Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The Key to Innnovation? Ignore Everybody

One of the techniques which libraries use to plan innovative services is to uncover the needs of their customers. However, I always wonder if customers really know what they need tomorrow. They usually only know what they need today. As a result, being innovative may require librarians to ignore their customers. 

Copywriter and cartoonist Hugh Lacleod wrote a series of blog posts which went on to become "How To Be Creative". His book, Ignore Everyone and 39 Keys to Creativity contains tips that grew from a series of blog postings that I feel can be applied to librarians looking to become more innovative:
1. Ignore Everybody
2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that
champion creativity.
10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.
11. Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
20. The choice of media is irrelevant.
22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.
27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.
36. Start blogging.

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