We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Suchi Sairam. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Suchi below.
Suchi, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is a funny word. There are many assumptions made about what it means, and whether or not you “have” it.
I think it’s a mindset to be embraced.
I believe it’s a quality that can be cultivated.
I know from experience it takes practice. A lot of it.
How do I keep my own creativity alive? I spend time in nature, paying attention to small details that are easy to overlook. For example, how does sunlight hit leaves and pass through? How do the shades change? What do we see with direct sunlight, and without? I focus on observation, and work at avoiding judgement. I believe creativity is stifled by judgement. There is a time and place to judge an idea later.
I like to always ask the questions “Why?” AND “Why not?”. I find this helps me think of more ideas, and broaden my point of view. It also helps me avoid premature assumptions and judgements.
I often use Inversion Thinking to help with creative problem solving. It’s a simple idea, taking an issue or problem and turning it upside down to see things from a different perspective. This always reveals things not obvious at first glance.
Reading about different topics and listening to music help with creativity. But reflecting and analyzing afterward help more. What are the techniques and patterns present? Those always reveal new ways of thinking. But my number 1 method for keeping creativity alive? Always being a student, no matter how much experience I have in an area. We are never done learning.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
At this stage of my life and career, it’s difficult to separate who I am and what I do. All of it starts from a place of humility and gratitude – I’ve found those two things keep opening doors and fresh air flowing.
I’m an arts entrepreneur, dance artist, and teacher. I founded my dance studio and company, Kala Vandanam, in 2002. While I happen teach dance, aspiring for excellence in the art, it is just my vehicle to develop well-rounded and grounded people. In my own artistic journey, I’ve brought in my adjacent passions for science, engineering, business, leadership, mind-body connection, reflection and personal development. It’s inevitable all these things permeate my approach to teaching and creating new work. I feel it’s very important to do serious work, but not take yourself too seriously.
In the past few years, I’ve enjoyed exploring entrepreneurial adjacencies to my art. This includes authoring and publishing my first illustrated children’s book, the multiple award-winning Dancing Deepa. In addition, I’ve created a merchandise arm of Kala Vandanam, featuring designs inspired by Indian classical arts. I’m excited to publish my next children’s book, Singing Surya Dreams to Dance, in the coming months. I’m also developing new arts-based team-building offerings to build collaboration and bring value to any organization.
Aside from my arts focus, I’m also a digital writer, ghostwriter, speaker and mentor. I enjoy exploring the areas of quiet ambition, and using talents from seemingly disparate areas of interests to create your own unique path to make an impact. Soon to come in this area – digital course and mastermind offerings.
What’s my “secret sauce”? Taking the path I want to take, even if I have to create it myself. It keeps me curious and happy.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Communication
Be clear
Be timely
Be thorough
What do you need
When do you need it
What you are providing
In writing. In speech. In action. In person. Online. On the phone.
Do the “old-school” things well
Be kind
Be on time
Be generous
Follow through
No negative gossip
Look people in the eye
Positive body language
Encourage positive gossip
Say what you’ll do, and do it!
They are all in your control. They are all free. They are in style, in every culture.
Be a person that is great to work with
Trust but verify
Master your craft
Openness to ideas
Ask meaningful questions
Don’t hold back information
Give the benefit of the doubt
Give without expecting to get
Lift others while you lift yourself
Figure things out and get things done
Don’t wait for an invitation to participate and contribute
Each of these adds value for others. And yourself. Earn the reputation of being awesome to work with.
For anyone early in their journey, each of these things is in your control.
1/ Mindset
2/ Iterate and practice to get better at it
3/ Low cost (even free!) to put into practice
4/ Observe and learn from people around who are good at these things
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the last 12 months, I’ve learned to take more risk in public. I’m slowly shedding this armor I wore for decades that I always needed to “have it together” in public. Everything nice and tidy, perfectly done. Some of this is from my own nature, some from cultural expectations – all rooted in the idea that vulnerability isn’t to be shared in public. Thanks to a digital writing cohort and course called Ship 30 for 30, I’ve embraced the concept of “practicing in public.” This has helped me share ideas and work, even when it’s not just right. Getting feedback in real time and observing what resonates with others has helped me improve my thinking, my skills and how I interact with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.suchisairam.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/suchisairam
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/suchisairam
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/suchisairam
- Other: http://www.kalavandanam.com http://www.instagram.com/kalavandanam http://www.facebook.com/kalavandanam http://www.youtube.com/c/kalavandanam
Image Credits
Bill Cameron, Kou Lee, Renee Jones
