Innovation involves
destruction. Something old has to give way to something new and it’s
not a comfortable process. For instance, lots of people lose their job in
declining industries and it’s not usually the same people who will gain jobs in
new industries.
The same process is true of
individual creativity and innovation, and it’s no more comfortable. In fact, if
you try to ignore this aspect of creativity, it won’t work. To bring anything
new into your life, typically you have to give up something else.
One sacrifice typically is how you currently use your time: Want to write a novel? What are you doing now that
you’ll give up in order to have the time? How will that impact on people around
you who expect you to give them lots of time?
Another sacrifice can be
money. For instance, if you decide to publish your own book in hard copy that will require a certain investment up front.
But it’s a different
sacrifice, and the hardest one, that usually isn’t mentioned: pride.
Any truly creative venture
entails the risk of failure. That may sound romantic in the abstract, but it’s
painful in actuality. It’s not much fun to find that you’ve spent a
year or two writing a novel or screenplay that nobody wants.
Failures become
entertaining only when you look back on them from a position of success.
Unfortunately there isn’t any easy answer. You gotta take the hits. If you
can’t take them, find a different creative outlet.
The destructive part of creativity is good only if
it’s not destroying you!
(for help in setting and reaching goals that are meaningful to you, join my new Strategy Breakthrough online workshop. Get details at www.jurgenwolff.com)