Chaotic Motion: The Surprising Art of Creating What’s Next

What if creating what’s next isn’t about having a clear plan and taking massive action? Sometimes, it may require a little chaotic motion. In this episode, Gayle Lantz shares how a kinetic wooden sculpture called Wings—a piece that has been in her family for years—led her to discover the fascinating work of artist, David C. Roy. 

His approach to creating art sparked some unexpected insights about how we can manage our energy, reduce friction, stay curious, and create meaningful motion as we consider what’s next in our work and lives.

The artist, a self-taught woodworker, spent decades perfecting sculptures built to move continuously, powered by their own design. As Gayle listened to him describe his process, she realized he wasn’t just talking about art; he was describing purpose, energy, friction, and sustainability in ways that map directly onto how leaders create momentum in their work and their lives.

As Gayle explains, “Perhaps a meaningful life or a career or your leadership journey needs to have unpredictability. Not destructive chaos, but creative chaos, movement, experimentation, surprise, curiosity, possibility.” 

She walks through the artist’s approach step by step and invites listeners to ask a deceptively simple question about their own next chapter: not what you’re trying to accomplish, but what you’re trying to create.

This episode covers:

• The unexpected discovery that inspired this episode
• Why “what you are trying to create” matters more than “what you are trying to accomplish”
• Identifying your energy source and what’s already energizing you right now
• Why sustainable leadership means releasing energy incrementally, not all at once
• The power of reducing friction in your life, work, and organization
• How the energy you put into a system shapes the motion that comes out of it
• Why slowing down can help you go farther and last longer
• Making space for daydreaming, possibility, and reinvention