Obvious to you. Amazing to others.
2010-11-21
Any creator of anything knows this feeling:
You experience someone else's innovative work. It's beautiful, brilliant, breath-taking. You're stunned.
Their ideas are unexpected and surprising, but perfect.
You think, “I never would have thought of that. How do they even come up with that? It's genius!”
Afterwards, you think, “My ideas are so obvious. I'll never be as inventive as that.”
I get this feeling often. Amazing books, music, movies, or even amazing conversations. I'm in awe at how the creator thinks like that. I'm humbled.
But I continue to do my work. I tell my little tales. I share my point of view. Nothing spectacular. Just my ordinary thoughts.
One day someone emailed me and said, “I never would have thought of that. How did you even come up with that? It's genius!”
Of course I disagreed, and explained why it was nothing special.
But afterwards, I realized something surprisingly profound:
Everybody's ideas seem obvious to them.
I'll bet even John Coltrane or Richard Feynman felt that everything they were playing or saying was pretty obvious.
So maybe what's obvious to me is amazing to someone else?
Hit songwriters, in interviews, often admit that their most successful hit song was one they thought was just stupid, even not worth recording.
We're clearly a bad judge of our own creations. We should just put it out and let the world decide.
Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?
I feel this way all the time.
Great observation.
Dodd
~
Thank you for sharing this, Derek. It's a brilliant observation, and one that I can totally relate to.
Oh how true this is...
I never think about what I do as being anything more than to satisfy myself.
What a great insight...personally i am bad for this...I think if I know it then everyone else does as well...probably is what keeps many of us from creating that something that is truly amazing...because we think everyone already knows "our truth." Most probably don't!
I like this and the previous one about the blank canvass.
now people just gotta start listening to my muzik.....
Derek, a wonderful poke as always. I'm happy to say that -- today at least! -- I feel like I am really doing my best to emit whatever musical or personal energy comes most easily to me.
So I guess you could say that makes it obvious.
If only it were obvious to me that I should do it, every single day!
Thanks again!
no, seriously...
I see this with blog posts. Stuff I slave over may get ignored, while something scribbled out in a few minutes catches fire.
Bach wrote, what some 10,000 pieces of music? But we play the same 40 or 50 of those over and over and over...
"If you can do it, there's nothing to it."
-- Woody Allen
Just one comment on the above (even though to me, its such an obvious comment):
I never would have thought of that. How did you even come up with that? It's genius!
That's brilliant! Wonder why I never think of things like that. Uh... Wait a minute.
Thanks, as always.
Maybe this observation of yours was obvious to you, but it was amazing to me. I passed it on to my friend Mitch at the innovation blog, Heart of Innovation. (We do innovation and creativity work together.)
Oh you doubt that? ...It's obvious!
I'm glad you've arrived at another fertile period.
Thanks again for reminding us of this important, simple information. I like this and the blank canvas article as well.
Rhan
Woody also said:"I would never want to be in a club that would have me as a member". (actually that was grouch being quoted by Woody) But Wood does get kudos for saying: "Showing up is 50% of success"
This is obvious to me ;-)
A slight variation is discussed in the excellent book "made to stick" where it is known as the "curse of knowledge".
Basically, from your mental vantage point you can't imagine that your concepts are non-trivial for others.
I found that to be one of the most important points in the book and I like your insight as well. Food for thought indeed.
You nailed it right on the head. This is so important for creative types to hear. Thank you Derek for your constant inquiry and efforts. You are doing extremely important work in the world!
Appreciated. Especially the question you end with: "Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?"
I feel that way when I see examples of "Yankee ingenuity": the twisted piece of barbed wire as a handle on a gate; fishing line used to hang Tibetan prayer flags; bottle caps glued to a piece of wood as a boot scraper. Brilliant, common sense.
Carpenters often inspire more awe in me than wordsmiths or painters.
This is so true! You should never hold back what you have to share. Imagine if the person you look up to was scared that they weren't original and never gave the world their gift. We shouldn't hold ourselves back. Thanks Derek for the reminder!
Derek.
Thanks for initiating these conversations. My problem is amongst the clamour and noise of daily living I feel disinclined to contribute. People reflect little so thus we all spend our lives in futile activity. Much of what we should know is presently known. much of what we should discover is discovered. A key aspect of living is to listen, discern and use time/actions with purpose.
Maybe I am!
Thank you Derek. I do forget that all too often. Even with my supportive to remind me of this every project I do, somehow coming from the outside, it seems new and profound. Go figure!
I often experience this the other way around. I'll find myself sharing what I believe to be a profound thought which is perceived as obvious by others.
Perhaps I think too highly of myself?
This makes me wonder how much we credit the creator for things they didn't consciously intend to relate. I guess some of the best art leaves plenty of avenues for the individual to explore what it means to them...with as many avenues to explore for as many different perspectives as possible...
I should just do it!
I disagree. I'm pretty sure that both John Coltrane and Richard Feynman knew that they were on to something special.
Killing animals is as wrong as killing another person. NA! That's stupid and not worth recording. It would also be plagiarism to claim that thought as my own, I'm sure. So now I have an idea that's stolen, stupid and not worth recording. Rough day ;)
Well said, Derek! Good inspiration for a cold winter day.
my obvious thought is this. The best way to protect the planet is by first keeping the family together.A broken family consumes a lot more.....more houses,cars,household appliances etc. SO greenies need first to care about the human family and its eco system and by so doing be more empowered to save the planet.
I am a singer and a teacher of singing. I am giving a Master Class today and will read this.
Thanks!
Obviously it's true!
And German ants are quite amazing (ameising?) too!
You always seems to know how to find that little accurate thought, appealing to everybody.
Thank You!
I agree, "variety is the spice of life"
I believe everyone has something to contrbute to one an other even it seems insignificant.
Derek,
You've made it more obvious to me now more than ever... thanks!
People have differing abilities at self appreciation. In this society we are fed humble pie from birth. This is wrong, we should burn the candle at both ends trying to be the most that we can be and then acknowledge it to ourselves. Why it seems that what we do is so obvious and ho hum is that we take for granted all of the many complex skills that it took to develop to make things seem simple. Nothing ho hum about it, it is amazing.
Thanks Derek! I've been slowly coming to this conclusion. I think I'm going to record that song I wrote that everybody who hear's it thinks it's great, and I think it's just ok. Thanks for the encouragement!
Isn't it great to know that this is part of the human experience - and explains why most of us worry about our confidence. Embrace your inner genius - or genii - and give her/him/them a hug.
Pretty spot on... and it makes sense since whatever is in your mind would be the most familiar to you since you are a sum total of your experiences plus that extra magic essence that makes you who you are! =)
For me, the operative words here are "to share".
My challenge is to not let things get "too precious" to share
In the arts there is a fine line between developing a project to its fruition and the type of perfectionism that prevents me from sharing at all.
Great links too! Although my favorite Miyazaki movie is Howl's Moving Castle.
Isn't it great to know that this is part of the human experience - and explains why most of us worry about our confidence. Embrace your inner genius - or genii - and give her/him/them a hug.
A lot of people think Im very talented. I know that im not. I am capable and reasonably competent and I work hard at most things that I do, but Im no Genius and Im certainly no Artist. I do know real artists and Musicians and have been around them most of my life and I have always had an artistic "Sense". I have seen the Phenomena That Derek Describes. Sometimes they really dont see how brilliant their work is and sometimes they know its good but dont think it great and are just being modest. I have known and do know geniuses who know they are geniueses...They wont admit of course But theres always those little clues that give them away. Im Ok with that actually. One thing that I am quite good at is cooking. I know it, but it took me 20 years of practice and working with some really great cooks before I liked my own cooking. Its a very satisfying thing to be able to sit down and consume your own cooking and when your done say "Hey that was good" Im sure there must be something similar when you are satisfied with your work as an artist.
It took me a long time to learn this concept. I think it's part of EVERY creative person's journey.
It's sad that SOME people NEVER get it. Imagine all that could have been contributed that was ignored because it looked too obvious to the creator.
The book, "How to Create Like DaVinci", by Michael Gelb is a MUST for anyone who wants to create. Or even for people who just want a little more "creative confidence".
Thanks for the push. I have not thought if I am holding back.
As to your main point, I feel that way all the time. I am also very uncomfortable when others load on praise for my obvious ideas.
Thanks for sharing this. What's funny is that this is exactly what I needed to read right now. I've been feeling this way about one particular large project of mine that I am trying to get off the ground.
derek,
your method of sharing these stories with us is a prime example. thanks.
Craig
This is so true
I had a bad feeling about my music, but then I sent it to some radiostations in USA, Australia, France etc. Then I got playlists and my music was just as good as anyone else big names on the list, and even songs I didn't had any big thought about was played as well.
Just my 2cent on the subject
Yes! definitely. Glimpses & twinkles of ideas initially felt amazing, then B-came obvious after having worked thouroughly. So, I put them out and let the world decide, even if I think it might not have been worth the efforts. And if a certain idea works, I have the tendencies 2 want 2 settle 4 complacency. But un4tunately, I have had the luxury. So, I continue 2 push 4 excellence. In resolute, it's all mysterious 2 me. But the large body of work is a very much worthy investment. I rest my case here.
Something that I'd choose to believe is that this is not as general as you think it to be. Good ideas do come to your mind, and you don't always shoo it off as 'very obvious' or 'nothing spectacular' because that is just not the case. I like to use my discretionary senses and if you learn to listen to them, they treat you well.
Maybe tons of great ideas go down the drain everyday because the mind that came up with it lacks the self-confidence, but the opposite scenario is even more frightening; something like what happens everyday at 4chan or on Twitter. People have way too many ideas and not all of them are worth sharing or working on.
That being said, I like to note down these small ideas that I get and I often look back upon on stuff that wrote a few years ago, some of it is downright embarrassing, most of it is stupid, but amongst the big pile of crap somewhere there are a few gems that are possibly worth millions of dollars. Looking at those gems gives the motivation to go on and try again everyday.
Good "pearl of wisdom" and reminder that it's good to share!
"After nearly 62 years I'm only in my second stage of naivety now - or maybe not quite yet?"?
Charles Foskett
www.shmusicmusic.com
www.rock-chorus.com
You've made an amazing observation that I needed you to think of and share. I never would have thought to do this.
Thank you,
Fred
Really there is a lot of truth in what you said. We are our own worst enemy at times and like you said just put it out there and let the world decide.
So true Derek,
You would never have been given the creative idea if it wasn't to be shared...
So clean em' out of your closet folks
and get busy Blessing the world with
your creations!
Peace and Blessings,
LK
This is a very excellent point, although I do agree that not every idea is worth all your time. However, that's why you can share with friends and family, get feedback, and improve upon it, and then present it to the world!
Completely agree. Two years ago I was giving a 25 minute talk about a paper I was finishing (it got published on March of this year, my first paper!), and for me it was everything so obvious, plain and simple (and more so in front of a plethora of experts in the field) that I just rushed a lot of slides just because "it was easy". A few days ago I revisited the paper (because it was almost 1 year since I read it for the last time), and realised we did a pretty good job, complete and clear, and at the time, I was completely unaware of it: I was so entrenched in the details that I didn't see the big picture, and now I have them forgotten, the big picture looks a lot better.
Cheers,
Ruben
Latest in my blog: How to Create A6 Booklets in 7 Easy Steps (using LaTeX)
I too, loved the line at end "Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?" Thank you again.
Great thought! Genius. Why didn't I ever think of that? (just kidding) Really, this spurs me on to record some song ideas I think are kind of stupid. Thanks!!!
I've come at it from the other end. After standing on my head to seem original or unusual and realizing the result as artificial, I try to develop my own way of seeing things and work with that as ordinary. Now people are amazed by my chord progressions and almost baffled when I try to explain how they make sense. Of course, once across that threshold there's no going back and you need to learn to live with it. Interesting point, Derek.
You are so right. Thanks to your thoughts I am going to work a little harder on my new project. Thanks lots.
things that make you say mmmmm
Thanks for sharing this Derek and reminding me that I still have some ideas that could work. I appreciate your thoughts and always find them anything but obvious.
Yeah, I had college professor at New England Conservatory of Music, a brilliant pianist named Doug Buys, who impressed me with a similar kind of point. I had a particular aptitude for solfege, and he wanted me to help tutor some students who needed help with this skill, stuff that came naturally to me, but to others who were struggling with "do, re, mi" it seemed like scaling a mountain. He said it seemed "basic" and "simple" to me because I had mastered it already, but to realize that what's easy for you may be very difficult for others. It all comes down to "know thyself!" Appreciate what you do well and understand what you can do to help illuminate others. And it works both ways! That's why sometimes we need coaching, but sometimes we're the coach.
Good post Derek. As time goes by, as a songwriter I tend to be more critical of myself than I used to be, probably because we are continualy trying to get better at what we do. Sometimes "over" critical, because usually when I put the songs "out there", people send encouraging messages saying how they like them.
....and sometimes just being told your concept is genius is not quite enough...
Amazing! Hard to reverse the mind- set..."if it seems too good to be true...". Have we really lost all faith? Thank goodness Einstein's concepts were not presented today! LoL. ;-)
D'uh! Why didn't I think of that?
Another sign of genius is the ability to recognize a brilliant idea and present it properly. I am a consultant and I can't tell you how many times I was in a room and heard a good idea but nobody else seemed to notice it but 30 minutes later when I say the same thing, I am given credit for being brilliant by everbody but the person's whose idea I "stole". I do give credit to the proper person. I remember once using the idea of the secretary who was taking notes. When she said it, nobody heard it but when the high priced consultant said it, everybody said it was genius. It may be obious but somebody has to see it.
Yes, its a funny thing. You get creative and discuss your idea with someone. The next thing that happens, someone else with money, takes your idea and runs with it, making you look like a fool for not getting a Patent on your idea. Lesson learned yes! But being the creative person I am, I through in more ideas on top of that and just kept blossoming into the competitive creative market. Now I am sitting on an idea that will be patented first. No other market is doing what I have, and I am totally excited. It will create more working capital than I need for the whole business model.
The great Greek philosopher, Socrates (469-399 BC). He was the one to say:"Know Thyself"to be wise, otherwise the unexamined life is not worth living...
Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?
YES I AM !
Thanks for reminding me I need to release it
you're a gem Derek ..... I'm sure that there are parents everywhere wondering why their kids can't seem to understand what is so obvious to them.
It's taken a lifetime to understand very obvious 'truths' about living...
i.e. if you behave in a way which alienates those around you then perhaps you need to look at your behaviour .... why?..... 'cause it aint working..... unless you like being alienated.
Fresh ideas seem to invite ridicule or worse .... look at Galileo or Veliskovski.
I just love the idea that we're living within an Electic Universe which, intuitively, makes complete sense to me ... and yet .... nah ... mainstrem science doesn't accept this for the simple reason that - with the advent of nuclear power - THAT became the 'obvious' way in which stars maintain their power.
..... must go .... just saw a shooting star or perhaps I saw an Angel fall....
thanks for being.
Wonderful! And best of all are the things that are *both*, or as filmmaker Murch put it, "surprising yet self-evident"... where you're amazed at the brilliance, then realize in hindsight that it should have been completely obvious ; ). Things where it just feels so natural and right, but only after someone says/does/creates it. Things where your FIRST thought is that you cannot believe someone came up with that, but your second thought is that you cannot believe it took this long.
Love those. Love this post.
I completely agree. This is why I believe the more personal, the more universal provided the story/message/truth is presented with craft. Everyone has his own personal story and viewpoint. That combined with craft create emotional impact, in my opinion. That's when people say "Ah! Genius." How it's presented makes a huge difference, whether in songwriting, screenwriting or blogging. Derek thinks of good stuff and presents it really well.
What happens to me is I come up with an idea that I think is unique and original and someone else has already thought of it. For example, the Christmas Sweater Party where you invite people over and make them wear their ugliest Christmas Sweater.
Dorothy
I've been having a similar discussion with other songwriters, and my conclusion is that it's none of our business what of our music people are going to like. Just put it out there. This is, of course, an attempt at staving off the internal critic who does an effective job of stopping the flow given opportunity.
That's something I have really never thought about. I think you only thought about that because you are brilliant.
But, even not been as brilliant as you are, your point makes me feel more comfortable with my own weakness.
This is what I needed to "unhold" things that I've thought obvious.
Thanks and congrats.
Bob Franke, a singer-songwriter of some merit, is the one who pointed out...
"We're told (and readily believe) that genius is something quite rare. It's a lie. Genius is common; it's in abundance everywhere."
I think he's more right than wrong. Not an exact quote, but close enough.
When my first CD of piano music came out, Morning to Midnight, I thought the big hit would be "Taraval Street Rag," and strongly promoted that track. In fact the biggest hit was a little piece I tossed off quickly years before called "For Maureen" that I almost didn't include on the CD. As you note, the creator is often not the best judge of his or her creations.
The idea which we know well seems obvious to us because we have spent a lot of time thinking about it. It's in our background, maybe we learnt it at an early age and it's now second-nature. Maybe it's related to a professional work habit that we do everyday. The profoundness, initial complexities and ambiguities in-built in the concept that long been forgotten. This happen we you graduate to being expert in the idea. The world doesn't want to hear from beginners or wannbes it want fresh ideas served up be experts. So Derek is right to ask us if we are holding back on seemingly obvious ideas.
One evening Robert Tennyson Stevens pointed a small flashlight and peered into my eyes. He stepped back and asked "How long have you been hiding your genius?"
It will be good to see it used for it's intended purpose. Lately we have only used it to create blog links to our shopping cart. What a waste of genius ...
It hit me like lightening. I had been doing exactly that since I discovered that to reveal it alienated me from others, most of whom were also hiding their particular brand of genius. We were all attempting to be NORMAL in a society where no such condition existed.
It so happens that I have a high I.Q. score. Fortunately, I did not learn about this until I was mature enough to deal with it. Had it gone to my head, I likely would not have been so willing to learn brilliant lessons from the 'dummies" who have taught me so much.
After I was asked that question, I went home and started the "genius unveiled" web site geniusunveiled.com
I have not done much with it. It is open for anyone except spammers who choose to play there. Just go to the blog and register. Then let us know by comment that you are not a spammer and we will open the gate for you
To me it is a mark of thoughtfulness for others when we set aside the need to convince them that our ideas are not all that special.
You should find the interview that Jay-Z did on Bill Maher's show a while back- Jay-Z basically explained that he almost didn't go into music because writing songs was really easy for him and he therefore thought that there couldn't be that much value in what he was doing. Regardless of what you're personal tastes are, it's pretty clear that (to everyone but Jay-Z, apparently) that Jay-Z is quite talented and successful.
Yes, Derek, what you say is true. Self-doubt and self-loathing are the enemies of creation. And for those who think that their ideas are awesome, when really the opposite, delusion can be a wonderful thing. But we don't know until we put "it" out there, do we? And then…do we really "know?" Hmm. I think that I need to go lie down now to ponder these musings.
This is a great article. I never would have thought of writing it. But I'm sure it was obvious to you.
What you are saying, Derek, is really obvious.
Why haven't I thought of that? ;-)
I have the opposite problem!
For some reason, this reminds me of a talk that Brian Eno & Will Wright gave a few years ago (and that you've probably linked to previously).
[Which sounds like what Bob says in comment #70, where ideas from the consultant are 'amazing' but ideas from the secretary are disregarded.]
Brian mentioned that some of his music is created by simple generative algorithms, and Will said the same was true for people in the Sim games. In theory, both the music and games are "obvious", because you could sit down and calculate what happens next in the algorithm. It's predictable. But if you don't know the algorithm, or if the algorithm is iterating so fast that you can't keep up with it, then the results are surprising and, well, "amazing".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqzVSvqXJYg
If I recall correctly, Will's secret to making "amazing" wasn't intricate creation, but rather playing with lots of algorithms until he found one that gave interesting results...
... and Brian's secret was to let people assume it must be amazing, by framing it in the form of a published CD from a record label
Good one Derek. I must revamp some of my early keyboard work and get it out there. You just never know, somebody, somewhere may like it.
Aw shucks, Derek... Genius? Ha ha! That would be so cool. The closest I've ever been to genius, is perhaps, "cleaver."
Do you have a specific story of genius for us, dear? If so, we'd love to hear it!
There's a new age adage that says soemthing about the word we speak, or don't, the smile we give, or don't, could be the thing that makes or breaks someones spirit that day. We have more power than we realize. Our job is not to judge our works but just to put them out there. They may be the think that keeps someone afloat for another day.
But I didn't say it's easy!!
How did you think of that? It's genius - I would never have thought of that!
- Actually Derek - Well done - observations like this are very useful to others - only obvious when you see it!
Best, J
Thanks Derek! You motivate everyone that takes time to read this! I appreciate all you do!
aaaah yes!...how familiar it is to apply a "value" to your own worth at anything and come up short--particularly if you compare yourself unfairly to, let's say, another guitar player--you have no idea how many hours of "doing" this person put in to reach what they are doing now--but you still put yourself up against that yard stick...of course you had to start by doing this to your own work to "improve"--whatever that is...I'm not sure who said it but there's a quote that goes, "Logic is the destroyer of action"...and it certainly seems true...the longer and more in depth you think about something, the less you get done about it.
Genius then just becomes a term to describe someone who kept doing or at least analyzing and writing about it... not just thinking about it and imagining it's value.
I never would have thought of that. How did you even come up with that? It's genius!
Hi Derek - Thanks so much for sharing - So true! I am going back to my earlier songs and bringing them back to life - Happy Thansgiving
too bad, that you'll never know if something is genius or just plain obvious beforehand
Ya, That's what makes "PRODUCERS" worth the money. (sometimes)
Hi Derek, As always you come up with
provocative ideas, and i appreciate your
perspectives on many subjects.----This is
an example of your unique perception !
We all have these ideas, in some measure,
and we should recognize that all humans
have different perceptions , depending on their life experiences !
Thanks for your ideas! Be well ! I did not
read the other comments, but will later.
Marti Lynch, Vocalist/ Songwriter
(My website will be augmented later.)
Yeah Derek,
We live day-in and day-out with our own thoughts and of course, they are obvious and nothing spectacular to us. We know them so well. All the reason why other's ideas are so spectacular to us. Those ideas are so foreign.
We all need to keep the faith in our own ideas, no matter how "obvious" we think they are. They will benefit someone else. Maybe they'll change someone else's life.
Peace!
I completely agree. I'm 36 & when I was 30 decided to teach myself to sing,songwrite, and produce. After 4 years of sitting in my place developing my sound and recording I put out an album on Itunes called "Hell Or High Water". At the time I really just saw it as a very personal experience I wanted to accomplish but after I released everyone I knew was astounded by the fact I had secretly been doing this released it on my own! I have never seen my music as "genius" & "original" but I'm am humbled by the fact that I hear it so much from others! Now I'm 36, was just signed to a commercial placement deal & am working on my next musical project. TRUST THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS AMAZING BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO IT LIKE YOU DO IT.
Thanks Derek...I'm truly appreciative of your writing.
wow Derek - this post REALLY spoke to me - even more than usual. You are a genius!! haha.. but seriously- thankyou.
People were amazed at my pool cover invention. I saw a boat under a jetty at low tide. When the tide returned, the boat lifted the jetty off the pylons. Water is incompressible. Inflatable raft, captive edges on the pool. You can walk on it. No way for kids to drown. All I needed was a divine being to make people believe in it.
High-N-Dry pool cover (youtube)
Nice one Derek - I should stick this essay up on the wall for the next time I'm doubting what I do
Our artists do this all the time. They don't want to record a song because it's "old." Only to them. 100% new to everyone else. Great ideas, obvious to them, but great to the listening public.
My improviser/director/artist friend David Robinson says it this way: "put down your clever and pick up your ordinary". What is ordinary to me might be extraordinary to others. Good advice all round
love it! I know from experience that this is true! great one to share with the universe!
Nope...I always know I'm amazing!!
JUST KIDDING!
(no I'm not...dead serious!)
KIDDING!
(maybe.)
Thank you. Maybe I should go forward with my simple straight forward ideas. I always felt that my ideas are stupid. Maybe not, afterall. :D
Now THIS is a visitation from your Muse, whispering in your ear....awesome and fearless!
Thanks Derek!
word.
thanks.
I feels that way all of the time. I tells my contracted artists,"You let the Public be the judge. That is where the buck,stops.
Yep. I'm am the Bruce Lee of self-doubt. I had to fight with my inner critic just to click "submit comment."
True, that; and though you may contain many layers of context and subjectivity in your head, the outside world is not in your head and can only go by your actions.
"You're every move you make."
-Yes
when someone says "good job" just say thank you and accept it.....maybe they mean it.
Well, considering I haven't had a #1 hit yet or etc. etc. ... the answer to your question Derek is ...
"obvious."
I think it always comes down to the perspective your audience has, when you present your thoughts. When you are from a different domain than your audience, it's more likely that it's new and "innovative" to them.
If you do what they do every day, you probably have to tell it someone else to be understood as a brilliant idea
So true. Recently I wrote about the phrase I hear a lot in my business coaching; “If I can do it, anybody can do it.” Not true!
Many of us have put in years to get the knowledge we have, yet we undervalue it.
Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, it breeds indifference.
Thanks for the great post and all the insightful comments too. Wonderful!
Sharon Sayler
Melodies are easy for me. They feel obvious. Lyrics are hard. When I come up with a good lyric, I'm much more pleased with myself than when I create a good melody.
Derek, nothing you do or say amazes me anymore. You are just a breath of fresh air on old subjects. I'm considered a genius by I.Q., but never felt that I lived up to that...until I realized that my efforts to overcome illness by making my life more meaningful and easier to deal with, made the small inventions and interpretations I came up with a validation of my potential. I'll never be a musician of any sort, nor an artist in the usual sense, but the cards and collages I make have been saved by everyone I send them to, and I had no idea why until my sister told me that they were unique and no store-bought card could match them. Wow! What a revelation...I was doing it to pass time without thinking about pain, and I turned pain into beauty. How about that. You are really something, Derek. You made me think! Today was a real revelation for me. Thank you. Your, perhaps, oldest fan!
Been on both sides of the stick many, many times. A very good point and lesson Derek!
Be well
Or the converse happens. They don't think it is amazing but think it is too far out. So you listen and move on to something else. Time goes by and shows that it was before brilliant -- it was ahead of its time. Meanwhile, you have moved on...and hadn't nurtured that previous amazing thing.
Thank you for sharing your profound insights with the world.
Yes
"Here? I wouldn't even get my $00.013/download."
...and that is my obvious thought for the day. Obviously the light cone of this particular aspect of the paradigm shift of the loooooooooooooooooooooooooooonooog taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaail
has not enlightened me enough.
....and there's another one!
And I keystroked above that I wouldn't.
Hmmm.
Hi Derek ...
Yes, another great viewpoint and question you present to us.
My customary intent is to not hold back anything. However, I do sometimes wonder if making my music easier for others to grasp might be a mistake on my part. It seems there are some who purposely bypass melodic simplicity for flash and speed. Then, I wonder if they can sing the speedy passage. Hmmm. Food for thought, that is.
~ Dennis
A good observation Derek. This reminds me of the scenario of how some will fret about their hair (for those that have hair to fret about) for hours and panic when a hair is out of place. Meanwhile, nobody else will ever notice but themselves.
Solitoode
Derek - I love you for this! So supportive!
Regards,
Bonnie J Jensen
On the other hand, if I lay down some tracks, and said tracks upset listers to the point that nobody downloads, at $00.013 a download, how much am I out? Unless I piss people off so much that they never give me another chance.
But Berlioz's Symphony Fantasique initial thematic harmonic progression is only one measly note away from the Tristan Chord... Not so obvious to Hector. Obvious to Richie Baby?
And IP not then what it is today.
Quite a few times, I've whipped up some article in half an hour without thinking much, and lo and behold, it explodes into popularity on stumbleupon or reddit. Other times, I pour my heart into an article for hours and hours, polishing it and thinking deeply about it, and it totally bombs. There's no telling how popular it will be based on how I feel about it at the time :P
Robert Frost thought so little of his [poems that he threw them all away. If his wife hadn't rescued them from the circular file, Robert never would have recited at KFK's inauguration. I have heard that Frost thought people were idiots for the Kennedy Administration having him be the poet laureat of the US of A, but there you go.
I've always liked that the proof of the Theory of Relativity didn't drift beyond algebra.
I meant JFK.
Yep, strange as it seams. You do something that you consider mild or no big deal and then, once in a while, everybody goes WOW!. It happens about 1 or 2 times a year. Stangely I have not been able to turn it into any money.
I just live my life and make things happen.
I learned something when I did an experiment in creating. The exercise was to create something new for the next 5 days. Each one can be done in 10 minutes. Do a poem,birdhouse,arrange flowers,make a board game,recipe, short story, water color, or some creative activity. Suggestions: conceive a result that you want to create; note the current state of the creation- continue to observe the changes in reality once you take action- 1st nothing,then something,something more,and so on, until completion, Work quickly to bring vision into being. FOR EXCERCISE: don't improvise - Plan, create vision, bring vision into being- FOCUSED CREATIVE PROCESS. When finished,look at it, live with it for few minutes- evaluate the results. Do You Like it? How close did you come to your vision?
(Note) you will learn about all stages of the creative process in a short period of time - learn the difference between creating and reacting.
What matters to you? - not what should matter or not what you want to matter, but what really matters?
Great observation and very reassuring to someone (me, of course) with a heavy academic training. Helps defuse that impulse to only make "weighty" comments that can lead to writing (thinking/speaking) blocks.
cheers,
Jeff
Awesome dude; thanks! It would be really cool if we (humans) could fully appreciate and applause the genius we each possess without getting caught up in our "own-ness" so much.
The world would be a better place.
Dude, thanks for sharing; I appreciate your genius!
Joey K
Ralph Waldo Emerson states exactly that in the opening to his essay "Self-Reliance": http://blettr.com/iwkc4iw62th9hv5vix8tv9dz64xw78ww
I find it one of the most profound and stirring statements possible for any creative person.
Derek,
There is severe “contrast” between this post and your previous one about blank canvases.
I tend to agree with this one. All blank canvases have the same painting. We need variety in this world. So many musicians and artists hold back on publishing most of their work because they think it’s not good or perfect enough. From other people perspective, all the work from a given artist, in a given period, is at the same level of mastery of the art.
Since we are not good judges for our own work, it is really best to let the public or audience decide on what’s good and what’s not. It is almost like incorporating market research into your art.
Reminds me of a line from A Beautiful Mind. When Nash is asked if he ever just knows something, he replies, "Constantly"
Nicely put. This realization is what made me decide to put away my own preconceived notions and just make available to others what seems obvious to me, in hope that I can really make a difference in lives out there.
Yeah man, just do your best at what comes naturally to you and step back!
Peace,
Dan
All my ideas are amazing! Pity the world is not ready for them.
Once a day for 10 mins. or so, I have to make sure to turn my creative switch off so I can be normal. In that 10 mins. of down time I lose 10 hrs. of creative ideas that went out into the universe for someone else to use. To me that's obvious, to others, not apparent but should be!
Derek, Your the man.
Thanks,
Michael Drake
It'a dare! Everyone likes a challenge. You clever little devil.
I agree! I really can't judge which songs of mine are good (if any), or which one's suck!
I've written and recorded over 200 songs in the last 4 years.
I released 2 records, with a total of 30 songs.
So, I may never know if one of the 170 songs left over, was the one that could have changed everything! (lol)
~~ LAMMY aka Mr. True
So true. Heard a true one-liner years ago that's made a difference for me..."What's obvious isn't obvious!" Time to receive that we all have a unique greatness in us that is intended to be given into the world. Best when I remember not to censure and edit what I create. Keep the channel open...let it flow... and let it go.
Derek.
Brilliant. How did you think of that?
Seriously...
And a little kidding.
This explains a lot.
Thank You!
~stefan
I go in and out of feeling both delighted by how amazing the fruit of my work sometimes is -- and totally taking it for granted.
I just DO my music because it's asking to be done. And if it seems successful, I might thoroughly enjoy listening back to it afterward, even sometimes being pleasured and surprised moment by moment, over and over again, as it emerges through the speakers. I guess all of that constitutes aspects of "beginner's mind" or "doing without doing".
Even in my other calling -- holistic bodywork and wellness massage and coaching -- sometimes when a client's profound healing happens, I notice a toggling of two observations within: !) Well, of course that healing happened; I was just following directions and doing the obvious and 2) Wow! What a miracle! What a surprise! What a gift for both of us.
Derek,
Than you for sharing !
That it itself!It shows a sign of greatness.
I love the stories.
Thanks,
Eileen
What is obvious, to me, is that too many good (obvious) ideas lie fallow, thought of, about, and through. What is amazing is when they are acted upon and manifested as reality. And then they become obvious, again.
Profound!
Sometimes people's ideas seem so obvious.
Im glad these are not my ideas
Without joking, i felt this way many times while dealing with the idea of creation involving "saving the world" thoughts.
But I came to the same conclusion as you : im so bad at judging, and often, simple is amazing.
kisses Derek
Thanks for sharing the insightful thought!
Please write and share more thoughts :D
what's the difference between a maker and a hacker?
a maker says: "i wasn't sure i could do that!"
a hacker says: "i wasn't sure that could be done!"
Can't agree more.
So true! Thanks for sharing
Pretty obvious, don't you think, Derek?
(Did someone already make that joke? Sorry...)
Adam
Wow! This is another good article.
Sometime my friends would come up to me and say how did you handle those employees? you're good!
To me, it's just another issues with solutions. To others it's the other way round.
love this post *likes*
I am glad you realized that.... and you know what? Each person is brilliant in some way.... even me!
So true Derek! There are so many creative minds out there, sometimes it can be tough to find our own place. It helps to embrace spontaneity!
Very Cool Derek!
I think if you act on what seems intuitive, it feels natural to you and thus seems unsurprising or not remarkable... and that makes sense, because it's difficult to think of something never thought of before ... when you're thinking about it ... follow my jive?
singer/songwriter/webcaster
www.meghanmorrison.com
@megsmorrison
Derek, You are a lovely gifted person.
"Gifts" always amaze others and even ourselves, until the Creator "unwraps the package".
Then what seems (and truly is) amazing, is understood even by a child.
Much love my Beloved Friend,
"Tell me a story...."
I'm struggling with a related phenomenon, Derek.
I've just learned to sing and play an amazing song so I can explore its amazingness and share it with friends. (Ben Folds' "Practical Amanda," lyrics by Nick Hornby.)
Now a really amazing song doesn't reveal itself all at once. I wasn't hooked until maybe listening #5 or so. The song is still unfolding after 30 or 40 times around.
But since I don't often sing a song more than once, I have to trust that others will explore on their own and really discover the levels of amazingness. One time through is the merest taste, and only for those who understand the dynamic of layers of amazingness.
Thanks for the oppty to get myself clear on this.
Cool Einstien pic
This one, I'm using in my classroom. The young songwriters and jazz musicians I teach everyday need to read this almost as much as I did. Almost.
Thank you for the reminder. I've been sitting on my next project, because it's obvious to me. Time to stand up.
I can tell when I write a song that's a bit derivative of someone else's and one that came from deep down in me, myself. The former is more of a construct and the later very much more original-sounding. But, in any case, the creative phenomenon is the best, most valid feeling I ever have had. Paul - Allus Cats
I'm still soaking up the blank canvas.....honestly,,,and how do people get their pictures on here...I like that.
We thought WhiteyBoard.com was a truly simple idea. It turned out to be huge!
Derek,
I've been working on a song the past few wks.
I'm doin' it over 'n' over again.
Its Driving Me Bazirk !
Something is starting to pop out of the wood work.
I just heard it tonight it's in the 3rd vrs ___ I think I'm going to let that grow ___
It seems to come naturally ___ & after reading this___
It would be "WISE" to at least explore that area & see what happens.
Mabe a pleasant surprise.
Thanks
Perfect Timing
Carey
In my case, since my music has been circulating for about thirty years with no great shakes, I have to admit that it must, indeed, be fairly ordinary. Doesn't mean I'll stop doing it, but I no longer have any expectations. Not a bad place to be, really.
It is the Times you are "shot down" that makes people stop trying, I think. Bad teachers, bullies, someties even family and friends... and even co-workers (right Derek)... They can say something, sometimes even offhand or flippant, and wreck your project or train of thought with self doubt or despair. THAT is the hardest thing to over come... I think, followed by your own thoughts and criticisms... (I HATE CRITICS)
~
Most Movie Critics have never liked the movies that I have... go figure...
I agree that we should always put that idea out there... But I am still glad I use Spell check on Word and E-Mail... Sometimes I goof here... but..... You guys very rarely hate...
-Eddy
I am now 43 and can see why most celebrated artists are dead for many years before the people of the world find their work to really have depth and meaning. Only recently have I become humble and like most strong willed creative forces I have been burned by my own breath of fire so consumed of passion that people who could have opened doors douse whatever creative project of mine with bails of doubt or disdain. Your recent article quoting Apple's Jobs stating something like "people need and want filters" allows opinion leaders on any scale to direct one's likes. As an artist it is so very difficult to really know what the public might think is good. I found over the years that the piece of music/art/film/etc. that I have created that I think is so profound just doesn't resonate with the masses quite like that dumb, fun, 5 seconds of creativity piece that I could have easily thrown away. Matter of fact most of the "magic" comes when the tape is not recording but people are there to hear and be a part of it and that is part of the "magic" of live performances and small house parties or pr junkets. Yet at the end of the day I must admit to paraphrase a dear friend and co-creator of wefest,"if you wake up every morning and you are still doing what you love you win!
When you see something that needs to be done and nobody else is doing it, despite the obvious necessity, you've stumbled onto a "genius" idea. The best stuff comes out of that obvious need, not for the sake of recognition which is an extra.
These days I'm trying really hard not to hold back anything!
Hi Derek
Not to sound pompous, from a nation full of creative thinkers that I come from, what you say perfectly makes sense. Being in advertising has made me believe in what you have stated more. whenever creative team comes out with an idea it seems more than obvious. but those are the ideas that make it to the limelight.
a well rounded thinking and a perfect observation on the state of mind.
kudos to you derek
cheers
Ramanan
I like and share your oppinion is a good point of view
Absolutely true. Left to our own machinations, or lack thereof, many/most of the world's creations would never be realized. I was a reluctant musical performer, thinking that my sound was subpar and not up to standards that I was used to hearing from professional artists, but enough people expressed admiration and delight after listening to my playing, that I realized people are their own worst critics, and that one's talents are best judged by others, who may have skills that YOU admire and respect. Put the time in to work on what you do best, long as it doesn't hurt anybody else, and there'll always be people who dig what you do. That's what has always inspired mankind- to mimic and improve upon what works.
In a word, yes. Thanks Derek.
Derek:
)
I classify myself as "extremely self critical", so thanks so much for the brilliant insight. I need to "lighten up" on me
Just put it out there
Seems so simple but can be so hard, lol
wow.that is a great observation. I hold back my writing sometimes because of that very thing. Thanks for sharing that
Perfect. Thanks much for this uplifting insight.
Thanks for stating the obvious in such a creative way that those of us who are amazed by the obvious can see how obvious it is and be amazed!! What??
we are all very limited ...so insidew of the box ....God is too far too close ...we need to stay
in the spiritual way to understand
it all....
luko adjaffi
There are some times where this isn't the case for me. I have struck upon ideas that surprised me. It was as if they came from somewhere else. They didn't seem obvious. They were different and special. These are *very* few and far between my other thoughts.
So, I don't think it negates your premise totally, but I'm not sure that others don't have the "this is it!" kinda feelings with exceptional ideas.
Cheers,
Matthew
I just finished an acting workshop and have begun to realize that we all have our own constructs on almost everything, this goes back to the individual bringing something extraordinary to the collective consciousness
and that the limitations we place on ourselves have to do with ego and our own importance,
if we can forget about ourselves !!!!
I needed that. I've just recently been debating with myself whether anyone would even want to hear a few tunes that I have hesitated to record. So...Why not?
Great article! I think any artist feel's the same and this neatly puts it in to perspective. Thx for sharing Derek!
This is a very good point Derek. We all do have the potential for a certain "genius".
Derek,
I think that's right on paper.
However, I am a closet narcissist who thinks my band's music is light years ahead of it's time.
I kid. I kid.
Joe
You always encourage in such a fun playful way - thanks!
I was told that Louis Armstrong once said:"If you've got it in you,you need to blow it out."To me that says: Do it. Just do it. No one knows for sure what will sell.One thing is for sure. If you don't do it,nothing will happen.
Great stuff Derek!
Thanks for sharing. I hope all is well.
Dan
www.youtube.com/niswander
i so agree.
what comes naturally to us maybe a dream for others
Very true....Most songwriters feel their compositions are very predictable but this is because they are so familiar with every aspect of a song.
Perhaps this has to do with a dissonance between our different states of awareness? Whatever we are able to achieve or perceive is bound to seem much less amazing to us because we understand it, whilst the hidden mechanics and aspects of someone else's creations or thoughts are attributed a certain reverence because the process of the connections is hidden and therefore seems complex/amazing/genius.
Dang. I miss you in my real life.
:/
Paula
Artists/creators are always their worst critiques (with the exception of the Almighty). We make something and over analyze it. I'd record a song and the producer would say, "This is the best one yet" but I'd say scrap it. I guess as long as it's not terrible we should just go ahead release it and move on.
Derek, THANK YOU!! I needed that reminder today.
I...am humbled by your inspiration.
Bliss
You just reminded me of how awesome and brilliant I am. Thanks
My experience is more painful. I usually read or see that someone else has created what I had already thought of doing, but hadn't got around to it yet, (or worse, was in the process of creating). Then it ruins it for me and I have to move on to something new. The biggest myth in creation is the fear that if you present your idea to someone creative, he/her will steal it. A creator never wants to tread where someone else has been. Its no fun and life is too short. Only non-creative people are idea thieves....
Finding everything I do totally obvious eventually led me to do nothing at all. Until I realized that what others do isn't genius.
Of course I'm not getting all cocky there.
We live in a worldwide "mediocracy". No wonder if we find genius everywhere.
We find it because we desperately need it.
The idea that you should let other qualified people judge your work is a very good one. However, some people will take the rest as an ego booster, and use your advice to make them feel better about themselves. This can be positive, but people should look at their life objectively and continue to improve where improvement is needed.
Hi Derek. Ain't it the truth! I was just asked if I had any organ piece(s) available for performance in Berlin in 2012. I happen to have two oldies, one from 1968, another from 1983. I don't think they're very good, but... I'm leaving it up to "them" to decide. I may write a new one instead. I think of artists who go around destroying works they think may be inferior. I can't make up my mind! Kick on truckin'! jpt
dido- it's like when you feel you have just finished one of your worst live performances and someone walks up to you after the show and says you were great tonight - one of the best shows I've ever seen. It makes you realize it's all about putting it out there- so, dido again-
Oh crap. Does this mean I have to dig through years of trash to find all those old songs I wrote???
Hi Derek, (babelfish english!)
I write for 50 years songs and lyrics. there is perhaps already thousands songs. For some I need weeks, months, some develop in 5 minutes. here is like that one….http://www.youtube.com/user/trikotrako#p/u/3/thp458fk3UI
Of course, not everyone 'gets it' when I put something out there, but there are a lot that do which makes it worth the effort. Thanks for sharing your insights, Derek.
Wonderful take.
So, you define innovation as sharing what's amazing to others, no matter if it -typically-has become obvious to you.
My definition of leadership is to make what is obvious to you, obvious to others as well.
Then, the difference between creation and management occurs as the difference between the amazing and obvious.
I totally agree... but on the other side there is no stricter judge than ourselves... so things might be really tough when we like just to let an idea to fly away.
The more freedom you feel to share and spread things, the better feedback you get and you fine tune yourself
Somewhere inside everyone is something the world is waiting for!
We must not abort any dream. No one can get a genuine result without the exam. That's cool Dee!
Once again, your timing is amazing, Derek. Just this weekend, I was told of someone close to me who played one of my cd's side by side with one by an artist who is a musical inspiration to me. They shared that mine was better, which to me is bordering on blasphemy as I have always considered this person's piano playing perfect & beyond reach for my own emulation. The evolutionary growth of ideas, skills and any sort of extraordinary creation is unseen by any casual observer removed from the sweat equity &/or process. Therefore, we're continually blown away by what others have created, as we should be. And honestly, I feel good when such a sentiment is expressed about something I have created. Thanks for once again verbalizing a uniquely relevant sentiment.
Derek,
We are usually are own worse critics. As we may think our ideas, solutions, and so forth may not be worth anything, someone else might find it intriging.
We all have a special gift given to us by God and regardless what the world may think, our gifts, talents and so forth are presented to others to glorify Him.
Definitely, what's obvious to me is amazing to someone else and vice versa. Many simple ideas when got in work become great and wonderful projects and websites.
this is particularly true for music because normally we have been heavily influenced by one particular artist/musician.
Obviously I am a Genius. In my early stage of my live I've written songs, in '98 designed a ebook what apple has called ipad, '04 wrote 2 films ideas, 3some tv-commercials, in 2009 a children book and lately busy for apps for smartphones. The problem is the financial management for me. Will move soon to execute the smartphones app to SF. How to find a reliable partner with financial skills.
When Paul McC wrote 'Yesterday', he thought nothing of it... now it's the most covered song since Twinkle Twinkle by J.S. Bach or Happy Birthday by Anonymous...
Yeah....art and music are something that you just have to do it, and let other judge it. That's the magic!
and most of the time, when you do something and think it's a genius thing, people don't think the same, and that idea is just one more in the world..
But eureka moments are different.. the creator may also be at awe.
I knew a man who crafted a perfect song. He worked for years on that song and believed in it so strongly. I must adimit we was a great piece of work, but so removed and irrelevent that it never was appealing to anyone. We can get lost in our efforts. In any event the key maybe to move forward and look at each day as a learning lesson. Who knows, we all might get it right on any given day?
Great post, Derek, regarding the encouragement you give people to act on their ideas.
But ...
"Hit songwriters, in interviews, often admit that their most successful hit song was one they thought was just stupid, even not worth recording."
... the charts, anybody? Is it just me, or do "hits" often suck? Maybe some of them really ARE stupid. Obviously they were "worth" recording, financially, though!
So, are we talking art or commerce?
I'm not denying that the two sometimes combine, which is the mark of a true "hit" rather than just a chart no. 1.
But as for: "We should just put it out and let the world decide" ... I'm not sure that the decisions of the masses always reflect the greatest quality.
Maybe that's why some of the most talented artists are humble - in fact, they're usually the nicest.
Great observation I must say!!. Thanks for the thought.
No. Unfortunately, I usually have a thought I'm really excited about, but when I go forward with it, I find that someone else is working on the same thing. Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison had that problem too, it seems, so I can't feel awfully bad about it. Perhaps I'd do better if I just pronounced inanities.
Hit the nail on the head. I feel this way quite often. Great idea to just put it out there, believe in yourself, shove away the self doubt and just go for it. Always a pleasure Derek!
I woke up today from a very good night of rest frustrated from the reality of the fact my home office/work computer was and is still inoperable. I showered. Felt good. Dried off. Felt better. Got dressed while brushing my teeth, grabbed my things and made my way here out to what I call my day job. At least the computer still works here. And I logged on coming to your e-mailing, Derek, thinking resolutely what you were sending me was only for me after reading the subject line of such. Ooops! No, it was for every one. Still, I zipped in to see the portent and content of what was to be discussed. Very good ideas being discussed giving me a hint of honor of being included amongst this group of commentators. I am still looking for my niche with a strongheld belief the answer or answers to my query soon will find me. Hope all here have a great day and GOD Bless!
I remember J. Lennon's "nothing you can do that can't be done." Now, here is another idea for a song: "nothing you can see is too obvious." Thanks. You're amazing.
I have had this feeling about the work of others. I have just recently had it about my own music as I find that what others find good in my music: I have failed to recognize those tunes as any good. Upon rehearing them, I rediscover and appreciate them anew.Thanks, Derek.
This article shows why creative artists shouldn't live in isolation. We all need to keep throwing our ideas out there as we never know when we'll inspire others or when something they say or do inspires us to create something even bigger. Shared creativity builds on itself to an amazing degree.
Apply non-obvious thinking to what you think is obvious to produce the un-obvious
I have a few simple un-obvious rules to songwriting:
1) If you own tune doesn't make you cringe you are probably onto something.
2) Are the lyrics really as good as they could be i.e. you would never use musical clichés why use lyrical ones? be ruthless.
3) Does your own song make you feel anything? if not try again (see rules above)
rinse repeat!
I have just released my fifth album and sometime during the recording process, being totally saturated with the music, I ask myself why I wasted all of this time and money on such garbage. Later on, after the release. I get comments from total strangers about how great my music is, and I'm always amazed. This article really hits home for me and I'm sure for other artists in the same situation.
All the songs I wrote which have a true background, something I really experienced, and thus are important to me, nobody likes.
All the songs I made up, stuff I never experienced, but invented on top of my head, just for the sake of practicing writing a song, that's the songs everybody loves. Those are my hits!!
Derek,
Astute. Enjoyed. Thanks.
Sherrie
It isn't easy to hear these days (said the geezer), what with the extreme atomization of music genres these days, but hits tend to be a bit strange compared to what the 'normal' sound of that genre is. Consider the top 3-5 of any 'top hits' list- the differences aren't much or too much, but they are there. The evolution of music (well anything) is a slow, painful, conservative business. If you don't believe this, listen to the avant end of things. Tiny audience. Few survivors. Most fun you can have. A scavanger's delight. Remember what Picasso said- good artist's borrow, great artists STEAL. And given that we are headed back to a pre IP world, things are about to get Middle Agey (or postmodern corporate fuedalist) in this aspect. For example: The Play of David (proto proto opera) from the 13th Century which was written by students at the Cathedral of St. Beauvais. Nobody really knows who the students were. Does it matter? Stunning piece of creativity. It's a corollary of Derek's main point, but if you knew that people would be listening to a track you did now in the 28th Century, but no one knew you did it, and you earned $10 on it now, or layed out some bucks and got nothing back, or the corporate owner of the server it was found on got the credit, would you still go ahead with it? Is credit important to you, or is the moment of creation that matters? This isn't meant to be a thread hijack, just askin'.
"...leaving dought to fate, staying out too late, waiting for the moon to say goodnight....",excerpt from willie nelson's, "nothin i can do about it now"
That is obviously profound and genious!!
I also struggle with this feeling quite frequently.
But I'm pleased with finding very little progress in my work.
John Coltrane DID feel that way! He was quoted as saying that he was always afraid that his licks sounded like exercises. He practiced for like 8-13 hours a day and he utilized any exercise he could find and so he worried that it was obvious to the listeners that what he played stemmed from those exercises.
"we're not certain who discovered water but we are pretty sure it wasn't the fish"
Sometimes it can be quite the opposite; my husband thinks he comes up with quite insightful ideas all the time. Not necessarily so.
Great observation!!! Thanks for sharing this very optimistic viewpoint!
I think if you put your music out into the world, there will be at least ONE person who likes it, and appreciates it. And if your music moves and connects with even ONE person, it is successful.
so captain amazing has a twin brother?
.~.
Hey Derek,once agian profound words of wisdom derived from experience! I've been fighting that doubt demon for quite a few years. your right just go on and do it and see how it's accepted ,because if you don't do you'll always wonder.Thanks for the insight,"Q"
Absolutely right on! I have noticed that ordinary people do extra-ordinary things all the time. Which usually combines with being in the right place at the right time to equal something amazing.
I wonder what rocket scientists say instead of "it's not rocket science."
I'm simply learning that I'm ever evolving into another perfection of my imperfect self.
Thanks Derek. I've recently been playing a small acoustic gig once a week or so. I've been playing guitar before I can remember. Playing different styles (country, rock, folk, blues, etc...) comes pretty natural to me. People always seem to enjoy my gigs (strangers mind you, sometimes your friends are not the best critics), the tip bucket gets hit really good at times, but when I listen to the playback (I try to capture every gig) it always sounds so plain and uninspired. I always think, "I wonder what they think is so good?" Then when I hear other great acoustic acts, I feel like I'm wasting my time. Don't get me wrong, I think you can learn something from everyone and should always look for new ways to grow, but I'm going to try not being to hard on myself for being me from now own. Thanks for your little reminders.
Amen. I think our only job in this life is to be fully who WE are - in our movements, our creations, our private and public lives - to be honest in all we do. And if some of that is helpful, loved and/or embraced by others, great! If not, then not. I think it is only in being our "obvious" selves that those ideas of ours that need to reach others will reach those others well. Contrived and packaged concepts are not only often phony, but their inauthenticity is clear and even IF it catches on somewhere, it probably won't for long. Our obviousness is our preciousness.
Thanks for the post and for spurring on what I think is a very important conversation.
Warmly,
Heather
What a fantastic blog, love it! Thanks Derek!
I have to say I am always amazed by my ideas but really feel that it is coming from an ethereal place and not my own brain. I am a firm believer these great ideas are out there for the taking but only the bravely creative who take the time to use their craft to their advantage become great. So part divine/part human brilliance in my opinion for what it's worth.
Blessings to all of you on your creative journey. I have learned the more years I write, the better I get at crafting these floating ideas.
Kim Yarson
True That!
Hey Derek!!
I agree with Richard Fegnman.....it's curiosity that we just have to quench... so many things , beautiful things, to discouver....!!
Can't 'hep' it....
Rachel
Derek,
I so get this now, I'm going to start sharing more of my obvious with others... and hope to AMAZE them.
Yes, humility is a beautiful thing!
However, the other side of that coin would be; artists who consider all of their own work to be absolute genius, while somehow the world regards it as nothing more than "OBVIOUS"
Yet another lesson to be learned.
True. I remember reading Paul McCartney thought "Hey Jude" would crash and burn, and that "octopus Garden" would be huge hit..ya just never know.
Irving Berlin was a very successful composer. Going through a list of all his songs there are some highly successful songs and there are some really awful song.
So I think what that means is you will have some hits and misses, but continue the creative process.
Derek! you mentioned John Coltrane, I herd a most amazing story about him that's right in line what you are talking about. A young lady came up to Mr.Coltrane and ask if he would play from the charts she had of a very complex solo, he looked at it and said, I can't play this, its all over the place, it looks way to complicated to just play off the top of my head, she reply, Mr.Coltrane, this is one of your solo's from one of your recordings I transcribed. a clear case of a very humble man not recognizing his own genius.
Do you know what makes a man a genius? The ability to see the obvious.--Charles McCarry
The obvious conclusion "My stuff could be more interesting to others than I think" might motivate you. But feeling comfortable with yourself doesn't lead you anywhere. I find the negative conclusion much more important: "My apparently ingenious stuff could actually suck! Let's try harder before publishing it!". Coltrane did work reeeeeeal hard!!
I would never thought of that
indeed, it's ingenuous! ... but, seriously .... it was really insightful! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Derek,
Ah! Creativity...! Now you are speaking my language, and thanks for the reminders. May I pass this along to my online Yahoo group Creative Path Explorers? I became a student of Julia Cameron's Artist's Way a long time ago, but I didn't start writing my own songs until I was about 50. That was 10 years ago. Everyone has a creative contribution to make, and we should not be afraid to go ahead and make it. I just got off the phone with a guy who is in his mid 80's who just took up singing 4 years ago. It takes guts to do that. [Yes, I can hear younger readers of this comment snickering], but it is never too late to begin. Thanks again, Derek for honoring that for all of us. By the way, I love the picture of Einstein. He had a great deal to say about creativity.
Yvonne
Lately I think everything I do is stupid, if I’m right then I’m a moron; if I’m wrong, then I’m a genius?...........sounds like the Three Stooges :()
If I think everything I do is stupid, then,what if everyone agrees with me?
Hi Derek - here's my take on it:
We overlook the things we're gifted at, simply because we think it's so obvious. In fact, when someone else responds as they did to you ("that's amazing, why didn't I think of that?") our retort is often: "doesn't everyone do it that way? It seems so obvious!"
That's what makes it a gift. It's so easy for us that we don't even think of it as work.
That's one reason why rehearsal is so important. We have to do something enough times that it comes naturally, whether that's playing, singing, writing, etc. (and it applies equally to other careers as well).
One of my favorite quotes, and I'm sorry I can't attribute it properly, but I saw it in Reader's Digest, is: "Practice does not make perfect. It's not intended to make things perfect. What it IS intended to do is increase our repertoire of ways to recover when we make a mistake."
In fact, I think I'm going to write my next blog about that . . . in the meantime, keep up the good work!
Brother Dan
www.brotherdanpalmer.com
http://brotherdanpalmer.blogspot.com
Thanks Derek. I have these fellings quite a bit and there are many songs that I do not perform anymore that I feel I have grown out of. This blog has inspired me to bring some of those songs back to the surface to see how others perceive them.
Cheers,
Patrick
Oh so very true - thank you so much for this, it is exactly what I needed today as I was struggling for content ideas! A very timely reminder that what seems trivial and obvious to me is perfect fodder for blog or newsletter content... ;)
i have a song called nitrous oxide that only gets a few thousand views on Youtube and I really think the song is very good.But the song I think is a "b" side song called "BrothermanBill" gets nearly 30,000 views so I definitely understand the irony.
That article was obvious
-- Derek
I know. I almost didn't publish it, because I thought it was too obvious. Then realized the meta-irony of that.
The saddest thing for the universe is the humbled or intimidated artist. We are all diminished by what is left unexpressed.
Remember.... it does not have to be "magnificent," or even be "complete"... it just has to "be."
So true, so true. I Love the thing I do. Sometimes even other people Love it, too!!!! ~Pastor Lynn
Thanks I needed that....
The real kicker is when you blew off a brilliant quirky idea you had and later see it in a museum and realize, had you only believed in your vision, it might have been you getting the recognition.
This exactly what drives indie music.
Steve Jobs couldnt see the genius in great indie music.
Maybe he ain't so smart after all.
years ago, as a musical comedian, it was the songs that I thought that would never work which was the one that got me the most recognition... same in music. A little ditty I wrote in 30 mins for a listing, has been placed on many ads, shows. So I never take for granted what I am writing... and then I ask my 13 year old what she thinks!
On time as usual!
I'll echo the appreciation for your timeliness. : ) I think it speaks to how connected we really are in thought and impression.
A hit song becomes so because we relate to it or share a laugh or good feeling.
I have definately met those geniuses! In the mean time I have put out many, many projects from visual art shows, 3 theatrical one-man shows (just finishing writing another one) 9 original music albums (the last 13 years) created a new stand up act and many other trips to emotional heaven and hell...I'm currently writing and directing vignettes for "Families Act"(.org)guerilly theater to help stop/decrease the incarcerations of the mentally ill.
Thank you, Derek. I think one of the biggest disservices we do ourselves happens when we judge our work, whatever that is, to be not good enough before we even start it. I wonder how many beautiful ideas have died on the vine because we edit our inspirations out of existence before they have a chance to draw one breath. It would be a fun exercise to practice writing it, drawing it, shaping it, making it, recording it - create first, edit later - and see what flows out if we temporarily disengage our "undo" buttons - just for a day.
A beautiful, positive thought.
What a great inspiring thought! Thanks Derek.
This topic remember me in class, and my teacher speaking about propaganda and Marketing tecnics to sell products: "... when you are most obvious is possible, more easy for peoples buy your idea...." She said.
I definitely agree, except for the part about Coltrane and Feynman. Overall I think that the greats are great ones in part because they learn bypass this particular mental disease. You don't get to play like that without learning to love and accept your own musical voice.
Also, I don't think your insight is that special because I've thought the same thing.
I've always believed in:
Create - Produce - Put it out there!
Wow! That is ME in a nutshell!! Thanks for the slap!
Another problem that I´v experienced is friends -who by not knowing or not mean to be mean, sink your self-confidence by stupid comments/jokes like "How much do I have to pay you for not hearing your music!"
They -by just knowing you to well, make fun of your works. Thats way I always say that your target group is not your friends, because they are too close to you and for that they never see your works with wide eyes.
I might be wrong but that´s what I´v seen.
yes it makes a lot of sense.Thanks.
@Chuck Anderson: that does make a lot of sense !
thats true. very inspirational.
Thanks my friend. I'm in the middle of a long overdue writing phase now and have found myself wanting to trash many new ideas. Until yesterday, when I made myself just write something down, whether I thought the idea was "stupid" or not. It was like somebody took the handcuffs off. Your article today confirms what my subconscious mind was telling me. I.E., My job is to "push the pen", so just DO it!!
I get this a lot; I call it "The Voice." It usually comes out when you're performing in front of people or working really hard to get something just right. I believe this is part of what turn some people away from creative activities. How many times have you heard someone say "I can't play an instrument, or I can't draw." I believe that they can if they want to and if the activity speaks to you, it's in your soul. Even for those who do create, this same voice is there, telling you you're not good enough or catchy enough or that you'll never get anywhere. You really have to work at silencing the voice, but it's never gone and it will come back when you least expect it, usually when your performance quality is critical. I think its a way of over-critiquing yourself to keep you modest.
Hi Derek,
Firstly,best wishes to you and your lovely wife.Yes we are all receptive to the same thoughts and ideas and discard something that at first seems good as unworkable nonsense.You've said what we all end up doing.Perhaps we should ask the cosmos for guidance and give ourselves more credit as creative musicians and writers.
I play my guitar, my fiddle, my banjo, mostly badly.
I'm a stick in the mud, always have been, always will be :D .
Hi Derek! John Coltrane never thought that what he was doing was obvious but he was happy to see more and more people coming out to ENJOY his music live. In the day, I did press, some mgmt, and ran road-errands for 'Trane, Roy Haynes, Eric Dolphy, etc.
Derek,
Amazingly true I happen to be a very tough critic of my music and the songs I write and maybe it is time I start putting out all that music I have written over the years that is collecting dust in boxes. Thank you for the article very motivated now. Check me out in youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=764qxpmVC-o
Juan Miguel
It seems obvious to me that commercial radio in the US, and other countries too for that matter, should not confine their music lists to the same old, same old songs, over and over and over again. That very notion is what has inspired a streaming music website featuring LOCAL, indie and unsigned artists playing their original recordings exclusively. Its now in its 6th year at www.MusicTampaBay.com.
This is so so true! My producer musician friend in California gave me a track of his. He said he was about to erase and scratch the whole thing, he didn't think it was worth saving. I had just spent the whole day at the beach and had finished writing this song called Chillin n Summertime.When he showed me the track. I listened to it and it matched the melody I had for Chillin n summertime almost exactly. I told him lets do this song to it. The song was finished in a few days, done deal.It has been one of the most favered of all my songs.
I'm sure this is true to a large degree as we're all born differently, and have different perspectives. I remember a comment by Brian Wilson when many regarded his work as a "genius" at what he did, was that he said (something to the effect) he never tried to take too much credit for what he did as he felt he was guided by "higher powers" as he was creating his work. I suppose if we're able to tap into mixing our own perspectives with those of the "higher powers," perhaps the sky could be the limit and we might surprise ourselves as well as others...if we're fortunate enough to be able to do that...
Very Best Regards,
George
Agreed. Many years ago I taped a note on the front of my multi-track "don't tear it apart until it's done" - I needed a blatant reminder to quell my internal negative critiques, otherwise I'd never finish anything because much of what I created didn't meet my idea of what was 'good'
The goal of the note was to a make me at least finish things instead of having piles of in-progress work. You see, my brain usually gets bored with things before they are finished.
Your message takes it even further to show how often our self-valuations can be the very hindrance to a consistent output. The irony is that a consistent output is almost always a common trait among those who've succeeded in creative vocations, it’s not usually that they found success from one perfect piece. Still, it's hard to keep believing and dreaming when nothing we do seems spectacular enough to ourselves.
For the extreme creatives in this world, simply grasping this concept won't necessarily make the challenge of believing in yourself any easier when things are hard and money is tight. These kinds of thoughts are what I hear most from struggling artists:
‘What am I doing with my life?’
‘Will this ever amount to anything?’
‘Shouldn’t I just face the fact that I am not destined to do great things and get on with a regular life?’
‘Why did I ever think I had something special in the first place?’
‘It’s not about talent or hard work, it’s who you know and how much you money you can risk. I don’t know anyone in high places or have any money to risk so I should quit dreaming and get a real job”
Therefore, your point here Derek is good to remember when you're ready to chuck your self-determined silly self-expressions in the outtake bin just because you don't see the magic in your own discoveries...
I learned the hard way that the songs most people request me to sing are often those which I am least excited about, but their excitement can enthrall me in unexpected ways! I discovered that I enjoy that surprise and feedback because it helps me rediscover special things about even my simplest work. Plus, it is just as rewarding than the pats on the back that I give to myself when I feel I’ve created a masterpiece. The magic is in the exchange.
Derek - sure enough! I've definitely felt this way before. (ie. I almost DIED from inspiration when I went to see the Facebook movie) lol! Thanks for the post - you're great!
Hey Derek - thanks for asking. I actually AM holding stuff back for just that reason!
(Who knew?) Thanks a hundred times for the "little stories".
This runs counter to the "Curse of Knowledge". The Curse of Knowledge is when we know something and BELIEVE everyone else should know it to - but they don't. Because of this, we often brush them off or talk about things that sail over other's heads.
That can be the negative way this kind of circumstance can effect you.
I like the idea of taking the judgment out of evaluating your ideas and work. Each time I am blown away by someone's ideas it's because they did something that I would pass off as nothing special. The most magical thing is when someone actually goes ahead does it, and especially does it well.
Derek - You are right on the money. I recently wrote a horror novel called "Darkened Hills" and even created a blog at www.DarkenedHills.com, however, I just assumed people would find it. Although it was obvious to me that it would be a great book to read, I have to let others know. Thanks for sharing the wisdom Derek. You are an inspiration to us.
wow!must say while reading this all was a doing smiling..great feeling like it.keep trowing it bro much love..
100%. I just realized that the other day actually. No coincidence I got his post in my inbox. Email from God.
Yes yes and yes. Thank you Derek for the gentle push. I was thinking about songwriting and people's inspiration for that medium - and mine, which is....?
Derek, this particular thesis has resonated with me lately. But then again I always feel that way about your writings. But someone I trust very much said as much recently, she said and I paraphrase,"I know all this seems obvious to you. But you should know that this is an amazing concept and you should make it happen."
I work at keeping inspiring, creative, thoughtful, energetic, inventive people close to me. Their conversations are exalting.
Though I feel I have little to offer, I encourage them to continue and as they do I'm elevated.
Thanks for stating what may have been obvious to you.
Along the lines of the philosophical question, "If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make any noise." Great "food for thought" and conversation. Thank you for the inspiration and the sharing your brilliance with the world.
Put it in another way by Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘It is a luxury to be understood.’
So what's obvious to you....
Derek, I loved this piece! I find a hint of this in my photography. I struggle with a picture, make what I think is a mess of it and with some embarrassment show it to some friends and the love it. Go figure. Then of course there are just as many I'm proud of and people are all "That's nice." LOL!
Great observation! Thanks for putting it out there. What we should all remember is that creativity and genius take so many forms--we're all unique. That's what makes this world a beautiful place. Keeping an open mind and encouraging attitude just might help us all to share more of what we have--whether we *think* we have it or not! This post and thread is a bright spot at the end of my long day! Thank you all!
As a writer, i know exactly what this feeling is. One of my major issues in terms of my writing, is the confidence i have in the material i actually write. We are our own worst critics... but with time and practice you begin to flesh it out and most importantly, you begin to believe. Awesome article! =)
Thanks to the internet, I can cross-check my ideas before I go further with them. A lot of the time, someone else has already come up with a similar idea. Therefore, I can't be too brilliant. By the same token, I don't envy university professors having to examine graduate theses. Originality of ideas is not easy to determine, these days, compared to 20 years ago.
Outstanding point!
This is like the flip side to the "blank canvas." It's the reason to paint the picture.
Your ideas always seem obvious to me after I've heard them. But before I've heard them, I couldn't have thought of them in a million years. You are a revolutionary, who has shown how to be successful while empowering others. Thank you for that.
this question need a freakinanswer. but i don't know how to write freak, i don't even like plato. just 3 words: parker & woody guthrie.
It reminds me of another quip "The bleedin' obvious is never so until stated"
Derek,your ideas, perspectives and suggestions are an inspiration. Your book reviews motivated me to gift one to my son. Thanks for making what might be obvious to you available to those of us who sometimes don't "have a clue".
Good point Derek. Your tedtalk on the 'lone nut' is a good example by the way. I show it often to groups and after they laugh people often acknowledge the several profound messages in that short piece.
Very encouraging insight! Thank you!
My problem is just the opposite: my brilliant ideas draw baffling looks or derision. From now on, I'll just apply for patents on my ideas, and sue the shit out of people who try to implement them.
Love this post Derek. Thanks a million for sharing the link via email
i really appreciate this web page.
thanks to derek......
Derek,
I never would have thought of that.
How did you even come up with that?
It's genius!
Yep, I agree!
Good point. And, yes, I do have something I've never shared but I'm working on it!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Paul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
^^^ The more you know you know about something, the less you think you know about something. The less you know about something, the more you think you know about it :P
Thats why high school guitar shredders think they know everything about music but university music majors think they know nothing. Also I think its a similar reason why people think their ideas are stupid.
it's not about whats obvious, it's about having the guts to follow it through.
Your insights are always welcome and incredibly inspiring! Thank you.
It's true. The brilliant ones are simply those who let it happen.
I know what you are saying! And each person has ideas about genius and non genius ,Just let it happen and engross yourself so completely that you just do it and then step away and return later and listen again! It is amazing how much better it sounds then once detached from it! Also your intentions in the music are very important! Thanks and have a great holiday!! Dennis aka DenRA Proffitt
Many times it puzzled me how brilliant/diabolic ideas came in.
I've never given a lot of thought to this subject but it's very true what you're saying, Derek. I often feel the same way when I have an idea. Your post is thought-provoking, seems weird I've never given the subject a lot of thought.
I'm currently producing a album of myself and the Clinch Mountain Boys. I wrote a poem about Rabbit Dogs and thought it would be a spoken word kind of thing, but we laid it over one of my slow Deadwood style ballads and everything lined up perfectly and sounds like it was meant to be. It was a beautiful accident. People are going to think it's brilliant I'd bet, but it was random stars being aligned.
Every time I record myself (music), I back away some thinking "Who cares - it's been done before". Perhaps your little peptalk can change my angle....
Yes it is true that your own work is just simple to you.
Look at Beethoven and how his music inspired so many people and he was just doing his thing.
But we still must be humble of your selfs and let other people blow your horn. This is the way we go amongst each other and what is most accepted. Take the great artist like Melanie she has become great by just being true to herself and she has stayed just like everyone else she truly is an amazing person.
Good post as usual! Imagine how many amazing things, ideas and products that never comes to life due to this fact.
As you say, everybody needs to put it out there, to let someone else to judge.
I agree derek when I came up with drum line for smooth operator eg:sade it was because I couldn't play a bossa that well and it didn't fit to be honest so I simplified it. 28 years later it is the song and that beat that remains so strong. Cheers Paul Cooke
Well, I for one always thought it obvious that one's own ideas seem obvious.
Thank you for pointing this out. Such a vital thing to discuss.
This is a very nice text, that even moves me. Thanks Derek
As always, keen insight from a creative and business genius. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely! How often do we as musicians take our art for granted!
you know, religions generally espouse service as one of the highest goals, next to love of God, and sharing our loving thoughts (be they ideas, revelations, art) is a service to others. whether another consciously recognizes us as the source of an amazing revelation or not, we give whenever we are brave enough to open up. giving self-doubt the upper hand to stay our voices serves no one. you are reminding us all that we can each be great. what a big, courageous heart you have.
thanks for this derek...beautiful! i so appreciate your orginality and uniqueness as i do my own and everybody else's distinct individuality..wow! love being a conscious creator and will continue to share my art, music and poetry with the world...! yahoo!
This has been so helpful Just reading it reminds me of the truth of it. Thanks for circulating
it is true....but for me the experience far exceeds anyone's opinions INCLUDING MY OWN. I would rather work my way through a troubled attempt at creativity or almost fail and pull something out which puts it all together TO ME than the simple success that others might enjoy as well. I always feel these "successes" let me down. Sorry for the negativity.
I'll just do really obvious stuff from now on!
Thanks for putting this into words Derek - a great reminder that (really) being ourselves is enough.
Jokes! I was thinking and talking to a fellow producer/songwriter about this same thing. Its obvious now that this must happen all the time! Cheers for the blog Derek!
Thanks Derek.
Yes, the obvious is limitless.....
Tom Acton
Yea... I'm a freakin' genius.
Bravo Derek, It's so simple, just like most of genius ideas throughout the history.
I had some comments about this but probably the same thing everyone else is thinking.
: )
Makes me think of a saying I have held true. In life if you get 5 people saying something is great, trust me it is. On the other hand you get 5 people who say something is bad, it is.
i agree for sure.. i have found that some of the best songs i have written just popped up seemingly out of nowhere.. it's almost as if they write themselves.. i remember reading that paul mccartney originally was singing "scrambled eggs" to a melody that was taking shape in his mind.. well.. scrambled eggs somehow became "yesterday" !! you gotta love it!! (:
You've convinced me, Derek! I'll go look for a songwriter for my lyrics... er, any of Derek's fan?
Or is there a way for a non-instrument player to compose music?
Keep on sharing your inspirations and your thoughts, my friend!
Thanks, Derek. Glad you forwarded this to me. Cory and I have had this discussion. Its a big deal in what we do. This subject is a real can of worms... it seems so few have found the balance of esteeming themselves rightly. They either don't appreciate themselves enough, or they do a little too much. I think I'd rather fall into the category of "my innovations are not that big of a deal". Don't worry, we'll still be sharing them with the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!
That's really true !!!
You make a really good point Derek. I sometimes re-record or remix songs because there is something I think I could've done better but it's likely that in some cases, I over-analyze what I'm doing. That's why I always get a friend to listen to my tunes and give me a "second opinion".
So true.
I have a very hard time being objective about my singing.
Oddly people seem to like some of our songs the best where I think my my singing leaves the most to be desired.
In fact I was finally convinced by several people to release a single I thought I sounded pretty mediocre in and it sold two downloads the first day it came out.
That has never happened before.
Happy bird day all!!
Thanks Derek, what holds us back is often the hassles we get in trying to "share" and not lose our shirts in the process! Creativity is one thing, marketing is a whole other playing field, not one we all love to engage in. It's often the venue of mean spirited types who crush our "little stories/creations" and our sensitive spirits, despite our adoring fans. Your post helps us to be a little bolder and braver....thank you for the reminder.
Derek,
"So maybe what's obvious to me is amazing to someone else?" I agree. It was a real wake-up call when the one song I did not expect to work became a hit.
Thank you for sharing. Today is Thanksgiving and I thank you for starting this morning on a good and positive note ;)
I couldn't agree more. A friend of mine was complaining about what she had done wrong, and I stated that she'd know how to handle things the next time. As usual, I didn't give my comment a thought, but she appreciated it. One never knows how vital words can be!
Somtimes I think that everything I do sounds the same. I'll try a different key, different timing, different lyrics, open tuning, standard tuning, etc. yet still have those thoughts. Boring! Seems like I am trapped in my own little world and can't get out. Thanks for pulling back the veil for a glimpse of the real world.
I love the saying/quote, "You are never given a dream without also being given the means to make it come true". I believe this is because, for myself to have a new fresh idea, I first had to see all the elements dance around me in hidden places waiting for the moment I combine them without my knowledge of where "they" came from.
When someone blows my mind I totally admit jealousy on some level, but I also understand that the reason I "would have never thought of that" is because I wasn't at the christmas party in '82 where todd fell off the ladder and I didn't watch the t.v. show in '86 where the host said, "XYZ" and for sure I couldn't have ever said it like that because "that girl" didn't break my heart... she broke "his".
Very cool post. Often I feel this way about my screenplays, and so never make them into films. I think I will revisit a few ideas and perhaps run them by someone else for perspective.
my live, being here and making music is to me very obviou's.
It is the way i want to live my life, becouse it is mine to live.
it is not to others to decide how i should live mylife, ore how i should behave, its me, take it ore leave it.
sorry my mouse clicked twice, Derrek, you can leave 1 comment and erase the second.
Songwriter/Jazz musician Benny Golson once spoke about the time he fell asleep and dreamt about an inspirational melody line..he awoke in a start and rushed downstairs before he forgot it and worked on it at the piano until the morning hours...after some 6 hrs he suddenly realised "Hey, hang on a minute...i've heard this before!"
It was actually a piece written by some OTHER great composer.
He started to laugh .
Yes, you are absolutely right Derek. It's basic humility, sadly lacking today.
Even Wes Montgomery felt everyone else was better, that he was nothing special and couldn't fathom why his playing was admired.
Derek i love your words. I read this post this morning. And since then i've told 3 persons that it is genius!
It think it is important to act on simplicity, to many times i don't.
Thanks for the insight.
Once in a great while I manage to do something with music that's really primo - - I know it,& if anyone's listening they may know it too. All the rest of the many hours I practice is to me necessary crap to get those few minutes of excellence. I consider it a reasonably equitable trade. I own those moments, they're not for sale & that's payment enough. "Here today, gone forever, only to appear in another form" (an insight by an incredibly gifted guitar player Klaus Lendsian who left the planet much too soon, but really got-it(whatever "it" is.)before leaving. As to "Genius" being a requisite, Possible, but unlikely, lots of times intellect gets in the way of creativity, not always but often enough to be aware of imposed limitations when trying to be creative. Letting vs trying seems to be a more productive approach. Accidents happen, Hallelujah!!
my friend just told me this story:
every day a man passed another man that was sitting with a sign that said "i'm blind". after a few days he asked; "can i please write something on your sign? i promise it is something good."
after a few days, he met the blind man again. "what did you write? people are coming up to me like never before."
i just added two words.
it's spring
i'm blind
My problem is the opposite. I think every idea I have is brilliant. So apparently they're obvious to everyone else.
thank you Derek...wemneed mto encouragem wach other with our creativity. It can stir in the wee small hours of the morning..much love Sheila xo
Right on, Derek as usual!
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I recognize this in my own work. Iam a mime artist and one of my funniest work came out of joking...
We should give "silly ideas" more ofte a try!
Hi Derek,
Thanks so much for your great thoughts - always sooo inspiring!
Happy Thanksgiving ~
Therese
Very nice and very true... Good vibes are surrounded by this. Very good observation, and we always can't forget that everyone has an opinion and you mustn't listen to one person but rather yr insides. Keep going. I will be quoting this on my blog.
Very well said Derek, thank you for sharing this simple yet honest and poignant thought!
Very inspiring!
melissa...
We're really bad at judging what is inside our minds. We're ourselves our entire lives, then we're completely used with all aspects of our brains. So, it's natural that even our most brilliant idea seems obvious for us.
As it's almost impossible to make a good judgement of your own ideas, I think if you have something you really believe, it worths to spread the idea. Let others judge its value, as you aren't capable of doing an acurate job on that anyway.
Additionaly, I have an interesting story about saying the obvious.
A company with aproximately 70% of the potato chips market on Brazil saw this market share decreases when another company included "No cholesterol" on the pack of its potato chips.
But the fact is all potato chips are free of cholesterol, althought the consumer don't know this. In the end, the company which said the obvious (potato chips don't have cholesterol) had its market share increased just because of this.
Yes, very nice thought! I agree with you. How to unleash our creative work from overly stringent self examination( or elemination ) process is something crucial.
Two things came to mind in reading your missive.
"The nobler a man the harder it is form to suspect inferiority in others." from Ad Quintum Fratrem.
I think maybe you are a nobler man.
2nd is the Dunning-Krueger effect on us all. What you say is the inverse but they are related.
All the good to you my friend.
This is so true actually
Agreed! And, who are we to judge an idea we have? Ideas come from that wonderful, magical place of imagination and can only come when we're open and listening, which isn't always an easy place to stay. So, any ideas we have are worthy! I'm saying this to myself more than all of you. Just put it out there because someone will be glad you did. xo
I have the opposite problem -- I think my ideas are genius, because obviously, they are.
The problem is, everyone else just looks puzzled, and some even suggest I try to be a little more conventional. Da noive o' deze guys!
I wonder.... writing books for children, it often needs only a line I read somewhere or seeing something just for a fleeting moment, and a story is there, I never think about it's being brillant or not, just let it unfold itself... As many people there are in this world, as many brillant ideas may be conceived and some will get fame, if a lot of people think together 'this has been a good one'!
This does seem to be most often the case, but occasionally my damned sometimes-admittedly-over-inflated-ego says "I have something here"...the hard part seems to be realizing the idea into fruition...and, sometimes it seems like a complicated number of steps needs to be taken to turn it into something realizable...I would love to share with you what I'm working on for your feedback and the benefit of your experience.
Yes, very true. In fact, I would have been one of the Beatles if my parents hadn't had me.
Thank you for this article. It is very inspiring and simply genius (although you may not see it that way).
Obvious and brilliant are not necessarily mutually exclusive! Thanks for the posting.
Great take on perception and what may be an inherent bias among creative types and expression. Maybe also how it fits within competition and scarcity, or even the idea (or debate) of creativity and or creative skills being hierarchical.
Personally I always find the best of new things or thoughts or developments or whatever to be those which cause me to slap my head and exclaim "That's brilliant! It's so obvious!". I find myself being constantly amazed that nobody ever thought of THAT-whatever it may be- before. One of life's joys.
So true... so true... And so funny...
Let go and let live and let the rest take care of itself... Our judging ourselves only hinders our growth...
Thanks Derek!
I think with songwriting, the more you do it; the better you get. A thousand songs before you write a masterpiece? Taken from the fact that Picasso painted 1000 paintings before he was recognized as a great artist.
I know the feeling but I also know that feeling when I stun myself with a thought that comes ripping out of the darkness.
Amazing synchronicity, Derek! Today I received my 3rd email from someone, making this very same compliment about the songs from my band's new CD. This is a first for me. It was good to hear you put it all in perspective
Keep up the great work,
-Alicia
Many simple ideas when got in work become great and wonderful projects and websites. Obviously, what's obvious to me is amazing to someone.
An astute observation. I wish I'd thought of that...
- Chip QNP
Intuitive as always. Keep cutting to the heart of the matter!
Found you through Karol Gajda, and wow, what a great post!
I'm sending this one on to others! Nice job!
Quite an inspiring post
Great post - actually brilliant. It really makes you appreciate yourself and your own thoughts. Thank you for writing it!
So true. I'm always thinking everyone else is profound, I just say what I'm thinking. It's always a shock when someone else is blown away by what I write. Thanks for pointing out that all of our contributions are valuable.
Often others see things in our creations that we don't see. The unique spirit of the individual should be tapped with good intentions only by others and those who don't should be regarded with indignation and utter disrespect.
Onda! very nice. lots of good generated by that.
Buena Onda, hombre!
JUST HAD A THOUGHT.
in 2001 and the song isn,t on my website- irish singer-ballet-art and violin.
the lrics are and before i write them we do it everyday that we did NPOT in 2001
I do pre determined art THESE ARE PRE DETERMIND LYRICS
JUST A LETTER
AS SHE WIPES THE BOARD CLEAN
okay just been watching gadget show-wipes the board clean.. hmm MOBILE PHONE AND TABLET APPLICATIONS OFCOURSE
SO I DON,T JUST PAINT VOLCANOES, FLOODS IN INDIA OR DIANA LETTERS PRE
love this.
always good to be reminded...
how true
thanks for sharing
I heard that Bob Dylan, prior to becoming a song writer, borrowed hundreds of rare albums, and listened to them Ad infinitum, to increase his musical and creative knowledge base. I also heard Ringo say that when they first went into Abbey Road studios, that the group would take ten or twenty takes of their new songs to hone their music to its polished end.
An Art teacher once told me that there is a craft to art, but art is craftsmanship that is taken to a higher level. What comprises that artistry is what makes an artist rendition of a piece of music, different from a cover band composition that plays a song note for note. Derek has created a huge format for craftsmen and craftsladies to roam around and feel the finished works as they appear to others, and not just in a shoebox in some hall closet. Thanks Derek
Thanks Derek - I needed to hear that - to your point, very simple, yet not obvious to everyone!!
Sonia
Very true.
Most people hold back because of the fear of rejection / ridicule. Overcoming that is almost essential, to do just about anything in life.
good post...
j
An astute reminder that we are not always the best judge of ourselves, or our work.
Thanks, Derek.
Aw...it's nothing.
Great reminder! As I look to expand my work out into the world more, I can stop myself by thinking of how many other "big name" people there are doing the work I do, speaking of the same things, wondering what if anything new I'd have to share. Then I remember, that the new thing I bring to the table is ME, and no one else can truly come from that perspective.
As a musician (saxophonist) I have this thought often. I listen to a song with a great sax solo like Take a Walk on the Wild Side or Girl from Ipanema and think "if I had that same space and time, I wouldn't have gotten close to anything that good".
I have similar thoughts about our product, the Kore Series at MusickEd.com. I think it's an amazing product yet it has been tough to get to the tipping point. Maybe I need to revisit it space and time?
Derek,
Good thought!
We sometimes get stuck in ideas of false humility. I could never accomplish anything, I am only a stupid man.
But God created us to be better than that. He gave us free will and an intellect that can choose and be creative. Our creative thoughts and ideas and songs and guitar arrangements are a reflection of His creative being. Though small in comparison, if channeled correctly, they always point back to Him as the source.
john p
I can totally relate to this and I never saw it that way. Thank you!
Very interesting insight. What is important is to have ideas. It doesn't matter if they look ordinary to oneself!
GREAT point, Derek. T thanks for opening my eyes (and ears) to this thought, as it caused me to evaluate a current recording project with new insight. You are a treasure, sir. Wilson.
well, as much as i write, i feel i don't know how to do something new and still interesting, but when i read my writings after some time, usually i think something like that: "it was really me who wrote that... nice"
i think that there is an inner power in the creating process that it's always surprising
thanks Derek!
Good point! Happened to me more than once!
Brilliant!! That's one of the keys one needs if one is to be successful with any creative endeavor. You are usually your worst critic. Everyone who experiences whatever type of work you do has a whole new and different set of senses other than yours.
Quite profound!
One of the biggest hindrances to great innovations!
You must agree with me that for this simple reason many great books, thoughts, ideas, songs, even postulations die unpublished in the waste basket! 'cos they look stupid, plain or uninsightful to the author!
Thanks Derek, this has thought me to give most of my ideas a chance to be judged by others!
One of the most difficult things for an artist is to believe in yourself. What we "make up" could never be as good as the creations of a "real artist." Thanks Derek for putting this out there. Never apologize for your creative efforts, especially if someone gives you a compliment. Just smile and keep on trying.
Reading this for the 10th time.this article just touches my heart.
In 2005 I started publishing my work on iTunes via CD Baby. Just about ALL of it.. I called this the "Luna Muse" or crazy inspiration principle. The intention was just to let it all out there and see what grew wings. Consequently, I have found that human beings have absurdly eclectic tastes and most can't tell the difference (or care about) between a cheap home recording or a superbly produced, professional production - at least the handful of strange folks who dig my stuff.
So I continued to record and release material throughout the decade. On that note, last week I released my 16th solo album entitled: Autumn Chronicle, Vol. II. It consitutes the latest chapter and archival release in an ongoing Jersey Shore saga.
Like my other solo releases, Autumn Chronicle Volume II is my latest batch of demos, live recordings, improvisations, serious goofing, and other aural oddities appealing to discerning audiophiles, lo fi hipsters, and other folks who don't get out much.
They 're not really albums per se, just anthologies or musical blogs of that particular stretch of time. Comprised of some things I am fiercely proud of, and other stuff perhaps taking up too much bandwidth to truly justify their existence, but then again, as a parent, you gotta love all your children
So in closing, THANKS DEREK, this post kind of provided a little affirmation for my artistic perspective!
Just put it out there and see what people think is right!
Nice article
Derek, thank you for sharing. I've just arrived from The Gambia, as you know, and among all the project I've there, I've realise that one stupid idea becomes great in one second. Each of us is really good in some way.
I keep reading your posts, and never comment, I get this feeling all the time; im constantly coming up with ideas, but dismiss them all instantly. i think im going to start writing them all down =)
This is really so true. Great to know people feel the same.
Hmmm maybe I really am a genius ;)
I know this feeling!
Wow. Simple, yet profound. A much needed reminder. Thanks for the wonderful wisdom.
Derek,
Another great one...Just what I needed to read right now. Thank you!
Cheers,
Peter
great post, makes you see things from another perspective! thanks :D
Derek,
Ditto Bro. Thanks for putting Albert up. Studied him at great length. Share the little ideas often. Old book TwC available discussing these notions. New book out soon. First attempt at fiction...
Your Servant
Derek,
Very insightful. I'm amazed by how often I hold back an idea, an observation, an emotion....for what?! Thank you for your light!
I've heard something similar before which eventually boils down to your point.
The musician practices for years and performs. The listener hears 98% of your hard time spent practicing and the musician hears 2% of the mistakes and-or stuff he/she doesn't like. Once I realized this, I could take a compliment and say, "thank you" opposed to potentially insulting the listener taste in music by saying, "no, I sucked."
Also, I've been told that one of my "mistakes" was their favorite part. For mistakes sound interesting and catch the listener... depending on the degree.
when i'm writing a song, i often feel like it's already been written and i'll sing the melody to several friends to make sure it's not already out there...so far so good...
As so many others have mentioned, this is a very good point. I've encountered this problem in my own life, especially in regards to creating mixes for my yearly radio show. I won't claim that what I do is necessarily amazing, but the concept still applies.
I usually maintain a massive playlist of songs I like with the intention of using them for future mixes. Some songs stay in the list for years until I can find a good fit for them, but in the meantime I've listened to them quite a bit. By the time I do find a place for a given song, I sometimes still initially dismiss it because I've heard it so many times. I then have to remind myself, since most of what I play is fairly obscure, that just because *I'm* very familiar with the song doesn't mean that any of my listeners have heard the song. So, it's new to them!
Oddly, Derek, I always think my ideas are genius and brilliant, but maybe that's just me. Kidding. This was a great read and very true. As a writer I am constantly overcriticizing my own work and disbelieving when someone says that it's really great stuff.
Well Derek great observation, and It can be so convenient just to listen to your own ideas, when better ideas can be created just by takeing in what others say, or suggest. Such as what was put to me yesterday, I have a rake of snowmen I built in photos from the last 2 years, it was suggested I do a photo slide to one of my xmas songs: MEN OF SNOW, nd upload on youtube, so there you go, Derek dont stop your priceless cheers
What a refreshing read, thanks Derek, these uplifting posts is why I read your blog. I manage very technical people and what they do sometimes is described as magical by people outside the department, but if you ask the developers personally they judge themselves mediocre.
so very true in every part of obvious to you. thanks derek.
You've just opened up another little door in me,,,,,thanks.
Derek,
I believe every individual is so unique and we all have something to offer. Although, I am so hard on myself because I expect perfection and because of that, I feel it's not good enough to put out there. Interesting isn't it - and yet I know my talents.
Thank you Derek for sharing.
Tillie
Derek, you are a philosopher! this thought also came up to me, already a long time ago. but it seemed obvious that other people had the thought before, so I never shared it. one just have to realize their own uniqueness. for myself I call this spiritualism, which must flow into every level of life to live it fully
Once again, excellent and praise-worthy ideas to get my musical mind flowing, by Derek Sivers!
GO DEREK!!!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!
michelle gold
music: described as Celine Dion & Beyonce meet Jesus in Jerusalem.
www.michellegold.com
I'm working on a project right now that seems so obvious to me but, I can't find anyone else even close to my idea. That scares me in itself. Makes you want to think, "What am I thinking? Am I crazy?"
Excellent rubric. It's an appreciation cascade in my mind, which will bury me if I'm passive in my awareness of beauty. If I respond actively, join the dance if not play my fiddle every time, then the psychological cascade is upward, a lifting, a creative process. It's difficult, but artists need to draw the line between appreciation of others and self-effacement. I'm not sure that humility is even of value in this context. Save humility for relationships, not for work.
Word. It's always like that. People tend to underestimate their own ideas or their new projects all the time. I'll stop doing that. starting now.
I couldn't agree more with your views. Blogging is a good channel to share your own thoughts as well as your creation (products, services, or even principles), but what mostly stops us from sharing our thoughts is the thought of it not being appreciated by others who will be able to see it. And that's where great ideas die more often than not, since what's simple to our eyes can be so amazing and useful to others, as you have said.
Hi,
Thanks a lot, that was a good one...
I thought about this and to help you spread the word, I have made a nice mail signature which demonstrates the power of this,
http://yadavsathish.blogspot.com/2010/12/quite-quote.html
Is that a wax museum effigy of E?
That's why I love your posts! I thought I'm the only one who feels like that, hahahahahaha!
Thank you for reminding me that we all have something special to offer!
xoxo
JVB
APTGJHG
Very Very true.
Thank you
Rev
I have had ideas I thought were too obvious to share. But recently I decided that I might as well go ahead and publish. I'm not seeing the ideas I've been thinking of developing anywhere else.
Thank you.
I used to feel this way about my speaking - what do I have to say that's new? It's all been said before.
One of my Mentors told me the following:
In any given audience, there will be one person for whom what you are saying is the perfect thing, at the perfect time, in the perfect place. It may not be the first time they've heard it - but this time, it's as if they've heard it the first time. And they could only have gotten that insight from listening to you in this time and place.
This was key for me to becoming the speaker, trainer, teacher that I am. Of course, for her - it was just what she knew - nothing special ;-)
Merry Christmas Derek & happy New Year. Regards, Lynn
Thanks Derek...Happy New Year
Just found this site and am going through the posts ... really some great stuff. This is a lovely insight. I think things are often like this... The people who are doers don't let themselves be blocked by these thoughts of averageness
I have just built this website and it contains the numbers of all the chapters and verses in the Bible like Genesis have 50 chapters and total verses 1533.
To me the information may look obvious as there are no stories or anything else except numbers. This information may turn out to be another's surprise and answered prayers who knows? Let the world decide. Its there to be seen, read and used.
The website I am talking about is www.bibleinme.org. Let the world visit the site and decide!
wow first time I ever read one of your posts, actually first time I've ever been on your blog. I do this all the time.
From now on I'm going to make sure I don't do that. Letting others do the judging for me. And use any criticizing to improve.
I have felt like this for many many years. It is nice to know that everyone feels this at some point. Much appreciated post! Made my nite!
From Dallas- =)
Jose
This reminds me of "the curse of knowledge". We all believe that everyone else is like us, so we frequently say or do things that simply aren't the case. We can figure it out to a degree, but not the level that is optimal to what is based in reality.
This post does a great job of describing it in another way, though. Great job!
Hey Derek,
That's right, "genius" is relative.
Rock Hard! Rock Sexy!
-The Deacon
I get that feeling often. But I try to continue writing nonetheless
My dad always used to say (still does), "If an idiot like me can do this, anyone can do it." I grew up thinking that way.
This hit me like a bolt from the sky. Thank you.
wow that was great!! I always used to think like that and that prevented me from sharing my obvious ideas and expressing them !!!!
thanks for sharing this, i'll try to express my ideas more often ..
I think I've got the opposite problem. Everything I do I think is brilliant, but everyone tells me that it's crap. I think my internal filters are messed up.
It's strange you would write about this. I just saw a PBS special on the guy that took pictures of many of great Guitarist (they were not famous at the time of the photos) and thought nothing would become of these photos. He had someone offer him 3.5 million dollars for his photos of Jef Beck, Jimmie Hendrix, and other great guitarist. Also, one of the guitarist stated do not listen to all those voices in your heard about that's stupid, no one will like that, etc. He said listen to the silent one. He was playing his guitar with his tongue. I remember Jimmie Hendrix playing his guitar in an way no one did.
Paula
I completely understand Derek's point. It's brilliant that he posted this profound statement. It really doesn't matter what you put out. It's your own self expression of what you want to give and leave behind to keep forging ahead on what makes everyone happy, including yourself.
Thanks for sharing this idea.
As a matter of facts, ideas are meant to be shared and then the outcomes will determine whether it's amazing or not. However, every idea is worthy of respect.
Dear Derek,
Did this blog entry also seem very obvious to you while writing . Well if it did you were wrong because it was really well written and something we fail to observe about ourselves many times.
Rishabh Sharma
I think,sometimes, Yeah! I really do, imagine that! It's not the standards that we set for ourselves,but the ones we publicly accept, out of all those being constantly thrown at us. I guess at some point you have to really believe! or say "screw it!"
Yeah! I didn't really think so either!
Wait'll you see what I come up with on the next one!
A similar thing happens with our own artwork - often the distance of a good night's sleep is needed to see our work with fresh eyes.
Very nice and impressive observation! I think you should have ended your article by saying that "There is nothing to worry, if your idea seems very obvious ordinary. It's the perception of others who judge how the beautiful the idea is."
This can be broken down more fundamentally to address many of the world's problems. We think one thing, think everyone else does a swell, and thus blame them for their own failures.
Thanks Derek
Great Writing!
~Connie
I recently started my own software startup and the one thing I decided, was to do the stuff I have a good feeling about and not to over-think everything. Who knows, my best ideas or even my worst ideas might just hit the spot for the user. Great post Derek!
What a great observation that we often overlook- which was kind of the point of the post, eh?
Often just one idea can change the course of someone's entire life. Who knows, you might be the one that breathes life into them with YOUR idea!
Huh, brilliant observation. And so very true of course! This left me feeling inspired and confident. I constantly try to write (music or stories) that are different, and not obvious even to me, but maybe I should write what is obvious to me, and stop trying to be someone else.
your articles are brilliant - for me
Hello Derek,
Once again, you're right. We really should have more self confidence. Just having thoughts that are different, makes each of us unique.
This is a great source of inspiration for me.Idea is the key.
keep your post up.
Derek,
All of us shine in one way or another, but it sure doesn't feel that way at times. Just when you think you're getting decent at something; you read, listen or watch and realize maybe you aren't SO decent after all.
Which is true?
This is also why I think collaboration with other musicians is a good idea. You will get a point of view that will inevitably lead you toward a new creative direction. When you work alone, you start getting 'tunnel vison' as you beome familiar with your own way of thinking.
Thank you so much for this beautiful 'revelation'. I make jewelry and am always surprised when someone says, "what beautiful earrings", or "you are a true artist!". I've never thought of myself as an artist. This helps me to look at myself in a new light, and allow myself to receive praise for my accomplishments. All art is different, and not everyone likes the same thing. Someone out there appreciates what I do, and if I'm an artist to them, so be it! God bless you!
You are quite "crush" worthy.
Really good post. I currently have a mentor who is teaching me about websites and marketing and such.
This mentor has taught me so many amazing things and im constantly calling them a genius and asking them how they figured out this stuff. They simply reply, its common sense, its not hard.
So yes, you make a good point. However, im still waiting for the day someone calls me a genius. Maybe it will come soon
Thanks Derek! You are a wonderful Homo Sapien
I have certain thought-beliefs that I want to express, but keep silent cuz it might just be too obvious or mundane. But you inspire me to work hard to prove my ideas. Cheers!
"Everybody's ideas seem obvious to them."
So true.
I worked this out when I decided I was unsatisfied by much of the music I listen to and, rather than not listen to it, would instead analyse the music and how it made me think. Usually I found that I was lured in by a small but nifty idea that the musician didn't seem to understand what to do with. But I made some other surprising discoveries along the way.
Are you holding back something that seems too obvious to share?
probably but its so obvious I would never think to say.
This was amazing and you are so very right. So right that I tell myself all the time to stop going off of what I think about my work and to just DO the work.
I have totally started to understand that I may not get what I am doing either. And that's okay.
Ahhh...so right...It's hard not to think of your ideas as "common sense" but that's why it's important to put them out there and let them resonate (or not resonate) with others.
Thanks for sharing.
I'll never forget my first day of a job, where they were showing me that we keep this stack of abc-papers here and this stack of def-papers there, when I just blurted out do you mind if I make some boxes with labels to place them in so that I can remember which is which? Something I thought was so basic, they were amazed at why "they never thought of that before?" - creating boxes with labels for the different stacks of stuff. - made me feel smart though.
Interesting observation, and very true. But there's always another side of the coin. Surely some of the things our lizard brain sees as "obvious" are *actually* obvious, and if we share too much of it, it dilutes our content. What if this blog was just those "obvious" things, all the time. The amazing would come out for a small part of your audience, but I imagine a huge part would eventually grow tired of it and dissolve. It's a healthy balance.
Thank for this great bit of inspiration! It's unfortunately so easy to allow our inner critics to dictate what we show (or don't show)to others. And it's good to be reminded to relax and share.
Hi Derek.I am glad that I took the time to view these stories. You really had an effect on me, so much rang through. Thanks for thses AHA moments.
Thank you for this post. It was exactly what I needed to read. I have come up with all kinds of amazing things that I thought were very obvious. Now I know that is how everyone feels and I am inspired to go make them happen.
I think Einstein knew. :D
YES. ahh! This is amazing. I think we're all our own worst critics and I am the first of anyone I know to brush my ideas aside as silly or not worth a second look. I'm actually frustrated because I KNOW that I do this yet can't seem to get up the....courage? Get over myself? I'm not sure... to just put stuff out there and be like "here it is. Here I am. take it or leave it, this is what I'm doing and it's okay if you think it sucks but I'm trying, and maybe you'll like it."
Why is it so hard to be ourselves and put ourselves out there? When we try, great things usually happen. I need to get out of my own way!
Thank you for making this point. I think it is easy for us to think our own ideas are obvious because, well, they are to us. It makes me feel like maybe I can be a bit more brave and that maybe my obvious creations will make others react or feel something powerful from them. : )
Great Writing! Thanks for the thought.
I get bogged down with, "Is this original? Has someone else done it before?" It keeps me from painting and drawing and creating. These thoughts are stifling and incorrect, because I have a gift from God that noone else has. I am an original. I just have to hang on to that.
I have so many ideas but can't afford to patent it...
perhaps when I find a more stable source of income!
I feel like this ALL THE TIME. Thank you so much!
Yes, this is so true. I am actually disappointed when an "off the cuff" blog post or Facebook update becomes super popular while the ones that I'm convinced are pure genius often fall flat. Good post, proves that editing is not really a part of the creative process.
Oh man i feel that all the time. You open my eyes. I never did share my work , music or something i do cos i think its not worth it. Then sometimes i do play some of my works to a friends like for example my piano music and they get blown away , althou i think that is nothing special everybody can do that etc.
Thank You
Your video on Wimp made me feel just as I did when I developed this concept.
Of course, I couldn't have picked a worse economic time to come up with the idea... most of the people who need it most wish their house would blow away!
Your thought is most profound.
amazingly I was thinking about this exact scenario while driving home form work today.
talk about coincidence. probably more than coincidence
I moved onto thinking about how your household geniuses such as Kurt Cobain felt their ideas were so lame that they didn't even feel worthy of living and yet their ideas and creations to others were awe inspiring.
be creative. we're lucky to have hobbies.
i cant fund ideas i have but would like to see them used, any ideas where i can turn my ideas over to someone that could market them. cz
Two excellent quotes of the same mindset:
"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares to other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open ...
"No artist is pleased. ... [There is no] satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
-- Martha Graham to Agnes de Mille, Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham
"Your work will never appear miraculous to you because it has cost you so much effort and pain. The senses that you hammer at nightly are incapable of surprise -- the monstrous perception is usual." - Jim Harrison
Well said. It always happens. I would not speak up thinking everybody knows it. However if it is never spoken, it would never be expressed or heard of. The thought is lost.
I completley agree with this, and have experienced it through out my life in various hobbies.
e.g. People would compliment me on my cooking ability, and say my food was better than high quality restaurant cusine. Due myself finding it easy and a natural thing to do, i never believed them and took the comments with a pinch of salt.
I think it ultimatley comes down to confidence, and believing in your own ability. People can have terrible ideas or be bad at something and still be succesful. This is because they themselves believe they have a brilliant idea and wont let anybody tell them otherwise. They have such a high level of confidence they fight the uphill battle and eventually win.
If it's from the heart, if there is passion, it will resonate with someone. It's the truth of art, and the one little thing that separates something that on the surface seems to have all the right elements yet just lays flat. But even the most dismal of flops can have some little bit of heart.
its amazing. i would have never thought about that.
love your thought. May i use your quote and credit u?
Always. Anytime. Quote, copy, redistribute anything on this blog. Advance permission given. -- Derek
This post = the best solution for insecurity with other successful people
It's when it's been hard work for you, and completely ignored by others, that you really need to worry. That's often the case for me.
Also, people tend to shoot down my ideas. Then, a year or so later someone else becomes filthy rich with the same idea.
Boohoo :,(