CREATIVE STARTUP PEOPLE (Number 6 of a series) : Do you have what they have?

Today I'll move on to the next trait on the list for creative people, applying it to startups (see the introductory note at the end of this blog). The quotes are from the book cited in the endnote.

======================================================

TRAIT NUMBER 6:Creative people are also remarkably humble and proud at the same time.

Application: Serial entrepreneurs are both selfless and aggressive. They are skilled at finding “the golden middle” where they balance these opposing traits.

“There are good reasons why . . . these individuals are well aware that they stand, Newton’s words, ‘on the shoulders of giants.’ They respect their domain [and are] aware of the long line of previous contributions made to it, which puts their own into perspective. They also are aware of the role that luck played in their own achievements. And third, they are usually so focused on future projects and current challenges that their past accomplishments, no matter how outstanding, are no longer very interesting to them.”

“Another way of expressing this duality is to see it as a contrast between ambition and selflessness, or competition and cooperation. It is often necessary for creative individuals to be ambitious and aggressive. Yet at the same time, they are often willing to subordinate their own personal comfort and advancement to the success of whatever project they are working on. Aggressiveness is required especially in fields where competition is acute, or in domains where it is difficult to introduce novelty.”

A. speaks in awe of the remarkable predecessors in his field and yet in the next breath is aggressive and self-confident about solving the next big problem. He often scares timid people. Yet he is also self-deprecating.

E. speaks quietly yet with a tone that listeners know signals a strong personality, one that is delivering an important message without an ego that demands attention.

A. and T. look strangers in the eye, speak with excitement about their startup and yet are openly respectful of the person they just met. They discuss with respect leaders of prior startups, regardless of how those new enterprises fared.

P. says fewer words than most in meetings, yet commands instant respect when he speaks in groups. Entrepreneurs respect him for lack of arrogance yet he speaks enthusiastically about the string of world-class new enterprises his firm has helped succeed.

BOTTOM LINE: Creativity comes with finding balance in life. This includes balancing humility with pride. I and other ancient veterans respect the creative startup leaders who are proud of their new enterprises and the people who worked so hard to build the success. Yet they respect the role that luck played. And they give credit to competitors who tried but did not have such great success. That adds to the creativity of their new enterprises and contributes power to their competitive advantage. Then their competitive advantage quickly becomes unfair.

=========================================================================================
NOTE OF INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES ON CREATIVE STARTUP PEOPLE

Creativity.

That's a desired skill that stands out in great startup people: Founders, management, leaders, and employees. I also find it outstanding in the venture community: Angels, venture capitalists, bloggers, media reporters, lawyers and finance staff.

On the less positive side, creative people are also a challenge to manage (often "a pain in the neck" and worse).

I am often questioned about creative startup people, so I've decided to discuss them in a series of blogs, who they are, how to spot them and what to do about them.  The series should be about ten blogs in length, spread out over the next three weeks.

I decided begin with this question: "How creative are you?"

To help you answer that question, I'll list the traits of a creative person and let you compare yourself. I expect you to be surprised (I was).

My source for the list is a mind stretching book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi entitled Creativity. He is professor and former chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, and author of several books including the bestseller, Flow. The quoted item that I use are from Creativity.

Today I'll move on to the next trait on the list for creative people, applying it to startups (see the introductory note at the end of this blog). The quotes are from the book cited in the endnote.

======================================================

TRAIT NUMBER 6:Creative people are also remarkably humble and proud at the same time.

Application: Serial entrepreneurs are both selfless and aggressive. They are skilled at finding “the golden middle” where they balance these opposing traits.

“There are good reasons why . . . these individuals are well aware that they stand, Newton’s words, ‘on the shoulders of giants.’ They respect their domain [and are] aware of the long line of previous contributions made to it, which puts their own into perspective. They also are aware of the role that luck played in their own achievements. And third, they are usually so focused on future projects and current challenges that their past accomplishments, no matter how outstanding, are no longer very interesting to them.”

“Another way of expressing this duality is to see it as a contrast between ambition and selflessness, or competition and cooperation. It is often necessary for creative individuals to be ambitious and aggressive. Yet at the same time, they are often willing to subordinate their own personal comfort and advancement to the success of whatever project they are working on. Aggressiveness is required especially in fields where competition is acute, or in domains where it is difficult to introduce novelty.”

A. speaks in awe of the remarkable predecessors in his field and yet in the next breath is aggressive and self-confident about solving the next big problem. He often scares timid people. Yet he is also self-deprecating.

E. speaks quietly yet with a tone that listeners know signals a strong personality, one that is delivering an important message without an ego that demands attention.

A. and T. look strangers in the eye, speak with excitement about their startup and yet are openly respectful of the person they just met. They discuss with respect leaders of prior startups, regardless of how those new enterprises fared.

P. says fewer words than most in meetings, yet commands instant respect when he speaks in groups. Entrepreneurs respect him for lack of arrogance yet he speaks enthusiastically about the string of world-class new enterprises his firm has helped succeed.

BOTTOM LINE: Creativity comes with finding balance in life. This includes balancing humility with pride. I and other ancient veterans respect the creative startup leaders who are proud of their new enterprises and the people who worked so hard to build the success. Yet they respect the role that luck played. And they give credit to competitors who tried but did not have such great success. That adds to the creativity of their new enterprises and contributes power to their competitive advantage. Then their competitive advantage quickly becomes unfair.

=========================================================================================
NOTE OF INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERIES ON CREATIVE STARTUP PEOPLE

Creativity.

That's a desired skill that stands out in great startup people: Founders, management, leaders, and employees. I also find it outstanding in the venture community: Angels, venture capitalists, bloggers, media reporters, lawyers and finance staff.

On the less positive side, creative people are also a challenge to manage (often "a pain in the neck" and worse).

I am often questioned about creative startup people, so I've decided to discuss them in a series of blogs, who they are, how to spot them and what to do about them.  The series should be about ten blogs in length, spread out over the next three weeks.

I decided begin with this question: "How creative are you?"

To help you answer that question, I'll list the traits of a creative person and let you compare yourself. I expect you to be surprised (I was).

My source for the list is a mind stretching book by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi entitled Creativity. He is professor and former chairman of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, and author of several books including the bestseller, Flow. The quoted item that I use are from Creativity.