My last newsletter highlighted my adventures during my “creative sabbatical.” This summer I’ve been exploring how routine, hands-on work can sharpen thinking, shift mental models, and unlock new possibilities. I shared a few insights from taking a beginner’s quilting class and received the question below. I’d like to share my answer with you. Please continue to share your thoughts. Having a complete feedback loop is my love language.

Q: I was drawn to the quilting story and curious how that plays out in the entrepreneur world.

A: I have many reflections on the parallels between quilting, as one form of creative exploration, and entrepreneurship, but I will share two insights here and save the rest for later.

• One parallel is creative reuse and sourcing. Artists often work with what is already around them, turning scraps into something new. I purchased new fabric for my quilting class. My sewing machine instructor (my mother-in-law) laughed at me for buying fresh scraps, saying you are supposed to inherit them from mothers and grandmothers. She wasn’t wrong, though I preferred my own selections. I ended up using hers in class, but that’s a story for another time. I’ve digressed. Entrepreneurs, especially in tech, take a similar approach by reusing code and modular functions to improve efficiency and speed, adapting existing frameworks to meet new demands. What looks like waste in one context becomes raw material in another.
• A key contrast is in how creatives approach the outcome. Quilters, crafters, and other artists understand that not every output has to make “market”. Sometimes the value is in practice, joy, or expanding skill. That is a lesson entrepreneurs often forget. Your best idea may be hidden in your biggest mistake.