John Cleese on How to Make Your Life More Creative | Hacker News Reader

John Cleese on How to Make Your Life More Creative

brainpickings.org

176 pointsAndrewDucker16 comments

There is a better, longer version of the video here: http://vimeo.com/18913413

He elaborates on collaborating with other people, connecting disperate ideas, and managing creative people

“How to stamp out creativity in the rest of the organization, get a bit of respect going.”

If this was a TED talk it would have been in the 1 million plus votes for sure. This man is a genius, the content and the delivery of the content is wonderfully done. I am for sure going to try his methods in the coming days.

One of the best talks on creativity I have ever heard. Worth a listen whether you're a designer, developer, writer etc

This is an especially good video for managers to watch. In fact, it should be mandatory.

I would agree if the only goal was to reinvigorate people who were creative to begin with.

However, my concerns lie with the majority who aren't creative because they weren't taught this at home or by the school system when this is becoming more and more important in an economy that is difficult to find a job. It's difficult to teach anyone to be creative past the time they graduate college. They become too set in whatever ideology they believe in.

Everyone has the ability to be creative. Being creative has been part of human history for thousands of years.

The problem is more often that people aren't empowered to think creatively. You often get handed a set of tasks to complete or instructions to follow.

Some people naturally break out of this and follow their own path to accomplish the task. That's why it's so important for managers to watch this and understand they need to create an environment where people can get into the "open" mode as John puts it.

I agree that throughout life and education we've been taught to think and act within certain parameters, that's why I love this video so much, it actually gives ideas on how to create an environment that fosters creativity.

Out of curiosity did you watch the video? Or the full video (not the main excerpt at the top of the page).

Ah, well, this sort of explains a method of mine.

When I get stuck on a problem, I get the dog and go for a walk. I can then mentally give the problem a sense of freedom and let it sort of wander round my mind. The problem get mental time, and mental space. 9 times out of 10, the solution appears. The trick then is not to forget it by the time I get home!!!!

With out doing that, I would never have passed my degree.

Since I have watched this talk, I have been integrating the open/closed modality to the pomodoro workflow. Sure, it isn't setting aside an hour and a half as Cleese suggests, but I think it's a far better use of left over pomodoro time then the standard "over learn" advice. I get to see what I just did under different lenses, and it sets me up for a more relaxed break.

Can you expand a little bit for those of us who aren't as familiar with advanced pomodoro techniques?

While I loved the video I need to do a bit of a meta rant on the rising ui trend that I personally find apalling:

why on earth would I like a version of a page I read on iPad to have a horizontal scrolling complimented with back button jumping between sub pages instead of taking me back?

Is there something fantastic I'm missing here with this newish approach? For me it breaks the time tested and familiar vertical scrolling that I've been doing for the last 15 years and doesn't add any value.

Oh hell yes. I feel very closely aligned with his philosophy, and this message is so well delivered, its almost cathartic to watch. For anyone who has tried to have new ideas in the face of closed minded people who strangle ideas before they have a chance to grow- this video is your antidote.

Charles Bukowski begs to differ... [1] (but Charles Bukowski is no ordinary creative)

[1] http://zenpencils.com/comic/97-charles-bukowski-air-and-ligh...

If you are born as a creative person, like Bukowski, you will create this time and space, no matter what. For the rest of us, Cleese tells us about the importance of creating them - while Bukowski warns that they're just a tool, not a solution. Likewise, you buy a set of pencils because you have an urge to draw; not the other way round.

Creative and Not Creative is just a mindset. I don't believe you are inherently one or the other. Either you accept things as they are, or try to make something new.

To say Creative and Not Creative is just a mindset makes about as much sense as saying height is a just a mindset.

Bukowski is talking about something different. Cleese is talking about how to get into the creative or 'open' mode, whereas Bukowski is talking about people who use their circumstances to justify their lack of performance. Cleese only suggests an hour and a half a day of alone time which is completely doable for even for many people who have a job and a family and the drive to create something.

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