Show Your Work!

You’ve heard of him: the man who is suddenly struck by divine inspiration; who holes himself up day and night to mold his brilliant idea into a masterpiece; and who, at last, graciously shares his opus with the public amid much pomp and circumstance. Yes, we’re talking about the “lone genius.” He’s a towering figure in Western culture. He’s also a fabrication – one of the most destructive myths to permeate humanity’s conception of creativity.

The problem with the lone genius myth is twofold. For starters, it paints a warped picture, in which most geniuses just so happen to be dead white men – think Einstein, Picasso, or Mozart. It also excludes the partners, collaborators, mentors, benefactors, and influences who made the work of these men possible. It depicts creativity as an antisocial activity, when, in reality, it’s almost always a result of an ecology of talent.

The key message here is: Creativity is a social act.

So what's an alternative to this harmful myth? Meet the “scenius.” Sceniuses acknowledge that inspired ideas usually don't emerge, fully formed, from an individual mind. They know that creativity is a communal endeavor, involving artists, thinkers, theorists, and curators. Because of this, they encourage sharing ideas, making connections, and starting conversations.

The internet, an interconnected web of sceniuses, makes this sharing easier than ever. Online, it doesn’t matter if you’re famous or obscure, a master or just starting out. We all have the ability to contribute something.

Actually, on the internet, it’s the amateurs who often have an edge over professionals. Amateurs are perpetual enthusiasts with little to lose and everything to gain. As such, they’re open to experimentation and go where the wind blows. They’re not afraid to make mistakes – or fools of themselves.

And the thing is, the world is changing so quickly that it’s transforming every one of us into amateurs. We will all need to embrace the unknown, over and over, in order to flourish. 

That might sound scary, but here’s a tip: read the obituaries every morning. Get inspired by the people who came before you. They were all amateurs at some point in their lives – and they were all courageous enough to put themselves out there, to reinvent themselves, to persevere through thick and thin.

So adopt the mindset of an amateur. Make a point of learning in the open so others can learn from your failures and successes. Find a scenius, and talk about the things you love. That way, you’ll figure out what you’re doing and where you’re going – you’ll find your voice. 

In other words, start sharing! The rest will follow.