Insight
REQUIRED READING
Don’t Worry, Be Creative
T
wenty years ago, all Hugh and more-interesting ways—this idea
MacLeod had were his car- to create meaning, to create value, to
toons, which eventually ended make a contribution. That drive is very
up on the backs of business prevalent. When I was a kid, the word
cards—creativity exploding from the un- “creative” was reserved for advertisers
derside of the strait-laced. The drawings and assholes, but I’ve found that it’s
led to a blog (http://sn.im/gapingvoid1) pretty universal.
and to MacLeod’s first book, Ignore Ev- CRM: Can you find creativity in
erybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity. your day job, or are the two worlds
The irony, of course, is that MacLeod- bound to clash?
the-author expects the individualist fans MacLeod: You should find it wherever
of MacLeod-the-cartoonist to listen to you can get it. You’re always trying to
advice. Whether or not they do, however, find that sweet spot. If you can increase
matters little; all MacLeod wants to say is your creativity and still get paid, why
that there’s more to life than playing it wouldn’t you want to do that? You
safe. CRM Associate Editor Jessica Tsai might have an idea to write a novel be-
and Managing Editor Joshua Weinberger cause you have something to say that has
spoke with MacLeod about how ignoring nothing to do with the people giving you
everybody can help you find your inner money. It’s a dance between what’s deep
somebody. inside you and what’s outside you.
CRM magazine: You tell your readers CRM: Can you be “the company that We want to stay vibrant. We want to
to “ignore everybody.” So how do you does interesting stuff ”? stay alive. But sometimes we kid ourselves
get them to listen to you? MacLeod: Sure—it worked for Apple. in suppressing that because it’s safer, be-
Hugh MacLeod: I wrote from the There are always interesting people at cause it’s more career-f