How to be Creative? (and yet make money)
Hugh MacLeod said in his article “How To Be Creative“:
So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:
1. Ignore everybody.
Kli: But don't cheat youself 
2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.
Kli: and yet make money 
3. Put the hours in.
Kli: 力不到不為財！
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
Kli: You biz plan will be refined and refined and refined, so don't worry too much about it
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
Kli: 鬼唔知阿媽係女人（yeah, it ryhmes!)
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
Kli: good observation! 但creativity始終有程度之分，也有先天資質上的分別。
7. Keep your day job.
Kli: and you will NEVER start your own business
8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.
Kli: Pls tell Microsoft about this XDDDDDD
9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.
Kli: 好在唔係斷背山…
10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.
Kli: …and?
11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.
Kli: and become anti-social? XDDDD
12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.
Kli: No Pain! No Gain!! Yeah~
13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.
Kli: Compare your outside with somebody else's outside instead XDDDDD
14. Dying young is overrated.
Kli: Getting rich young is not
15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.
Kli: Make it a thin line.
16. The world is changing.
Kli: What is not?
17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.
Kli: Merit can only be earned. (Passion is more difficult to get, I agree.)
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
Kli: Same thing as No.1 - why say it twice?
19. Sing in your own voice.
Kli: I have a Jacky Cheung voice, oh no!
20. The choice of media is irrelevant.
Kli: If you only think of being “creative”.
21. Selling out is harder than it looks.
Kli: It is ALOT harder. That's why sales is a profession.
22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.
Kli: Cannot agree more. NOBODY cares. Really. It's true. (Because you ignore them… see No.1)
23. Worrying about “Commercial vs. Artistic” is a complete waste of time.
Kli: How about “Commercially artistic” or “Artistically commercial”?
24. Don?t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.
Kli: Don't let it come too late. Be sensitive to the world, learn from history - inspiation will come.
25. You have to find your own schtick.
Kli: With style and taste.
26. Write from the heart.
Kli: And then use your grammar checker…
27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
Kli: Provided you have the money.
28. Power is never given. Power is taken.
Kli: Same as above.
29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.
Kli: Same as No.3…
30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.
Kli: Or let people around you getting used to your 10 stupid ideas of the day.
31. Remain frugal.
Kli: Don't buy partition for your office - it won't make you extra money. 
Are you crazy? If the answer is yes, you'll probably like his article:
http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html
The first time I read Hugh MacLeod's article is at LensWork magazine, issue August 2005. However, I cannot find that on web. But the above one is the same article except it is longer and is very nice too! If you're crazy enough, you must love it!
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