The Creative Instinct

When it comes to your creative output, if you want to be loved, learn to be loathed.

I had a bit of a revelation the other day, courtesy of the Daily Mail (and I don’t say that often). My dear mum-in-law handed me one of their give-away CDs, full of rock anthems which she ‘knew I’d love’ because I like rock music. It was kind of her and I thanked her, checked the tracks and then, soon as it was safe chucked it in the bin.

So what was the revelation? It was this - I don’t like rock music.

Actually I’ve been a big fan of rock for well over 30 years, but it suddenly dawned on me that there’s a lot more rock I don’t like than rock I do like. I have to say it felt a bit weird.

I turned my attention to another musical passion - the blues - and among all those early giants that I love, the one who towers above them all, Robert Johnson, leaves me cold. It took some courage to admit that. As far as I can tell it’s actually not permitted to say you don’t like him. Well, I don’t.

What this made me realise is that if I or anyone else is going to put their work out to be liked and appreciated, we have to accept there’ll be an awful lot of otherwise well balanced folk who don’t give a toss about our stuff. And there’ll be plenty more who absolutely hate it.

Trying to Please Everyone

One method I know very well that’s guaranteed to fail - trying to please everyone. Oh yes, I’ve certainly suffered from this in my time. It’s a wonderful strategy that’s based on fear and that’s sure to keep you safe and unnoticed in the middle of the pack.

Did I say safe?

Safe in a prison of your own making perhaps. Safe from the exhilaration of risk and reward. Safe from the joy of discovery and the wisdom that grows out of the occasional embarrassing cock-ups and errors of judgement.

Most of all though, safe from any real chance of success.

And by success I don’t just mean the recognition and applause of others. I also mean that simple, gorgeous success of creating something you are proud of for yourself. Something that when you revisit it gives you on of those delicious wow!-did-I-do-that? moments.

You could, perhaps, achieve success by choosing to please a few people. You could maybe achieve it by aiming to please only yourself. And many have achieved it by targeting an audience who they want to annoy, or even distress.

But you can’t do it by trying to please everyone.

If you want to be loved, learn to be loathed. I dare you to be disliked.

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You may also wish to read:
Do You Have the Creative X Factor?
Where’s the Quality? A Creative Conundrum