Great tips to keep in mind
From gapingvoid’s How To Be Creative:
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.
* Make sure you click on the link to read what Hugh wrote under each tip.
April 21st, 2007 at 1:11 am
Hi,
What some great ideas you have there! I reckon it’s inspiring, to people like myself who suddenly finds themselves on the walk of life’s junction: debating which way to head. I think your decision to learn on your own is what more of us should be doing. Keep up the spirit.
Cheers, Gervais.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:47 am
Hey Gervais,
I wish I could come up with such great ideas! Hugh MacLeod’s cartoons drawn on the back of business cards is proof that creativity can go hand-in-hand with business. It really is inspirational and I hope that his ideas motivate others to do great things and put their ideas into action.
And I think my decision to learn all of this on my own will bring many ups and downs (probably more downs in the beginning), but I find that this type of learning is what usually works best for me.
Cheers!