Category: Creativity
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Scripted, or unscripted?
A director leaves a corporate innovation lab to join a rapidly growing competitor, only to rejoin two months later as a VP. The reason for the boomerang wasn’t just the title (a happy bonus for both sides, as morale waned at the innovation lab after a leadership departure), the new VP had actually found that…
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Audiences in the arenas
It used to be that spectating was the only way to experience creative work. Stadiums, arenas, and theaters are based on this premise. People who spectate are known as the audience. Spectating is still an incredibly popular activity—just look at Twitch. Sure, I listen to podcasts, I watch films and TV, and I read. I…
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Hard Work, Plus
In September 2007, J. Cole stood outside Roc-the-Mic studios in the rain for 2 hours waiting for Jay-Z to hand him a beats tape for American Gangster. The second Jay-Z saw it, he said, “I don’t want that, give it to one of them.” That’s why self-promotion is, understandably, one of the most dislikeable parts…
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The Museum of You
At the Museum of Innocence in Istanbul, named after his novel of the same title, author Orhan Pamuk proposes a manifesto. Here’s an excerpt: “I am against these precious monumental institutions being used as blueprints for future museums. Museums should explore and uncover the universe and humanity of the new and modern man emerging from…
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Lighthouses
If you want to build something, and aren’t certain what yet, start by making work that brings people together. In other words, build a lighthouse for people to swim towards and congregate. Add value to their life—through insight, delight, or convenience. Analyses, templates, and free job boards are all great examples of lighthouses. (Memes can…
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Permission to Wonder
The millionaire author is sitting on the stage, and the host is taking questions. “Hi, great speech. I want to write books, just like you. I’ve met a couple of agents, I’m halfway through writing a book proposal, and I’ve got a very small mailing list. I know I should be promoting myself more, and…
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Why your backstory is a key to referrals and word of mouth marketing
In our result-oriented culture, it’s essential to focus on tangible, real, results. Shipping real work. Start a real business. Make real money. Drive real results. Working with real clients. Releasing real articles. Author Bernadette Jiwa sums up the mindset well in Story Driven: “We might register a domain name, get a logo designed, build a…
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The Overlap
The Overlap happens when we discover what we want to do, and what other people need in their lives. The Overlap happens when we find two skills that compliment each other well, and merge them into a new skill to tackle new problems. The Overlap happens when we create something new by taking two existing…
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What to Do When Your Work Won’t Sell Itself
Great work does not sell itself. Honestly, I don’t think it ever really did. I’ll acknowledge there was a time when curators were more trusted than they are now. However, many critic’s tastes have been questionable. Worse yet, not everybody had access to a curator’s attention. A curator can not promote what they don’t see…
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What I Wish I Knew About Quoting Other People In My Writing
Recently, I read a passage from someone working in psychology which said, “Every time I want to make a point, my brain immediately asks, ‘Is there a widely-cited, randomized controlled test study to support that?’” If there wasn’t, they would decide not to pursue the idea any further. I can relate, all too well. This…