A Useless Brushstroke: Or is it? “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan.
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A Useless Brushstroke? What is your life like; creatively speaking? How would you answer? The riddle of life can be equated to a painting with many productive and nonproductive brushstrokes. The end rarely justifies the means, if the composition and the selected colors are not in harmony. Then what?
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When it comes to creativity, time is always metaphorical. Creativity for many is furtive and composed of a host of useless brushstrokes. No one ever admits to, or points out to others the hidden flaws built into every form of creativity.
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Embrace mistakes, they are pervasive in everything we see, hear, and touch. Mistakes are stepping stones, just raised enough to keep us from faltering.
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I wonder if Michael Jordan had sleepless nights rehearsing in his mind the more than 9000 shots he missed. My guess is, he did. He used it as a way of improving his performance.
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The takeaway? No matter what your creative challenge is, a useless brushstroke, by any measure, will lead you to successful outcomes. Perseverance is the antidote to bridge your insecurities. Like shooting baskets, you always want to have a better than a 50-50 chance you’re going to score. That takes practice, practice, practice.

“The muse of creativity requires two principal efforts, experimentation and dedication.”

 

Rod Jones artist- writer