When I was a kid, one of my favorite stories came from Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. Tom, a born politician, was given the boring task of whitewashing a fence. Clever Tom decided to act as if it was the most fun task in the world. Laughing, whistling happily, he intrigued the other boys into wishing they could be the ones painting the fence. Within a short time, they were--while he watched.
Though they don't have to pretend that what they're doing is fun, creators need a little bit of Tom Sawyer's salesmanship. Getting support from those around you, whether experts in your field, your colleagues, or your family, is a crucial skill. Positive feedback, helpful critiques, and emotional encouragement are all important elements of successful creative projects.It is, of course, possible to create entirely on your own. It's just harder, scarier, and (without feedback) often less successful. Here are a couple of ways you can be more like Tom:
- Smile while you work. I know, I keep saying that. But it is honest-to-goodness true that if you share your happiness and excitement and let people know when things are going well, both you and your social circle will be more energized by your project.
- As you plan your project, think about what others care about or enjoy. Make some space in your plans for everyone from your boss to your pet; what could they get out of it? It doesn't have to be much more than a sense that they are important to you. But it is important that they have a stake.
- Learn to distinguish between positive and negative criticism, and help those around you to learn the distinction as well. Frame any request for feedback to increase your chances of getting the right kind! For example: "Based on your experience, what's one thing you would change to help this be more successful?" is a much better question than, "Do you like my idea?"
Go out and share! We humans thrive on attention and support. Embrace your social environment and you could be much more successful with your project.
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