Last month, in September, I flew to Dallas to take a part in the Circles Conference 2013. It’s a conference for creative people organized by a great designer and awesome guy, Ismael Burciaga.

I’d like to share with you what I learned during those two days in Texas about being a creative person and how inspirational that trip was for me.

It’s not too late if you couldn’t make it to the conference. You can watch all of the sessions online here.

Inspiration is your fuel.

You can’t go too far without fuel. Inspiration is a designer’s fuel. Circles is not a typical workshop conference but it’s all about inspiration. The speakers don’t teach you how do something but instead they talk about their work, show their greatest projects and explain what inspired them.

I realized that this is exactly what most creative people need. While having step-by-step tutorials is an important part of the learning process, we all need inspiration to proceed and to start actually creating things.

Don’t let anything limit your creativity.

If we feel inspired and have an idea to create something awesome we’ll find the way, time, skills, money and anything else that is necessary to finish the project.

Sometimes we focus too much on our skills and create only what our skills allow us to do. Let’s think the other way. Focus on your idea first and then find the skills and resources to make it real.

I’m sure you know this feeling when you have tons of stuff on your plate and you find yourself working all night on one small personal project you just came up with and couldn’t wait to just create it. You don’t feel tired and you don’t think about all the client work you have to do. You can be lead by a great idea if you are inspired.

If you have those moments, go for it. If you’re inspired to do something, nothing can stop you. Don’t let anything limit your creations.

Never forget about your real life.

We love what we do and it’s very easy to fall into an unlimited work schedule. Of course, you can burn out fast if you are working too many hours… and that certainly won’t help your creativity.

Ben Jenkins’s session was one of my favorite sessions during the Circles Conference. Ben told us a lot about some recent changes in his life and about his 888 rule. He found that to have a perfect life balance you should spend 8 hours sleeping, 8 hours working and 8 hours living your real life and having fun.

I really like that idea even though I found it extremely hard to keep that balance. I think it’s something worth working on.

How about you?

What inspires you and what are your thoughts about being creative and finding a good work/life balance? I’d love to read your comments.

And again, it’s not too late if you couldn’t make to the conference. You can watch all the sessions online here.