It was good for writers, screenwriters, directors and artists of previous generations! Before them, thousands and tens of thousands of books, scripts, paintings were written, while now there are millions. It seems that all good ideas have already been invented by someone, and it is simply impossible to contribute to the development of world culture. And how can you come up with something truly new, fresh, original?
What preceded any brilliant idea, outstanding project, popular hit or bestseller? That’s right — a bad idea. And perhaps not the only one. It is even possible that the author managed to finalize one of these bad ideas, improve it, so that in the end something worthwhile came out.
“So instead of whining that you’re stuck and nothing good will come of it, say to yourself: “So, here’s what I came up with — now we need to try to improve it.” Or: “Yes, it looks like nothing can be improved here. But I learned something, it’s time to move on.»
Before you complain about not having a single good idea, think about whether you have a list of bad ideas and how big it is,” advises entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Seth Godin. Bad ideas are not the enemy. They are essential steps on the path to success.
Tiny steps towards a big breakthrough
Can you rewrite any paragraph of Fahrenheit 451 to be better than Bradbury’s? Can you compose a new script page for The Matrix? Play at least one note on the clarinet that is worth listening to?
Instead of concentrating immediately on a masterpiece, on something global and unattainable, ask yourself: what are the smallest particles that a work of genius consists of? What makes a written line or note so special?
Don’t try to change the world all at once — think about how you can create something small that you can be proud of and share with others.
Time for the brave
In 1972 Herbie Flowers was a session musician. He came and played the bass guitar exactly what was required of him.
David Bowie worked with the guitarist on Space Oddity, and when Lou Reed asked Bowie to recommend a musician, he introduced them to Herbie. Reed explained to the guitarist what he needed, and he asked if he could improvise a little. 20 minutes later, the legendary guitar part was born, and Lou Reed’s «Take a Walk on the Wild Side» became a hit.
Of course, behind those 20 minutes was a decade of hard work and the ability to listen and learn. What is the conclusion from this? Always think about how to improve what you have.
It’s not easy, given that it’s common in our culture to criticize. It is easier and safer to judge others than to be a pioneer at something, take a pencil and sketch out a bold plan, strategy, and then think about how to improve it. But this is what is most valuable.
What is good»?
We want to be good or even excellent right away. But on what basis do we generally evaluate our work? Based on the opinions of others? Based on the concept of commercial success?
But does that mean that the Harry Potter book wasn’t good enough when it was rejected by a dozen publishers, and quickly turned into a great book when it became a worldwide hit? Can a work of art become worthwhile just because it sells well?
Looks like it’s time for a new focus. First, decide what you are doing and for whom. If what you’ve got serves its purpose, then it’s already good enough. If not, you might need to work on it some more.
Between «good» and «as good as it gets» is a huge gulf. Chances are, most of us will never get over it. But how do you feel if you suddenly find out that you have something worthwhile in store, something that you yourself are yet to discover?
The source of your ideas will not dry up. The current attempt is not your only shot, there will be others, says Seth Godin. So just go ahead and do it day after day. Post a new video, write a new post. Hang the painting you just painted on the wall. The only way to get closer to something is to move towards the goal step by step.