Creativity Chronicles​ Unlocking Creative Joy, One Week at a Time

What Does It Take to
Stay Creative and Independent?

Hi Reader,

It's hard to believe but true: As of last month, I've been a self-employed creative entrepreneur for 40 years. It’s been a journey—sometimes exhilarating, sometimes uncertain—but always filled with learning, reinvention, and, most importantly, creative freedom.

I co-created this image with my "AI friend," Ideogram, to express the self-reflective spirit of this adventure:

🎧 Telling My Story on a Podcast

In my latest podcast interview, I got to dive deep into the lessons learned from this 40-year journey. I sat down with David Shriner-Cahn of Smashing the Plateau to talk about how I made the leap from traditional employment to media innovation, what’s changed over the years, and what still holds true for anyone looking to carve their own creative path—especially in this new era of AI and social media.

👉 Listen to the full conversation here.

🤔 What Does This Mean for YOU?

If you’ve ever felt the pull to create something on your own—whether it’s a business, a creative project, or even just a more meaningful way of working—here’s what I want you to know:

✨ The path isn’t linear, but it’s worth it. Creative careers evolve. Reinvention isn’t failure—it’s growth.

✨ Community makes the journey easier. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. That’s why I started the Creativity Sandbox Community—so we can embrace the creative journey in relationship with others.

✨ AI and media innovation are changing the game. The way we create and connect is evolving faster than ever. The Grand Canyon Gap between people and technology—something that I've been talking about since 1990—is bigger than ever and very rapidly widening further!

This moment presents an opportunity to embrace new AI & digital media tools while staying true to what makes your creativity uniquely yours.

If that resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How have you navigated the twists and turns of your own creative path?

Hit reply and let me know—or better yet, listen to the podcast and share your takeaways with me.

🙋‍♂️ How Can I Help?

If you’re ready to embrace your own creative journey, let’s talk. I’m happy to chat and see if the Creativity Sandbox Community or some other form of what I can offer might be a good fit for you.

📅 To book a quick conversation with me, click here.

Let’s keep creating,

Jon Leland, AI Creativity Over 50 Guy
​"Don't die with your creative sparks still stuck inside."