In my short-lived career with a band, I met many musicians convinced they were something special. Imagine their surprise when they tried out for the band and didn’t make it. They weren’t good enough musicians to make the cut. Why did they think they rocked when they didn’t?
These musicians fell into a slippery trap. They reached a level of significance in their world. They were either the best guitarist in their Van Halen cover band or they held the high score at Guitar Hero. There was no one left to challenge them so they got comfortable. People plateau when they can’t see anything higher to aim for.
The best creativity comes from people reaching higher. The underdogs are the ones who must innovate to survive. The underdog is developing his thoughts and skills while the “significant” individual is resting in the glow of their status.
It’s important for you to consider yourself insignificant to maintain your edge. You must keep aiming at higher mountains to conquer. You must keep innovating and honing your skills. If you don’t, you run the risk of slipping into mediocrity and perpetuating stale ideas.
So how do you become insignificant again?
- Make friends with people more skilled than you are.
- Join a club or society based around your skill.
- Hang out with successful people from another field of creativity – they don’t care how good you are at yours.
- Keep a journal of ideas better than your own.
Make yourself insignificant and let your work become remarkable.
Exactly. And it’s worth mentioning that, in that situation, NOT speaking too highly of yourself makes you look really good and keeps you from making a fool out of yourself.
Exactly. And it’s worth mentioning that, in that situation, NOT speaking too highly of yourself makes you look really good and keeps you from making a fool out of yourself.
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
The problem a lot of people have who ‘think’ that they are creative are making a mistake in not recognizing that EVERYONE is creative. Not everyone develops their creativity though. Creativity is one of the things that makes us human we are made in God’s image. God is the ultimate creative thus man is creative.
Thats why I get so peeved when I hear people talk about the ‘creative class’ or call themselves a ‘creative’. They fall in the trap of thinking higher of themselves. http://bible.cc/romans/12-3.htm
They do what they do to get attention rather than their love of the craft and the process of making something. I think a person should be just as happy and content doing their work in obscurity with no attention as they would be if the spotlight happens upon them for 15 minutes.
A quote to help make yourself insignificant is “Seek criticism not praise.” It keeps you grounded and always improving. I think it also emphasizes the process not the product. The journey not the destination.
Good word! 🙂
The problem a lot of people have who ‘think’ that they are creative are making a mistake in not recognizing that EVERYONE is creative. Not everyone develops their creativity though. Creativity is one of the things that makes us human we are made in God’s image. God is the ultimate creative thus man is creative.
Thats why I get so peeved when I hear people talk about the ‘creative class’ or call themselves a ‘creative’. They fall in the trap of thinking higher of themselves. http://bible.cc/romans/12-3.htm
They do what they do to get attention rather than their love of the craft and the process of making something. I think a person should be just as happy and content doing their work in obscurity with no attention as they would be if the spotlight happens upon them for 15 minutes.
A quote to help make yourself insignificant is “Seek criticism not praise.” It keeps you grounded and always improving. I think it also emphasizes the process not the product. The journey not the destination.
Good word! 🙂