Jill Badonsky Interview

Interview with Jill Badonsky

Jill Badonsky

Author, Creativity Coach

Jill Badonsky is a star! When she gives a presentation she lights up from the inside out.

She's also wildly funny. If you ever get a chance to see Jill in person - RUN to it. She's one of the few writers who shine on stage (many writers are shy and do their best communicating on the page). You'll leave one of her presentations with a different perspective and a lighter, freer feeling.

My favorite thing about being lucky enough to have met Jill (at 2 Artella retreats) - besides being lucky enough to meet Jill : ~), is that I now "hear" her voice when I read her book.

Here's how she answered the Square-Peg questions in our interview:

How Do You See Yourself as a Square-Peg?

Well, for one thing I have a hard time following rules and am slightly rebellious...

I've always valued being different and when given assignments, homework, directives in school and work have made it my rule to do the unexpected and creative.

I'm very much considered eccentric by friends and students and feel that that is a compliment. .. I went out of my way NOT to be part of the "conformed" crowd within any group of people.

Being different, as in artistic and original, are high on my list of values - as is freedom (including freedom from conformity).

...I'd rather invent my own Square-Peg ways than fit in round- holes that don't inspire me.

How Do You Maintain Your Square-Pegness (in a round-hole world)?

I left the round-hole world (back in '96) and actually invented my own company, The Muse is In - Facilitating Creativity for Joy and Prosperity. Within this company I train people who gravitate toward my quirky ways to teach classes based on my book and the quintessential way to affect change according to Square-Peg ways...

...I teach people to be creativity coaches...which defies life coaching in that it honors the resistance, sensitivities and quirks of each individual in creative pursuit and takes into account the nonlinear nature of creativity by prescribing unusual activities including pampering, daydreaming and capitalizing on lulls.

What Has Been the Hardest For You as a Square-Peg?

I think high school was hardest. At some level I had an inferiority complex for being so different from everyone else, which in high school can be painful. At that point I wasn't aware of the gift that it was - and being highly sensitive, was crushed when made fun of.

In college I began to enjoy the freedom, joy and benefits of being different and noticed that I found others enjoyed this in me and themselves, too.

It's so wonderful to find a tribe of people who are Square-Pegs and art groups such as Artella are a great place to connect.

Sounds like Jill has created a safe haven - including establishing her own company and finding her own "tribe".

There seems to be a pattern with Square-Pegs who are thriving - they seem to create their own Square-Peg world within the round-hole world. And it looks like the foundation for that comes from accepting that they ARE different - and finding a way to be OK with that - then surrounding themselves with people and environments that appreciate who they are.

What is Your Favorite Square-Peg Trait?

My favorite trait, at least in this moment, is my quirky sense of creative humor. I think it was responsible for getting my book published by a big publishing house and draws people back to my classes time after time.

I'm pretty sure I got this trait because my parents laughed at me a lot as I was growing up and because humor became a a major coping mechanism for me at an early age.

I felt drawn to ask Jill an additional question in this interview:

Do You Have a Favorite Square-Peg-Person?

Ellen Degeneres, Robin Williams, and Douglas Adams are favorites of mine and I believe they are all Square-Pegs.

I didn't ask Jill what her favorite book was (our new interview question). I realize now that I skipped that question because I assumed that I knew. My thought was that if I'd written a book like The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) it would be my favorite...hmm, now we'll never know. You can read our review of the book here .

What Can a Square-Peg Learn from Jill?

I really noticed how important creating your environment is through Jill's interview.

And using playfulness to work around resistance (which comes down to my favorite Square-Peg "rule": accept yourself - as you are now) is so much more fun and productive than fighting it or ignoring it.

Jill's ability to shine really inspires me to "shine" in my own way (which would NOT be on stage, unless you'd consider hiding behind a curtain shining). It's so beautiful to see someone light up when they are doing what they love.

I'm wondering when YOU shine? Do you know what areas of your life glow because you love what you are doing. I hope you find that shiny place in your life and honor it. Because we all DO shine in our own way.

To read more about Jill and to get information on her training classes (or to find out if one of the folks Jill has trained works near you) please see Jill's site: The Muse Is In.

Jill's Book:

Remember: when you buy from Amazon.com you don't pay a penny more, but you help support Square-Peg-People!

Interview originally appeared in the October 2005 issue of Square-Peg-People's Encourager newsletter.

(Return to Square-Peg Interviews page)