You know what they say about eccentricity and creativity?

I was revisiting my archives via my own little randomize post button and I ran across this post about my best works are usually the ones where people wonder if I’m nuts.  I might also say that these are the types of works that I enjoy the most. 

There does seem to be a little bit of correlation between being “off your rocker” so to speak and being amazingly creative.

Why is this the case?

Edith Sitwell said:

Eccentricity is not, as some would believe, a form of madness. It is often a kind of innocent pride, and the man of genius and the aristocrat are frequently regarded as eccentrics because genius and aristocrat are entirely unafraid of and uninfluenced by the opinions and vagaries of the crowd. source

Crowd mentality is the “norm”.  When you don’t follow the crowd, you are considered either an eccentric or a revolutionary depending on your level of recognition.

I’m not saying I am eccentric or a revolutionary.  I really don’t try to be either, rather if I can take a few lessons learned from these pioneers of the creative then I am happy.

So here is the challenge.

How to be a creative in a social networking culture.

The crowd is clamoring ever louder and louder for us to follow.  But will we lead instead?

People need leaders and at least every now and then we need to step up to the plate and be a leader.  But sometimes we need to follow and build on the foundations others have laid too.

So either look at someone who has a worthy foundation for you to build on or distinguish yourself as a foundation builder yourself.  Both take lots of work, but they are both worthy goals.