Criticism Challenges Creativity

Today's post is based on an email from Harvey Mackay.

The great American filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille said, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.”

As I’ve said in the past, I always try to start each day with a healthy dose of vitamin C – Creativity. I believe that creative ideas and actions are what make life interesting.

More important than drugs and vitamins is having a thick skin and being unfazed by criticism.

I used to be much more creative than I am now and I think part of the reason is that I've never been able to take criticism well. This blog is about the only thing I do these days that can be considered even somewhat creative.

Even the most unstoppable ideas in history have been criticized. Here are some of the more memorable ones:

“Mr. Bell, please remove that silly toy from my office. There is no room in the market for a telephone.” 

“Watches with no hands? You’re crazy.” 

“You can’t put a crocodile on a shirt to replace the pocket. Nobody will buy them.” 

“You want to sell me a chicken recipe? You’ll never get this idea off the ground, Colonel Sanders.”

“I’m sorry, but your ‘Gone with the Wind’ manuscript will have little public appeal.” 

“How dumb do you think I am – You can’t put music on a roll of tape.”

I'm personally pretty happy that the first one succeeded...this Saturday will be my 38th anniversary with AT&T!

Creativity doesn’t run in a straight line. It can run into roadblocks. They’re not always obvious. You may have to go around them or over them, or tunnel beneath them. But first you have to recognize them. Among the obstacles you need to steer clear of:

• Excessive rationality.
• Obsession with size.
• Need to be productive.
• Fear of (fill in the blank).

And Harvey wrapped it up by talking about the Renaissance:

One of the most prolific periods of creativity in history occurred during the Renaissance from the 14th – 17th centuries in Europe. According to a Huffington Post article by Anurag Harsh, people realized that creativity wasn’t some divine gift, but instead a talent that could be cultivated.

Among his points, he said Renaissance thinkers were contrarian. They didn’t settle for the status quo, they challenged conventional wisdom and took new approaches to the world.

In addition, they were nonconformists. They wanted to revolutionize the culture in technology, the arts and philosophy. Harsh also contends they were curious and questioned everything. They dismissed the tried and true in favor of novel ideas.

Finally, he said that instead of limiting themselves to a single area of knowledge, they connected different ways of thinking that led to advances in science, art and many other areas.

Consider Leonardo da Vinci, the ultimate symbol of the Renaissance, who was interested in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history and cartography.

You may never paint a Mona Lisa or draw the Vitruvian Man, but what inspiration his creativity offers! Start your day with a healthy dose of Vitamin C – Creativity – and watch what happens!

Mackay’s Moral: Creativity, not necessity, is the true mother of invention.

Interesting days 

Today - International Cat Day, Happiness Happens Day, Bowling Day, Odie Day and Scottish Wildcat Day

Tomorrow - Melon Day, Book Lovers Day and Rice Pudding Day

Next Wednesday - Relaxation Day, Acadian Day, Check The Chip Day and Lemon Meringue Pie Day

September 8 - Pardon Day, Literacy Day, World Physical Therapy Day, Actors’ Day, Iguana Awareness Day, Star Trek Day and International Drive Your Studebaker Day