From Bare to Decorated: The Magic in Letting the Creative Process Surprise You
There’s something sacred about watching an idea evolve—especially when it transforms into something you didn’t fully imagine at the start.
One of the most powerful creative lessons I’ve learned is: The initial idea is only the beginning.
It was so exemplified while working on a film project called WANDERLAND with the incredibly talented Josh Klausner. Josh invited me into the project as the music supervisor, welcoming me as a full creative collaborator. He said to me: “I want your full creativity—whatever that looks like.”
That openness transformed my entire experience working on the project and affected me in the best way as a collaborator.
What started as Josh’s concept of songs with simple production - vocals + guitar and no score, grew into many varied productions with a range of instrumentation, a well crafted soundtrack and a fully scored film. We talked about the casting a bit. I got to contribute to the edit. We listened to what the film needed, not just what we planned. And because of that, the final result didn’t just reflect our skill—it was magic.
All of this happened because Josh was truly open to collaboration + my ideas were taken in + the original idea was let go to create what the songs, the soundtrack and film needed.
This is essential when working on any creative project - your song, music video, film, tour … start with your idea + honor the ethos of your vision while allowing it to grow, adjust and change into what it wants to be! Some choices come from the practical (time, budget, space…) and some from the imagination … allow them to morph the idea from the mind to a living experience!
🎙️ The Myth of Control in Creativity
This experience reminded me of a trap many artists (and leaders) fall into: the desire to control the entire process.
We often fall in love with our first idea. We want to protect it. Mold everything around it. Keep it safe.
But in doing that, we miss the better version of the idea—the one that comes from listening, collaborating, and responding to what the work itself is asking for.
Real artistry lives in that space of listening and shaping.
I see this constantly in the artists I coach. The most powerful moments don’t come from executing a perfect plan. They come from showing up with openness, with vision then adjusting and creating in the moment - rehearsing, morphing, shifting until the creation evolves into it’s “final” current version.
🌱 Another Story: Building the Dream Team
Another artist I work with has been gathering a team of creatives that I can only describe as a dream. Every single one of them wears multiple hats—musicians who also produce, engineers who write lyrics, artists who design visuals as naturally as they sing melodies.
But what sets them apart isn’t just versatility. It’s the way they flow together.
In that room, the best idea wins.
No one’s ego takes over.
And because they’re all aligned—ethically, creatively, energetically—the tracks are developing into something no one could have created alone.
That’s what it means to move from “bare” to “decorated.”
It’s not about adding noise. It’s about curating energy. About taking the idea beyond what you first imagined.
It is the premise of IMPROV - Say Yes, And – which means when an idea comes say yes to it, AND contribute more to it. Repeat until the idea has grown into something special!
🧭 The Slack Story & Why It Matters
Incredible Entrepreneurial story:
The company Slack didn’t start out trying to build a communication platform. They were making a video game. They folded the company - after a few years, they realized it wasn’t going to succeed. Before they closed, they made sure everyone on the team had a new job - I so respect that!
While mulling over what their next idea would be, their former employees reached out asking about the chat tool for they had used for their internal team—their new company didn’t have anything like it + it was so useful.
EUREKA - they realized that was the gold.
They followed the pivot.
They let the idea evolve.
And they ended up building one of the most successful team platforms of the last decade.
It’s not just a tech story—it’s a creative one.
✨ How to Decorate Your Idea (Without Overloading It)
So what does it actually mean to move from bare to decorated in your own work?
Here are a few questions to sit with:
Is this version of the idea still true to what I care about most?
Have I invited collaborators who inspire me—or ones who just agree with me?
Am I open to being surprised by where the work leads? And trying new directions?
Can I loosen the reins without losing the heart of the vision?
Decoration, in this context, doesn’t mean clutter.
It means Richness. Risk. Innovation.
It means trusting that allowing new ideas to joining can bring your idea further into its fullest, truest form.
Final Thought: Let It Surprise You
Some of the best creative moments in my life happened when I let go of the plan.
When I listened instead of pushed.
When I asked for help instead of doing it alone.
When I let the idea grow in a direction I didn’t expect.
So here’s your reminder (and mine):
Start with the spark.
Honor it.
Then—stay curious.
Stay present.
And let the idea show you what it wants to become.
Let it surprise you.
From bare to decorated,
—Wendy
🎥 Want more?
Watch the video version on YouTube:
Let’s Connect
Have you ever said yes to something that wasn’t aligned with you?
What did you learn from it?
Or—did you say yes to something unexpected that changed everything?
Share your story in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you.
Best,
Wendy