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ChangeThis #151.2
The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity
We’ve been conditioned to think about creative genius as a dreamers versus doers, creativity versus discipline, the spark versus the grind.
But what if we’re wrong?
What if it’s the spark and the grind?
We love people whose creative genius arrives in sudden sparks of inspiration. Think of Archimedes in his bathtub or Newton under his apple tree.
But we also admire people who work incredibly hard and long for their creative breakthroughs. Think of Edison in his lab, grinding through hundreds of failed variations on the lightbulb. We remember his words in tough “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.”
Now Erik Wahl, a visual artist, speaker, and entrepreneur, helps us unite the yin and yang of creativity— the dynamic new ideas with the dogged effort. He shows why we won’t get far if we rely on the spark without the grind, or the grind without the spark. What the world really needs are the creators who can hold the two in balance.
Fortunately, it’s possible to get good at both, as Wahl knows from experience. After his corporate career suddenly ended, he pursued a spark—to paint photorealistic portraits—and ground it out until he got good enough to make very good art very quickly. That’s the basis of his riveting live shows, which have captivated skeptical audiences who never expected to be inspired by art—and taught them to embrace creativity in a whole new way.
This book offers surprising insights and practical advice about how to fan the sparks and make the grind more productive. Wahl deftly synthesizes the wisdom of other artists, philosophers, scientists, and business visionaries throughout history, along with his own views. Here’s how he sums up his
The world needs people who enjoy swimming in ideas until they discover a great one. The world also needs doers who have a gift for activation, a.k.a. “getting s*** done.” But the most potent individual creators in any industry or environment have learned how to be both. They’ve learned how to spark their grind and they’ve learned how to grind their sparks. As a result, they not only make things happen, they make great things.
If you want to ensure constant creativity in your life and produce your most innovative work—this is your guide.
But what if we’re wrong?
What if it’s the spark and the grind?
We love people whose creative genius arrives in sudden sparks of inspiration. Think of Archimedes in his bathtub or Newton under his apple tree.
But we also admire people who work incredibly hard and long for their creative breakthroughs. Think of Edison in his lab, grinding through hundreds of failed variations on the lightbulb. We remember his words in tough “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.”
Now Erik Wahl, a visual artist, speaker, and entrepreneur, helps us unite the yin and yang of creativity— the dynamic new ideas with the dogged effort. He shows why we won’t get far if we rely on the spark without the grind, or the grind without the spark. What the world really needs are the creators who can hold the two in balance.
Fortunately, it’s possible to get good at both, as Wahl knows from experience. After his corporate career suddenly ended, he pursued a spark—to paint photorealistic portraits—and ground it out until he got good enough to make very good art very quickly. That’s the basis of his riveting live shows, which have captivated skeptical audiences who never expected to be inspired by art—and taught them to embrace creativity in a whole new way.
This book offers surprising insights and practical advice about how to fan the sparks and make the grind more productive. Wahl deftly synthesizes the wisdom of other artists, philosophers, scientists, and business visionaries throughout history, along with his own views. Here’s how he sums up his
The world needs people who enjoy swimming in ideas until they discover a great one. The world also needs doers who have a gift for activation, a.k.a. “getting s*** done.” But the most potent individual creators in any industry or environment have learned how to be both. They’ve learned how to spark their grind and they’ve learned how to grind their sparks. As a result, they not only make things happen, they make great things.
If you want to ensure constant creativity in your life and produce your most innovative work—this is your guide.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2017
50 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 1, 2018
Hooboy.
So, here's sort of the broad narrative arc that underlies all of this:
Guy works in industry as a person booking speakers, gets wealth. We are told frequently about his large net worth.
Guy's industry crashes in the crash, guy loses wealth.
...but apparently not THAT much because then said guy goes off on his own for (6 months? A year?) to learn painting and criticize the marketing technique of his fellow painters.
Then said guy has the SUPER CREATIVE LEAP that, "What if *I* was a speaker?"
GASP applauds and accolades at the creativity.
Now the author gives keynotes on creativity. And you know, they're probably FANTASTIC presentations. But what makes a good presentation does not make a good book - even the titular phrase "Grind your spark and spark your grind" would sound great in person, and in the book it is redundant and hollow.
Here's the thing: the book consists of mostly tautologies. Work hard, focus, but keep an open mind and don't let yourself work too hard. You need to grind, but not too much grind or you'll smother your spark. You need your spark, but then you need to grind your sparks or else you'll never get anyway.
It SOUNDS good, but when you take a step back and listen to what it's saying, you realize it's just not saying that much.
So, here's sort of the broad narrative arc that underlies all of this:
Guy works in industry as a person booking speakers, gets wealth. We are told frequently about his large net worth.
Guy's industry crashes in the crash, guy loses wealth.
...but apparently not THAT much because then said guy goes off on his own for (6 months? A year?) to learn painting and criticize the marketing technique of his fellow painters.
Then said guy has the SUPER CREATIVE LEAP that, "What if *I* was a speaker?"
GASP applauds and accolades at the creativity.
Now the author gives keynotes on creativity. And you know, they're probably FANTASTIC presentations. But what makes a good presentation does not make a good book - even the titular phrase "Grind your spark and spark your grind" would sound great in person, and in the book it is redundant and hollow.
Here's the thing: the book consists of mostly tautologies. Work hard, focus, but keep an open mind and don't let yourself work too hard. You need to grind, but not too much grind or you'll smother your spark. You need your spark, but then you need to grind your sparks or else you'll never get anyway.
It SOUNDS good, but when you take a step back and listen to what it's saying, you realize it's just not saying that much.
May 21, 2017
this is the best book I've read so far this year. Former corporate employee turned entrepreneurial speed painter Erik Wahl demonstrates how to walk the line between being a grinder (working really hard) and continually generating sparks (creative new ideas). It's a fascinating and profound examination of the importance of schedule and routine, as well as spontaneity and artistry, and the paramount importance of both. I feel like this book completely changed how I view my work and my creative endeavors. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2021
More a collection of stories about how sparkers (idea people) grind out their visions & grinders (people who get stuck in the process) spark new endeavors, The Spark and the Grind isn't without it's charm. If you've read books such as The Rise of Superman or Stealing Fire, you'll be quite acquainted with the basic premises presented here. Great read on a case-study basis, but not designed to give you a step-by-step guide on how to execute on your passions. Would read it again!
August 9, 2017
I'm a sucker for books on creativity, and this one's pretty good --telling us we both need to experience inspiration and "grind" -- the work. Wahl is right -- both are essential. And his list of ideas is a good one: trust the process, attach yourself to the work, keep your day job, embrace a routine, defamiliarize the ordinary, stay foolish, and fall in love. One or two of these will probably be new to most readers, and that's enough to make the book worth reading. But my favorite advice came from a study Wahl cites from the 1960s: "(be open) to one's inner life; (prefer) complexity and ambiguity; (tolerate) disorder and disarray; (extract) order from chaos; (be) independent; (be filled with) unconventionality; and (be willing) to take risks." It was all said then.
June 25, 2023
If you want alcohol poisoning, take a shot every time you read "spark" or "grind" in this book.
The author is of course, very impressive. He's made a living as an entrepreneur, making quick, high quality paintings in a way that is more showmanship than craft. But he has optimized to a very fine degree exactly what makes a performance tick, what draws and hooks an audience. He is a magician at heart, captivating imaginations and inspiring crowds to imagine something else than what they've decided can be theirs.
But, this book? Very boring. Not helpful. Nothing new that you haven't read before, but mostly a story of how a man turned his life around. For every success story there are thousands of people who didn't strike gold, and here is a book about how to mine gold.
You know those YouTube videos of creative thinkers who get up at 4am every day, meditate, work out, and take intense showers? This book has that essence, distilled. It's very showy, but lacks meat. It's a lifestyle advertisement. There are attempts to be more self aware - the book mentions that it can be the right decision to keep your main job while looking for the side hustle. It vaguely mentions intermarital stress. Everything else? Confetti and glitter.
The book has one eye-rolling example after another of famous creators and artists who sparked their grinds and ground their sparks into success. Maybe some readers would find this inspiring. To have a success story of that magnitude, you would probably need that mindset that you can beat the odds. I find it to be posturing.
You can read the first chapter of this book, and understand the remaining of the book from that excerpt. It's the same thing, over and over again. Wahl really did just take one of his painting talks and stretch it out into a book.
This book is vague, full of feel-good without anything really substantial, literary junk food. It was a pain to read, but read it I did to see if I could learn something. You'd get the same vibe from any interview by a celebrity on how they battle through mental blocks or tough times or how they got their first gig. Do yourself a favor and watch Erik paint. It will be much more inspiring and a better use of your time than this book.
The author is of course, very impressive. He's made a living as an entrepreneur, making quick, high quality paintings in a way that is more showmanship than craft. But he has optimized to a very fine degree exactly what makes a performance tick, what draws and hooks an audience. He is a magician at heart, captivating imaginations and inspiring crowds to imagine something else than what they've decided can be theirs.
But, this book? Very boring. Not helpful. Nothing new that you haven't read before, but mostly a story of how a man turned his life around. For every success story there are thousands of people who didn't strike gold, and here is a book about how to mine gold.
You know those YouTube videos of creative thinkers who get up at 4am every day, meditate, work out, and take intense showers? This book has that essence, distilled. It's very showy, but lacks meat. It's a lifestyle advertisement. There are attempts to be more self aware - the book mentions that it can be the right decision to keep your main job while looking for the side hustle. It vaguely mentions intermarital stress. Everything else? Confetti and glitter.
The book has one eye-rolling example after another of famous creators and artists who sparked their grinds and ground their sparks into success. Maybe some readers would find this inspiring. To have a success story of that magnitude, you would probably need that mindset that you can beat the odds. I find it to be posturing.
You can read the first chapter of this book, and understand the remaining of the book from that excerpt. It's the same thing, over and over again. Wahl really did just take one of his painting talks and stretch it out into a book.
This book is vague, full of feel-good without anything really substantial, literary junk food. It was a pain to read, but read it I did to see if I could learn something. You'd get the same vibe from any interview by a celebrity on how they battle through mental blocks or tough times or how they got their first gig. Do yourself a favor and watch Erik paint. It will be much more inspiring and a better use of your time than this book.
February 5, 2024
Erik Wahl spoke at my graduation and promoted his book. he was a conductor, orchestrating an unforgettable symphony of inspiration and wisdom at our ceremony. His words resonated far beyond the expected platitudes, igniting a spark within me. His passion was palpable, his energy infectious, and his message about embracing both the "spark" and the "grind" resonated deeply. It was a graduation speech I won't soon forget, thanks to Erik Wahl's phenomenal ability to connect, motivate, and leave a lasting mark.
Erik Wahl's "The Spark and the Grind" ignites enthusiasm for cultivating creativity. His passion is infectious, urging readers to embrace both the spark of inspiration and the grind of discipline. The book shines in its core message: true creative mastery lies in the dance between inspiration and perspiration.
However, like a flickering flame, the book occasionally loses its luster. While Wahl's personal stories and diverse examples resonate, their sheer volume can feel repetitive, bordering on filler. Additionally, the constant sprinkling of quotes from other authors, while intended to bolster his points, can sometimes distract from his own unique voice.
Despite these embers, "The Spark and the Grind" offers valuable takeaways:
Sparks need kindling: The book provides practical tips for generating and nurturing creative ideas.
The grind is a gift: Learning to embrace the focused work is key to transforming sparks into reality.
Embrace the journey: Wahl reminds us that the path to creative fulfillment is rarely linear, filled with both triumphs and setbacks.
Though the book could have been streamlined, the author's ability to translate their passionate public speaking into impactful writing is evident. Condensing the message into a concise format could further amplify its power.
Erik Wahl's "The Spark and the Grind" ignites enthusiasm for cultivating creativity. His passion is infectious, urging readers to embrace both the spark of inspiration and the grind of discipline. The book shines in its core message: true creative mastery lies in the dance between inspiration and perspiration.
However, like a flickering flame, the book occasionally loses its luster. While Wahl's personal stories and diverse examples resonate, their sheer volume can feel repetitive, bordering on filler. Additionally, the constant sprinkling of quotes from other authors, while intended to bolster his points, can sometimes distract from his own unique voice.
Despite these embers, "The Spark and the Grind" offers valuable takeaways:
Sparks need kindling: The book provides practical tips for generating and nurturing creative ideas.
The grind is a gift: Learning to embrace the focused work is key to transforming sparks into reality.
Embrace the journey: Wahl reminds us that the path to creative fulfillment is rarely linear, filled with both triumphs and setbacks.
Though the book could have been streamlined, the author's ability to translate their passionate public speaking into impactful writing is evident. Condensing the message into a concise format could further amplify its power.
July 5, 2021
A beautiful read, but often felt "fluffy" with dreamy concepts than anything concrete. At times it was a drag to get through Erik's musings. But, I am glad I did.
The book carries some amazing advice if you wanna get in touch with your creative self. The sections about "Keep your day job" and "Defamiliarize the ordinary" make the book fully worth it.
I'd strongly recommend following "The Spark and the Grind" up with Todd Henry's "Accidental Creative", which gives you actual guidelines on how to structure your days regardless of what line of creative work you are in. In my case, I had read Todd work beforehand, thus The Spark felt less impactful.
The book carries some amazing advice if you wanna get in touch with your creative self. The sections about "Keep your day job" and "Defamiliarize the ordinary" make the book fully worth it.
I'd strongly recommend following "The Spark and the Grind" up with Todd Henry's "Accidental Creative", which gives you actual guidelines on how to structure your days regardless of what line of creative work you are in. In my case, I had read Todd work beforehand, thus The Spark felt less impactful.
October 16, 2023
The last two chapters are quite good, and I highly recommend them. And I admire the spirit behind the rest of the book, but while well written and full of vigor and encouragement, it mostly repeats its prime notion with anecdotal backing in variations. I’m not sure the particulars of the argument convincingly hold either, at least not as argued. Don’t we all know that the idea alone is never enough, nor discipline, but that they are both essential? After that, Wahl argues, it’s a matter of the degree of our commitment to both.
October 14, 2017
One of the very FIRST books I'd read if you're starting a new chapter in your life. Wahl gives a great deal of information backing up the various themes of each chapter, much like I do in my writing. His thoughts are similar to mine, that there are two competing thoughts that we must hold in our heads, i.e. the two sides of the same coin, in order to keep growing: Intellect and intuition. Highly recommend this book for anyone starting their new adventure in life.
December 26, 2019
All you really need to read is the intro, he explains the concept of the book very well and that is enough. He then repeats himself over and over again and counts several examples just to illustrate a point, over and over and over again. It's tiresome. Although this concept is excellent and truly helpful I'm not sure why this needed to become such a big book. This could have been a great 6 min Ted Talk (but that doesn't make as much money as a book I suppose, sorry).
April 8, 2021
It was a great book. He really had a lot of great ideas on how to boost your creativity or in the case of a slump, getting out of a slump. I really loved all the quotes that he had in there too.
The only problem I did have was it that the chapters felt like he was going on and on about the same thing. I realize he was trying to describe or make a point but it kind of felt monotonous at times. But overall it was a really good book.
The only problem I did have was it that the chapters felt like he was going on and on about the same thing. I realize he was trying to describe or make a point but it kind of felt monotonous at times. But overall it was a really good book.
February 7, 2025
It had great advice, but Wahl seemed to ramble and go off tangents. I would often read the chapter titles to remember the topic he was trying to speak about, and it seemed like he would remember too and snap back to relate his ramble to the topic, then go off on another tangent. Like I said it was really good information that I will take to heart and practice with my writing, it just felt longwinded and disorganized.
May 29, 2017
There was a lot of references and "name dropping" in this book that sorta drove me insane. I liked what Wahl had to say about the connection between hard work and following those threads of inspiration, though. All around a good book for anyone trying to kick-start their creativity.
January 9, 2018
A bit repetitive, but overall it has a few key points that are very well founded and interesting. The book was much better than I expected overall and it was really neat to read a book by a creator that words and manuscripts are not their preferred medium.
August 26, 2021
Repetitive. I’ll save you the effort. Ideas + hard work = success.
September 2, 2021
Amazing book by Erik Wahl! This book isn’t for the logical thinker. Wahl appeals your sixth sense in getting creative. He gives a lot of unconventional advise but that’s exactly what creatives need!
August 26, 2022
Tbh, it took me a while to finish this. It is more of a collection of different stories compiled in one book. However, i like and can relate to all the important points mentioned.
December 12, 2022
2.5 ⭐ rounded down. Fave section: "Stay Foolish".
"Sometimes ... you don't immediately know what the point of the doing is. You did something because it interested you but there was no immediate application to your life. That's okay. It doesn't mean it was a waste. And there's no need to force the lesson or contrive one. Your mind will clarify the ties for you the more new experiences you take on."
"Sometimes ... you don't immediately know what the point of the doing is. You did something because it interested you but there was no immediate application to your life. That's okay. It doesn't mean it was a waste. And there's no need to force the lesson or contrive one. Your mind will clarify the ties for you the more new experiences you take on."
January 2, 2017
A book for people who don't understand the creative process and need to learn the art of balancing hard work with generating ideas. Lots of illustrative stories and ideas for learning how to navigate the creative process. Nothing new for those of us who have been creatives for a long time and are motivated enough to work hard to manifest our craziest ideas. But if your ideas lack originality, or you're a dreamer and not a doer, it's worth a read.
December 24, 2017
This book is a great primer and proof you can be a structured and programmatic thinker and still be highly creative. This book will be a top 20 for me for years to come.
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October 23, 2017Always looking for motivation to continue to pursue my art with intention and joy. Not a game-changer but definitely has some gems/inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews