Steal Like An Artist – BloggingGazelle

Entrepreneurs don’t have to be inventors. They don’t have to be programmers. They don’t need to be PhD’s and MBA’s. They need to solve problems.

One way to get ideas is to borrow a solution to a completely different problem and apply it to yours. Microwaves were not invented to nuke popcorn. The iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner is a riff on military robots that look for IED’s.

In his book “Steal Like An Artist”, Austin Klein points out how great musicians learn their craft by copying their musical heroes, learning their style, sound and riffs until one day, they alter it with their own sound and style.

Look around for great products and solutions to thing you run into along your path. Look for products you love to use and tell others about. Ask yourself why you love it. Then ask if some flavor of that solution could be applied to your chosen problem.

Blogging Gazelle is published daily by Shawn Carson

The central theme of the book, “Steal Like and Artist” by Austin Kleon is the fact that all creativity is based on what has come before. It’s not about blatantly copying what others have done but it is about being influenced by their ideas.

Every great musician would tell you they started learning their instrument by listening, and copying, the style of other musicians. This is how musicians pass along who they are to the next generation. At some point, you begin putting your own spin and influence on the work and then a completely new style or musical form is “created.”

One way to gather the ideas of others is to read; anything and everything. Surround yourself with business books, literature books, leadership books, poetry, fiction, biographies. If someone asks, “Have you read all these books?” you can say “I hope not, that would be tragic.”

Inspiration comes from weird places.

Blogging Gazelle is published daily by Shawn Carson

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“Even the Beatles started as a cover band” – Austin Kleon

“Nothing is more important than an unread library.” – Austin Kleon