The following is a guest post from Chase Jarvis (@chasejarvis), the founder of CreativeLive, the world’s largest live-streaming education platform for creatives and entrepreneurs, which was acquired by Fiverr (FVRR: NYSE) in 2021. He is also a master photographer, Emmy-nominated director, and the bestselling author of Creative Calling. 
以下是來自 Chase Jarvis（@chasejarvis）的客座文章，他是 CreativeLive 的創始人，這是全球最大的創意和企業家直播教育平台，於 2021 年被 Fiverr（FVRR: NYSE）收購。他也是一位大師級攝影師、艾美獎提名導演，以及暢銷書《創意召喚》的作者。

Chase is the only person ever to be named a Hasselblad Master, Nikon Master, and ASMP Master. He has contributed photography to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, and his commercial work has spanned campaigns for Nike, Apple, Red Bull, and others, earning him Forbes’ title of “The Photographer Everyone Wants to Work With.” Chase’s fine-art installations appear in prominent galleries and the collections of high-net-worth individuals alike. Chase was also one of the very first guests of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast.  
蔡斯是唯一一位同時獲得哈蘇大師、尼康大師和 ASMP 大師稱號的人。他的攝影作品曾為普利茲獎獲獎的新聞報導做出貢獻，並且他的商業作品涵蓋了耐克、蘋果、紅牛等品牌的廣告活動，因而獲得《福布斯》“人人想合作的攝影師”稱號。蔡斯的藝術裝置作品在知名畫廊及高淨值個人收藏中均有展出。蔡斯也是《蒂姆·費里斯秀》播客的首批嘉賓之一。

His new book is Never Play It Safe: A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love and is out today.
他的新書《永遠不要安於現狀：通往自由、創造力和你所熱愛生活的實用指南》今天正式發行。

Please enjoy! 請享受！

Enter Chase Jarvis… 進入查斯·賈維斯…

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” — Helen Keller 
「安全大多是一種迷信。它在自然界中並不存在，人類整體也並不會體驗到它。避免危險在長期來看並不比直接面對更安全。生活要麼是一場大膽的冒險，要麼就什麼都不是。」— 海倫·凱勒

In my mid-twenties, my wife Kate and I were living in a tiny apartment in Seattle. I was working in a ski shop to make ends meet. There were a lot of voices in my head telling me how I had screwed up the familiar patterns of school and job, plus I had a boatload of doubt, no money, and few role models. Even though I whispered to those closest to me that I wanted to be a photographer, I was too scattered—and too scared—to actually pay attention to what I might have to do to make that dream a reality.
在我二十多歲的時候，我的妻子凱特和我住在西雅圖的一間小公寓裡。我在一家滑雪商店工作以維持生計。腦海中有很多聲音告訴我，我如何搞砸了熟悉的學校和工作的模式，加上我充滿懷疑，沒有錢，且幾乎沒有榜樣。儘管我對最親近的人低聲說我想成為一名攝影師，但我太分心了——也太害怕了——無法真正關注我可能需要做什麼來實現這個夢想。

I spent the first few months of that time dabbling, working in the shop, explaining myself to everyone I knew, and trying but failing to hone my craft. My attention was too fractured to get anywhere, but at a certain point, it was do or die. Yes, I had to earn a living, but more importantly, that rare, humble, honest version of myself that sometimes showed up on morning walks or while gazing at golden-orange sunsets had a point: I had to stop f*ing around and making excuses. I had to stop paying so much attention to the toxic voices in my head telling me I’d never make it as a photographer and instead go all in on the next right step that would get me where I wanted to go.
我在那段時間的前幾個月裡，隨意地嘗試，忙於店裡的工作，向我認識的每個人解釋自己，努力卻未能磨練我的技藝。我的注意力過於分散，無法有所進展，但在某個時刻，已經到了非做不可的地步。是的，我必須賺取生計，但更重要的是，那個偶爾在晨跑或凝視金橙色日落時出現的稀有、謙遜、真誠的自我有其意義：我必須停止胡鬧和找藉口。我必須停止過度關注腦海中那些告訴我永遠無法成為攝影師的有毒聲音，而是全心投入下一步，讓我能夠到達我想去的地方。

Those early days were filled with doubt, uncertainty, and countless questions about how to make my dreams a reality. I didn’t know how to make the leap from amateur photographer to full-time artist. I had almost no real-life examples of how to do what I wanted to do. I couldn’t afford the time or money it would have taken to go to art school. But I realized that no one was coming to hand me a guidebook and that if I wanted to succeed, I’d have to forge my own path. Over time, I discovered key principles that helped me transform those doubts into action—tools that reside naturally within us all, that anyone can use to ignite their creative potential and break away from the illusory ‘safe’ life that our culture wants most of us to live. 
那些早期的日子充滿了懷疑、不確定性，以及無數關於如何實現夢想的問題。我不知道如何從業餘攝影師轉變為全職藝術家。我幾乎沒有現實生活中的例子來指導我如何做我想做的事情。我無法負擔去藝術學校所需的時間或金錢。但我意識到，沒有人會來遞給我一本指南，如果我想要成功，就必須自己開創道路。隨著時間的推移，我發現了一些關鍵原則，幫助我將那些懷疑轉化為行動——這些工具自然存在於我們每個人之中，任何人都可以利用它們來激發自己的創造潛能，並擺脫我們文化所希望大多數人過的虛幻“安全”生活。

In this post, I’m going to share 7 ‘levers’ that I’ve discovered that can help you unlock your potential. These aren’t vague motivational phrases—they’re practical, actionable tools that will take you from feeling stuck to finding freedom in your creative work and your life. With AI rapidly taking over jobs that machines can easily do, human creativity has become more crucial, and more valuable, than ever. It’s not just about popsicle sticks and glue guns; it’s about cultivating the habit of thinking differently and operating differently, a way of living that keeps you on the unique frontier, ahead of the machines, and in line with a life worth loving.
在這篇文章中，我將分享我發現的七個「槓桿」，這些槓桿可以幫助你釋放潛能。這些不是模糊的激勵語句，而是實用的、可行的工具，能讓你從感到困惑轉變為在創作工作和生活中找到自由。隨著人工智慧迅速取代那些機器能輕易完成的工作，人類的創造力變得比以往任何時候都更為重要和珍貴。這不僅僅是關於冰棒棍和膠槍；而是關於培養不同思考和運作的習慣，一種讓你保持在獨特前沿、領先於機器、並與值得熱愛的生活保持一致的生活方式。

Creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s an essential skill, a must-have that will keep you relevant and thriving in a changing world. Each lever is a tool I personally learned to wield in my journey from being a small-town Seattle artist to working with many of the biggest brands and boldest projects in the world, and I’m going to show you how to use them in your own life. 
創造力不再只是可有可無的東西——它是一項必備技能，是讓你在變化的世界中保持相關性和蓬勃發展的必要條件。每一個杠杆都是我在從西雅圖小鎮藝術家到與世界上許多最大品牌和最大膽項目合作的旅程中親自學會使用的工具，我將向你展示如何在自己的生活中運用它們。

Lever 1: Constraints—Unlocking Creativity with Limitations
杠桿 1：限制—以限制解鎖創造力

Early in my career, I discovered that creativity thrives under constraints. Whether it was when I couldn’t afford the best camera gear or later when I intentionally set boundaries on projects—like budget, time, or other easily implemented frameworks—I recognized that limitations forced me to innovate. The results were demonstrably better than when I failed to implement, or ignored, constraints.
在我職業生涯的早期，我發現創造力在限制下蓬勃發展。無論是當我無法負擔最好的相機設備，還是後來我故意對項目設置界限——例如預算、時間或其他容易實施的框架——我意識到限制迫使我創新。結果明顯比我未能實施或忽視限制時要好得多。

Constraints aren’t obstacles—they are opportunities to think differently, to find solutions you wouldn’t have considered if you had every resource at your disposal. It was during those times of limitation that I learned the most and pushed both my creativity and my life to places I didn’t think they could go. 
限制不是障礙——它們是思考不同的機會，是找到如果擁有所有資源時不會考慮的解決方案的機會。正是在那些限制的時刻，我學到了最多，並將我的創造力和生活推向了我從未想過的地方。

Actionable Steps to Constrain for Growth:
可行的增長限制步驟：

1. 7-Minute Creative Challenge
1. 7 分鐘創意挑戰

Set a timer for 7 minutes and complete a creative project within that time frame. Whether it’s writing a short story or sketching something, the goal is to create without overthinking. Embrace imperfection. I do this almost every day in some capacity—journaling for 7 minutes in the morning, capturing 7 images on my phone within my immediate surroundings, or crafting a creative social media post. These quick, deliberate bursts of creativity help me stay sharp, spontaneous, and unafraid of imperfection.
設置一個 7 分鐘的計時器，並在這段時間內完成一個創意項目。無論是寫短篇故事還是素描，目標是創作而不過度思考。擁抱不完美。我幾乎每天都以某種方式這樣做——早上花 7 分鐘寫日記，捕捉周圍環境中的 7 張照片，或創作一個有創意的社交媒體帖子。這些快速而有意識的創意爆發幫助我保持敏銳、自發，並不畏懼不完美。

2. Resource Limitation Challenge
2. 資源限制挑戰

Choose a project and give yourself a constraint. Use one lens for a week or write with only a notebook and pen. By forcing yourself to work within limits, you foster innovation. For me, I was the first high-end professional to lean into the iPhone as a real photographic tool, publishing the world’s first book of iPhone photos and creating the first iPhone app that used photos as the basis for a social network. Another time, I was featured on a top YouTube channel in China, where I was challenged to shoot professional-level images—skateboarding, portraits, street photography—using a camera literally made out of Legos. These constraints pushed me creatively in ways I simultaneously loved, but couldn’t have imagined, proving that limits can truly unlock new levels.
選擇一個項目並給自己設定一個限制。使用一個鏡頭一週，或僅用筆記本和鋼筆寫作。通過強迫自己在限制內工作，你能夠促進創新。對我來說，我是第一位將 iPhone 視為真正攝影工具的高端專業人士，出版了世界上第一本 iPhone 照片書，並創建了第一個以照片為基礎的社交網絡的 iPhone 應用程式。還有一次，我在中國的一個頂級 YouTube 頻道上亮相，接受挑戰使用一台完全由樂高積木製成的相機拍攝專業級的照片——滑板、肖像、街頭攝影。這些限制在創意上推動了我，讓我同時感到喜愛卻又無法想像，證明了限制確實能解鎖新的層次。

Lever 2: Failure—A Feature, Not a Bug
杠桿 2：失敗—一種特徵，而非錯誤

Turn back your mental clock to April of 2012, when Facebook acquired Instagram for the staggering sum of $1 billion. It was all over the news, not just in the tech circles but mainstream media too—a true Cinderella story. I watched with amazement like the rest of the world, but that amazement was tempered by a pang of regret. In a not-so-different world, it could have been my company making those headlines. 
將你的思緒回到 2012 年 4 月，當時 Facebook 以驚人的 10 億美元收購了 Instagram。這則消息不僅在科技圈內引起轟動，主流媒體也紛紛報導——這是一個真正的灰姑娘故事。我和全世界一樣驚訝地觀看著，但那份驚訝中夾雜著一絲遺憾。在一個並不太不同的世界裡，可能是我的公司在製造那些頭條新聞。

Back in 2009, I had created a photo-sharing app called The Best Camera that beat Instagram to the market; had millions of downloads; was hailed in ‘App of the Year’ lists in the New York Times, MacWorld, and elsewhere; and was heavily featured in Apple’s global marketing. And yet, despite all of this early success, my app never reached its full potential. A few critical mistakes known by tech-industry insiders and experienced by my community of users derailed acquisition interests and my billion-dollar opportunity.
在 2009 年，我創建了一款名為《最佳相機》的照片分享應用程式，這款應用程式在市場上超越了 Instagram；擁有數百萬次下載；在《紐約時報》、《MacWorld》等的「年度最佳應用程式」名單中受到讚譽；並在蘋果的全球行銷中受到大量關注。然而，儘管有這麼多早期的成功，我的應用程式卻從未達到其全部潛力。幾個為科技行業內部人士所知的關鍵錯誤，以及我的用戶社群所經歷的問題，阻礙了收購興趣和我十億美元的機會。

Nearly all of us from an early age are conditioned to avoid failure. But this mindset is what keeps most people from creating anything at all! Failure isn’t the end; it’s an integral part of almost any process. Early in my career, I tried so hard to succeed without ever taking risks, and it led to nothing but mediocrity. The moment I began embracing failure as a necessary feature of my journey, things started to shift. 
幾乎我們所有人從小就被訓練去避免失敗。但這種心態卻使大多數人無法創造任何東西！失敗並不是結束；它幾乎是任何過程中不可或缺的一部分。在我職業生涯的早期，我努力想要成功卻從不冒險，結果只導致平庸。當我開始接受失敗作為我旅程中必要的一部分時，事情開始發生變化。

The experience with my photo app taught me painful but valuable lessons, and each failure along the way shaped me into a more resilient, more creative, and more confident person today. In just one clear example, I took those Best Camera lessons and used them to launch CreativeLive, which was acquired by a public company and today serves millions of students worldwide. 
我在照片應用程式的經歷教會了我痛苦但寶貴的教訓，每一次失敗都讓我成為今天更有韌性、更具創造力和更自信的人。舉一個明確的例子，我將那些最佳攝影的課程運用到創立 CreativeLive，該公司被一家上市公司收購，今天為全球數百萬學生提供服務。

Embracing failure is what separates those who make a mark from those who never even try. It’s why failure isn’t something to fear; it’s a signal, a signpost that guides you toward growth.
擁抱失敗是區分那些留下印記的人和那些從未嘗試過的人之所在。這就是為什麼失敗不是值得恐懼的事；它是一個信號，一個指示牌，引導你走向成長。

Actionable Steps to Reframe Failure as Growth:
將失敗重新框架為成長的可行步驟：

1. Failure Postmortem 1. 失敗事後分析

Make notes in a journal about a recent failure, but instead of judging yourself, break it down objectively: What went wrong? What did you learn? What can you do differently next time? This practice turns what could feel like a setback into a lesson. When Instagram sold for $1 billion, it was a punch to the gut, because it could have been my app in those headlines. In my postmortem, I realized that the mistakes were simple but costly:
在日記中記錄最近的一次失敗，但不要對自己進行評判，而是客觀地分析：發生了什麼問題？你學到了什麼？下次你可以做得不同嗎？這種做法將可能感覺像是挫折的事情轉變為一堂課。當 Instagram 以 10 億美元出售時，這對我來說是一記重擊，因為那本可以是我應用程式的頭條。在我的事後檢討中，我意識到錯誤雖然簡單，但代價高昂：

• Trusting the wrong development partner. 
  信任錯誤的開發夥伴。
• Not enough detail in the legal contract.
  法律合約中的細節不足。
• Failing to keep the app’s code and key assets on my own servers or in the cloud.
  未能將應用程式的代碼和關鍵資產保存在我自己的伺服器或雲端中。

These oversights stalled our momentum and left me watching from the sidelines. But analyzing these failures objectively transformed what could have been a career-ending defeat into the blueprint for building CreativeLive—turning painful lessons into invaluable stepping stones for future success.
這些疏忽使我們的勢頭停滯不前，讓我只能在旁觀望。但客觀地分析這些失敗，將本可能成為職業生涯終結的挫敗，轉變為建立 CreativeLive 的藍圖——將痛苦的教訓化為未來成功的寶貴基石。

2. Tiny Experiments 2. 微小實驗

Reframe the thing you’ve been avoiding as a tiny experiment. Instead of fearing failure, think of it as an opportunity to gather information. Commit to taking a step toward it within the next 48 hours, with the goal of learning rather than succeeding. When you view actions as experiments, failures don’t sting as much because they’re part of the process. This approach not only makes the risk feel smaller, but it also conditions you to value learning over outcomes. Taking action, even when facing potential failure, is a crucial step toward unlocking your creativity. Every so-called failure becomes data—a step forward rather than a setback. Failure can either be a wall or a door, and reframing it as an experiment allows you to choose the door every time.
將你一直在逃避的事情重新框架為一個小實驗。與其害怕失敗，不如把它視為收集資訊的機會。在接下來的 48 小時內，承諾朝著這個方向邁出一步，目標是學習而非成功。當你將行動視為實驗時，失敗的痛苦感會減輕，因為它們是過程的一部分。這種方法不僅讓風險感覺更小，還使你習慣於重視學習而非結果。即使面對潛在的失敗，採取行動也是釋放創造力的重要一步。每一次所謂的失敗都變成了數據——向前邁進的一步，而不是退步。失敗可以是牆壁，也可以是門，將其重新框架為實驗讓你每次都能選擇那扇門。

Lever 3: Attention—Harnessing Your Superpower
杠杆三：注意力—駕馭你的超能力

In the age of infinite distractions, focus is a superpower that determines the difference between success and mediocrity. But here’s the catch: no one else can do this work for you. If you let others control your attention—whether through endless scrolling, notifications, or expectations placed on you—you’ll never unlock your true creative potential.
在無限干擾的時代，專注是一種超能力，決定了成功與平庸之間的差異。但有一個關鍵：沒有人能為你完成這項工作。如果你讓他人控制你的注意力——無論是透過無止境的滑動、通知，還是他人對你的期望——你將永遠無法釋放你真正的創造潛力。

Attention is your most valuable currency. I had to learn this through trial and error, switching from a career that I thought others wanted for me to one I knew deep down I was made for. When I focused, my world expanded in the areas I dedicated my time to. Where I put my attention dictated what I became. 
注意力是你最珍貴的貨幣。我必須通過反覆試驗來學習這一點，從一個我以為別人想要我從事的職業轉變為一個我內心深處知道我注定要從事的職業。當我專注時，我的世界在我投入時間的領域中擴展。我將注意力放在哪裡，就決定了我成為什麼樣的人。

Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Focus:
可行的步驟以重拾專注：

1. Define Your “Attention Zones”
1. 定義你的「注意區域」

Every morning, choose two zones where you want to direct your focus. These could be areas like building a skill or connecting with family. Write down one specific action for each zone that deserves your full attention today. Think of this as a workout for your attention span, developing focus on demand so it’s there when you need it most. Use a Pomodoro timer (there are online options, but I prefer a physical timer)—25 minutes on, no interruptions, then take a break. This kind of deliberate practice is where focus turns into mastery, training your mind to be sharp and responsive whenever you call on it.
每個早晨，選擇兩個你想要專注的區域。這些可以是像建立技能或與家人聯繫的領域。為每個區域寫下今天值得你全心投入的一個具體行動。把這看作是對你注意力的鍛鍊，隨時發展專注力，以便在你最需要的時候能夠調動起來。使用番茄鐘（有線上選項，但我更喜歡實體計時器）—25 分鐘專注，不受打擾，然後休息一下。這種有意識的練習是專注轉化為精通的地方，訓練你的思維在你需要時保持敏銳和反應靈敏。

2. Daily “Attention Audit”
2. 每日「注意力審核」

At the end of each day, do a quick audit. Ask yourself: Where did my attention go today? Which distractions pulled me away? Write them down, and make adjustments to improve your focus tomorrow. I had to make this a ritual to understand what was draining my energy and how I could direct it back into my creative pursuits. For a broader view, consider doing a weekly audit using your iPhone’s built-in screen-time tracker or Toggl Track to get detailed insights into where your attention is going. Apps like Freedom.to and StayFocusd can also help you block distracting websites or apps during creative work sessions, letting you carve out focused time for what truly matters.
在每一天結束時，進行一次快速的審核。問自己：今天我的注意力去哪裡了？哪些干擾讓我分心？把它們寫下來，並做出調整，以改善明天的專注力。我必須將這變成一種儀式，以了解什麼在消耗我的精力，以及我如何能將其重新引導回我的創作追求中。為了獲得更全面的視角，可以考慮使用你的 iPhone 內建的螢幕時間追蹤器或 Toggl Track 進行每週審核，以獲得有關你注意力去向的詳細見解。像 Freedom.to 和 StayFocusd 這樣的應用程式也可以幫助你在創作工作期間阻擋分心的網站或應用程式，讓你為真正重要的事情劃出專注的時間。

Lever 4: Time—The Magic of Presence
杠桿 4：時間—存在的魔力

One of the biggest breakthroughs in my life came when I understood that it wasn’t about finding more time; it was about changing how I perceived and used the time I had. Instead of managing time like a fixed resource, I began to see it as malleable, something that could expand or contract based on my focus and the activities I chose. This meant creating conditions for flow, where time seemed to stretch as I engaged in what I loved. It also meant recognizing that life is long and that the rush to always do more often robbed me of the richness of the present. When I focused on the activities that brought joy and novelty, time seemed to open up, and I became far more effective.
我生命中最大的突破之一是當我明白，問題不在於尋找更多的時間，而在於改變我對於所擁有時間的看法和使用方式。與其將時間視為固定的資源，我開始將其視為可塑的，根據我的專注和所選擇的活動而擴展或收縮。這意味著創造流動的條件，當我投入我所熱愛的事物時，時間似乎會延展。這也意味著認識到生活是漫長的，而總是急於做更多的衝動常常剝奪了我當下的豐富感。當我專注於帶來快樂和新鮮感的活動時，時間似乎會展開，我變得更加有效率。

It’s easy to say you’re busy, but what are you busy with? Other people’s expectations or your own meaningful pursuits? Instead of seeing time as something to manage, try seeing it as an experience to craft. When we are present, fully engaged in the now, we find that life becomes less about scarcity and more about depth and richness. Creativity demands presence. It demands moments of undistracted effort where you can go deep, explore, and build. To truly move the needle, stop trying to manage time, and instead cultivate flow and presence—embracing the long view of a life where moments are crafted deliberately and with intention.
說你很忙很容易，但你到底在忙什麼？是別人的期望還是你自己有意義的追求？與其把時間視為需要管理的東西，不如把它看作是一種可以精心雕琢的體驗。當我們全心投入當下時，我們會發現生活不再是關於匱乏，而是關於深度和豐富。創造力需要存在感。它需要那些不受干擾的努力時刻，讓你能夠深入探索和建構。要真正推動變化，停止試圖管理時間，而是培養流動感和存在感——擁抱一種生活的長遠觀，讓每一刻都被有意識地精心雕琢。

Actionable Steps to Redefine Your Relationship with Time:
可行的步驟來重新定義你與時間的關係：

1. Create a “Time Budget”
1. 創建一個「時間預算」

Spend a week observing how your time is spent. Instead of focusing on strict management, see time as malleable. Notice the moments when time seems to rapidly slip away—like scrolling on your phone or mindlessly watching something just to kill time. Notice when you engage in activities that you love, where you experience flow—a state where time seems to expand and you’re far more effective. Time-tracking apps like Toggl Track or RescueTime can help you to identify distractions, while a physical notebook or a journal app like Day One can be used to track your reflections on what activities bring you into a state of flow. Tools like Brain.fm or Focus@Will can help enhance focus, making it easier to enter a flow state. By observing and adjusting how your time is spent, you can observe time dilating and constricting and more intentionally choose to shift more of your time into the expansive, rewarding experiences. 
花一週的時間觀察你的時間是如何被使用的。與其專注於嚴格的管理，不如將時間視為可塑的。注意那些時間似乎迅速流逝的時刻——比如在手機上滑動，或是無意識地觀看某些東西來打發時間。注意當你參與你熱愛的活動時，那種你體驗到心流的狀態——在這種狀態下，時間似乎延展，你的效率也大大提高。像 Toggl Track 或 RescueTime 這樣的時間追蹤應用可以幫助你識別分心的因素，而實體筆記本或像 Day One 這樣的日記應用可以用來記錄你對哪些活動能讓你進入心流狀態的反思。像 Brain.fm 或 Focus@Will 這樣的工具可以幫助提升專注力，使你更容易進入心流狀態。通過觀察和調整你的時間使用方式，你可以觀察到時間的膨脹與收縮，並更有意識地選擇將更多的時間轉移到那些擴展且有意義的經歷中。

2. Deep Time Blocks 2. 深時間區塊

Twice a week, schedule a 2-to-4–hour time block to focus deeply on your most creative work—something you love. No interruptions. No ‘tasks.’ Let this be a sacred window where you can disconnect from clock time and its traditional trappings. I’ve learned that if I want to address a problem or go into a special creative headspace, it usually requires a minimum of 90 minutes to make progress. As an extension of this idea, I freakishly protect the first ninety-minute block of my day for my morning routine. It’s the one thing I know can make a huge difference in the success of my day, week, and life. What I do during this time may vary, but it always involves some level of intention, mindfulness, self-care, and some form of movement or exercise to get mentally focused for the day. 
每週兩次，安排一個 2 到 4 小時的時間段，專注於你最具創造性的工作——一些你熱愛的事情。不要有任何干擾。不要有「任務」。讓這段時間成為一個神聖的窗口，讓你能夠脫離時鐘的束縛和傳統的框架。我已經學到，如果我想解決一個問題或進入一個特別的創意狀態，通常需要至少 90 分鐘才能取得進展。基於這個想法，我異常地保護我一天中的第一個 90 分鐘，作為我的早晨例行公事。這是我知道能對我一天、一週和一生的成功產生巨大影響的唯一事情。我在這段時間內所做的事情可能會有所不同，但總是涉及某種程度的意圖、正念、自我照顧，以及某種形式的運動或鍛煉，以便在心理上為一天做好準備。

Here are some examples: 以下是一些例子：

• Intention: I often dedicate time to journaling as a way to reflect on and clarify my thoughts, writing down my intentions each day to stay focused on what matters.
  意圖：我經常花時間寫日記，以反思和澄清我的想法，每天寫下我的意圖，以保持專注於重要的事物。
• Mindfulness: I use a body scan exercise, spending a few minutes checking in with different parts of my body to help me stay present throughout the day. 
  正念：我使用身體掃描練習，花幾分鐘檢查我身體的不同部位，以幫助我在整個日子中保持當下的覺知。
• Self-Care: I embrace cold plunge therapy, which refreshes my mind and body, preparing me to take on challenges with a renewed sense of focus. 
  自我照顧：我擁抱冷水浸泡療法，這讓我的身心煥然一新，準備好以全新的專注力迎接挑戰。
• Exercise: My morning workout—a mix of cardiovascular activities and resistance training for 30 to 45 minutes—allows me to start the day mentally sharp and fully energized.
  運動：我的晨間鍛煉——結合心血管活動和阻力訓練，持續 30 到 45 分鐘——讓我以清晰的思維和充沛的精力開始新的一天。

Lever 5: Intuition—Trusting Your Gut
杠杆五：直覺—信任你的直覺

Your intuition is like a compass—it always knows where to take you, but you have to be willing to listen. I ignored my gut for a long time, and it led me into a path that was culturally “safe” but deeply unfulfilling. I chased a career in professional soccer and then medical school because it was what others wanted for me, but it was ultimately abandoning both of those directions and returning to photography that set my soul on fire.
你的直覺就像一個指南針——它總是知道該帶你去何處，但你必須願意傾聽。我忽視了自己的直覺很長一段時間，這讓我走上了一條在文化上“安全”但深感不滿的道路。我追求職業足球和醫學院的事業，因為這是別人對我的期望，但最終是放棄了這兩個方向，回到攝影中，才讓我的靈魂燃燒起來。

It’s hard to trust yourself when society constantly tells you that risk is unhealthy or unreasonable and that you should stay on the well-worn path. But emerging science reveals something fascinating: rational thought is often slow and fumbling, while intuition is quick and comprehensive. The truth is, the people who achieve greatness are those who learn to trust that small voice. The more I listened to my gut, the more it became a reliable source of guidance. Like any muscle, I was strengthening it with use. Once I began leaning into that intuitive pull, my life changed, and my creativity exploded.
當社會不斷告訴你風險是不健康或不合理的，並且你應該走在老路上時，信任自己是很困難的。但新興的科學揭示了一個迷人的事實：理性思考往往緩慢而笨拙，而直覺則快速而全面。事實是，達成偉大成就的人是那些學會信任那微小聲音的人。我越是傾聽我的直覺，它就越成為可靠的指導來源。就像任何肌肉一樣，我在使用中強化它。一旦我開始依賴那種直覺的吸引力，我的生活就改變了，我的創造力也隨之爆發。

Actionable Steps to Reconnect with Your Inner Compass:
重新連結內心指南的可行步驟：

Intuition Field Trip 直覺實地考察

Give yourself a Saturday—reminiscent of Julia Cameron’s “Artist Date” from her legendary masterwork The Artist’s Way—and fill the day with whatever you are drawn to do. First, set aside your technology. And then, since intuition lives in the body, start your day with a walk outside in nature (a park if you are urban) and really tune in to the sensations in your body. What do you feel, smell, and notice? Let your awareness expand to find a calm joy in this state of connection and relaxation as you walk for as long as you desire. Throughout the day, let your guiding question be What next? Listen to the soft, small voice of intuition for guidance. No busyness, no hurry. Simply listen, act, and notice. Go anywhere, and do anything that you’re called to do. At the end of your experiment, reflect on the process. How were you able to listen? What did you feel?
給自己一個星期六——讓人想起朱莉亞·卡梅隆在她的傳世之作《藝術家的道路》中提到的「藝術家約會」——用你所吸引的事情填滿這一天。首先，放下你的科技產品。然後，因為直覺存在於身體中，開始你的一天，走到戶外的大自然中（如果你在城市裡，就去公園），真正感受你身體中的感覺。你感受到什麼、聞到什麼、注意到什麼？讓你的意識擴展，找到這種連結與放鬆狀態中的平靜喜悅，隨著你走的時間長短而定。整個一天，讓你的指導問題是「接下來是什麼？」傾聽直覺那柔和而微小的聲音以獲得指引。沒有忙碌，沒有急促。只是傾聽、行動和注意。去任何地方，做任何你被召喚去做的事情。在你實驗的結束時，反思這個過程。你是如何能夠傾聽的？你感受到什麼？

How to Know Your Intuition is Speaking
如何知道你的直覺在說話

Here is a non-exhaustive-but-hopefully-helpful list of internal signals that your intuition is at work:
這裡有一份非詳盡但希望能幫助到你的內部信號清單，顯示你的直覺正在運作：

• Body signals—Pay attention to the physiological responses, such as a “gut feeling” or a sense of calm, that may indicate intuition at work.
  身體信號—注意生理反應，例如“直覺”或平靜感，這些可能表明直覺在發揮作用。
• Immediate impressions—Notice your spontaneous thoughts or feelings and contrast them with the slower, analytical process of conscious reasoning.
  立即印象—注意你的自發想法或感受，並將它們與較慢的、分析性的意識推理過程進行對比。
• Past experiences—Reflect on moments in which your intuition proved accurate, usually in a snap judgment or moment-based experience sort of way.
  過去的經驗—反思那些直覺準確的時刻，通常是在瞬間判斷或基於瞬間經驗的情況下。
• Energy alignment—Look for sparks of energy or little bursts of confidence . . . a genuine feeling that you are on track.
  能量對齊—尋找能量的火花或小小的自信爆發……一種真實的感覺，讓你知道自己在正確的道路上。
• Emotional alignment—Intuitive feelings often align with positive or negative emotions. Genuine intuition tends to evoke a sense of rightness or wrongness about a situation.
  情感對齊——直覺感受通常與正面或負面的情緒相一致。真正的直覺往往會引發對某種情況的正確或錯誤感。
• Athletic Mind—A phrase used by renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella, athletic mind describes the moment when someone clearly envisions an outcome and then trusts the subconscious to deliver, as opposed to tediously and consciously reviewing every aspect of a skill. In other words, Yoda had it right: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
  運動心態——這是一位著名運動心理學家鮑勃·羅泰拉所使用的詞語，運動心態描述的是當某人清晰地想像出一個結果，然後信任潛意識去實現這個結果的那一刻，而不是繁瑣而有意識地檢視技能的每一個方面。換句話說，尤達說得對：“做或不做，沒有嘗試。”

Lever 6: Play—The Most Important Work We Do
杠杆 6：遊戲—我們所做的最重要的工作

When we think of work, we think of grinding, pushing through obstacles, and staying serious. But what if the real magic—the breakthroughs, the creative leaps—happens when we allow ourselves to play? 
當我們想到工作時，我們會想到努力、克服障礙和保持嚴肅。但如果真正的魔力——突破、創意的飛躍——發生在我們允許自己去玩耍的時候呢？

Happiness can often feel temporary and fleeting, with our accomplishments seeming ephemeral, leaving us lost in a sea of seriousness. But it doesn’t have to be that way. To live a more meaningful life, we don’t need another vacation, a new hobby, or another workout routine. We don’t need an endless stream of self-improvement projects piled onto an already overstressed life. What we truly need is a life we’re not trying to escape, a life where play and joy are woven into our everyday work, allowing us to experience deeper fulfillment and uncover the breakthroughs we’ve been searching for.
幸福常常讓人感到短暫而易逝，我們的成就似乎也如昙花一现，讓我們在嚴肅的海洋中迷失。然而，生活不必如此。要過上更有意義的生活，我們不需要再一次度假、一個新愛好或另一套健身計劃。我們不需要無止境的自我提升項目堆疊在已經過度緊張的生活上。我們真正需要的是一種不想逃避的生活，一種遊戲和快樂融入日常工作的生活，讓我們能夠體驗更深層的滿足，並發現我們一直在尋找的突破。

Play is often undervalued, but it’s one of the most powerful tools a creator can wield. When I loosened my grip on the idea of what creativity was supposed to look like, for example, not just with traditional art or creative pursuits like business, that’s when the best ideas—and highest revenues—flowed. That’s because play is where the best version of ourselves is born, where we experiment without judgment, where failure isn’t feared but embraced. For me, looking back on my career and life, it’s clear that most of my favorite work has come not from overplanning or grinding but from experimenting, having fun, and letting my curiosity lead the way.  
遊戲常常被低估，但它是創作者可以運用的最強大工具之一。例如，當我放鬆對創造力應該呈現的樣子的把握時，不僅限於傳統藝術或商業等創意追求，最佳的想法和最高的收益便隨之而來。這是因為遊戲是我們最佳自我的誕生之地，是我們無需評判地進行實驗的地方，是我們不再害怕失敗而是擁抱失敗的時刻。對我來說，回顧我的職業生涯和生活，很明顯我最喜愛的作品大多不是來自過度計劃或苦幹，而是來自實驗、享受樂趣，並讓好奇心引領方向。

Actionable Steps to Integrate Play into Your Creative Life:
將遊戲融入您的創意生活的可行步驟：

1. Weekend Play Session 1. 週末遊戲時光

This is the opposite of the Resource Limitation Challenge (from ‘Lever 1: Constraints’). A Weekend Play Session is a much looser approach, where you’ll spend 15 minutes each day doing something fun—with no goals attached to it. Doodle, explore photography with no rules, or create music just for the joy of it—ideally off your device to get real dopamine. This time is about exploration without the pressure to produce something ‘good.’ If you don’t know where to start, look back at your childhood. Activities like smashing baseballs, building puzzles or Legos, racing RC cars—whatever brought you joy as a kid—often hold the answers. Letting go of the outcome and focusing on the joy of the process will more often lead to breakthroughs.
這與資源限制挑戰（來自「槓桿 1：限制」）正好相反。週末遊玩時段是一種更為輕鬆的方式，你每天花 15 分鐘做一些有趣的事情——不附帶任何目標。隨意塗鴉、無規則地探索攝影，或是純粹為了快樂而創作音樂——理想情況下，最好是離開你的設備，以獲得真正的多巴胺。這段時間是關於探索，而不是承受產出「好」東西的壓力。如果你不知道從何開始，可以回想一下你的童年。像是打棒球、拼拼圖或樂高、賽遙控車——任何曾經帶給你快樂的活動——往往都能提供答案。放下結果，專注於過程中的快樂，通常會更容易帶來突破。

2. The Mindful Chore Challenge
2. 正念家務挑戰

Let’s take a task that one might label as a chore: folding the laundry. The next time you hear the buzzer on the dryer and it’s time to fetch the clothes, do the following. First, notice that buzzer—really hear it—and be grateful for a device that is smart enough to notify you when it’s done working on your behalf. Next, walk up to the dryer and open it. Feel the warm air on your face as the heat escapes. And listen to the sound—the little creaking sound of the dryer door. Smell the pleasant, clean smell—a combo of detergent and dryer sheet. Then reach your hands into the dryer and grab all the clothes, while paying special attention to the soft feeling of the fabric and, again, the warmth. Notice all the colors in the pile, some bright, others faded. Really be present for the folding experience. Then, have fun with it. 
讓我們來談一個可能被標籤為瑣事的任務：摺衣服。下次當你聽到烘乾機的蜂鳴聲，該去取衣服時，請這樣做。首先，注意那個蜂鳴聲——真正聽到它——並感激這個足夠聰明的設備，能在為你工作完成時通知你。接著，走到烘乾機旁，打開它。感受溫暖的空氣撲面而來，熱氣逸散而出。聆聽那聲音——烘乾機門輕微的吱吱聲。嗅嗅那愉悅而清新的氣味——洗衣粉和烘乾紙的混合香氣。然後，把手伸進烘乾機，抓住所有的衣物，特別注意布料的柔軟觸感，以及再次感受到的溫暖。注意堆裡的所有顏色，有些鮮豔，有些褪色。真正全心投入摺衣服的過程中。然後，享受這個過程。

Lever 7: Practice—Success Leaves Clues
杠杆 7：實踐—成功留下線索

Every successful creator I’ve ever met, studied, or admired has one thing in common: they show up. Day in, day out, they put in the work, even when they don’t feel like it. Consistency and practice are the real magic behind creative success.
每位我曾經遇見、研究或欽佩的成功創作者都有一個共同點：他們總是出現。日復一日，他們都在努力工作，即使不想也一樣。持續性和練習才是真正創意成功的魔法。

The truth is, creativity isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike—it’s about being there when it does. It’s about creating conditions in which inspiration can find you at work. For me in photography, that meant taking my camera everywhere, shooting every day, even when the conditions were less than perfect, and even when I didn’t feel like it.  In business it meant developing systems that were always oriented toward iteration and always ‘shipping’ our products and services before they were perfect.
事實上，創造力並不是等待靈感降臨，而是當靈感來臨時能夠隨時把握。這是關於創造一種環境，讓靈感能在你工作時找到你。對我來說，在攝影方面，這意味著隨身攜帶相機，每天拍攝，即使條件不完美，甚至在我不想拍攝的時候。在商業上，這意味著建立一套系統，始終以迭代為導向，並在產品和服務尚未完美之前就開始推出。

Actionable Steps to Build a Creative Practice:
可行的步驟來建立創意實踐：

1. Create a Daily Practice Routine
1. 建立每日練習例行公事

Choose one skill or craft that matters to you and dedicate at least 20 minutes to it every day. Whether it’s coding, writing, or anything else, commit to this practice without exception. The goal is momentum, not genius. Tracking your progress, using an app like Habit Tracker or Atoms, helps you stay accountable and see growth over time. I made this commitment to photography years ago—and dozens of other skills since then—and these consistent daily actions have been transformative, whether that was turning my passion into a career or simply growing quickly in an area of interest.
選擇一項對你來說重要的技能或手藝，每天至少投入 20 分鐘。無論是編程、寫作或其他任何事情，都要毫無例外地堅持這個練習。目標是保持動力，而不是追求天才。使用像習慣追蹤器或 Atoms 這樣的應用程式來追蹤你的進展，有助於你保持責任感並隨著時間的推移看到成長。我幾年前對攝影做出了這個承諾——此後還有數十項其他技能——這些持續的日常行動帶來了變化，無論是將我的熱情轉化為職業，還是僅僅在某個興趣領域快速成長。

2. Study Who Inspires You
2. 研究啟發你的人

Identify someone whose creative journey inspires you, whether they are in art, science, or entrepreneurship (it’s all part of the creative spectrum!).  Study their routines, habits, and approaches. What time do they work? How do they overcome obstacles? What are their key assets?  Biographies, biopics, and documentaries are powerful resources that can reveal how creators create, offering insights into their mindset and process.
找出一位其創意旅程啟發你的對象，無論他們是在藝術、科學或創業領域（這都是創意光譜的一部分！）。研究他們的日常、習慣和方法。他們什麼時候工作？他們如何克服障礙？他們的關鍵資產是什麼？傳記、傳記電影和紀錄片是強大的資源，可以揭示創作者的創作過程，提供對他們心態和過程的深入了解。

Here are some of my personal favorites:
這裡是我個人的一些最愛：

• Books: 書籍：
  • Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo
    弗里達：弗里達·卡羅的傳記
  • Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (Founder of Nike)
    鞋狗：菲爾·奈特（Nike 創辦人）
  • Just Kids: The Autobiography of Patti Smith
    只是孩子：帕蒂·史密斯的自傳

• Documentaries: 紀錄片：
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
    尚-米歇爾·巴斯奇亞：光輝的孩子
  • Finding Vivian Maier 尋找薇薇安·邁爾
  • Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry 艾未未：永不道歉
  • Exit Through the Gift Shop
    透過禮品店的出口
  • Abstract: The Art of Design
    摘要：設計的藝術

Adopt one of their habits into your own daily practice for the next month. Learning from others provides a unique glimpse into what it takes to achieve greatness and offers us the opportunity to weave those practices and mentalities into our own lives. 
將他們的一個習慣融入你自己的日常實踐中，持續一個月。向他人學習能讓我們獲得獨特的洞察，了解達成偉大成就所需的條件，並為我們提供將這些實踐和心態編織進自己生活的機會。

Choose Your Lever and Start Today
選擇你的杠杆，今天就開始吧

The path to unlocking your creative potential isn’t about extraordinary circumstances—it’s about leveraging the natural tools we all have inside us. These 7 levers can change everything if you put them to use.
釋放你創造潛能的道路並不在於非凡的環境，而在於善用我們內心所擁有的自然工具。如果你能運用這七個杠杆，將會改變一切。

So pick one today, and in your own messy, imperfect way just START. Share your vision or journey in the comments, along with the rest of Tim’s community. Your most bold and creative life lies just beyond your comfort zone. 
所以今天就選擇一個，並以你自己混亂、不完美的方式開始吧。在評論中分享你的願景或旅程，與 Tim 的社群一起。你最大膽、最具創意的生活就在你的舒適區之外。

This post was adapted from Chase’s new book Never Play It Safe: A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love. 
這篇文章改編自蔡斯的新書《永不安於現狀：通往自由、創造力和你所熱愛生活的實用指南》。

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