight steps help individuals unlock their creative reservoir by asking unconventional questions.
We go in depth on this, so it is great to just listen if you can.
First Four Steps (Who):
- Purpose: Determine your motivation and impassioned desire to create.
- Message: Define your core belief or fundamental principle that you will build upon.
- Tone: How will you emotional connect with others to inspire them to your purpose?
- Character: Being true to yourself through authenticity, transparency, and sharing your worldview.

The Second Four Steps (What and How):
- Content: It goes beyond what you offer to the value and benefit it brings.
- Structure: How you organize from ideation to delivery and response.
- Aesthetics and Impact (Threshold and Endpoint): Consistency in branding, logo, and physical manifestation.
- Impact: The endpoint, measuring the success metric and avoiding small thinking.
It is important to self-reflect throughout the process. People should ask:
- What they truly value and dream of.
- Why they haven't pursued those aspirations.
- If anyone in authority has discouraged or implied that their goals are unattainable.
Businesses and executives often face challenges and plateaus. Alignment with personal values and purpose creates magic in the business environment.

Mark goes on to talk about knowing self…

“Knowing oneself and aligning with business purpose creates a powerful synergy.”

Aligning purpose leads to a natural flow and ease in business activities.

What are some of the best lessons learned from your time in entertainment?

Trust is fundamental in the entertainment industry, where success is visible and failure immediate.
Managing risk involves understanding that entrepreneurship is inherently linked to creativity.
Creatives must create ideas, pitch, finance, produce, post-produce, and distribute—akin to entrepreneurship.
The greats are true studiers of their craft. They almost obsess over it. People like Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, Elton John, and others are truly special in how much they devote to being the best at what they do. You see the same thing in entrepreneurship.

Best Quote

Knowing oneself and aligning with business purpose creates a powerful synergy.

Define what you want. Decide on your passions and purpose without concern for others. Being true to oneself is a service to others.

Trust yourself. Embracing personal integrity and authenticity. Be honest and authentic, even if it challenges others' perceptions.

Don’t wait. Start now. Take gradual steps toward aligning what you do with your purpose.

Show Sponsors

Misfits,

Being an entrepreneur is tough sometimes. There is so much we need to do, but so little time to do it all. Let’s face it, we need help, but we may not be able to afford or need a full-time employee or employees.

That’s where services like Fiverr come in where you can find professionals for just about every specific need you have in your business at great value to get things done. In fact, whole businesses are outsourced to Fiverr these days.

I love Fiverr because where I don’t have a specific area of expertise like logo design or social media management, or anything that is outside my zone of genius, I can find a pro in seconds to take care of it. This helps me to keep focused on the most important things I need to do while covering the rest.

And one thing I love about Fiverr is if you do want to get a step by step on how to do something in your business, so you can hand it off or even outsource the task, they have a tested, proven guide that you can get for pennies to help you in every area of business.

If you are not putting the power of a service like Fiverr to work for you, now is the time. Just go to www.MisfitEntrepreneur.com/Fiverr and get started!

Misfits,

If you are looking for one of the best tools to help you focus and center yourself daily, the 5 Minute Journal is the best one out there.

This short 5-10 minute daily routine will help you in all aspects of your life and success.

It is one of the simplest and easiest ways I have found to consistently improve myself and my well-being as well as ensure better results and success.

Check it out and get your copy today!

Check it out at www.MisfitEntrepreneur.com/Journal