Posts Tagged ‘genius’

Momentum

Friday, August 20th, 2010

A few days ago I was watching a cyclist approaching a hill. They had good pace by the midway point but up ahead was a side street. The cyclist would either need to slow down, almost to the point of stopping to check for cars and at the same time lose all of their impetus, or take the risk that there would not be any vehicles turning into the side street and power across it.

They powered across it and nearly got hit by a car.

The near accident aside, it got me thinking about momentum. It is not always easy to come by – but when you have it, going with it is easier than not, even in the face of persuasive resistance.

Next time you find yourself in a golden period of creative momentum it might be worth turning your thoughts to projects that are beyond the immediate future.

The momentum of now may create the genius for later.

Territorial creatives

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Sometimes when I mention that I am in marketing someone jumps up and tells me how great they would be at it. “I am always having good ideas”, they say.

You and five zillion other people.

I can count and use a calculator – doesn’t make me a genius accountant.

One in about ninety six thousand good ideas turn into good products or services. It’s not until a good idea is executed that we find out that it wasn’t such a good idea to begin with. And that’s assuming we had the resources to action it in the first place.

Good ideas that are cultivated into good outcomes are rare, hard work and worth claiming. That’s why people get ‘precious’ with their ‘ideas’.

One million good ideas never leave the mind. Of those that do, the majority are dreadful.

When one of yours works, claim it. You deserve it.

We can compete with anyone…

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

…when we are at our best.

I hear sports coaches and players say this all the time. It could be the motto for the one hit wonder.

It is not possible to be at our best all the time. What makes great people great is that they are exceptional when they are average. Their standard is genius.

Being awesome every now and then (Funkytown, Who Let the Dogs Out?) might get you remembered for what you did.

Being awesome consistently (Faith No More, Radiohead) will get you remembered for who you are.