My brain is a problem!
Not just because it takes a long time to warm up or because it doesn’t run very well … it’s because it continually fills up with questions to things that should be relatively simple to process.
I know planners are supposed to be able to express the complex in simpler, more interesting and engaging ways … however my problem is that I rarely feel there is one particular view that I am 100% comfortable with.
One of the pleasures of doing this blog is seeing how certain opinions of mine have changed over the years.
Actually, it’s not a ‘pleasure’ … but it certainly makes interesting reading and demonstrates the value in talking to as many people with diverse backgrounds as possible as well as the value reminder that it’s human nature to change – be it our opinions, aspirations and/or pants.
The reason I bring this up is that as much as I like being asked to present at conferences etc, I always find it a bit of a nightmare because I know they want me to express a forthright point of view and I want to express a forthright point of view … but I know there’s rarely ever only one viewpoint so I have to really look/think about all the options before I can feel comfortable saying what I personally believe [at that moment in time] is right for the issue I’ve been asked to speak about.
Saying that, I do tend to cover my arse by [1] highlighting the other key viewpoints in my presentation [2] explaining why/how I came to my conclusion and [3] acknowledging that whatever I have just spoken about could all be irrelevant by the time I’ve finished my presentation because people have this nasty habit of changing their minds and opinions.
Mind you – all that is very easy compared to when you start a company and want to put down all the ideas/values/philosophies that have been lying around your head for a few years.
Seriously, nothing is as big a mindfuck as having to articulate all your gut feelings and opinions into something that resembles some kind of well thought out, commercially viable, longer-term focused, philosophical order.
Why am I going on about all this?
Well I have been asked to talk at a conference about the power of creativity and as part of that, they’ve asked me to write a paragraph about what my general view is.
Now the thing is, the power and value of creativity is quite a massive subject … it is something that can go and grow into all sorts of areas … so to be able to come up with something that covers off all the possibilities is pretty difficult however I’ve given it a shot and I’d love to know whether you think I’ve done a good enough job or whether it’s another example of planning wank ie: conversation puffery with pseudo-intelligent sound bites thrown in.
Creativity is more powerful than guns, money, governments and Angelina Jolie.
It’s a weapon of mass construction … it builds things – great things – things that change the way we live, think, dream and do.
Without creative people challenging and changing, we would be a World full of bankers and if ever there was a time to make sure there’s not too many of them around, it’s now.
I believe creativity comes in many shapes, sizes and skills and by understanding and appreciating it, you can start to build things that can change your World and maybe a few other people’s as well.
Oh, and for what it’s worth, the presentation is called: Nothing Great Happens If You Follow The Rules … which is without doubt total planning wank, ha!