The Creative's Mind

How Exceptional Artists Think, Make, and Perform

By: Jim Afremow PhD, Phil White

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

In every creator’s journey, there comes a stage where mental challenges are bigger than artistic ones—and it can be hard to know where to turn.

This insightful book offers a rich source of mental strategies, resilience tips, and practical advice tailored specifically for creatives.

No matter your medium, you know that you can’t wait for inspiration to strike when it comes to honing your skills. This is true not only for your craft, but a crucial and often-overlooked aspect of the creative process: your mindset.

From Jim Afremow, author of The Champion’s Mind, and Phil White, co-author of The Leader’s Mind, this new guide takes you inside the mental game of some of the world’s top directors, photographers, writers, and musicians, and shows how their mindset has become their biggest competitive advantage.

Learn from the mental game and creative process of these top artists:

• Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Spider-Man 4 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Chris Burkard, award-winning photographer and filmmaker
• BT, Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and composer
• Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of The Devil in the White City and The Demon of Unrest
• Dom Streater, fashion designer and winner of Project Runway and Project Runway All-Stars
• Tim Allen, animator for two Academy Award-winning films, Pinocchio and Peter and the Wolf
• Keegan Hall, artist and philanthropist
• Suzannah Bianco, Olympic gold medalist and Cirque du Soleil performer
• Stephen Wiltshire, architectural artist
• Graham Thompson, founder of Optimo Hats
• Ashley Stegon, visual artist for The Mandalorian
• David Greusel, architect and cofounder of Convergence Design

Filled with motivating stories and hard-earned advice, The Creative’s Mind will equip you with powerful tools to maximize your potential, persevere through hard times, and leave a lasting legacy.

©2025 by Jim Afremow and Phil White. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Tanya Eby gives clarity to insights on how the mind works and how exceptional artists nurture and build their creativity. Her warm, conversational delivery makes the audiobook's exploration of confidence, focus, and resilience come across as accessible and encouraging. Eby maintains the listener's interest with subtle vocal shifts. Eby helps listeners stay focused on the science, strategies, and practical tips that enhance creativity."—AudioFile Magazine