Hugh MacLeod’s “Ignore Everybody”

Okay, it seems like I’ve been on Hugh MacLeod’s jock lately, but I’ve been planning on putting this post up for a month and am now just getting around to it.

A few weeks ago, I read Hugh MacLeod’s book, Ignore Everybody, which features 39 keys to creativity.  For anybody interested in pursuing any type of creative activity, whether for professional or pleasure (or both) purposes, I highly recommend you pick the book up.

Now, the book can pretty much be summed up by simply saying, “Ignore what everybody else thinks, shut up, and put time in on your craft,” but breaking the information into forty steps makes it easier to digest and is thus more inspiring… feels more manageable.

Although you need to buy the book (Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity) to read more details for each creative key, you can hit the jump to at least read down the list of keys.

1. Ignore everybody.
2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.
3. Put the hours in.
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
5. You are responsible for your own experience.
6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
7. Keep your day job.
8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.
9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.
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.
12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.
13. Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.
14. Dying young is overrated.
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.
16. The world is changing.
17. Merit can be bought. Passion can’t.
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
19. Sing in your own voice.
20. The choice of media is irrelevant.
21. Selling out is harder than it looks.
22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.
23. Worrying about “Commercial vs. Artistic” is a complete waste of time.
24. Don’t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.
25. You have to find your own schtick.
26. Write from the heart.
27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.
28. Power is never given. Power is taken.
29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.
30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.
31. Remain frugal.
32. Allow your work to age with you.
33. Being Poor Sucks.
34. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.
35. Savor obscurity while it lasts.
36. Start blogging.
37. Meaning Scales, People Don’t.
38. When your dreams become reality, they are no longer your dreams.

You can read the first 25% of the book at Hugh’s website.