Remember the game “Clue”? Where you had to guess who the murderer was, what weapon they used and in what room this grievous act was committed. Even better was watching Tim Curry run around hilariously in the 1985 movie, “Clue”.
Here’s the interesting thing about that game... before you ever start playing, one of the characters is already dead.
There is a serial killer that goes undetected because he kills before the game ever gets started. His name is Fear and his victim is Creativity. You and I are left playing a game where fear has already killed one of our best attributes as human beings.
It’s really simple how it works... we fear being wrong, so we don’t answer. We fear missing an opportunity so we say yes to everything and eliminate the margin or space in our lives. Which, by the way, is where creativity thrives. We fear failure, so we don’t even try. And so creativity is dead before it ever has a chance to live.
Don’t be afraid to be wrong, or look stupid, or try something new. I love being right, who doesn’t. I love to look like I know what I’m doing. However, in my attempt at being right and not wanting to look inexperienced, I stifle opportunities of fun and creativity in my life.
Many of you know that my wife and I are expecting our third child today. We’ve always made it really exciting by not finding out what we were having until the baby gets here. I have been reluctant to guess... mainly because I don’t want to be wrong. I’m gonna take my own advice, and you should too. Don’t let fear kill creativity before it even lives.
BTW - I think it’s a boy. We’ll see if I’m right.