A person skateboarding down a winding road through a dry, hilly landscape with a sign that reads 'A Guide for Selling the Road to Heaven' at the top of the image.

What has been a great human truth that you learned along the path of creativity? Oftentimes it is much more insightful than the creative work made, Commercial or artful. The following is a collection of simple truths that can resonate with all of us. Creative professional person or not, there is a handful of wisdom that is laid out here that comes from experience, failure, success, heart, and good old-fashioned thinking.

Go ahead and try a couple out and see if a few fit.

Truths Learned in Advertising:

The word 'PEACE' in large, bold black letters on a light background, with a paragraph of text below discussing lessons learned about creativity and perspectives.
Two women with long braided hair, one in a red jacket and glasses and the other in a blue jacket, holding a trophy with the text "NEVER GIVE UP" in front of them.
A young man with light skin and brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a leopard-print tie, is talking on a black telephone corded phone. The text over the image says 'TELLIN' 'EM' AIN'T SELF-IN'.
Close-up of a row of white pegboards floating on a blue surface with bright red and white caps, with a blurred background of circular lights and the phrase "DON'T LET YOUR STRATEGY SHOW" in white text.
A man wearing glasses, a navy blazer with yellow trim, a white shirt, a striped tie, and beige pants, standing against a plain background with a quote displayed that reads, "Never fall in love with your first idea.".
A leather boxing glove with a metal fixture on the top, and the text 'Some battles aren't worth fighting' written below.
A plush gorilla toy with black fur, red eyes, and an angry facial expression, wearing a pink bib that says "Momchic". The background is beige, with text overlaid at the bottom that reads: "When you're fighting for an idea internally, bark once, then back off."
A colorful, abstract painting with two stylized faces, one on the left with long hair and the other on the right with a circular halo around the head, surrounded by geometric patterns and vibrant colors. Text at the bottom reads, 'EVERYTHING MAY HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT NOT BY YOU.'.
A scene from the television show 'Leave it to Beaver': a woman in a pink dress is leaning forward and smiling at two young boys, one is sitting on the floor holding a poster and the other is sitting on a sofa with an open book in his hand. The room has a lamp, a side table with flowers, a bookshelf, and yellow curtains.
A crowd of people outdoors, some holding long sticks, with a person smiling and speaking in the foreground. Overlaid text says, 'When you're brainstorming, talk a lot.'
A person is floating in a calm lake or river with their feet visible at the bottom of the image. The sun is setting on the horizon, casting a warm glow. The sky and water reflect the sunset, and scenery with trees lines the background.
Close-up of a red rose with dew drops on its petals.
A pink pig figurine with black eyes, pink ears, and a snout, standing on a white reflective surface. There is a partial caption below that reads, "Try to avoid putting lipstick on a pig."
A small decorative reindeer figurine made of twigs, with a red nose, sitting on a sidewalk with a blue fence and parked cars in the background. Text at the bottom reads: "Most turds don't polish. Occasionally one does."
A blackboard filled with various scientific and mathematical equations, diagrams, and notes written in white chalk. Text at the bottom right reads "A GOOD IDEA WRITES ITSELF."
A minimalist white background with the phrase 'SIMPLE. SIMPLE. SIMPLE.' centered at the bottom.
A gold-colored designer handbag shaped like a lion's head with a pleated mane, and a gold chain strap, displayed on a black stand.
Black and white photograph of a large crowd of people dressed in suits and hats, gathered in an urban setting at night. Some people are standing on a balcony above the crowd. There are various signs and banners, with one promoting a Christmas sale. The overlay text reads, 'Always remember who you're talking to.'
Old, rusty safe door with a sécurity wheel in the center, attached to a dented and peeling wall, with the text "LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT AND YOUR AUDIENCE" at the bottom.
A man in a tuxedo with a bow tie and a woman in fishnet clothing, holding a microphone, on a stage with bright lights and a patterned background. The text "People like to be entertained" is overlaid on the image.
Four children sitting on a wooden dock at the lake, arms around each other, with trees and a lake in the background, under a blue sky with some clouds.
A glowing yellow question mark symbol stands out against a dark background, with white text below that reads: "Avoid taglines that tell people what to do or ask people a question."
A large mural of a person in an astronaut suit holding a camera, painted on the side of a tall brick building. The mural covers multiple floors, and there is text below it warning about the nature of advertising and art.
Person with lifted arms holding a white dove in the sky with mountains in the background. Text on the image reads: 'IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, NOBODY ELSE WILL EITHER.'
Close-up of a buffalo with its tongue sticking out and a humorous caption 'Avoid Puns'.
Display of mannequin heads with various remote controls and electronic devices attached to headbands, illustrating the concept of remote control comfort and style.
A man and woman are on the floor playing with colorful toys and blocks, with the man in a dress shirt and tie, and the woman in a pink top, in a sunlit room with a white chair and window curtains.
Historic black-and-white photo of seven men standing on the steps of a brick building, with a sign above the entrance that reads 'X School'.
Illustration of cells or molecules in a scientific or biological context, with a blue color scheme.
A person in an orange shirt is sitting cross-legged on the floor with another person's hands gently pressing on their back, assisting with a stretch or massage. The background is a gray textured wall. There is a motivational quote at the bottom of the image that reads, 'Be flexible until you can't be.'
A semi-truck with a black cargo container on its bed, parked or traveling. The background is white with text above the truck that says, "Sometimes, it just is what it is."
Two orange tabby kittens lying upside down on a white surface, one on top of the other, with a quote in the background saying, 'If it feels safe, it probably won't work.'
A starry night sky with large, purple text overlay that reads, 'If you reach for the stars, you might not reach them, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either.'
A human figure, a person sitting cross-legged, made entirely of newspaper clippings. The figure has realistic eyes and a neutral facial expression. A second sculpture, a hand with a pointed index finger, is also made of newspaper clippings. Text on the image reads, "Always have a point of view." The background consists of more newspaper clippings and articles.
A man with a beard and wearing a hat is holding a red megaphone to his mouth, smiling, against a dark background.
Collage of black and white pictures of a baby showing various facial expressions, with a caution message to take care of people's feelings while disagreeing.
A row of human skulls arranged on a surface, with a quote on a black background that says, "Never show something unchanged twice."
Long exposure photo of a curved highway at night with streaks of red and white lights from moving vehicles, silhouetted trees on the left, and a cloudy sky in the background.
Person raising their fist in the air during a cityscape at dusk with some fog or haze
Black and white photo of Steve Jobs speaking at a microphone, wearing a white shirt with a chain strap, gesturing with his hand.
A snowman with a black top hat decorated with an American flag, smiling face, and stick arms, standing on a balcony with fencing, against a clear blue sky. The snowman has the word "THANKS" written next to it.

It is with much gratitude that this was shared to me by Shane Hutton. Principle and founder of Arcana Academy.

These ideas and thoughts can be valuable for a creative of any age as a reminder of how to do the work, outside of the work.

Silhouette image of a person riding a bicycle.