Thoughts on Hugh MacLeod’s Manifesto: How To Be Creative
In the same vein as yesterday’s Create Something, I spent 25 minutes this morning reading Hugh MacLeod’s manifesto, How to Be Creative. Over the course of 49 pages, he discusses 26 points to keep in mind that will help you remain authentic as you embrace your creative side.
Rest assured, while 26 items makes for a fairly long list, they’re not dependent on each other. I saw them simply as a way to compartmentalize his thoughts into readable chunks. Here are a few of my takeaways.
1. Ignore everybody. Probably the most significant of them all, this will allow you to free your mind of inhibitions, remove the worry of offending, avoid searching for acceptance and ultimately, not give a shit about how others judge you. Easier said than done, but worth the courage.
“Good ideas alter the power balance in relationships, that is why good ideas are always initially resisted.”
3. Put the hours in. Simple, really…do the work and don’t expect short-cuts to get you ahead. If you want to improve your writing skills, then write more and learn from your mistakes. Same goes for drawing, woodworking, coding, auto repairs and anything else.
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. And yet, we take those away when the kids enter middle and high schools. Listen to your inner voice that asks for the crayons back at some point in life or, better yet, never give them up!
7. Keep your day job. Be realistic with your needs and lifestyle, hopefully combining your creative interests with your steady paycheck.
“The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs. One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills.”
10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props. Don’t prop yourself up or hide behind technology, gadgets or expensive tools. For instance, I’ve been shooting photographs with a used camera and only a few lenses for the last 4 years, but don’t feel that I’ve even come close to pushing the boundaries of my creativity with that technology. While I’d love brand new, top of the line equipment, it’s not going to make me a better photographer.
13. Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside. This has become a fairly popular quote over the last few years and it’s true. We all like to show a certain persona to those around us; happy, successful, fun, and lots of other adjectives that project our wonderful lives. And with social media, it’s even easier to broadcast that frequently and widely. Realize and accept that what someone shows on the outside is only a small portion of their life experience. Don’t compare yourself to what you see.
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang. Don’t give in to gossip mongering and lose your own passion in the process.
22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself. Here’s the real crux of the matter with regard to creativity; you have to do it for yourself.
26. Write from the heart. This is where your passion comes from, embrace and use it so that you’re doing it, whatever it might be, for yourself.
I enjoyed reading Hugh’s manifesto. It’s a shot in the arm, a kick in the ass, a smack upside the head…to embrace our own creativity!
Read it for free at How to Be Creative.
~tod
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