Business is creative.

Business is creative.

By Derek Sivers

A famous record label executive(iɡˈzekyədiv) was confronted(kənˈfrənt) by a musician who said, “You don’t value creativity!” The executive said, “Oh please! I’ve got accountants(əˈkount(ə)nt) more creative than you!”

It’s meant as an insult(inˈsəlt), but it has a point. Don’t think of music as creative but business as not. Business is definitely(ˈdefənitlē) just as creative as music.

Most musicians are wildly creative when writing(ˈrīdiNG), playing, performing, and recording. But as soon as it’s time to do business, they stiffen(ˈstifən) up and lose(lo͞oz) their confidence(ˈkänfədəns). They follow advice that tells them exactly(igˈzak(t)lē) how to promote(prəˈmōt).

But turning off your creativity — trying to play it safe — is the worst thing you could do. Just like with music.

So loosen up! Get confident, creative, playful, and experimental(ikˌsperəˈmen(t)l). Break(brāk) the rules. Try some things that nobody else has done.

Think of how comfortable you are on your instrument — improvising(ˈimprəˌvīz), experimenting, and having fun with it.

Now be that comfortable when marketing. Improvise. Experiment. And have fun with it!

https://sivers.org/bizriff