Back in 1996, I was hired by a venture capital company. I was shocked when I got the job (as was most everyone else who knew me at the time.) While there only a year, it gave me knowledge, awareness and lifelong new friendships. I then went off to start an investor relations firm, learning from each of the 18 years that I had that biz, before selling it and restarting a PR firm, which I still own today. ✨

During that VC year, my learning curve was like a rocket take off: Strait up. To this day, I build on the foundation of lessons learned: One involved creativity. (Who would have expected that I’d learn a lot about creativity from a group of finance guys?… Silly me for having such wrong, pre-conceived notions that financial & business ideas, choices & transactions were not highly creative!)✨

The lesson was: “Pioneers get the arrows. Settlers get the land.”  It applies to so many creative transactions, situations, art and people! It respects that idea that nothing is wholly original: Everything is a take on things that have influenced us, that we’ve observed, that we’ve absorbed and ultimately added our personal touch prior to “release.” ✨

It’s important to remember because explaining further:  IF someone tries to pitch an idea as “so original there’s nothing like it” — that’s a very tough sale. People actually like, and prefer familiarity. ✨

So don’t hide your creativity waiting for it to somehow be more original. Creativity is in the universe. It is up to you to add your own stamp of originality to the collective creative process. Acknowledge roots, foundations & others because that’s important karma, and it doesn’t stop your work from being original, worthy, educational & inspiring.✨

Honor; Respect; Credit when due. Then? Go be you! It’s all good. It’s all great, actually, because while we’re all individuals, we’re connected at the heart-of-the-matter-of-Life. Want to read a good book about this? Check out anything by @austinkleon I’ve read his whole series and given away more of his books than I can count. His daily posts are wonderful too!  You’ll be newly inspired! ✨

I’m @DianGriesel aka a perception analyst & strategist; creative attitude disrupter & adjuster; author of The Silver Disobedience Playbook & TurboCharged: The Silver Disobedience Edition; and the blogger & model known as @SilverDisobedience  More info on my websites (search my name) and at Wilhelmina Models. Silver Disobedience® is a Registered Trademark.