Thursday, June 27, 2013

Creative People Say No

The following piece, from medium.com, written by Kevin Ashton is relevant to me as I work on creative projects. Time management is the hardest thing for me, right now, as I do my creative work. I have lot's of good ideas and work I want to do. Being a mom, working part-time out of the house and all the projects on the homestead take up most the time.

I struggle with saying no or yes to social commitments, community events, volunteering for this, that or the other thing. What is a creative person to do with big dreams and a few projects she'd like to accomplish on her plate?

I can just say....


Creative People Say No


A Hungarian psychology professor once wrote to famous creators asking them to be interviewed for a book he was writing. One of the most interesting things about his project was how many people said “no.”

Management writer Peter Drucker: “One of the secrets of productivity (in which I believe whereas I do not believe in creativity) is to have a VERY BIG waste paper basket to take care of ALL invitations such as yours — productivity in my experience consists of NOT doing anything that helps the work of other people but to spend all one’s time on the work the Good Lord has fitted one to do, and to do well.”

Secretary to novelist Saul Bellow: “Mr Bellow informed me that he remains creative in the second half of life, at least in part, because he does not allow himself to be a part of other people’s ‘studies.’”

Photographer Richard Avedon: “Sorry — too little time left.”

Secretary to composer George Ligeti: “He is creative and, because of this, totally overworked. Therefore, the very reason you wish to study his creative process is also the reason why he (unfortunately) does not have time to help you in this study. He would also like to add that he cannot answer your letter personally because he is trying desperately to finish a Violin Concerto which will be premiered in the Fall.”

The professor contacted 275 creative people. A third of them said “no.” Their reason was lack of time. A third said nothing. We can assume their reason for not even saying “no” was also lack of time and possibly lack of a secretary.

Time is the raw material of creation. Wipe away the magic and myth of creating and all that remains is work: the work of becoming expert through study and practice, the work of finding solutions to problems and problems with those solutions, the work of trial and error, the work of thinking and perfecting, the work of creating. Creating consumes. It is all day, every day. It knows neither weekends nor vacations. It is not when we feel like it. It is habit, compulsion, obsession, vocation. The common thread that links creators is how they spend their time. No matter what you read, no matter what they claim, nearly all creators spend nearly all their time on the work of creation. There are few overnight successes and many up-all-night successes.

Saying “no” has more creative power than ideas, insights and talent combined. No guards time, the thread from which we weave our creations. The math of time is simple: you have less than you think and need more than you know. We are not taught to say “no.” We are taught not to say “no.” “No” is rude. “No” is a rebuff, a rebuttal, a minor act of verbal violence. “No” is for drugs and strangers with candy.

Creators do not ask how much time something takes but how much creation it costs. This interview, this letter, this trip to the movies, this dinner with friends, this party, this last day of summer. How much less will I create unless I say “no?” A sketch? A stanza? A paragraph? An experiment? Twenty lines of code? The answer is always the same: “yes” makes less. We do not have enough time as it is. There are groceries to buy, gas tanks to fill, families to love and day jobs to do.

People who create know this. They know the world is all strangers with candy. They know how to say “no” and they know how to suffer the consequences. Charles Dickens, rejecting an invitation from a friend:

“‘It is only half an hour’ — ‘It is only an afternoon’ — ‘It is only an evening,’ people say to me over and over again; but they don’t know that it is impossible to command one’s self sometimes to any stipulated and set disposal of five minutes — or that the mere consciousness of an engagement will sometime worry a whole day … Who ever is devoted to an art must be content to deliver himself wholly up to it, and to find his recompense in it. I am grieved if you suspect me of not wanting to see you, but I can’t help it; I must go in my way whether or no.”

“No” makes us aloof, boring, impolite, unfriendly, selfish, anti-social, uncaring, lonely and an arsenal of other insults. But “no” is the button that keeps us on.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Kim,
    What a great article. This is just what I struggle with so much lately. I love the phrase,"the mere consciousness of an engagement will sometime worry a whole day." This is so true for me. I can't get myself creating when I have an obligation ahead of me. So lets practice that controversial NO!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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    1. Hi Sherry, I know. I also have trouble getting into or doing a creative project when I already have plans for the day. Also I like to clean my studio or be in a neat place when I do my art or write so the cleaning or organizing can take a good chunk of time before I get to the creative work. I'm thinking a lot about prioritizing these days.
      xo
      Kim

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  2. hahaa!

    try to say "no" (for art sake) to your kid!

    I heard before this thoughts, I felt their truth anyway, and sometimes is right. Is just that we have to find some kind of balance and not waste away our time for cheappo stuff, either sometimes I watch brainless movies, just because I'm too tired for art process.

    so, what else go along with this "no"? where to draw the line? "no" to the system, maybe? "no" to school which not all the time helps creativity? "no" to family?

    probably we have to choose: to have a happy familly life (which is somekind of anti-artistic way of life), or to assume the artist destiny, which is most of the time a lonely life. depends on each choice.

    both ways supose risks and rewards :)

    Since I'm happy, I believe I choose right: family :) in the first place, art as a secondary (more like a hobby).


    R

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Razvan! I agree. We can't say no to family especially our young children. They need us so much as they grow.

      However I am thinking about finding balance and prioritizing so I can use my free time optimally for creative endeavors. I like to make plans with friends and be involved with special things in the community but I find I can over commit which takes me away from times when I might have the energy and focus to do creative work. I have to think about what I say yes and no to.

      Hope you are enjoying your summer! I can't wait to hear about your time in Romania.
      xo

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