Creative challenge: Be a spy

As you know I set myself regular creative challenges. As always, I will do it anyway, and you are free to join if you like!

The challenge: Act as if you are a spy all week and notice things around you that you normally wouldn’t pay attention to.



Follow strangers in the supermarket, observe what they buy, try to sketch a profile of them and get as much information as possible about someone in a short amount of time. Take notes of everything and nothing; the time the trash is picked up, what floor that man gets out and what brand cigarettes your friend is smoking. Blend in with the masses and try to find patterns in people’s routines. Predict their behavior and excel in the skill of observation.

If your (strange) behavior gets noticed by someone and they ask about it, explain that you can’t tell or you’d have to kill the other. (I once said this to a conductor who checked my train ticket and asked me where I was going, but he didn’t find it very funny. It was awkward so I don’t recommend this unless absolutely necessary).

It’s even more fun if you do this together with a spy buddy. Communicate with each other about your findings, if needed in secret code, your own secret language or invisible ink.

This challenge should help us be more observant and make us really look at the world around us.

Most of all: Have fun!