Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity Hardcover – June 11, 2009
by Hugh MacLeod (Author)
When Hugh MacLeod was a struggling young copywriter living in a YMCA, he started to doodle on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. Those cartoons eventually led to a popular blog-gapingvoid.com-and a reputation for pithy insight and humor, in both words and pictures. MacLeod has opinions on everything from marketing to the meaning of life, but one of his main subjects is creativity. How do new ideas emerge in a cynical, risk-averse world? Where does inspiration come from? What does it take to make a living as a creative person? Ignore Everybody expands on MacLeod’s sharpest insights, wittiest cartoons, and most useful advice. For example: -Selling out is harder than it looks. Diluting your product to make it more commercial will just make people like it less. -If your plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail. Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain. -Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether. There’s no point trying to do the same thing as 250,000 other young hopefuls, waiting for a miracle. All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one. -The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will. After learning MacLeod’s forty keys to creativity, you will be ready to unlock your own
brilliance and unleash it on the world.
Amazon.com Review
Book Description
When Hugh MacLeod was a struggling young copywriter, living in a YMCA, he started to doodle on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. Those cartoons eventually led to a popular blog – gapingvoid.com – and a reputation for pithy insight and humor, in both words and pictures.
MacLeod has opinions on everything from marketing to the meaning of life, but one of his main subjects is creativity. How do new ideas emerge in a cynical, risk-averse world? Where does inspiration come from? What does it take to make a living as a creative person?
Now his first book, Ignore Everyone, expands on his sharpest insights, wittiest cartoons, and most useful advice. A sample:
* Selling out is harder than it looks. Diluting your product to make it more commercial will just make people like it less.
* If your plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail. Nobody suddenly discovers anything. Things are made slowly and in pain.
* Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether. There’s no point trying to do the same thing as 250,000 other young hopefuls, waiting for a miracle. All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one.
* The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will.
After learning MacLeod’s 40 keys to creativity, you will be ready to unlock your own brilliance and unleash it on the world.
Review
“William Dufris reads with humor and liveliness as he shares the author’s argument for creativity in a complicated world and steps for personal creativity.” —AudioFile –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Hugh MacLeod worked as an advertising copywriter for more than a decade, while developing his skills as a cartoonist and pundit. His blog is Gaping Void, and more than a million people have downloaded the original post that inspired this book, “How to be Creative.” He also lectures and consults on Web 2.0 and its impact on business. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From AudioFileHugh MacLeod, “a cartoonist, marketer, and blogger” who grew a business out of the cartoons he drew on the backs of business cards, maps the road less traveled to creative success. William Dufris reads with humor and liveliness as he shares the author’s argument for creativity in a complicated world and steps for personal creativity. MacLeod offers suggestions on using the Internet and enumerates the core values needed for success. Since MacLeod’s a cartoonist, the print version includes plenty of illustrations; Dufris reads the punch lines, but it’s just not the same. While Dufris does a good job, many readers will want to seek out the printed text to see the work MacLeod’s talking about. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product details
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Portfolio; First Edition edition (June 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159184259X
ISBN-13: 978-1591842590
Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.7 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (189 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)