Banish Your Inner Critic: Hack Your Productivity and Elevate Performance

Hack Your Productivity:
Denise Jacobs • Build Stuﬀ Lithuania
18 November 2018 • Vilnius, Lithuania

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@denisejacobs #byeinnercritic / @buildstuffLT #buildstuffLT
@buildstuﬀLT #buildstuﬀLT
#byeinnercritic
@denisejacobs
@denisejacobsdotcom
GET YOUR SOCIAL ON:

HOW DO  
WE DO OUR
BEST WORK?

What blocks you from doing your best work?

“Your brain is like a
supercomputer, and your self-
talk is the program it will run.”
- Jim Kwik, Founder of Kwik Learning and SuperheroYou

“Your negative self-talk is the
No.1 barrier to success.”
– Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx

Makes you feel awful

Shows up
diﬀerent ways
http://brenebrown.com/2014/04/08/daring-interview-series-meet-gavin-aung/

The Zone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ableman/543078380/

What does Flow feel like?
L E T ’ S D O T H I S :
https://www.pexels.com/photo/fuck-yeah-6660/

The Zone = No Inner Critic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ableman/543078380/

Imagine…
Photo: UX Lisbon

Imagine…
Photo: Denise Jacobs

Fearful, limited,
and small-minded
https://www.flickr.com/photos/falequin/8443342362/

We self-censor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allyaubryphotography/2443089993/

We commit
“ideacide”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevygee/3265941065/

We have impostor syndrome
Photo: Dense Jacobs

What’s the creativity connection?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/assbach/267598910/

The inner critic blocks creativity
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwinchell/130344669/

Creative problem-
solving = Power

SXSW Interactive, 2009

Mean voices in my head
https://www.flickr.com/photos/laurabl/3322988460/

I’m looking for someone to
write a book on how to
troubleshoot CSS code.
I could write
that book.

One year later…

Get you back on track

Where does the Inner Critic come from?

Fears about
ourselves
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_lin/3193080175/

+ Negative things we’ve heard
https://www.flickr.com/photos/acerriteno/3484093813/

We are highly susceptible to criticism
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jayvando707/6845951768/

Negativity Bias + Fear Conditioning
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremyiah/3042291231/

Goes into implicit memory
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APSM_V14_D495_Side_view_of_the_brain_and_spinal_cord.jpg

Automatic
responses/habits
http://www.subliminal-online.tv/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/iceberg-english2-900x445.jpg

We have (mental)
Power Tools
http://www.flickr.com/photos/techshop/2832912619/

Neuroplasticity
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arselectronica/13994747444

Your brain on habitual thoughts

A ention & Focus
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77654185@N07/8428225936

Shift Focus
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mazakar/2777932633/

Mindfulness
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eldave/3065425105/

Our Inner Critic  
can be brutal

Self-Compassion
https://www.flickr.com/photos/samanthasteele/3983046067/

Self-Compassion Template
C R E AT I V E D O S E :

S.H.I.F.T.
Stay present:
Take several deep breaths to get yourself grounded and back into your body.
Have compassion:
Understand that you’re feeling scared and committing to give yourself comforting messages.
Invoke mindfulness:
Realize that you are not your thoughts and that you have the power to observe them without
reacting to them.
Focus attention:
Choose to place your attention on alternative thoughts.
Trust your Creative Self:
Know that the creative part of you exists and it will come out when you relax.

Recognize your Inner Critical Voice
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12392252@N03/5698444246/

Your Inner Critical Voice(s)
I’m not ___________________________ enough.
I can’t _________________ because I’m not as________________ as others.
I shouldn’t __________________ because I haven’t ________________.
I ____________________ because my ideas ____________________.
If I ____________________, then people will ____________________.

Snowball Fight!

Reprogram your thinking

Optimize your
performance
https://pixabay.com/en/trace-board-technology-science-3157431/

Reclaim Your Brain
Stop Self-Sabotage
Own Your Expertise
Amplify Others’ Ideas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boklm/486676439/
4 Steps

Me and my BFF at camp
Photo: Deloria Jacobs

Drew a superhero
mermaid!
Artwork by Denise Jacobs

“It looks like a frog.”

I wish I’d been  
all like…

But instead, this
was me inside

( “Maybe I’m not as good at drawing
as I thought I was.” )

Judgement Dread

Live be er through criticism

Curious and Open

Change your mind by hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPPaJrhluS4

Swipe Left

High Self-Criticism

Your thoughts aren’t true
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emayoh/4589881812/

Rumination

Rumination Hand-Squeeze

Creativity Denial

Tune in to tune out
https://www.flickr.com/photos/themaxsons/5306572767

Practice selective
hearing
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alt_design_summit/6724420849/

Inner Critic Shrinky Dinks

My basketball team

Where’s Denise?

( “Everyone will judge me for not being
an awesome basketball player.” )

Imposition
Mentality
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bethscupham/7328405210

Diﬀerent words =
diﬀerent outcomes
http://www.wordstream.com/images/persuasive-landing-pages-words-have-power.jpgcreative dose:

Word Choice

Inner Critic = Self-talk gone awry
https://www.pexels.com/photo/thinking-environment-depressed-depression-54377/

Inner Critic v. Inner Evaluator

Be your own coach of greatness
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keeping_the_ball_in_their_court,_Marine_coaches_teach_kids_sports,_values_121103-M-
OB827-069.jpg

Talk yourself through it

Stop hiding in  
plain sight
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenzzz_14/7031233649/

Know Your Uniqueness Advantage

Graduated from university

“I’d like to be a writer.”

“Do you know how hard it is to get
published?”

My Dad was no joke

( “Ge ing published is diﬃcult,  
so I should just forget about being  
a writer.” )

Deﬁciency Anxieties

Hack
Conﬁrmation Bias
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbaker/70751294/

Swipe File of Support

Feel like you’re enough

Celebrate your successes

“I’m Awesome!”

Your brain on…(praise!)
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2018/01/21/severe-childhood-trauma-alter-developing-brain-
create-lifetime-risk/1039104001/

Comparison Syndrome

Learn from envy & tranform it
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neogabox/4251913740

What Lies Beneath

Body Level One
Body Level Two
Body Level Three
Body Level Four
Body Level Five
- U N K N O W N
“You cannot compare your insides to someone else’s
outsides.”

Opportunity Model

Study and learn

Be & share your brilliance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcymet/3564484236/

Share Your Expertise

Everyone has an
inner critic

Over-talking  
mutes others
https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-love/7459418186

Talk+Talk vs. Talk+Listen

Bring out the
brilliance of others
Photo: UX Lisbon

By standing up to my Inner Critic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/quintanomedia/32956945963

Became a graphic designer

Became a strong player

Became an author (twice!)

All brought me to the work I love
Photo: CMX Summit

This is about YOU
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siutou_amy/2306794554/

What will you get?

Be a stronger contributor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanpalmero/4278466639/

A stronger collaborator
Photo: DeniseJacobs

A stronger leader

Have IMPACT
+
Leave a legacy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mplemmon/2745435974/

Continuous Improvement
http://static.ipaustralia.com.au/store3/10/78/1078354.1.high.jpg

Oh, the irony!

Lots more
tools in my
book!

Boost Creative Problem-Solving and Heighten Productivity
Denise Jacobs
BuildStuff LT / Vilnius, Lithuania / 18 November 2018
#Hacking the Creative Brain
Full-day workshop! Sunday, 18 November 2018

Didn’t believe it possible
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahalie/276780530/

An expanded
toolbox
https://www.pexels.com/photo/construction-work-carpenter-tools-3327/

Get past your blocks
https://www.flickr.com/photos/86979666@N00/7829098984/

Now you can  
make magic

The potential for
greatness
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onegiantleap/4124211492/

Dominant
inner critic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/34413226423/

Silenced inner critic
https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelbalint/8634008094/

The power is in
your hands –  
and brains!

SWIPE LEFT!!
https://thenounproject.com/term/swipe-left/44406/

Body Level One
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Body Level Five
Want the slides? Go to
DeniseSlides.com

THE CREATIVE DOSE 
Creativity + Innovation Consulting 
{What we do}
We help to create engaged teams  
and up-level leadership.
{How we do it}
Through presentations, workshops, and programs.
{What you’ll get}
Your team will unblock creativity, amplify  
productivity, cultivate creative collaboration,  
and ignite innovation.
TheCreativeDose.com
@thecreativedose

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denise@denisejacobs.com
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Banish Your Inner Critic: Hack Your Productivity and Elevate Performance