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gapingvoid: how to be creative (long version)

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on 2006-05-03 by inspirat

"cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" by hugh macleod email: gapingvoid at gmail.com

on 2006-08-01 by aquilax

3. Put the hours in.

on 2006-08-02 by garyburge

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

on 2006-11-02 by fpgraf

gapingvoid: "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" by hugh macleod: how to be creative

on 2006-11-14 by mikeheth

The long version but worth reading.

Public Sticky notes

nd not a place where one is going to come up with many

Highlighted by hennerfehr

didly-squat

Highlighted by hennerfehr

how to be creative

Highlighted by jimish28

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.

14. Dying young is overrated.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.

16. The world is changing.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

19. Sing in your own voice.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant.

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time.

24. Don�t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

25. You have to find your own schtick.

26. Write from the heart.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

31. Remain frugal.

Highlighted by mikeem

Doing anything worthwhile takes forever. 90% of what separates successful people and failed people is time, effort, and stamina.

Highlighted by mikeem

If somebody in your industry is more successful than you, it's probably because he works harder at it than you do. Sure, maybe he's more inherently talented, more adept at networking etc, but I don't consider that an excuse. Over time, that advantage counts for less and less. Which is why the world is full of highly talented, network-savvy, failed mediocrities.

Highlighted by mikeem

the definition of being good at it is being able to make it look easy. But it never is easy. Ever.

Highlighted by dtspdmka

he definition of being good at it is being able to make it look easy. But it never is easy. Ever.

Highlighted by dtspdmka

Stamina is utterly important. And stamina is only possible if it's managed well.

Highlighted by mikeem

Being good at anything is like figure skating- the definition of being good at it is being able to make it look easy. But it never is easy. Ever. That's what the stupidly wrong people coveniently forget.

Highlighted by mikeem

I would do something far simpler: I would find that extra hour or two in the day that belongs to nobody else but me, and I would make it productive. Put the hours in, do it for long enough and magical, life-transforming things happen eventually. Sure, that means less time watching TV, internet surfing, going out or whatever.

But who cares?

Highlighted by mikeem

The only people who can change the world are people who want to. And not everybody does.

Highlighted by mikeem

Wanting to change the world is not a noble calling, it's a primal calling.

Highlighted by mikeem

Your business either lets you go hunt the woolly mammoth or it doesn't. Of course, like so many white-collar jobs these days, you might very well be offered a ton of money to sit in the corner-office cave and pretend that you're hunting. That is sad. What's even sadder is if you agree to take the money.

Highlighted by mikeem