BoomerGirl Diary

Editor's note: In the second of our three-part series, Karen Roberts introduces us to Quinn Mcdonald, who changed her life to make it fit her vision and philosophy. McDonald specializes in helping others to do the same. See part one here.

Quinn McDonald spent 25 years of her life working for corporations. She traveled the world, training and educating and improving the performance of corporate employees. The last time she got fired, her boss said, "You’re different … and you seem to enjoy it."

It was not a compliment.

Her husband urged her to quit trying to fit the mold of a good corporate employee and to open a business where she could be the person she was meant to be. Today, McDonald is a life coach, certified creativity coach, writer, and paper artist.

How do you coach someone in creativity? Do you have them “Drop and give you 20 (drawings)?” Can anyone be coached into creativity? McDonald says the answer to that question is “yes,” and that the first step lies in understanding the nature of creativity.

“Creativity is simply coming up with more than one good answer to a problem and recognizing there is no one right answer. It’s about understanding that you can separate truth from fact, and make the most of it. Creativity is giving up duality — the idea that things are either right or wrong, up or down, yes or no, good or bad. Creativity allows that there are many valid perspectives.”

McDonald also believes in the healing power of creativity.

“We don't find meaning in life, we make meaning in life. Creativity allows us to question without demanding answers and to acknowledge anger, failure, and frustration as part of growth.” Transcending emotional blocks and perceived obstacles is what creativity coaching is all about. McDonald provides a full complement of life coaching and career training services, but finds that most of her creativity coaching clients are women. Women are also more likely to purchase her journaling courses and original art.

“Historically, women are the folklore carriers to their families, and the creativity products and services that I offer connect to ritual, introspection, and spiritual goals. At mid-life, women have experienced life extensively. Almost all of us have suffered a significant loss — a family member dying, getting laid off from a job, divorce. That experience leads to introspection and often a surge of creativity and reinvention. All three of those events — introspection, creativity surge and reinvention — are best experienced in a community of support.” Often, she is the beginning of that support, and women are encouraged to connect with others who share similar goals and experiences. And, McDonald notes, with the Internet, these communities may be formed anywhere in the world.

People are always curious when they find out McDonald is a creativity coach.

“Of all the questions I hear about what I do, the one most often asked is "What's coaching like?" It's hard to answer that question, because coaching is an experience, not a product. It's easy to describe a banana because it's a physical thing. It's hard to describe what a banana tastes like, because it is a personal experience.”

In working with clients around their creativity blocks and goals, McDonald clarifies what the client is seeking and offers a free session to assess compatibility. She and the client decide how to work together, and what issues need to be tackled. McDonald asks clients to sign up for 12 weeks of coaching, with three one-hour phone sessions monthly, unlimited “check-in” calls and e-mails.

“I find that people need time not only to change, but support after they change, as they meet resistance from friends and family due to their transformation. This is hard, and a lot of work. Change doesn’t happen instantly.”

Homework may include specific goals, thinking about a particular question, writing about issues, or making art, among other things. She uses a variety of modalities based on the client’s needs and strengths.

“As a creativity coach I have helped one person write, complete and publish a book; helped one person go from being a photographer to having work published in several places; have another photographer go from being afraid to start to having a one-person show; and helped countless others get and stay on their creative track.”

McDonald doesn’t coach online, preferring face-to-face or phone sessions for clarity.

“The inflection, meaning, and tone you get in a phone conversation are essentially missing from e-mail. For me, the Web offers an opportunity to see a bigger world and enjoy it. Because it is primarily a visual and written medium, I often have to go back for clarity (what did you mean, what do you see, what do you think?) but I do that in face-to-face interaction as well.”

Coaching provides McDonald with an opportunity for growth as well. Her business offers a multiplicity of options, which is reflective of her corporate background, but she has departed from corporate-think by embracing failure.

“I never make business decisions out of fear. I accept that failing is part of running a business, because it leads to discovery. Once you let go of fear and accept failing, you are free to take big creative risks. When you fail, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, are a little embarrassed, and immediately ask, "Huh, now how does that help?" And your own creativity is constantly fed, challenged and encouraged.”

“To be creative means to be willing to explore your interior life. Creativity isn't restricted to artists. You can be a creative teacher, creative parent or business partner. Anyone who has a desire for a creative life and is willing to be open to exploration can be coached to greater creativity. But not everyone can reach their dream — for example, I can not become a prima ballerina because I am in my 50s, have arthritis, am generously proportioned and don't know a plié from a pirouette. But there are other dreams I can create and achieve.

This, more than anything, is the lesson she imparts to her creativity clients. For more information about her services, her impressive publishing credentials, additional images of her art and testimonials from her clients, go to www.QuinnCreative.com.