Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marion Piper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marion, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
In 2021, at the height of the Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia, I had an idea. I’ve been journaling for as long as I can remember and I run workshops on how to do it in creative ways. People were asking me for prompts they could use so I decided to design my own journal prompt deck. Aptly named “The Expression Deck”, it had 52 journal prompts for post-traumatic growth. It was so meaningful to me because it combined so many things I’m passionate about: mental health, illustration, journaling and physical products. I created it as a limited edition run of 100 and it completely sold out! I’ve considered creating a second deck this year, so stay tuned!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve always considered myself a “Creative” and have worked in the creative industries in some capacity since leaving art school in 2007. I taught digital video to teens at an American summer camp. I was an art gallery assistant at a public gallery. I’ve been a copywriter in creative agencies both in Australia and the US. My core skill is writing and it’s my first love! I started my business officially in January 2020, which turned out to be such a blessing. Everyone needed to get online and my speciality back then was website copy and blogging. I’ve got a killer grasp on SEO and how to craft organic content that cuts through the noise with a standout tone of voice. As I worked with more and more clients, I realised that their biggest problem wasn’t just that they didn’t understand how to write for the online landscape, but that they were confused about their ideas. This led me to train with Dr Eric Maisel as a Creativity Coach, which is essentially coaching for your creative life. If you have an idea you want to take action on, but you’re not sure where to start, I can help. If you’re in the thick of things and you get stuck, I can get you unstuck. Or if you’re wanting to step into creative leadership, I can get you ready for it. I predominantly work with professional creatives (copywriters, art directors, graphic designers and creative small business owners), but I’ve also run workshops with corporates and startups, like Atlassian. My main point of difference is that I have a PhD in post-traumatic growth and strongly advocate for the important of creativity – as a product, process and practise – for everyone, but especially in business. If you can think creatively, you can solve ANY problem. If you can BE creative, you have a better chance of standing out from your competition. And if you LIVE creatively, your can design the life of your dreams! I’m living proof that even if you’ve been through significant trauma, you can still have an impact on this world. My childhood trauma was the catalyst for everything I’ve been able to accomplish and I truly believe you can turn your pain into purpose to see the most wild experiences happen!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being creative is the most empowering and life-affirming experience. Let’s start by defining what it means: creativity is an organic process of connections the dots in new and interesting ways. Art is one product of being creative, but there are as many different ways to do it as there are people alive. You might not think you’re creative because you’re not artistic, or perhaps someone once told you that because you couldn’t draw a horse, you weren’t creative. I call BS! Humans are innately creative, we’re wired to do it. From the buildings we design, to the clothes we sew, to the meals we cook. Here’s my hot take: what’s most rewarding about being creative isn’t the end result – it’s the PROCESS. The act of taking a thought or idea from your mind and turning it into something real in the world is one of the most satisfying experiences there is. For me, every time I post content, finish a client project or speak on a stage, I’m connecting myself as a ‘dot’ to other people. Creativity reminds me that I’m never alone, that I’m always part of a huge web of people, places and things. Isn’t that just the most comforting thought?!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I hadn’t been so determined to do EVERYTHING on my own, ha! I wish someone had told me earlier that there’s a never-ending line of people who want to help. But it can be really difficult releasing control of your work, especially when you’ve spent so many tireless hours growing your business. I’ve learned over the years that there are certain aspects of what I do that bring me immense joy and that’s what I need to do more of. That it’s okay to let other people who love what you hate do that work. It doesn’t mean the work isn’t YOU, but it does mean you’ll go further and farther with the right kind of support. Similarly, as a creative, it’s vital to keep yourself inspired. That means taking ‘creative health days’ away from your usual tasks and getting out in the world. Go see a movie, visit an art gallery, go see live music. Don’t consume endless scrolls of high dopamine – chase the slow stuff. Creative people are VERY sensitive and burning yourself out trying to keep up with social media is a sure fire way to destroy your spirit. Slow everything down. The digital world is way too fast and our beautiful brains need time to catch up. You are your greatest creative resource so act accordingly.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drmarionpiper.com.au
- Instagram: @marionpipercreative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionpiper/
- Other: Substack: https://thecreativeurge.substack.com/
