'How To Be Creative' - from Gapingvoid (3 of 3)

21. Selling out is harder than it looks - Authenticity is a KILLER weapon. Sharp and attentive people see right through b.s. and these folks are the ones you want the attention from. Be yourself and do what you do best. Never water your idea or product down so that it can be more commercial. If your idea is that good - it just may go commercial regardless. . .

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself. At the end of the day you are doing what you are doing because YOU believe in it. People come and people go. Some may care (bonus if that happens), many for too many reasons to name here - simply don't. Very few people will sign up to be your cheer leading squad. Plow forward my friends, plow forward.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time. One of the most artistic talents of the last 30 years was heavily into the commercial concepts (Andy Warhol). You can argue about one's merit over the other until the cows come home. I agree with this statement by Hugh MacLeod - " how a person nurtures and develops his or her own 'creative sovereignty', with or without the help of the world at large, is in my opinion a much more interesting subject".

24. Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually. Inspiration isn't planned. . .it just happens. Trying to make it happen or looking for it is futile. Sit back and: talk, listen, converse, read and/or daydream. I guarantee it will find you.

25. You have to find your own schtick. . Kareem Adbul Jabbar was a prolific scorer and had his signature skyhook. When you hear a U2 song you know it's U2 and Bono touches off his bands image with his trademark shades. Finding your own voice is imperative. You have to let people know its YOU when they see, hear, read or experience what it is you do.

26. Write from the heart. Communicate about what truly matters to you. Whether you are talking to a friend, a group of colleagues or to a coliseum of fans that's the only way to do it. Any other way will at some point stall you, frustrate you or in some way come back and bite you in the ass.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it. When you need someone to validate your existence or your purpose - you're in trouble. 'Nuff said.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken. People who are 'ready' have a different vibe than people who are not. As they say. . .animals can sense fear. The minute you can walk into an office and confidently say "hire me because I am the BEST candidate on the planet for this job" - (and the boss can somehow tell you aren't lying) you have taken power. You didn't go in asking. Why would you do that?! You're suppose to have that position. Period. Confidence slays the fear that lies beneath the murky waters of self doubt.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.  'Selling out' comes with a price.  So does not selling out. When we choose one or the other, what lies in store for us - no one knows. Will you create commercialized items that are sold to the masses now and the world sings your praise today? Will you create ingenious literary writings and your name becomes legendary decades after your death? Both have their penalties.  There is no silver bullet for a right answer.  This is part of the excitement.  The journey.  Where does it all lead?  God only knows. 

30.  The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.  Once the creative bug hits it doesn't go away (or a bug of any type for that matter).  Embracing your bug - whatever it is - isn't always easy.  Many people run away from their destinies.  They're afraid.  Once you embrace what it is that continues to haunt and bug you, many other things fall into place.  Get used to it, whatever it is.  Do yourself a favor.  It'll make life a lot easier. 

31. Remain Frugal.  There is a quote by the famous architect Mies Van Der Rohe in which he quite succinctly states that "less is more".  He was not talking about business but what he said with these three words is applicable to not only architecture but to so many facets of life. The less you can live on the more chances are that your idea will flourish. The less bills you have the  better you can dedicate those resources to surviving and making sure your idea continues to live another day.

Comments

[maly]

thanks for sharing!