LogoVisual IDEAs Newsletter
Login
Fuel My Visual Thinking
Oliver Buchannon
PJ Milani

Encouraging others to live a more creative life to make the world a more creative place • Visuals teaching you about psychology, productivity, and self-development • 19 Years Film & Animation Teacher

How purpose is like a candle

Feb 24, 2026

•

9 min read

How purpose is like a candle

In this issue: the power of habits, why visuals are not about visuals, 3 types of friendships, and why staying perfect is an empty victory.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why you should always "root" for yourself

Feb 10, 2026

•

8 min read

Why you should always "root" for yourself

In this issue: the difference between difficult and impossible, the real game you should be playing online, why being "weird" is cool 😎, and the opportunities and possibilities ahead this year!

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
You're not the problem. The problem is the problem.

Jan 28, 2026

•

7 min read

You're not the problem. The problem is the problem.

In this issue: an alternative to you vs me, the best metric for success, if people pleaser was an emoji, and why the grass is greener.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
The bumps you’re feeling doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong road

Jan 13, 2026

•

8 min read

The bumps you’re feeling doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong road

In this issue: what you can start today, creative habits, why the bumps you're feeling are a sign you're heading in the right direction, and maintaining a growth mindset in the face of mistakes.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How to use evidence to build confidence

Dec 30, 2025

•

11 min read

How to use evidence to build confidence

In this issue: The possibility chain of evidence, the minimum viable capture, why it's not about the destination or the journey, and the difference between the arrogant mind and the humble mind.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
What’s the difference between generosity and strategy?

Dec 16, 2025

•

10 min read

What’s the difference between generosity and strategy?

In this issue: 4 approaches to relationships, what makes a good visual metaphor, a friendly reminder, and how genius is different than talent.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Are you preparing or are you procrastinating?

Dec 2, 2025

•

8 min read

Are you preparing or are you procrastinating?

In this issue: the real value behind collaboration, visual metaphors ANIMATED, moving from habit to identity, and the difference between preparation and procrastination.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
There's a difference between what's cool and what's meaningful

Nov 19, 2025

•

8 min read

There's a difference between what's cool and what's meaningful

In this issue: a friendly reminder that the year isn't over yet, navigating imposter syndrome, why it's important to let it go, and the best gut-check on realizing how deeply you understand something.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why showing up doesn't mean showing up perfectly.

Oct 21, 2025

•

8 min read

Why showing up doesn't mean showing up perfectly.

In this issue: What consistency means, the ONE visual who's message I hope will outlast me, and why the little efforts over time matter.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
What is the most important thing you should do next?

Sep 9, 2025

•

8 min read

What is the most important thing you should do next?

In this issue: Why prioritizing is critical to get to where you want to go, how many priorities you should set (and the simplest path to finding it).

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
What is the "Big Picture Paradox?"

Jul 29, 2025

•

8 min read

What is the "Big Picture Paradox?"

In this issue: Victim mindset vs Opportunity Mindset, a deep dive into creativity, the "Big Picture Paradox" and why the grass is greener on the other side.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why I'm not worried about AI Images

Jul 15, 2025

•

8 min read

Why I'm not worried about AI Images

In this issue: Why you can't use other people's rulers to measure your success, why I'm' not worried about AI, the shape of fear, and the actual path to success.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why friendships get harder as we get older

Jun 18, 2025

•

9 min read

Why friendships get harder as we get older

In this issue: how friendships change over time, why it shouldn't be easy if you want to grow to your potential, the circular thinking trap, and the danger of productive procrastination

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
The time-saving power of one simple word

May 27, 2025

•

9 min read

The time-saving power of one simple word

In this issue: the fantasy of "overnight success," how one simple word gives your time back, the critical thing you need when iterating, and what grudges does to your physical health.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why low-hanging fruit are dangerous

May 12, 2025

•

9 min read

Why low-hanging fruit are dangerous

In this issue: the trap of low-hanging fruit, design lessons from color choice, what it means to be a quiet leader, and learning the power of daily habits through basketball.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How Progress Is Like Crossing a River

Apr 29, 2025

•

8 min read

How Progress Is Like Crossing a River

You don’t leap over it—you step through it. In this issue: how to flip the "what if," a simple framework to show the 80/20 Rule, how you are not your emotions, and what to do when you're overwhelmed with a task.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
The Myth of Doing It All

Apr 18, 2025

•

8 min read

The Myth of Doing It All

In this issue: Why doing less can lead to more, a reminder about building sharp skills, why visuals matter, and what people remember about you (and it's not your words).

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why failing is not what you think

Apr 3, 2025

•

9 min read

Why failing is not what you think

In this issue: why what got you here won't get you there, how creativity is like navigating the fog of war, discipline vs regret, and the true definition of failure

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How to look at your fears differently

Mar 19, 2025

•

8 min read

How to look at your fears differently

In this issue: "diving deeper" into self-doubt, how to visualize with simple shapes and arrows, what to do when overwhelmed with your to-do list, how fear is stronger in our imagination, and what Death can teach us about rest 👀

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How risks are like being stranded on a boat

Mar 4, 2025

•

9 min read

How risks are like being stranded on a boat

In this issue: what you forget when assessing risks, how to overcome creative "disappointment of outcomes," why it's impossible to do everything at once, and a friendly reminder about the effort behind what we see.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How money is like water

Feb 18, 2025

•

8 min read

How money is like water

In this issue: what I wish I knew in my 20s, 3-step framework to distill ideas in visual metaphors, what role failures play in your success journey, and how money is like water.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Why friendships are like trees

Feb 4, 2025

•

8 min read

Why friendships are like trees

In this issue: Why the easy choice is not always the best choice, a fast & easy way to make arrows, how to respond to a hard world, and 3 types of friendship.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
What does it mean to have character?

Jan 21, 2025

•

7 min read

What does it mean to have character?

In this issue: defining character, how to protect your creative well, why "us" vs "them" is a superficial comparison, and what failure really is.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
How happiness is like a butterfly

Jan 8, 2025

•

7 min read

How happiness is like a butterfly

In this issue: how everyone's work/life balance looks different, a gentle caution for beginning creators, what to do when happiness can't be captured, and the role your environment plays in resiliency.

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Putting it all into perspective

Dec 27, 2024

•

6 min read

Putting it all into perspective

A different approach for recovering perfectionists, how to measure success on social media, the past in perspective and fixed vs growth mindset...with a special holiday bonus🎄

PJ Milani
PJ Milani
Load more
Visual IDEAs Newsletter

Visual IDEAs Newsletter

Interesting | Design | Enchanting | Analogy || Visual metaphors delivered once every two weeks to your inbox. Join 27,000+ Visual Thinkers


Home

© 2026 Milani Creative LLC.
Report abusePrivacy policyTerms of use
beehiivPowered by beehiiv