The Best, Most Frustrating Quote About Creativity: Linking Your Thinking

The Best, Most Frustrating Quote About Creativity: Linking Your Thinking

Creativity is a journey that often begins with a burning passion and an insatiable desire to create something of value. We are drawn to creative work because we have good taste, and we envision our work being as extraordinary as our ambitions. However, there is a frustrating gap that we must navigate through in the early stages of our creative journey. As Ira Glass, the creator and host of This American Life, once said, "For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be. It has potential. But your taste -- your taste is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you."

Glass's quote resonates with many creative individuals who have experienced the struggle of feeling dissatisfied with their own work. It's a phase that can be discouraging and often leads people to give up on their creative pursuits. However, Glass emphasizes that this stage is normal and necessary for growth. He encourages us to push through this initial disappointment and continue creating.

To bridge the gap between our taste and our current skill level, Glass advises us to do a lot of work. He recommends putting ourselves on a deadline and committing to finishing one project every week. It is through this volume of work that we can improve and eventually close the gap. As Glass wisely notes, "It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap and your work will be as good as your ambitions."

Creativity is not simply about being creative; it is about creating. It is a process of practice, repetition, and reinvention over time. Rather than focusing solely on the concept of being creative, we should shift our attention to actually creating and building a body of work. Glass's words echo this sentiment when he says, "The job isn’t to 'be creative.' The job is to create."

In 2017, at the SXSW conference, Glass expanded on his philosophy by urging us not to wait but to make the thing. He emphasized the importance of taking action and continually improving upon our creations. This sentiment aligns with the idea that creativity is a journey of progress and growth. We must make a version, then make it better, and then make it even better.

To fully embrace the concept of creating and closing the gap between our taste and our skills, we can adopt various tools and behaviors that enhance our creative process. Tools like Evernote, Ulysses, Bear, Roam, and Obsidian can assist us in different stages of our creative journey. Evernote serves as a collector, helping us capture and organize our ideas. Ulysses and Bear act as writing tools, allowing us to build stories out of our ideas. Roam and Obsidian function as connectors and databasers, aiding us in sorting and relating our ideas.

By utilizing these tools and adopting a mindset of continuous improvement, we can link our thinking and create a body of work that reflects our true potential. As Glass suggests, the only real project is our body of work. It is through the culmination of our creative endeavors that we can truly make what matters.

In conclusion, the journey of creativity is filled with challenges and frustrations, but it is also incredibly rewarding. By acknowledging the gap between our taste and our skills, and embracing the idea of creating a volume of work, we can close that gap and produce work that aligns with our ambitions. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to help you on your creative journey:

1. Embrace the early stages: Understand that feeling disappointed with your work is normal and part of the growth process. Don't give up; instead, use it as motivation to continue creating.

2. Set deadlines: Hold yourself accountable by setting deadlines for your projects. Commit to finishing one project every week or month. The more you create, the closer you'll get to closing the gap.

3. Embrace tools and behaviors: Explore tools like Evernote, Ulysses, Bear, Roam, and Obsidian to enhance your creative process. Find the ones that align with your needs and use them to link your thinking and create a body of work that reflects your true potential.

Remember, creativity is not just about being creative; it's about creating. Embrace the journey, close the gap, and make what matters.