Comments on: Are you committing creativity suicide?

By: Jackie Adkins

Jackie Adkins — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:40:19 +0000

Thanks for visiting the blog Elisa! I’d definitely agree that everyone can optimize their creativity under conditions that are unique to them. As I told Ryan, I work best when I’m not in a time crunch and can take time to think outside the box. The important thing is, as you said, being yourself, but also knowing yourself and creating conditions which you excel under.

By: Jackie Adkins

Jackie Adkins — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:15:33 +0000

Interesting point brought up here about everyone thriving creatively under different circumstances. As I mentioned in my post, in a time crunch I’m not able to concentrate as much on thinking creatively because I get too caught up in trying to get it over with.

I’d agree with you that you can overcome a creativity killer if you put yourself in situations where you’re able to excel creatively. Whereas if you are committing “creativity suicide,” it doesn’t matter if you have a boss who puts you in a creative-friendly environment.

To continue the analogy, someone can’t kill you if you already commit suicide.

By: Jackie Adkins

Jackie Adkins — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:09:08 +0000

Hahaha. I see what you did there.

By: Elisa

Elisa — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:46:18 +0000

I think an important piece of creativity is also realizing when you put out your best product. The same way some people are morning people and some are night owls, there are some people that work well with planning and plodding and plenty of time and some that need to feel the crunch to be at their best. As a natural OCD personality in many things you’d think my time management and process are impeccable but I thrive more under the pressure of the crunch. It’s when I’m at the end of it all and just have nothing but my thoughts and heart to pour out that it comes the best. Course I’m very high strung as well, so…

As for the rest I think you are right on. Mostly because they are all about the most important part of creativity, and that is being yourself. If you try to diminish that or feel like you don’t have anything “good enough” to contribute or grow stagnant in your development then you most definitely will pitch your creative self straight out a window!

By: ryanstephens

ryanstephens — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:51:30 +0000

I really like these, particularly the last two. I think I’m the exception to the rule with the 1st one (well, depending on what I’m doing perhaps.) I need the adrenaline kick that comes with putting something together at the last minute. Until the pressure is truly on it’s hard for me rise to the occasion. Also, this is usually with respect to activation as I usually have been brainstorming, even if it’s inadvertent. I hate my conscience.

I genuinely don’t think of myself as that creative, especially when it comes to creating something. I’m better at consuming tons of information, finding gaps, figuring out how to connect things or finding something to fill those gaps. I guess in a way, this is creative, but not necessarily in the traditional painting, powerpoint, song writing sense.

It’d be easy to say creativity killers are worse, but I think in most instances we should point the fingers at ourselves. If instead of committing creative suicide, you really create and pitch a phenomenal idea, then chances are you can open the eyes of a creative killer.

By: Stuart Foster

Stuart Foster — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:28:15 +0000

Growing a pair of balls could be the best thing that creatives ever do. However, be careful…because you can become kind of a dick as a direct result.

Don’t settle for the status quo and ask for what you are worth. You usually deserve it.