Intro

Episode 92: Ownership

Daily Creative

In this episode, we dive into the nuanced meaning of ownership in creative work and leadership. As the landscape is rapidly transformed by AI and powerful new tools, we explore the temptation to offload not just labor but also the very thinking that gives our work its unique signature. We unpack what it means to retain genuine ownership of process, relationships, and output—moving beyond merely curating machine-generated results and instead staying empathetically engaged in the creative process.

Our guest, Greg Hawks, joins us to challenge the difference between “owners”, “renters”, and “vandals” in organizations. He brings fresh perspective on why many disengage, how environments subtly encourage or discourage ownership, and what teams and leaders can do to foster a climate where true creative engagement thrives.

Some of the themes we touch on include:

1. The fine balance between leveraging technology for efficiency and maintaining our emotional logic in creative decisions
2. Why struggle and friction are the crucibles of meaningful, resonant work
3. How organizations inadvertently suppress ownership—and how to change that dynamic
4. Concrete strategies for shifting from a renter to an owner mindset
5. The powerful impact of reducing toxic “vandal” behavior on overall team engagement

Five Key Learnings:

1. Offloading too much of the creative process—especially decision-making—can hollow out our unique voice and intuition.
2. Emotional logic, shaped by lived experience and intuition, is irreplaceable and differentiates meaningful work from mere output.
3. Vandals—self-centered, divisive team members—can demotivate large segments of an organization, and removing them often unlocks higher engagement.
4. True ownership requires us to understand the personal “returns” we seek (emotional, financial, relational, opportunity, growth) and articulate them courageously.
5. Struggle and friction aren’t just obstacles—they’re where creative insight emerges and individual judgment is strengthened.

Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Brave Habit is available now

My new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.