Amaze Us By Being You And Stop Regurgitating
Right in the middle of this great Blog post, “How to Eliminate the Echo Chamber and Add New Dimensions to Your Blog” Darren Rowse of ProBlogger writes some words that caught my eye.
He writes, “Create, don’t regurgitate.”
I couldn’t say it any better. Too many people are regurgitating. Bloggers do it all the time, the News Media is all about it, and by heck there seems to be an epidemic of up-chuck going on the social media sites.
Doesn’t anyone have the huevos to be original? Why is it that we think that the only way to make a statement is if we re-make someone else’s statement?
It’s starting to make me sick. If I see another Paris Hilton wannabe I’m going to regurgitate. Come on people, get with the program.
Don’t you get it? You are the original item. You are a unique flavor all your own. You have within you the power to create creations that only you can create.
There is not one single human on this earth that has your unique shape, size, characteristics, talents, personality, background, temperament, imagination, or dreams.
You’re holding out on us – why don’t you let us see the magic that is you?
It never ceases to amaze me why so many people are trying to be like the celebrities. We already have Brittney, and Madonna, and I think that one Michael Jackson is quite enough – thank you very much.
We need you. We need to see you in all your wonderful splendor. We want you.
So as Darren so well said, and I repeat without hesitation, “Create, don’t regurgitate.”
Creativity is Highly Overrated, and Not Even Necessary
I fear that every time I get a new person to this Blog they just skim on by and never stay long enough to really understand what this Blog is all about.
I know I have a lot of work to do to add more content to Creators Create, but from what I have seen already the trend is becoming more and more obvious to me.
People frequent Mark McGuiness’s Blog Lateral Action, which by the way is a tremendous Blog. I can’t say enough good about it. And there are many more Blogs and Forums that deal with creativity and creatives.
But that’s not what this Blog is about.
This Blog is about Creators and the things they create – creations. It’s not about creativity.
Many, too many people believe that in order to create a creation you must have creativity.
That is the biggest bunch of whooey I have ever heard. The fact is you don’t need an ounce of creativity to be able to create creations.
The problem is that most people don’t know what a creation is, therefore they don’t know the role of a creator, nor do they understand the process of creating.
So if you don’t mind, I would like to take a few minutes and go back to the very basics of what this Blog is really all about.
Definitions:
Create = to bring into existence.
Creator = one who brings things into existence.
Creation = the thing that is brought into existence.
There you have it. It’s really not any more complicated than that. Creators bring creations into existence by the act of creating.
The truth is that every single one of us on this planet are powerful creators. We cannot not create. We daily create creations.
Everything you bring into existence is a creation that you create.
Here let me give you a few examples:
- You created breakfast this morning.
- You created a few emails just a few minutes ago.
- You created a “Good Morning” smile for your boss this morning when you got to work.
- You created a better or worse relationship with your spouse today.
- You created a resume.
- You created a clean room.
- You created a hungover body.
- You created an argument.
- You created a funny moment when you told that joke.
- You created an endearing experience when you shared your feelings with a close friend.
Are you starting to understand now what a creation is? Are you starting to see that you are constantly creating? You are a creator, and you are always creating creations.
The question now is: Are the creations you create valuable, important, that improve and bless your life?
Or are most of the creations that you create created by default, without purpose and therefore are useless, unimportant, and do nothing to improve or bless your life?
The chances are since you don’t look at the things that you bring into existence as creations that you probably aren’t all that worried about the quality.
Come to this Blog often and I promise you will begin to look at your whole existence in a whole new light.
With that whole new light you can begin to create on purpose. You will create consciously amazing creations that improve, bless and inspire.
You will find you are a powerful creator. Come back often to learn how.
Oh, and I did I even mention that it doesn’t take an ounce of creativity to be a creator?
By the mere fact that you bring things into existence is proof enough that you are a creator.
You don’t need creativity to create. Creativity is only one tool in the creator’s tool box, and not even a very important tool at that.
Creators create creations, and every once in awhile they might use creativity.
We’ll get into the details of this later on. Come back often to learn more.
If you have thoughts on the subject please don’t hesitate to leave a comment, and engage in a discussion. I look forward to it.
Do You Want To Be A Ceator Of Amazing Creations?
Do you want to be a creator? Here is the most important thing you can do today.
In fact, if you make this a habit it would be even better. You need to ask yourself this question every morning before you start your day.
“What can I create today that will benefit me, my family, my life, my fellow man, my earth?”
Why should you ask yourself this question?
For creators it is the most important question you can ask and it matters.
You need to get in the habit of defining what things are valuable and important in your life.
Know this: You are a creator and can create valuable and important creations. Once you determine what is valuable and important to you in your life you can then create it.
Ask yourself this simple question every morning.
“What is the most important thing I can create today?”
The answer does not have to be something BIG, sometimes the answer will even be something quite small, but think about it carefully, you may come to find that it is bigger than you think.
Here are some examples:
#1 You will create a stronger relationship with your daughter today.
What you do may be quite small, like help her with her homework, or join he tea party, or play house with her. But those seemingly small things are actually huge in the mind of child.
You are spending valuable time with your child, time that can be used to instill values in her that can last a lifetime, and creating a relationship that will weather even the strongest storm.
#2 You will begin to create your own business.
Obviously this is a “BIG” creation, but many of the steps you will take will be small. Some of the things you will have to do may even be tedious, mundane and boring.
But this creation will change your life forever. It can bring you freedom.
To create your own business will require lots of work, planning, and strategies, but the rewards will be great. But everything you do will be well worth the effort.
#3 You will create a healthy fit body.
The creation of a healthy and fit body will require self discipline. You will have to do things until they become habits.
Again, this creation is not the easiest, many people struggle to create a healthy and fit body, but the benefits are tremendous if you do.
Your heart rate will increase, in fact your heart will grow stronger. Your skin, brain cells and all the cells in your body will receive more oxygen due to the increased blood flow that results from working out regularly.
You will feel less depressed because your brain will be flooded with endorphins that make you feel euphoric, happy and powerful.
I always do my best work after a workout. I feel increased mental clarity and increased creativity, because I worked out. Try it, you’ll like it.
#5 You desire to start creating a Blog.
Maybe you have never written for a Blog before. It is much easier than you think.
Many people start Blogs every single day; why not you?
Just think of the many benefits you can receive in your life with the creation of a Blog. You can have a journal of your life, you can make money, you can have many hours of enjoyment.
Regardless of what you decide to create today, the most important thing you can do today is simply ask the question.
Ask the question every day.
Ask because you are a creator.
Ask because you want to create creations that are valuable and important.
Ask because the answers will surprise you.
Most important of all is that you “ASK.”
What do I want to create today?
Are You Good Timber, Or Just a Scrubby Thing?
I think that everyone goes through hard times at some time in their life. I’ve had my share of hard times. I’ve been divorced, I know what poverty is, I flunked out of college, and had a heckuva time raising my boys.
All in all it’s been a good ride, but I can assure you I have had my share of hard times.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Have you ever seen the Disney movie Aladdin? Aladdin says to the evil genie, “You can’t kill me.” In which the evil genie says, “You’re right, but you’d be amazed what you can live through.”
One of my favorite sayings is, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
I found this poem the other day, I couldn’t find the author. At any rate, this wonderful poem about this law of life.
The Law Of Life
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
That stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king,
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
Who never had to win his share
Of sun sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man,
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow in ease.
The stronger wind, the tougher trees,
The farther sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength,
By sun and cold, by rain and snows,
In tree or man, good timber grows.
We live in a society that almost expects everything to be easy, to be instantaneous, and require very little effort. You’ve probably heard the saying, no pain no gain.
Why is it that we all want to take the easy route? We want life to be convenient, and if it’s not easy it’s not worth it. But the truth of the matter is, if it is easy it won’t stretch us, it won’t require that we use our talents, we would get lazy, lethargic, and whatever it is that we are doing most likely won’t be worth it any ways.
I read an article once were a multimillionaire was asked what his secret to success was. He responded that every day he did things that other people didn’t want to do. Most people don’t want to do the hard things, the things that require effort, or the things that aren’t convenient.
Is it really that simple? Is the difference between success and not simply doing things that are hard?
That is your assignment today – I want you to give that some thought. Are you good timber?
You Don’t Need Creativity To Be A Creator
Did you know you don’t need creativity to be a creator?
Every time I talk about creation, creating, and creators inevitably someone brings up the thought that they don’t have a creative bone in their body, that they’re not creative, that they are not imaginative, they’re not artistic, they have no creativity, and that whatever I’m talking about is not interesting to them, because they just have never been very creative, and they don’t want talk about creativity.
Believe me, I understand. But what I’m about to say might actually clear this up for you forever.
You don’t need to be creative in order to create.
I want you to put a smile on your face. Do it right this very second.
Good.
There, you created. You just put a smile on your face, and that is a creation. The definition of “create” is to bring into existence, and the definition of “creator” is someone who brings things (creations) into existence. So by definition you are a creator. You brought something into existence – the smile that wasn’t there before.
And you didn’t even need creativity in order to create the smile. Creativity is not a prerequisite in order to create. It’s not even a necessary component. Creativity relates to the quality of your creation but it’s not necessary in order to bring a creation into existence.
So what does all this mean to you?
You need to recognize that you have the power to create whatever you want to create. The fact is, you are where you are today because you created what you are today. You are sitting where you’re sitting because you made the choice to sit there; you created that experience in your life. If you had desired to create a different experience you would be sitting somewhere else or walking somewhere else, or in a different place altogether. But you are where you are right now because you chose to be where you are right now – you created this experience.
If you recognize that everything you do is a creation then you can start to quantify or measure your creations. You could start to quantify and measure the creations that you create.
Then you could make your creations more valuable and important to you.
Have you sent out an e-mail today?
If you sent out an e-mail today you are a creator. You created that e-mail. That e-mail did not exist until you wrote it and sent it. Recognize that you created it.
Now you can measure it, and improve it. You can measure how fast that e-mail went out, how fast you typed it, and you can even measure the quality in which you typed it, how many words you typed, how many paragraphs, or how many sentences. You can measure how fast you typed it. You can measure even the quality of what you typed: did it communicate the message that you wanted it to communicate? Did it accomplish what you wanted it to accomplish? All those things you can measure and improve upon to make your creation more valuable and important. And again not a single one of those requires creativity, but nevertheless, sending that e-mail was indeed a creation that you created.
Since you can measure the creations that you create you can quantify the quality and value that you give your creations.
Too many people do not consciously create creations that are valuable in their lives. Instead they live their lives on autopilot, or they create by default; they don’t consciously create experiences that are valuable and important to them – they just live by default.
This morning did you consciously create a wonderful experience? Did you create a wonderful creation called “getting ready for work?” Was it a wonderful creation? Did you have joy in it? Did you make it a beautiful creation for the people around you to enjoy as well? Did you make it a beautiful creation for yourself? Did you make it a memorable beautiful creation for you? Or did you just wake up, hop in the shower, brush your teeth; you know, do the regular rigmarole and then come in to work?
Today I challenge you to look at the creations that you create and ask yourself is this a creation that I think is important, is it valuable, or is this a creation that I created by default?
