Brain Pickings is one of my favorite sites. I’m not really sure what the through line is, but if I were to guess, I think it would be “cool shit.” I receive their free weekly newsletter, and always end up spending lots of time on Sundays reading through the articles. Which is what happened on Sunday, when I was supposed to be doing other things. Oh, the interwebs will surely be my downfall.
At any rate, this particular article featured some interviews with famous “creatives” (I like that we get to be called that, as if only a special subset of people are creative) (which I firmly believe is totally not true) talking about the Fear of Failure (for an exhibition at Stockholm’s Berghs School of Communication) (which, incidentally, makes me want to chuck it all, become swedish, and go to design school).
*NOTE: Though this post appears to be directed at artists and “creatives” I think that the insights can apply to all sorts of things in life. So, even though all you’re interested in is pictures of babies, please plow on. There’s good stuff here.*
You can see all the videos here, or you could skip them all and just watch this one – Milton Glaser. Creative genius, but also, evidently, a thoughtful and perceptive dude. He was really the only one of those interviewed to move beyond just advice-giving – he ends up deconstructing creativity in a fascinating way. I often find myself giving students and young entrepreneurs the “advice” that you need to take risks and that failure is the only sure way to learn. This is pretty easy advice to give, and almost impossible advice to take. But I absolutely love the spin Milton Glaser puts on it.
Milton Glaser – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.
Picasso isn’t such a bad creative role model, methinks.
And, okay, here’s a picture of some babies for those of you who stuck it out.
I must admit to censoring myself – the best photo featured some pretty cute Kato buns. But I know not everyone wants to wake up to boy buns on a Tuesday morning. (I said “not everyone,” Don).
You know me better than I know myself, O Ye Creative.
Thank you for this. As I attempt to finish my book over the next six weeks and not have a complete meltdown, I will instead try to embrace the failure.
And I agree re: Picasso. It is incredibly brave to abandon something once you have mastered it.
Dear Claudia,
I don’t know you, but want to wish you well. Carry on, my dear. You are braver than you think.
Claudia – if it’s any consolation to you, a lot can happen in 6 weeks. For example, 42 generations of mayflies can cycle by. And really, it will likely be millions of years before any one of them could come up with a single letter to write. So, really, you’re way ahead in that sense.
Plus, I happen to know you are one of those people who gets shit done. I have faith. You’ll get there.
Oh, Robbi…thank you, this was terrific. It’s like he crawled inside my mind and eavesdropped on my niggly, naggly inner critic. I plan to forward this on to D, who is away and also immersed in attempting creativity against all odds. He will appreciate it.
By the way, Mr. Glaser looks like he could have modeled for your French Explorers. What a countenance!
Claudia,
Have the meltdown, get it out of the way… and then go back to work. Godspeed!