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/