Mel Brook’s Moses accidentally dropped five of the fifteen commandments.
I’m shaving it down to five prime rules to enhance your creative process in business.
Thou Shalt Know that Ignorance is Business Bliss.
The idea of retaining ignorance seems somewhat counterintuitive, but it can give you the power of avoiding those pesky problems that come from one’s overly-confident sense of mastery and self-indulgent ego. If you think you know all the answers, you close yourself off to fresh ideas and perspective. Be open.
Thou Shalt Keep Quiet and Listen More.
The first thing to do with clients is listen. Figure out what their problems are. Then come back with questions, not solutions. Write these down. Put them on the wall.
Circle ones that are interesting. More often than not, the answers lie in the questions.
Thou Shalt Learn to Say Yes More Often. Even when it Seems Silly.
In the creative process, let go of control and outcome and just say yes to whatever brainstorming brings. Don’t label any idea as bad. Then you’re only creating conflict. You want energy to flow. Bounce all ideas around. The best ones seem to come in a flash, rather than from force.
Thou Shalt Surround Thineself with Mutitudes of Talents.
Sometimes it’s best to be the least talented person on the team. Work with people who make your work look better. It’s symbiotic and reciprocal. It challenges you to bring your own game up.
Thou Shalt Not Be Afraid of Mistakes.
If you try too har to not make a mistake, it’s a mistake.
You miss out on the value of learning from them.
See? A typo. I mispelled “hard”. I made a mistake and learned from it.
Now go ye forth and create!!!
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