"The Value of Being a Creative Weirdo: Embracing Authenticity and Innovation"

"The Value of Being a Creative Weirdo: Embracing Authenticity and Innovation"

To some degree, being perceived as strange, odd, weird, or misunderstood is a prerequisite for creative professionals. As I have grown older and wiser, I have learned to embrace and value my perceived weird persona associated with my highly creative and intuitive thinking style. When it comes to viewing others as different, some people are oblivious to why an individual may express or present themselves in a way that falls outside the scope of social norms.

Highly creative people will never truly fit in with the rest of society, which is a good thing. They are the innovators and help push us forward into the unknown. They must never succumb to the social conformity of blending in or becoming who they are not. To some degree, we must all embrace who we are as unique individuals and focus on maturing our authenticity instead of becoming obsessed with social validation.

In the world of entrepreneurship and startups, there is a concept known as "The Equity Equation." It states that you should give up a certain percentage of your company if what you trade it for improves your average outcome enough that the remaining percentage is worth more than the whole company was before. In simpler terms, the deal is a good one if it makes the company worth more than 1/(1 - n), where n is the fraction of the company you're giving up.

Applying this equation to the creative world, we can see that taking risks and being open to collaboration can lead to great outcomes. One of the things the equity equation shows us is that, financially at least, taking money from a top VC firm can be a really good deal. By bringing in external resources and expertise, creative professionals can enhance their projects and businesses, ultimately increasing their value.

The equity equation can also be applied when giving stock to employees. In this case, the equation works in the other direction. If the addition of a new person increases the average outcome for the company, then they're worth a certain percentage, n, such that i = 1/(1 - n), where i is the average outcome. This means that n = (i - 1)/i. For example, if you believe that a new employee will increase the average outcome of the whole company by 20%, n = (1.2 - 1)/1.2 = .167. So you'll break even if you trade 16.7% of the company for them.

However, it is important to note that stock is not the only cost of hiring someone. There's usually salary and overhead as well. To translate salary and overhead into stock, it is recommended to multiply the annual rate by about 1.5. This highlights the importance of early employees taking little salary, as it directly impacts the stock that could otherwise be given to them. It's a strategic decision that can benefit both the employee and the company in the long run.

In conclusion, embracing our weirdness and authenticity as creative individuals is crucial for personal and professional growth. Society may not always understand or appreciate our unique perspectives, but that should not deter us from pushing boundaries and fostering innovation. By understanding and applying concepts like "The Equity Equation," we can make informed decisions that can lead to greater success and value in our creative endeavors.

Three actionable advice for creative professionals:

1. Embrace your weirdness: Don't be afraid to be different and challenge societal norms. Your uniqueness is what sets you apart and fuels your creative thinking.
2. Seek collaboration and external resources: Don't be afraid to bring in outside expertise or resources to enhance your projects. The equity equation shows us that collaboration can lead to greater value and success.
3. Balance salary and stock: For early employees or startups, consider offering a lower salary in exchange for stock options. This can help attract top talent and preserve stock that can be valuable in the long run.

In the end, it's the combination of embracing our weirdness, understanding the value of collaboration, and making strategic decisions that will propel us forward on our creative journeys. Let's celebrate our uniqueness and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible.