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tl;dr Protecting your creative energy is essential in a productivity-obsessed business world, so prioritize activities that fuel your creativity—even if they don't look "productive"—and treat them as non-negotiable assets for your best work.

Cultivating Your Creativity

Many of us equate business success with productivity—endless task lists, output, and visible results. But in this episode of Business as UNusual, Aicila challenges that notion by spotlighting the importance of protecting and fueling our creative energy. She explains that creativity isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a vital business asset, often stifled by systems obsessed with productivity at the expense of insight and innovation. By identifying what drains and what replenishes our creative core, and by prioritizing activities that nurture this energy—even when they seem unproductive—we can unlock deeper satisfaction and more impactful work.

What really makes this episode stand out is Aicila’s call to make space for creativity by intentionally carving out time for wandering, reflection, and whatever helps you recharge—even when it doesn’t seem efficient on the surface. She emphasizes the need for both structure and flexibility: being rigid enough to build and protect these habits at first, and then learning to relax those boundaries once they’re rooted. It’s a compelling reminder that the health of our creative energy depends on scheduling nonnegotiable refueling time, honoring what truly moves us, and letting adaptiveness and self-awareness guide our path—so we can stand out, not just fit in, in the business world.

Listen Here to This Week's Episode

Beyond Financial ROI: Measuring the True Value of Your Business Investments

We're often taught to measure the success of our business investments purely based on financial return. But what about the intangible returns that contribute to our overall well-being and long-term success?

Consider these factors when evaluating your investments:

• Time: Does this investment save me time that I can reinvest in other areas of my business or life?
• Energy: Will this investment reduce my stress and overwhelm, allowing me to work with more clarity and focus?
• Alignment: Does this investment support my values and contribute to my overall sense of purpose and fulfillment?

Sometimes, the most valuable investments are the ones that don't have an immediate financial payoff, but contribute to our overall well-being and create a more sustainable business model.

Weekly-ish Workshops on These Topics Here

And remember- stay unusual-- Aicila

PS Curious about how I can help you bring ease into your workflow? Stop in at my Plaza room to learn more.