I don’t know Hugh MacLeod. In fact, I never even heard of the guy until I read a Seth Godin post on whether the guy should swear so much. That caught my eye. You know, the headline. Because I like to swear. What worked even more was what he said right out of the gate:
Hugh MacLeod’s new book on creativity [Ignore Everbody And 39 Other Keys to Creativity] is out today. It’s brilliant, and if you’re willing to be pushed, it will push you.
Without reading any further than that, I wanted the book.In fact, I wanted it so bad that I went to the bookstore down the street. I won’t say who it was (it rhymes with borders), but they didn’t have it. So I had to order it off Amazon. And be patient. I don’t do patient.
But why did I want it? That is a good question. It’s not like I was looking for another book to read. After all, I’m reading “The Big Switch” by Nicholas Carr, “The Gate House,” by Nelson DeMille, “William Trevor: The Collected Stories,” by William Trevor, “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” by David Sedaris, and “Ballistics,” by Billy Collins. Yes, I alternate, and yes I know where I am in each book. I’m not alone in this habit, so don’t stare.
The fact is, I wanted it because it resonated. Think about it. Forty keys to creativity. I thought I had them all. Shit, I build furniture, remodel houses, write law books, and read poetry. What am I missing?
And that was just it. I was missing something. See, no matter what I do, I’m still not doing what Mr. MacLeod says my “wee voice” is telling me:
Your wee voice doesn’t want you to sell something. Your wee voice wants you to make something. There’s a big difference. [¶] Go ahead and make something. Make something really special. Make something amazing that will really blow the mind of anybody who sees it.
And if I ignore that wee voice, Mr. MacLeod warns, it’s going to die, eventually. And he’s right. You have to listen, and then act. It reminded me of this exchange in “City Slickers:”
Curly: You know what the secret of life is?
Mitch: No, what?
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don’t mean shit.
Mitch: That’s great, but what’s the one thing?
Curly: That’s what you’ve got to figure out.
And in the end, that’s what Mr. MacLeod’s book is about. Helping you find that one thing. OK, maybe more than that, but at least one thing. But whatever it is or they are, the importance of it or them cannot be denied. Or it or they can, but part of you’ll just die. And Mr. MacLeod doesn’t want you to die.
As you can tell, this review isn’t about revealing his keys because that’s something you need to explore for yourself. It won’t take you long to read through them the first time, or the second for that matter. And don’t be afraid to mark up the book and make notes. You should.
Now, for those of us who are lawyers or work in the legal industry, you might actually ask yourself “what the hell do I need a stupid book on keys to creativity for?”
My answer is this: we all need someone else to remind us about the wee voice, how to nurture it, and what to make of the whole process. Besides, I think the timing of Mr. MacLeod’s book is perfect. There are a number of legal sectors particularly hard hit by the recession. Many individuals have written posts over the last 9 months about the challenges the industry faces and the choices we’ll have to make, from law school to big law. Some of those authors (a rare few) have given advice, thrown out ideas on the Tubes. Maybe you have some ideas, ones that could really make a difference, but you aren’t expressing them. After all, Ronald Susskind isn’t the only person thinking and writing about the future of the practice. And Mr. MacLeod’s 40 whacks at your arm might actually get you to do something, get you to understand what I think is most key about Ignore Everybody: reminding you why you matter.
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