Nothing New Under the Sun

Why this is hogwash..

Are you a creator?

Whether you want to start a business, compose a song, write a screenplay or novel, or even just a new thought-provoking post for your personal blog, I know from experience that the creation process can be downright nerve-wracking.

Creating is tough stuff.

https://twitter.com/careerdeviant/status/469441260017942528

How about that feeling when you’re surfing the web and see that someone already started the EXACT business in the EXACT market you wanted to serve?

Not a fun feeling, and it can deflate the enthusiasm from your project pretty damn quickly.

It’s been enough for me on more than one occasion to slam my fists on the table and yell:

“Fuck you, blank page.”

The blank page is what writers, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and other creative types must face, day in and day out, if they hope to get any work done.

Nothing can be more intimidating that sitting down alone to face the page.

Anything and everything can seem more enticing in the moment. Any action that keeps us from having to face the silent vacuum of creating something seems better than facing our demons and getting on with it.

Our brains aren’t necessarily out to get us. Rather, I believe they are trying to protect us from sticking our neck out too far and looking foolish, or worse, fraudulent, so we don’t get banished from our tribe.

Let’s face it — When you create something new, especially if it’s a new skill you’re honing, the possibility that the finished product will suck is quite real.

Our lizard brain would prefer that we keep our heads down, fit in with the pack and don’t make any big waves, for fear of being rejected from our peer group.

The thing is, the lizard brain no longer serves us, especially in creative pursuits. It’s an evolutionary holdover that only made sense during primitive times when being “rejected” from a community could actually mean death, due to being cut off from essential resources such as shelter, food and water.

Times have changed. So should we.

The Blank Page Can Smell Fear

Sometimes, great ideas and content can flow out of me as if I’ve tapped into some endless source of genius and insight that can propel my readers forward into facing what makes them come alive.

More often, if I’m being truthful, the blank page can have my quaking in my boots.

I opt for avoidance strategy, rather than putting my thoughts on the line and my ass in the chair, facing the resistance head on.

I recently had a thought discussion with my coach, Kevin Cole, that brought more clarity to this issue.

I lamented to him that it seems as if all of the ideas for blog posts that I come up with have already been done. Worse yet, they seem to have been said more succinctly and powerfully by people who are smarter, more successful, and better looking than me.

Ok, maybe not better looking.

Maybe marginally better looking. I can live with that.

How do I follow through on these urges that feel so damned inspired, without letting my own tendency to self-edit my thoughts and actions win out in the end?

I want to write kick ass content that moves people.

Whatever it takes to move people forward on the uncertain yet thrilling path of their own choosing. That’s the name of my game. And that’s why I’m here.

And yet, who am I to offer these ideas and solutions to people, if everything has already been said and done before? Is there truly nothing new under the sun?

Coach Kevin stopped me dead in my tracks with a very deceptively simple concept.

The Adjacent Possible.

Huh?

Yes, adjacent possible.

What’s that mean, exactly, and why should you care?

In order to create anything “new” and of value to other people in a creative endeavor (writing, music, entrepreneurship, art, technology, etc.), there are two things that you’re going to have to get comfortable with, like it or not.

1. Your stuff is going to suck for a while. Or, at least, it’s going to fall short of the mark of your inspiration and desire. Totally normal. The only reason you feel shitty about this, is the fact that you got into the game in the first place because you have GOOD TASTE. You recognize content that has moved you, and it probably compelled you to want to create something with your own unique voice.

NOTE: Renowned writer Ira Glass nails this concept of the “gap” between where you are vs. where you are inspired to be here.

1. You’re going to steal. And, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m only saying that there is going to be a lot of copying of other creators that you’re intrinsically drawn to. You won’t be able to help the fact that you’ll be regurgitating ideas and concepts these people have already explored and shared. Doesn’t matter. Get comfortable with this temporary “theft” as you begin to develop your own unique connections, rewire your brain and put in the reps.

Why Stealing is Necessary

Now, to be clear, the long-term goal is not to be a hack that is constantly lifting the best ideas from the established titans in your industry or niche and passing them off as your own.

That is weak shit, and will get you a bad reputation quickly within your industry. Seriously, if you’re thinking of doing that, you’ve missed the whole point of what I’m saying.

Rather, there is a natural cycle of purging that has to take place, in order to get your brain re-wired to the point of being able to make new connections that nobody else can see or articulate quite like you.

A perfect example of this ethos was Pablo Picasso, and the way he talked about painting and art in general.

His infamous quote “Good artists copy. Great artists steal” has been repurposed by the likes of Steve Jobs, as well as many other prominent creative entrepreneurs.

The masses think that ole Pablo was always a “color outside the lines” kind of guy. One that simply did whatever the fuck he wanted, defying conventions in an attempt at novelty and non-conformity. Just take a look at some of his most famous creations.

However — if you study Picasso’s history, you’ll see that earlier in his life and career he focused on MASTERY of the fundamentals. He made it a point to learn how to paint extremely accurate portraits, landscapes and other inanimate objects.

Truly, it isn’t until a certain level of mastery is achieved in one’s discipline that one can start riffing upon the foundation they’ve built and being making inspired jazz.

Learn the rules in order to break them.

Whose rules are you playing by?

Are you in a brand new industry or culture where you have no fucking clue what they accepted “rules” even are, let alone have any remote chance of winning the game?

The brutally simple reality is this: Anytime you make a change and enter the lion’s den of a new job, new country, starting a new business or joining a new social circle, you’re going to fuck up. And that’s a good thing.

Fuck up quicker. Fuck up smarter.

Everything may have been said or done, but nobody has said it or done it from your unique vantage point and collective experience. Your unique filters and unique voice you’ve acquired on the journey WILL resonate with a new tribe that is finding their way forward.

I want to leave you with some simple mindset shifts and actions you can implement today, in order to bridge the gap from imitator to a creator with a unique voice.

Actionable Tips to Face the Blank Page

1. Embrace the Adjacent Possible (credit Cal Newport) Cal Newport brings this concept to bear in his best seller “So Good They Can’t Ignore You.” He argues: once you reach a certain level of ability in a defined skillset, you will begin see things that nobody else sees and be able to do things that nobody else does.
2. Don’t work in a vacuum. Do projects where you’re forced to show your work to others. If it sucks, this will force you to improve. Not the most comfortable of strategies for your fragile ego, but this has been the fastest way I have rapidly increased my competency when honing a new craft.
3. Put in the Reps — Just like in sports, doing a certain action enough times develops muscle memory. The same with creating. Put in the repetitions and you’ll be able to feel your way through to new ideas, as opposed to over analyzing what to do next.
4. “Adopt” Like a Bandit — There’s simply no shame in this. And no, we’re not talking plagiarism. Give credit where credit is due, but don’t be afraid to riff on someone else’s idea, and take it in a new direction. Your brain will re-wire itself to see opportunities for content that nobody else is doing, or at least doing well. The goal is to synthesize these new connections and begin creating “remixes” of existing content, taking what exists to a new level.
5. Reference Influential Writers / Creators — Not only can they be a source of inspired ideas, but as you develop your chops, they might even cross-promote you to their followers. This can be a real win/win.

Now, fire up that laptop.

Whether you’re creating a great mobile app, blog post, screenplay or software company, the time is now.

The blank page seems daunting, but it’s more like jumping into a chilly pool.

It only stings for a second. You’ll instinctively start swimming.

And, hopefully, playing jazz.