09 — Instinctual Ideas

House Inhabit was encouraged to “stay out of politics.” The Sopranos were told that mafia shows shouldn’t include psychodrama. Steve Jobs was told that making tech objects beautiful was cost prohibitive.

Visionary business is based on a VISION — something you see or feel or dream about that is distinct, sometimes frightening, challenging enough to engage your life and fulfillment. Powerful enough in its beauty and DIFFERENCE to attract the romance of the market.

“If you feel good about an idea, work on that idea.” WORK and PASSION proceed from original, genuinely felt ideas. Market-pleasing (the business equivalent of people-pleasing) is not for artists. It is for hacks. It is lying. Lying and art do not go together.

In market-pleasing a creator says “I will make a product the market is guaranteed to love so I receive wealth and praise.” Problem is: that’s not how love works. Hackery attracts hacks. What is wealth if you’re surrounded by the fake and the foolish?

Love is a gift given generously. That is the spirit of creation and art. If you have a visionary idea, don’t expect automatic success. If you have a visionary idea, work on it

From the queen, one of my business icons, who took the things that women love seriously, cast a vision, WORKED on it, and became a billionaire.

Full video here