What you lose in ego gratification you make up in agility

The simple strategic centerpiece of personal creativity management is showing up.

Playing the long term statistical averages of the creative process. Being willing to initiate risky projects and be misunderstood for extended periods of time. And executing work for the joy of the process and the compound interest that pays dividends later.

What’s difficult about this strategy is, you have to make the humble assumption that there won’t be some massive success that defines your complete value as creators. You have to dedicate yourself to the practice of achieving small wins on a consistent basis.

Turin’s outstanding book goes behind the scenes of corporate innovation labs, and his research distilled rigorous set of best practices for creative professionals. My favorite part is when he uses the metaphor of music to drive home the point of about showing up:

Innovation labs are like rock and roll bands. They want a monster number one hit, but what they actually need is a string of songs that hangs lower on the charts year after year.

Which would you rather have? Most creatives would say the hit, naturally. And in fact, there is research that studies the top forty singles charts from the last fifty years, and songwriters can examine the audio characteristics for hits and flops.

Not only is there an actual formula as to what makes for a hit song, but there is also software that can predict those hits.

Amazing. This technology is impressive and fun.

But here are the two philosophical issues with that. First of all, anytime a creative person, who barely has their shit together, comes flying out of the gate to emerge with a hit single and tons of publicity anointing them as the next big thing, it never turns out well.

When you get an infinite amount of approval, applause and money without earning it, it cripples the creative capacity. Because that individual foregoes the chance to practice, experiment and hone their style and skill.

The bypassed the necessary spiritual work to uncover their authentic voice. And ultimately, they’re unable to sustain themselves beyond their initial effort.

The second philosophical problem with hit making research and technology is, it’s training people to climb a ladder that’s leaning against the wrong wall.

Creators don’t need a formula for generating hits, they need a systematic, sustainable creative practice in which achieving small wins is its own goal, regardless of the end result.

They need a discipline that helps them craft a long term strategy that’s all about staying power. One that equips them to assemble a portfolio of consistent victories that build forward motion in their creative projects.

Indeed, most if not all of those small wins will fly under the radar. Coworkers, bosses, friends, fans and colleagues may not comment or even notice.

Fine. Because what that innovator loses in ego gratification they make up tenfold in agility, resilience and satisfaction. That’s the only way to bring transformation to fruition.

And so, keep showing up every damn day. Keep playing the long game. Keep building momentum and leverage and compound interest.

Just because you don’t hear your hit single on the radio, doesn’t mean you’re not winning.

Does your mindset feed ego, expectation and anxiety, but agility, resilience and fulfillment?