Who gets the best jobs?

Following guest speaker Helen Ross's recommendation today in my Understanding and Managing Creativity module i have 'googled' and found 'Who gets the best jobs?', a BBC  documentary from last year. I haven't watched them yet but thought i'd post them up on here for my fellow course mates and all you other lovely people to have a watch too.

I believe that its looking at the value of Higher Education, should be quite interesting!

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRP8xc5aFA

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFom1vekU4g&feature=related

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S7i4JS-fcs&feature=related

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S4ubM0IOw8&feature=related

Creative Industries Funding: Winners and Losers

In the news today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17183033

In Times of Leadership

‘To be or not to be: Should leaders be nasty or nice?

In the consulting I do for businesses, I find that leaders are increasingly wary of being nasty. They go on courses to develop their emotional intelligence. They subject themselves to feedback from their peers. They read books on how to motivate their staff. They’re getting a lot nicer. But is that a good thing?

The debate has a noble antecedent in Machiavelli, of course. He argued it was better to be feared than loved, but since then the forces of democracy, modernity and celebrity have reversed the equation. A case point would be Vladimir Putin, who has to struggle against his inner Stalin, and overcompensates by showing off his torso in the hope of adoration. Modern leaders love to be loved.

In a business context, however, this can be unhelpful. A business exists to generate value in the form of a product of service. Generating it is what we call work. The fundamental role of the leader therefore is to secure the greatest value for the least work, a mixture of effectiveness with efficiency. That leader might not need to be nasty as such, but he or she does need to be a pretty steely technocrat.

But the niceness of modern leaders is not an end in itself. It’s a technique aimed at making the workforce more efficient-the nicer I am, the harder they’ll work. After all, if niceness isn’t aimed at that, it’s kind of irrelevant. The same goes for nastiness too; if it doesn’t help the business, it’s just bullying.’

(Smith, R. R. 2005. To be or not to be: Should leaders be nasty or nice? The Sunday Times, 27 February. (Kindle Edition))

Creative Latitude - If this doesn't get you talking.....i don't know what will!

Rowan Atkinson has hit the headlines today with his views on a TV ageism row involving the BBC and Miriam O'Reilly. O'Reilly won her employment tribunal after taking the BBC to court after claiming she had been unfairly dismissed as host of Country File because of her age.

 'Writing to BBC Radio 4's Media Show, Atkinson said creative industries were "completely inappropriate environments for anti-discrimination legislation" ' (bbc.co.uk,24/2/12)

 "And as with any creative construct, whether it's a BBC factual television programme or a film or an oil painting, if creative freedom means anything, it is having complete creative latitude to include or exclude anybody or anything for any reason." Rowan Atkinson (bbc.co.uk,24/2/12)

This article has already sparked huge interest this morning on the BBC's websites with comments and views that are worth a look. Follow the link below!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17145591

Mindonthemoney - another thought provoking post!

“… primary concern is with the free creative individual and that, through-out history, environments – including states – have been obstacles to individual.” O’Manique (mindonthemoney.wordpress.com)

http://mindonthemoney.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/primary-concern-is-with-the-free-creative-individual-and-that-through-out-history-environments-including-states-have-been-obstacles-to-individual-o/

Art....Priceless, for everything else theres Mastercard....in an ideal world of course....

'Arts value is difficult to quantify' (Mindonthemoney.wordpress.com)

Mindonthemoney is a blog focusing on arts, ploitics and the question of money. It's topical and thought provoking posts have already raised some interesting questions with the potential for some very interesting discussion which hopefully you'll all want to participate in!

So, what do you think about my little 'spin' of the well known Mastercard advert? Follow the link at the end of this post to Mindonthemoney's post 'Money is itself a kind of reduction...' This particular post has struck a chord, is this really the world we live in? A world where:

 'Money in fact, in one way or another, reduces every moment of art to a single transaction of currency' (Mindonthemoney.wordpress.com)

http://mindonthemoney.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/money-is-itself-a-kind-of-reductionism-it-packs-whole-universes-into-a-handful-of-coppers-eagleton/

Creative Times

https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/whats-on/films/view/creativ

Science of Happiness

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8DngXKtvEQ

Some late night TLC for creatives!

Thought I'd share some words of encouragement, inspiration and motivation from Meg Mateo Ilasco's 'Craft' tonight, for all creative individuals who doubt their abilities, have 'wobbly' moments and procrastinate just like me.


Ilasco (2010) acknowledges common myths regarding creativity and enterprise within this fantastic book, which i am reading yet again!

• You don't need a creative, artistic degree to start a successful creative enterprise. Ilasco (2010) refers to Tadao Ando, famous architect who practised and won the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1995. http://www.tadao-ando.com/index_eng.html
• There is an age limit on setting up your own creative business. Age has many advantages. Ilasco (2010) assures that age brings greater life experiences, greater self awareness, confidence, increased knowledge and understanding of skills.
• 'All the great ideas have already been done' (pp.13). 'A classic creative 'cop out'' (pp.13).Creativity can be stifled, restricted, diminished by pressure, particularly by the pressure each of us puts on ourselves to succeed, achieve! Ilasco (2010) emphasises that we need to remove this pressure we put ourselves and have Faith!
• You have to wait for the right time. Are you wondering whether it is the right time? There will never be a perfect time! When is the right time to start-up, to make a change, a difference in your life? The answer, says Ilasco (2010) is RIGHT NOW! 

'Meaning'

Just thought i'd post this, whilst doing some late night blogging to keep you all on your toes and thinking!


This is a clip of Guy Kawasaki (one of the 'BIG' silicon valley guys who brought us Mactintosh) talking about creating 'meaning'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQs6IpJQWXc


...and this is what Pablo has to say about 'meaning'...

'People want to find 'meaning' in everything and everyone. That's the disease of our age...'Pablo Picasso

Kawasaki gives 3 key ways of creating 'meaning':

1. Improving quality of life or of an experience
2. Righting a wrong
3. Preventing the end of something

My fellow masters students have already taken part in a discussion critiquing Kawasaki's theory, so for everyone else WHAT do you think? Is this all 'very nice' but to idealistic and not realistic? How do you determine a right or a wrong? Is Pablo right is it a disease?!

Let me know!

'Every act of creation is first an act of destruction' Pablo Picasso

'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up' Pablo Picasso

 'An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought' Pablo Picasso  

'The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web' Pablo Picasso  

How Freelancer's Dance!

'A successful freelancer is passionate about his art and seeks inspiration to fuel it-even in his off-duty hours-simply for the sake of generating work that he loves' (Ilasco, 2010)

Creative freelancers are curious creatures! Curiosity is a driver, a motivator and is a well primed tool for new opportunities, new skills, new techniques new ways of creating. Creative people are 'culture vultures' devouring all sorts of newspapers, magazines, journals and books watching the latest films, world cinema, theatre and documentaries (Ilasco, 2010). 'We vultures' or as i prefer 'magpies' (!) also like to travel and absorb new experiences be inspired by our adventures, by what we have seen: people, places, colours, textures etc.

'The more diverse your experiences and interests, the stronger your ability to come up with ideas' (Ilasco, 2010)

Although Meg Mateo Ilasco's book 'Creative Inc...' (see 'Tools of the Trade') is specifically aimed at freelancers/'wannabe' freelancers in my view it also sums up the qualities of a creative individual and a creative entrepreneur.

Ilasco lists 9 essential qualities for a freelancer and in my view a creative entrepreneur:

1. A strong business sense: '...there's enough ego and talent coursing through the creative world for even the most gifted artist to get lost in the crowd. The ones who flex their business muscle become the most identifiable and successful' It is important to be a confident decision maker, with motivation and resourcefulness. Competence in maintaining structure and schedule, marketing, accounting and office admin is also equally important as this will be a day-to-day task (Ilasco, 2010).
2. Love of your art: '...you have to be passionate about what you do' You need to be excited each morning to get out of bed and start your day, you need to be prepared to have very long days, a 9-5 day is unrealistic! 
3. Curiosity: As stated earlier a creatives' are curious creatures! Creative entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in general need to be connected and engage with the world observing, listening, reacting, being influenced and inspired and forming networks and alliances everywhere, even in the most unlikely places.
4. Confidence and a strong vision: initiate projects from your ideas, from how your perceive them to 'look', 'just do it' and have faith in your abilities.
5. Good listening and observational skills: as a creative entrepreneur you may always want to 'Do whatever you want, when you want' however as Ilasco illustrates for creative freelancers to stay in business you need to please your client before yourself, likewise to be a successful entrepreneur you'll need to please your respective market, be adaptable.
6. Good communication skills: you will need to connect with your market - whoever it might be. You need to inspire and persuade effectively, to be a successful entrepreneur you still need to make money and communication skills are vital for marketing and selling your product/service!
7. An ability to handle criticism and rejection: although it has been emphasised that creative individuals and indeed creative entrepreneurs like to  'Do whatever you want, when you want' in business it will be tough and if creative entrepreneurs are to succeed they depend on appeal to their market, it is therefore essential not only to develop a thick skin but also not to ignore feedback and react to it positively! (Ilasco, 2010)
8. A positive attitude and professional demeanour:  'A positive attitude is priceless when you are running your own business. It's important to handle every job, whether small or large with joice de vivre' ...'mistatkes are part of the discovery process' (Ilasco, 2010).
9. Good work habits:  as both a creative freelancer and creative entrepreneur you need to organise a good suitable structure that ensures you are able to focus on business tasks and responsibilities day-to-day whilst having the fluidity to be creative and realise your ideas! 'As a freelancer, you have to be self-motivated, because only you can set the bar for your skill and output' (Ilasco, 2010).

A Clear cut? - continued

Continuing to 'ponder' upon this HOT topic i am adding further weight to this debate, having progressed in my 'consumption' of Howkin's The Creative Economy. Howkin's (2007) refers to Bob Geldolf, a highly successful entrepreneur who seems to regard himself as a creative entrepreneur. Although Howkins acknowledges that Geldof is somewhat 'unconventional' in the way he runs his business he explains that Geldof 'manifests' creative success.

Geldof famously doesnt work in any one of his offices, opting to work alone armed only with a telephone, no email, no fax. In explaining why he chooses not to work 'at work', surrounded by his employees he says that 'if you have staff, you start to think about them and you lose the freedom to think and write' (Howkins 2007, pp.125)

'Business is as creative as songwriting, but not as personal' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007 pp.127)

His ideas derive from 'irascibility and invention', and mixing boredom with his imagination results in a 'strong cocktail' (Howkins 2007,pp.127).

'Business - its a cliche - absolutely as creative as anything. Business creates ideas. Around something as dry as a boardroom meeting there can be a confluence of ideas that creates and promotes more ideas' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007 pp.127)

Geldof refers to creative entrepreneurs as being truly capitalist, that manging creative wealth will give rise to more wealth. Creative entrepreneurs:

'...use creativity to unlock the wealth that lies within themselves' (Bob Geldof, cited in Howkins, 2007pp.136)

Gary Thompson Entrepreneur

Fantastic creative presentation from Craig, Luke, Tom and Ed!

To help you 'ponder' further over the subject of what makes a creative entrepreneur!

http://youtu.be/CUxapCInvUA

Mr Motivator!

'The only person who can really motivate you is you' Shaquille O'Neal - NBA Basketball Player

I heard this quote yesterday and as a creative person this is so true! I think creative individuals are also only truly motivated when creating things for themselves, not restricted or limited by someonelse's brief developing their ideas.

Howkins (2007) refers to Bob Geldof:

'...he doesn't wait to be told what to do. He takes charge of his own talent.' (pp.125)



Here is another inspiring quote (yes from Howkins!) regarding motivation, feeling motivated and confident!

   'Everyone must begin to trust their dreams because out of that trust is born the artist, and the artist is the role model for the entrepreneur we now need' (Ernest Hall, Entrepreneur and Musician, cited in Howkins, 2007 pp.125)



A Clear cut?

What makes an entrepreneur Creative? What sets them apart from other entrepreneurs? Is there a fine line between the two? Or is there a clear devide? Does being a creative entrepreneur encompass the content, context and philosophy of a business OR is being a creative entrepreneur simply about the personality and characteristics of the individual and how that reflects upon the business, regardless of what the business is?!

A HOT topic at the moment, 'sparking' the beginings of what could potentially be a very interesting discussion/debate amongst my fellow Master's students!

I'm going to 'ponder' the subject some more, stand by for further updates BUT in the mean time do feel free to get the ball rolling with any thoughts, comments etc. on this subject!

'Hire Character.Train Skill' Peter Schutz

Why should businesses have a strong creative aspect? Why, as the former President and CEO of Porsche, Peter Schutz believes do they need to 'Hire Character.Train Skill'?

'Individual creativity needs to be integrated with organisation resources, capacities and systems if new ideas are ever to bear fruit' (Bilton, C. 2007, pp.xv)

Thus surely an existing organisation encouraging creativity and hiring for creativity has an advantage?

Creativity is the key to success, it offers the potential for an organisation to quash it's competitors and gain advantage in the market. It is a valuable resource/potential, not only for individual organisations but for the economy as a whole stimulating growth and prosperity. Creativity within the workplace allows for openness, freedom to express opinion and share ideas, It enables a 'healthy' working environment, relaxed and sociable. Creativity is valued, diversity is encouraged and change embraced.

According to Bilton (2007) the best recipe for creativity is:

'a combination of innovation and value that in the end is both surprising and satisfying, achieved through a combination of spontaneous inventiveness and laborious preparation' (pp.3)

However in order to stimulate the 'ingrediants' for this recipe it is necessary to 'overcome' stereotypes that are associated with both 'creativity' and 'management' (Bilton, 2007). Tension exists between 'creativity and 'management' and therefore the challenge organisations will face in embracing creativity is how to 'manage' this tension and find ways of 'stitching' the too together (Howkins, 2007, Bilton, 2007) and in doing so they create balance.

A successful balance will achieve freedom of employees within the organisation, no regimented structure or control systems. It will allow for trust across all levels of the organisation, effective communication, respect and recognition. Creative individuals will be stimulated, challenged, rewarded and valued. An organisation of creative workers has the ability to be entrepreneurial and these enterprising individuals will all share: vision, focus, financial acumen, pride and urgency.

In order to hire for creativity and to ensure an organisation creates balance Shutz's 'Hire for character. Train skill' may just hit the nail on the head.

Hire

• Personality
• Demeanour
• Experience
• Drive
• Adaptability
• Fast learning
• Problem solving - creative thinking

Train (and develop)

• Specific specialist skills
• Knowledge and understanding

Steve Jobs and John Lasseter

'...artist's using computers, as an artist at Disney uses a piece of paper and a pencil...' John Lasseter - Animator, Director and Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E29v8vF0u-8&feature=g-vrec&context=G2694543RVAAAAAAAAAQ

Creative Entrepreneurs - An Interview with Reed Ingram Weir

Creativity is about 'showing imagination and originality of thought in moving beyond everyday thinking.' (Fillis and Rentschler, 2012, pp.51)

Reed Ingram Weir is a successful young creative entrepreneur in hot pursuit of 'original'.

His businesses 'Ingram Sounds' and 'Reed Ingram Weir Photography' enable his pursuit and in turn his resulting 'originality' enables the continued success of his businesses.

The interview with Reed was conducted by myself and fellow ABC students; Laura, Bex and Katy. We decided to present the key concept of 'originality' as a puzzle which we themed around the emblems of the Muses of literature and the arts in Greek mythology. We also designed each one so that we could spell out 'original' at the end.

Muse	Expertise	Emblem	Letter	Puzzle Piece	How it relates to Reed as a Creative Entrepreneur
Terpsichore	Dance	Lyre	O	People	People he works with/for and his networks
Polyhymnia	Hymns	Veil	R	Veil + clock	His journey to his business start-up
Euterpe	Song	Aulos	I	Music note	How music influenced ‘Ingram Sounds’
Thalia	Comedy	Comic Mask	G	Happy face	‘Creativity is fun’ (Howkins, 2007 pp.11) Reed likes to be able to have fun
Calliope	Epic poetry	Writing tablet	I	Tablet ‘I AM THE BOSS’	He IS the business
Melpomene	Tragedy	Tragic mask	N	Sad clown	There are ‘ups and downs’ in every business
Urainia	Astronomy	Globe and compass	A	Painting of ‘The Aurora’	‘Reed Ingram Weir Photography’
Clio	History	Scroll	L	Scroll	Reflection + ideas for the future
Erato	Love poetry	Cithara		PASSION	Importance of passion and motivation in his business

http://ingramsounds.co.uk/

http://reedingramweir.com/

Word of the day = 'original'

'If you are not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original' Sir Ken Robinson

'Original' has been the 'buzz' word today! (Check out tomorrow's blog post, all will be revealed!)
I've spent my afternoon scouting out Sir Ken's website for the first time - lots more fantastic videos (with more doodles) and all the books and articles he has written are up there too, articles definitely worth a read!

I really want to buy his book 'The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything' - Ive added it to my kindle wish list!

http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/