We are really bad judges of our own creations.
As creative people, we are often very insecure about our creations. We walk through life and see all the great art being created arounds us and wonder: “how did they think of that? Where did that idea come from? I could never think of that! I would never be able to create that.” We see awesome people doing awesome things and just know that they are geniuses and we’re hacks.
But that lie is just not true. What is obvious to us may actually be magical to everyone else. The thing is, magic happens when we are busy doing our work.
When our focus becomes on being magical, the magic will never happen. But when we are occupied with doing our jobs, we are able to do what we do best. As we do our work, we start to create things and the by-product of our constant creation is to develop WOW moments for other people.
At some point, even the most amazing ideas have seemed obvious to their creator. That never stopped them from continuing to create. Maybe what is obvious to us can actually be amazing to everyone else.
Derek Siver, founder of CD Baby, has recently released a book entitled: Anything You Want where he talks about this concept and also drives home the point that often times we are bad judges of our own creations. We judge our ideas, our art, and our work through a different lens than our peers.
So, stop doubting. Stop believing the lie that you are not able to create WOW art. What is obvious to you may change the life of someone else. Go create and let the world decide while you are working, focused, and doing your thing.
Have you ever had an idea that felt obvious to you but blew someone else away?
It happens to me all the time with my graphic design work. I look at what other people do and think, “That’s way better than anything I could do.” Then I look at my stuff and think it’s not that great. But recently I received a LOT of compliments on a logo I created for a new church in the area. People I don’t even know were saying it’s an amazing logo. I thought it was good. They thought it was great. Definitely amazed me.
This is by far my biggest struggle. I love this concept and I totally think that this is true. It is something that I constantly remind myself of.
Great post bro,
JW
That slaps me right up the head. Thanks.
Excellent post, and yes I have thought that way (and usually do at least once per gig). But I think any creative individual needs that kind of self criticism to move forward, but has to know when it is actually preventing them from seeing whats right in front of them — In other words the difference between medicine and poison is the dosage.
One way I use to battle that mindset is to remember an interview I saw with Henry Mancini where he talks about “Moon River” from the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and how he though it was the corniest piece of tripe he had ever written, he showed it to Blake Edwards in shame, telling him he would come up with something better. In a nutshell Edwards told him that if he did, he would fire him. 50 years later, it still holds up. A little corny, but a wonderful melody that fit the film, and is still played and sung (guaranteed twice a day in Branson).
Yes I have. Yes I have. Yes I have. Didn’t know. Didn’t know. Didn’t know. Blessed now. Blessed now. Blessed now. thx. M