Because 100 years ago his canvas were seen as the hallucinatory original works of a sociopathic recluse.
This post originally appeared on theCrew blog.
Peers who say this is new.
This is better than what we have.
Real creativity is innovative.
It challenges and changes the way we think about established ideas.
But to get to that point, you need feedback.
So when is the right time to share?
Think about the thrashing power chords and guttural screams of early punk.
Musician Brian Eno calls this community a sceniusa group of creative individuals who make up an ecology of talent.
Your scenius might be the people you work with.
Or a community likeProduct HuntorMedium.
Or even a group of friends or peers.
Whatever it is, the one thing that needs to always be addressed isnt reallywhoyou share your ideas with.
We let our ideas out into the world before theyre fully formed, risking contamination.
We need to find the right time in the creative process to let ideas out into the world.
But finding the right time to seek that validation can be a delicate balance.
Too early and youll risk missing those connections only you’re able to make.
Too late, and you might be too far down the road to get the right directions.
Despite the fragility of your thoughts, the group all has a similar goal.
Designing the Feedback Process
Theres a difference between feedback and approval.
In fact, you could look at this idea of validation from the community more as approval than feedback.
But in almost all cases, youll be facing some level of criticism and feedback on your work.
First,understand why youre asking.
Is it because youre stuck and need help?
Do you feel like somethings off and want to bring in an expert or colleague?
Do you feel like youre done and just want an objective opinion?
If youre a writer, hire an editor.
The accountability on both sides will help elevate the feedback from thats nice!
to something it’s possible for you to actually use.
is like handing someone a loaded and lit canon and aiming it at your heart.
Instead, try asking yourself these three questions before soliciting feedback:
What is your desired outcome?
What kind of feedback would best serve you?
Do you want micro-critiquing?
Or is the big picture feedback enough?
How do you want the news?
Earlier in this post I referred to your creative idea as a baby needing protection.
Its a common image to invoke because thats how most of us feel.
You become caught in the moment and the niceties of polite discourse go out the window.
Instead, Baldoni says we need to be prepared, patient, and generous.
And begenerouswith those giving you criticism.
Creativity is the engine that drives cultural evolution.
But real creativity depends not just on you having an amazing idea (and actually acting on it!)
but from making a change in the world.
Its not enough to simply create.
We can all be bedroom geniuses, but its the ones who leave the house that change the world.
Top image bySapunkele(Shutterstock).
