Noodling Toward Greatness

It’s a funny, happy-sounding word: noodle. Every time I hear it, I think of my mom’s Thanksgiving noodles—made entirely from scratch with a massive dash of love. They weren’t just a side dish; they sat proudly between the mashed potatoes and stuffing, holding their own at the table. And like any kid, I remember noodling them around my plate—noodling for the sake of it—long before I ever noodled with words, ideas, or business plans.

As pro artists and ’treps, we’re always noodling. We noodle with words and sentences all the way up to the deadline. We noodle with music and lyrics long before they become great songs. We noodle with characters until they come alive—on the page or in front of the camera. Artists noodle with layers of color until something extraordinary suddenly appears. And business owners, big and small, are constantly noodling with risky problems, sometimes 24/7.

Noodling is the open door through which our muse walks in. It’s the place where inspiration lives and bright ideas flick on like lightbulbs over our heads. It’s the sacred, messy, wandering space where the masterpiece—whatever form it takes—begins to reveal itself.

Important because from the outside, noodling can look unproductive. Someone sees a creative person staring into space, tapping a pencil, playing three versions of the same chord, sketching meaningless lines, pacing around the office. To the untrained eye, it looks like stalling. But the truth is, this is where the magic lives. Let us not apologize for the wandering. Noodling is not a waste of time. Keep stirring the pot. Something delicious is on the way.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!