Bestselling author Diane Strand’s new book, CreativePreneur, makes the case that creativity is more than an artistic skill—it is a practical tool for business, leadership, workforce development and navigating a rapidly changing world.
What if the very thing everyone told you that you shouldn’t even try became the thing that helped you build everything?
It is a question that has followed Diane Strand throughout much of her life—and ultimately became one of the ideas behind her new bestselling book, CreativePreneur: Use the Tools of the Arts to Grow Your Business.
Strand is a serial entrepreneur, executive producer, nonprofit founder, TEDx and international speaker whose career has taken her from Hollywood and television production to entrepreneurship, marketing, education, nonprofit leadership and inclusive workforce development.
But the common thread running through those seemingly different chapters has always been creativity.
“I began looking back at the things that helped me navigate change, build businesses, create opportunities and keep moving forward when I didn’t have all the answers,” Strand says. “I realized I had been using the Tools of the Arts the entire time.”
Those tools include communication, collaboration, adaptability, storytelling, problem-solving, resilience and the confidence to step into something new.
For Strand, they are not simply creative skills.
They are business skills.
What Is a CreativePreneur?
Strand uses the term CreativePreneur to describe more than someone who makes a living in a creative industry.
It is a way of approaching business—and life.
A CreativePreneur uses creativity to think beyond the obvious, pursue an idea, solve problems, recognize opportunities and turn vision into action. In business, that includes learning how to leverage, market and scale an idea. In life, it means pursuing passion and purpose in ways that can create impact, fulfillment and legacy.
That philosophy grew from Strand’s own entrepreneurial journey.
The skills she first developed through the arts became many of the same skills she later relied upon while navigating a recession, a pandemic, business growth, changing technology and the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship.
“You don’t always have to know every step before you start,” Strand says. “Sometimes you just need enough confidence to take the next one.”
Moving From D.R.E.A.M. to Reality
One of the practical tools Strand introduces in CreativePreneur is her D.R.E.A.M. Framework, designed to help move an idea from possibility toward action and momentum.
D — Define: What do you really want?
R — Research: What do you need to know, learn or understand to move forward?
E — Evaluate: What tools, knowledge, relationships and resources will help you get there? Then reverse engineer from your goal to where you are now.
A — Action & Accountability: What must move from idea into implementation?
M — Momentum: How do you build the consistency, resilience, creativity and confidence to keep moving forward?
Strand also introduces what she calls “Pack Your Own Parachute,” her philosophy that taking the entrepreneurial leap does not mean moving forward without preparation.
Together, these concepts reflect one of the larger messages of CreativePreneur: dreaming and doing do not have to exist on opposite sides of entrepreneurship. Creativity can generate the idea, while structure, strategy and consistent action help bring it to life.
Creativity in the Age of AI
The message comes at a time when artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping how people work, communicate and compete.
Strand does not see creativity and technology as opposing forces. Instead, she believes creativity is one of the human advantages that can help people use technology more effectively.
Technical proficiency alone is not enough.
The ability to communicate an idea, collaborate with others, adapt when circumstances change, solve problems creatively and tell a compelling story can help entrepreneurs and professionals turn technology and change into opportunity.
It is also why Strand believes conversations about the arts belong alongside conversations about education, business, leadership and workforce readiness.
Putting the Philosophy Into Practice
For Strand, this isn’t simply a philosophy she writes and speaks about.
Through nonprofit JDS Creative Academy, Strand and her team put the Tools of the Arts into practice by advancing education, training, workforce development and career opportunities through the visual, performing and digital arts for people of diverse abilities.
The work demonstrates how creative skills can translate into real-world capabilities—helping people build confidence, communicate their value, solve problems, adapt to change and develop skills for an increasingly high-tech marketplace.
It is part of Strand’s larger mission to change how people think about creativity.
Creativity isn’t reserved for someone who paints, acts, writes, performs or works in entertainment. It can influence how a business owner responds to a challenge, how a leader communicates a vision, how a professional distinguishes themselves in a changing workforce and how someone recognizes an opportunity that others might overlook.
That is ultimately the invitation behind CreativePreneur.
“I want people to understand that creativity isn’t simply something you have,” Strand says. “It is something you can use. It is how you think, communicate, solve problems and respond when the path in front of you changes.”
And sometimes the first step toward discovering what is possible is simply being willing to ask: What if?
Then show up. Say yes. Take the next step—and Think Beyond where creativity can take you.
CreativePreneur: Use the Tools of the Arts to Grow Your Business by Diane Strand was released digitally September 4, 2026. Hardcover and paperback editions and Strand’s book signing tour are following this fall. The digital edition is available through Amazon, with additional information about Strand, the book, speaking appearances and upcoming events available at DianeStrand.com.
