Summary

The author suggests a creative approach to idea generation by asking oneself, "What would it be awesome to create?"

Abstract

The author draws inspiration from Jack Sparrow's compass in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, which points to what the person holding it needs most. He proposes a real-life version of this compass for creatives, which is the question, "What would it be awesome to create?" He argues that this question helps creatives focus on their passions and self-actualization rather than getting caught up in metrics and market trends. The author shares his personal experience of using this approach to create a successful YouTube project and book. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in answering this question and suggests consuming content to discover one's interests.

Opinions

The author believes that many creatives struggle with idea generation because they focus too much on what is trendy or profitable, rather than what they are passionate about.
He suggests that the best way to generate creative ideas is to ask oneself, "What would it be awesome to create?" This question helps creatives focus on their passions and self-actualization.
The author argues that getting caught up in metrics and market trends is the killer of creativity. Instead, creatives should focus on creating something they think is awesome.
He believes that the definition of creating art is to self-actualize through a piece of work. When creatives ask themselves what would be awesome to create, they are essentially self-actualizing.
The author suggests that consuming content can help creatives discover their interests and develop self-awareness, which is necessary for answering the question, "What would it be awesome to create?"
He shares his personal experience of using this approach to create a successful YouTube project and book. He emphasizes the importance of being proud of one's work and creating something that one thinks is awesome.
The author concludes by suggesting that creatives should use their work to tell a story they would be proud to share with their children and grandchildren. He quotes Naval Ravikant, who says that one should do the right thing not because someone else is watching, but because one is

How to Come Up With Great Creative Ideas

A real-life version of Jack Sparrow’s compass

Recently I decided to re-watch The Pirates of The Caribbean. It still is a great movie, and it brings back a lot of good memories of the time when I was a kid. I actually remember watching it on a VHS cassette. Looking around to see Netflix and YouTube makes me feel old at my twenty-something.

You probably remember, that in the movie, Jack Sparrow has a compass. And this compass is known for not pointing north. However, those of you who have watched the second movie know, that the compass actually points where the person holding it needs to go most.

Jack uses the compass as his North Star. Whenever he doesn’t know where to go next, he just takes a look at the compass. It tells him what he should do.

I saw that and said to myself, ‘How cool would it be to have such a thing, for career and business’ But after a few minutes of deep thinking I realized, that there actually is a real-life version of Jack Sparrow’s compass for us, creatives.

It’s the following question:

What would it be awesome to create?

A lot of creatives struggle coming up with ideas.

I don’t understand why, because it’s actually pretty simple.

You just do what you think is amazing to do.

Instead of trying to figure out what people want, what will make the ‘quick buck’ or what is trendy right now, take a second and think, what would it be just great having in the world, that we still don’t have?

Do that.

My best projects come when I ask myself that question.

I remember sitting in the dormitory of Babson College. I already knew I wanted to drop out, now I was just buying myself time and thinking about where I want to go next. What I want to do next.

My thoughts drifted back to my home country, Russia. I asked myself a version of this question:

What would it be absolutely amazing to do back in Russia?

I then took a look at the new ‘Tribe of Mentors’ book that Tim Ferriss has just published. And I wondered, what if I did a version of that in Russia? All my life I’ve been privileged and had connections to these great, amazing people in Russia — who built the Ubers, Amazons and Walmarts of Russia.

What if I shared those connections by asking these people the very questions that most 18–20 year olds are struggling with?

That’s how I came up with a YouTube project, and later, a book. The project took me 14 months and it was the best thing I’ve done so far. And it all started with this question.

Today, when I want to do anything — I ask myself, ‘What would be awesome to have around? What do I want to use myself?’

This question is powerful, because it allows you to start being creative.

Getting caught up in metrics is the killer of creativity. When you ask yourself ‘What would it be awesome to do?’, you go back to the basics. To the roots of why you’re here and to the things you want to do in life.

You go back to yourself.

The definition of creating art (in my humble opinion) is to self-actualize through a piece of work (writing, music, business). When you ask yourself this question, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

Instead of thinking about other people, the market and critics, by asking this question, you start creating for the one person your art matters most.

Yourself.

At the end of the day, you want to be proud of your work.

The best way to insure that you’re proud of your work is to create something you think is awesome. Think about it, when you’re working, you’re writing a story you will be telling to your kids and grandkids.

What would that story be?

I love the quote by Naval Ravikant on a similar theme:

Do the right thing not because somebody else is watching, but because you’re watching. Self-esteem is, essentially, self-respect.

But even Jack Sparrow sometimes doesn’t know what he want.

If you remember the film, there was an episode where Jack would open the compass, and the needle would spin randomly. He didn’t know what he wanted or needed most, so the compass didn’t work.

The same with our real-life compass. If you don’t know what you want to create in the world, it’s hard to come up with an answer to the question, ‘What would it be amazing to create?’

We have to first develop self-awareness.

In my experience, consuming content helps. I read books, watch videos, movies and talk with people — and whenever I hit a subject that excites me, I make a mental note to myself, ‘Ok, this is interesting’ and research a bit more on the subject afterwards.

Just like Jack has to know what he wants to be able to use the compass, so do you have to know yourself in order to answer this question. But at the end, that’s what art is — knowing yourself and transmitting your worldview through your work.

Thanks for reading! :)