Be Inefficient

Written By Jeremy Utley

The series we’ve launched at the d.school, called “Stanford’s Masters of Creativity,” is designed to help support folks on the journey to creative mastery. One of the great challenges on this journey is that the “rules” of creative genius fly in the face of the normal, smart thing to do. I should know, as a recovering type-A, straight-A kind of guy…

I thought this tension was exemplified beautifully in an old Seinfeld interview with Harvard Business Review:

“You and Larry David wrote Seinfeld together, without a traditional writers’ room, and burnout was one reason you stopped. Was there a more sustainable way to do it? Could McKinsey or someone have helped you find a better model?

Who’s McKinsey?

It’s a consulting firm.

Are they funny?

No.

Then I don’t need them. If you’re efficient, you’re doing it the wrong way.”

So much of creative work doesn’t feel efficient. I can’t imagine how Frank Lloyd Wright’s associates felt while he dawdled under the Fallingwater deadline. That couldn’t have felt great. Not to mention how Claude Shannon’s colleagues at Bell Labs must have felt watching him juggle down the hallway…

As Amos Tversky quipped, “You waste years by not being able to waste hours,” and yet, wasting hours feels so… inefficient. The key is to know when to waste time — when wasting time is actually productive.

Related: Imitate Frank Lloyd Wright
Related: Claude Shannon
Related: Divergent Diversions
Related: Permission To Seek A Diversion

Join over 7,847 creators & leaders who read Paint & Pipette each week

Featured
Try This Before You Give Up on GenAI
Try This Before You Give Up on GenAI

The fine folks over at Section recently interviewed me about some common mistakes I’m seeing folks make when they use AI. One of the biggest ones? The tendency to expect too little, and get just that.

Embrace AI Despite Uncertainty
Embrace AI Despite Uncertainty

Last week, I had the pleasure of delivering keynotes to two remarkable audiences of scholars and entrepreneurs. One thing was clear: folks have legitimate concerns about AI. But my strong belief is that it’s a dangerous mistake to wait to dive In, even amidst legit concerns.

Reject Your First Thought
Reject Your First Thought

Your first idea is rarely your best. Exploring multiple possibilities, even "dummy" options, is the key to unlocking innovation. Here’s how to maximize your creativity and elevate your problem-solving skills: reject the trap of settling for your initial thoughts.

Unleash Your Inner Kindergartener
Unleash Your Inner Kindergartener

Puzzled by underwhelming results despite your expertise? Discover the surprising insights from a groundbreaking study that can help you tackle challenges and achieve better outcomes.

Declare an AI Recess
Declare an AI Recess

One critical reason folks in organizations aren’t imagining radical new applications of GenAI is, their imaginations aren’t stimulated. My recommendation might fly in the face of convention, but it’s been demonstrated highly effective in both this AI-moment and in times past.

If AI Hasn't Made You Giggle, You're Not Pushing Hard Enough
If AI Hasn't Made You Giggle, You're Not Pushing Hard Enough

For all the existential angst spilled regarding AI on the news, there's one danger I haven't heard get much attention. It's not the threat of sentient machines or the loss of jobs—it's the risk of AI disappointing us, not because of its limitations, but because of our own.

Mind the (Generational) Gap: Bridge the AI Divide with Your Expertise
Mind the (Generational) Gap: Bridge the AI Divide with Your Expertise

Are you an experienced professional watching the AI revolution from the sidelines? It's time to get in the game! Discover why your hard-won expertise is the secret weapon to unlocking AI's full potential and turbocharging your career.

Curate to Create
Curate to Create

This insightful guest article conjures the spirit of legendary restauranteur Danny Meyer, who said, “ABCD so you can ABCD: Always be collecting dots to always be connecting dots.” The collection- and connection-instinct is at the heart of a curator. Read on…

Augment Your Intelligence: Embrace AI to Enhance Decision-Making
Augment Your Intelligence: Embrace AI to Enhance Decision-Making

Generative AI represents enormous potential for innovation. But even well-intentioned leaders can undermine their own efforts to explore. If they aren’t careful, they can end up reinforcing counter-productive biases amongst the very teams they’re trying to unleash.

Question the Question
Question the Question

All too often, the stated “problem” keeps a team from innovation: the problem is the problem. Being willing to question the premise, rather than accept it blindly, is a critical practice for creative health.

Jeremy Utley
Previous

Put Yourself Out There
Next

Audit Your Collaborator Portfolio