Use Your Shield

It's time for some creative inspiration from the Creative Whack Pack. Let's reach for a card. It’s number 58, “Use Your Shield.” Let's take a closer look.

New ideas can be threatening, and they often provoke a negative reaction.

For example, when the composer Igor Stravinsky first presented his Rite of Spring ballet with its unusual harmonies and primitive rhythms, he was met with a rioting audience.

When Johannes Kepler correctly solved the orbital problem of the planets by using ellipses rather than circles, he was denounced.

When the nineteenth-century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweiss suggested to his fellow doctors that they could reduce disease by washing their hands in chlorinated lime water before inspecting their patients, he was ridiculed by his colleagues who strongly resented the idea that they were "carrying around death on their hands."

Be prepared for such a reaction and don't let it prevent you from acting. As German statesman Konrad Adenauer put it, "A thick skin is a gift from God."

How strong is your shield?

I've found that when I've embarked on some of the more interesting endeavors in my career — from going into business for myself to self-publishing my first book, from buying a new house during a recession to creating a new manipulative toy business — there have been more than a few people who told me such things as:

• “You're leaving IBM to do what?”
• “What does ancient history have to do with anything?”
• “Where’s the market for that?”
• “I don't think anyone would pay money for that.”
• “Why would an adult want to play with plastic blocks?”

Criticism is vital to the creative process. Having people disagree with you helps you hone your ideas. Indeed, ideas are much stronger when they've been tempered by opposing viewpoints.

But once you're convinced that your idea is worth doing and you've committed yourself to implementing it, such negativity can be a burden to your performance. People are going to take their shots: you need to have a strong shield to deflect criticism. If you let every nay-sayer prevent you from moving forward, you'll never reach your objective.

Think of an idea you're currently trying to get into action. What negative reaction do you expect? How can you protect yourself from it? How well do you deal with criticism? What types of shield do you use?

It's time for some creative inspiration from the Creative Whack Pack. Let's reach for a card. It’s number 58, “Use Your Shield.” Let's take a closer look.

New ideas can be threatening, and they often provoke a negative reaction.

For example, when the composer Igor Stravinsky first presented his Rite of Spring ballet with its unusual harmonies and primitive rhythms, he was met with a rioting audience.

When Johannes Kepler correctly solved the orbital problem of the planets by using ellipses rather than circles, he was denounced.

When the nineteenth-century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweiss suggested to his fellow doctors that they could reduce disease by washing their hands in chlorinated lime water before inspecting their patients, he was ridiculed by his colleagues who strongly resented the idea that they were "carrying around death on their hands."

Be prepared for such a reaction and don't let it prevent you from acting. As German statesman Konrad Adenauer put it, "A thick skin is a gift from God."

How strong is your shield?

I've found that when I've embarked on some of the more interesting endeavors in my career — from going into business for myself to self-publishing my first book, from buying a new house during a recession to creating a new manipulative toy business — there have been more than a few people who told me such things as:

• “You're leaving IBM to do what?”
• “What does ancient history have to do with anything?”
• “Where’s the market for that?”
• “I don't think anyone would pay money for that.”
• “Why would an adult want to play with plastic blocks?”

Criticism is vital to the creative process. Having people disagree with you helps you hone your ideas. Indeed, ideas are much stronger when they've been tempered by opposing viewpoints.

But once you're convinced that your idea is worth doing and you've committed yourself to implementing it, such negativity can be a burden to your performance. People are going to take their shots: you need to have a strong shield to deflect criticism. If you let every nay-sayer prevent you from moving forward, you'll never reach your objective.

Think of an idea you're currently trying to get into action. What negative reaction do you expect? How can you protect yourself from it? How well do you deal with criticism? What types of shield do you use?

Comments

[Otto]

Enthusiasm goes a long way. I am in the business of creative innovation and recently relocated from Holland to Brazil. I lost count on the number of frowned foreheads I encountered while announcing my move, but nearly every time I threw in my enthusiasm (read: conviction that we can learn a lot from creativity in emerging markets), those wrinkles seemed to vanish quickly.

[vagabondtramp]

i really like the site and completely agree with this post. we cannot make any progress in making the world a better place until we look past our own ideas and consider the ideas of others. i try to be as open-minded as i possibly can.

[Jorge Castillo]

You don't need to have a very "strange" idea or action to face criticism. There's opposition even in little changes at work or at business.

My best shield for little changes is: If it doesn't work we simply get back to where we are. This way people feel safe to try. And sometimes trying becomes a successful new way of doing a little thing. That's when people say: Why were we doing things like that?

[Roger von Oech]

Otto: Yep, enthusiasm can make a big difference.

Vagabondtramp: Thanks for stopping by.

Jorge: I agree with you: a lot of the world has its defenses up to keep out new ideas. But for good reason! If we went along with every new thing that came along, things could get really chaotic.

[Shirley]

Roger, I just have to say, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for your wonderful books. I think "A Whack on the Side of the Head," changed my life. It made me think differently, and helped me realize that I was a creative person. It added so much fun and a new way of thinking into my life.

As to your post - I have slowly learned not to listen to those nay-sayers, (there are so many of them though). My shield is to head out to the web sites, books, blogs and fascinating people who inspire, uplift, and give hope. Thankfully these are growing by leaps and bounds and are easier and easier to find.

[Roger von Oech]

Shirley: Thanks for your very kind words. I also enjoyed visiting your delightful site!

[Dianna]

As usual, such a timely reminder. I recently took the step to start my own business (although I haven't left the day job). This was a huge personal step for me and although 100 people can agree and say "it's about time - this is a great step," it takes such an effort to throw off the 1 comment from a naysayer. I needed this reminder today. Thanks.