Standard Operating Procedures
All organizations have them whether they call them this or something else and creatives should have some as well.
“I want to buy the new iPad!”
“Is it better than the one you got now?”
“uhhh..”
There are so many creative tools being invented and marketed everyday that may catch your attention and distract you from the tools you already have that you are still trying to master.
This is where we need an SOP. The standard operating procedure is a set of steps that one follows to accomplish something. In this case we want to find out if the new tool we want to buy is needed to move our creativity forward or if its’ just a distraction.
Step 1: Do I have a project/idea in mind where I will need to use this tool?
Step 2: I do have an idea in mind – Do I have a tool that can help bring it to life already?
Step 3: I do have a tool already, I don’t need to buy that new one.
Step 4: Get back to work.
That’s an SOP for making a buying decision as a creative. There can be an SOP for choosing to jump into a collaborative project with another creative person. You can define all the steps and it will make decision making easier.
Food for thought… SOPs are energy savers.