The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

Don’t get me wrong, they’re smart and have interesting to say … but they’re smart and have interesting to say about SOME things, not ALL things and all we’re doing in always turning to them is create a mono-culture of thought and creativity, which is fucked when most of them have not actually made the creativity they are so quick and happy to judge and criticise.

But it gets worse …

Because in elevating their importance, we are stopping their ability to be self-critical … resulting in at least a couple of them increasingly becoming belligerent and closed-minded to anyone who challenges or succeeds in ways that counter their own view.

Of course, part of that is because some make money from selling their ‘success systems’ to all and sundry, so if someone is able to be successful following other rules, it’s a huge threat to their business model. And that’s where the problem lies, because many of these people go out of their way to crush any or all counter perspectives, resulting in an industry increasingly being format driven than creatively so.

Seriously, the exposure the industry gives these few people could rival Madonna in her ‘Sex’ era … and it’s all our own fault.

Because like shock jock DJ’s of the 80’s or the current trend of ‘celebs’ spouting more extremist views for attention … we lap up being in – or part of – the drama, stupidly believing it makes us relevant, important or informed when really its just showing the decline in value towards critical thinking and originality.

As I said, a lot of what these people say can be good … or at least worth the consideration. But my god, every week I read another article where our industry has asked them for their view, regardless if they have the credibility, experience or objectivity to do it justice.

Look, I know our industry is built on people having an opinion – whether wanted, warranted or worthy.

But – for the sake of our industry – can we please vary the voices being heard.

Let’s hear from different experts.
Let’s hear from people with different experiences.
Let’s hear from those who have achieved in different ways.

Not to ridicule the people I am talking to, but to dilute it … because the best of our industry – and of creativity – is born from the energy and smarts of debate, but increasingly so, it feels we are simply followers of the same few dictators. And given 40% of CEO’s think their company may not last the next decade and the average tenure of a S&P company has fallen from 60 years to 18 – in just a few decades – maybe the smartest thing we can do is hear from people challenging the formats that have got us into this position rather than reinforcing them.