Truly creative people often say "no"

Once a Hungarian professor of psychology has written a number of well-known creative people requesting them to give him an interview for a book he was working on. The most remarkable thing in this story - the number of people who responded to his refusal. However, in reality, it was an experiment, which was to find out how creative people are able to say "no."

Peter DruckerKnown theorist of management, who wrote more than one book, replied:

I do not believe in creativity, but I believe in productivity. And one of her secrets is that you need to have a huge basket of paper and put it in all the guests like you. Productivity is to do absolutely nothing to help other people in their work, and to devote all their time to the cause, the ability to do that you have awarded a higher power. And to do this you need a good deal.

writer Secretary Saul Bellow:

Mr. Bellow said that despite his age, he is still the creative, including due to the fact that does not allow itself to be part of other people's research.

Photographer Richard Avedon:

I'm sorry, I was left with very little time.

composer Secretary Gyorgy Ligeti:

He is a creative person, and therefore very busy working. Thus, the reason why you want to interview him at the same time is also the reason that he can not help you in this matter. He adds that he can not respond to this letter personally, as desperately trying to finish the violin concerto, which will premiere in the fall.

Professor wrote 275 creative people. A third of them said "no", explaining the refusal to lack of time. Another third simply did not answer. Perhaps they, too, did not have time to help the professor, or maybe they just did not have personal secretary, who would write the answer.

Time - that is what is primarily important for the creative industries. Forget the myth that creativity has acquired. All will eventually be reduced to the fact that you just need to work: work to become an expert in both theory and practice; work to find solutions to problems and challenges, which lead your decisions; to work, to go the way of trial and error; work to reflect and improve themselves, and, of course, to work on his creation.

The creative process is exhausting you today, and tomorrow everything will repeat again. He knows no no weekends, no holidays. Creativity can not be engaged only when you feel inspired. It's a habit, compulsion, obsession and calling. This is what dictates to all the creators, how they spend their time. Do not believe what you say and what you read. True one - all creative people spend all their time on their work.

The ability to say "no" means for a creative person a lot more than the ideas, views and talent together. "No," guard time which is necessary for the building.

time math is simple: you do less than you think, and you need it more than you think.

We were not taught to say "no." Denial - it's rude. "No" - this resistance, denial, in some way an act of verbal violence. "No," you need to say Drugs and strangers who want to buy you candy.

Creative people often wonder: "If I do not say" no ", then I lose? Sketch? Verse? Paragraph? Ten lines of code? ". The answer is always the same: in any case, you steal time from his creation.

There are foods that you need to buy; a family who needs your love and support; there daily work that must be done.

People for whom work is a matter of life, know this. They know that the world is full of strangers who want to treat them with sweets. They know how to say "no" and at the same time realize that their failure can hurt another person.

Here's what he wrote Charles DickensBy refusing to offer another to see him:

"It will take only half an hour", "give me a bit of time in the afternoon", "it's only for one night" - people say to me again and again, but they are not aware of how it is sometimes difficult to force yourself to be given at least five minutes each them. They do not realize how much you can experience from the very thought that someone promised meeting. He who one day decided to devote his life to art, he must fully surrender, art should be compensated everything. I am disappointed that you suspect me being unwilling to see you, but I can not help it - it's my way, and I must follow it to the end.

If you say "no", people may find you indifferent, boring, rude, angry, selfish, anti-social, lonely, apathetic person. Arsenal insults in your address can be inexhaustible. But the word "no" - it's the magic button that helps you to pursue their creativity.