NASHUA — Bill Connolly, a Los Angeles-based content marketer and 2006 Nashua High School South graduate, recently released his third book, Mindspace: How to Live a More Creative Life in the Age of Distraction.

His focus of the book is that while technology has been extremely beneficial in boosting the creative ability for modern-day artists, musicians, photographers, writers, designers, business executives, etc., it has also hindered the ability to let the mind wander.

“I think that our society has become so dependent on our devices and technology that it can sometimes impede our ability to just let our minds wander. In my book, I talk about how important it is to unplug and just create,” Connolly said.

“Being creative has so many benefits to our emotional well-being and our ability to understand others,” Connolly said. “It allows us to see one another in a new light and better understand them. Because of this distraction, where there’s pressure to always be “on,” it has become harder for people to exercise their creative muscles.”

In his book, he speaks from his own experiences while also utilizing third-party research, and profiling different creators. He even interviewed an old friend from high school, Ben Proulx, who was nominated for a Grammy for his music video, “I’m not racist.”

Connolly offers his readers techniques for “reigniting the creative spark.”

Other novels released by Connolly include, The Success Disconnect: Why the Smartest People Choose Meaning Over Money and Funny Business: Build Your Soft Skills Through Comedy.

Through the years, Connolly has blended his passions for marketing, writing and comedy. His day job consists of content marketing, but he writes in his free time.

“As a content marketer, I help companies tell their story and follow consumer trends. I’ve also spent a lot of time studying and writing about human psychology concepts. I tend to write about things that bother me personally,” Connolly said.

For Connolly, his love of marketing, business, writing and comedy began long ago.

Connolly got his first taste of the marketing/business field as a high school student at Nashua High School South. During his high school years, he participated in the school’s DECA program, which allowed him to develop marketing and business skills.

He said some of his teachers at the time, Lesa McQuesten and Janet Valuk, were also impactful on his decision to pursue marketing.

He graduated in 2006 and went on to studying marketing at Bentley University. Later in his college years, he started participating in stand up comedy and improv.

Through comedy, Connolly said he learned the power of networking, building on reality, listening to other people and also speaking comfortably in front of an author. He also found that these ideals could be used in a business setting.

In an effort to pursue comedy in a larger location, Connolly moved to Los Angeles in 2015.

Aside from serving as the director of content at Monotype, Connolly is also the co-founder of Triple Decker Productions, a live improv/sketch comedy group based in Los Angeles. In addition, Connolly spends his time offering training on the topics of soft skill development, personal and career growth, and marketing strategy.

Grace Pecci may be reached at 594-1243 or gpecci@nashuatelegraph.com.

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