When you were in college, wouldn’t it have been great if someone had talked with you about how to live a more creative life?
What if someone had heard someone speak about basing your life’s work on what you love.
That would have saved you a lot of time and frustration, wouldn’t it?
Beginning with Darden Smith’s time as Artist-In-Residence at Oklahoma State University’s School of Entrepreneurship (2011-2012) and Institute for Creativity and Innovation (2012-2013), he has brought these messages to colleges and universities across the country.
Drawing on his book, The Habit of Noticing: Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living), Smith’s workshops and lectures bring lessons learned during his 30+ years as a touring songwriter together with real world examples of how build a creative life, how to achieve your goals (even if everyone thinks your crazy), to persevere in the face of doubt and how to rebuild after a failure. Smith’s belief that each individual can use their unique gifts to lead a richer life and be a positive force in the world comes through loud and clear whenever he speaks, but when he is with people on the edge of adulthood, he’s on a mission.
Sessions can be adapted to a particular focus or group, and whether he is speaking to seminar, classroom or auditorium size audiences, he never fails to inspire and motivate his audience. He combines songs, stories and images to bring his message to life and leave the students forever changed.
Workshops and lecture subjects include:
- Connecting passion and work
- The power of story to shape your life
- Change
- Collaboration
- Perseverance and recovery from mistakes
- Making a living in the arts
- Creativity in the everyday
Universities that have invited Darden to present include:
- University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
- Texas State University (San Marcos, TX)
- University of Houston (Houston, TX)
- Oklahoma State University (Stilllwater, OK)
- Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS)
- Fairleigh-Dickenson University (Montclair, NJ)
- Berklee School of Music (Boston, MA)
If you are interested in Darden coming to your campus, please contact him here.