Creativity as Career

I got push back from some people on the concept of creativity building new careers. They were upset because new careers push others out of their jobs if they didn’t accommodate change and creativity in their industries. Specifically mentioned was the banking industry not pursuing cashless transactions in our economic system more vigorously. Displacing employment of those assigned to tasks doomed for elimination is not the concern of the creative types.

No; it is not their concern. That concern belongs to the rest of us.

If my industry is not keeping up with technology and cultural norms, it will become outdated and need to close its doors or be part of the new creatively arranged industry. Simple as that. We change or we lose our jobs.

The challenge is to help each organization – for profit or not for profit – be as creative and forward looking as possible. This takes attitudes of adaptability for all concerned. If this is too scary for some folks, it’s OK. We can find them tasks to do but they will be boring and most likely unrewarding. They also will lead to obsolescence. Those are the facts of life.

These are the realities of change. This is the reality of creativity which brings change.

Our job, then, is twofold. First to embrace change and help make it happen, and second to help those unwilling to cope with change, to develop new skills and careers.

Our job is NOT to stop change for the sake of the others. We have a job to do for and with the others, however. We must care what happens to them and press them into education and development processes that will give them the tools to move forward with the least damage to them and others.

For the rest of us careers will evolve topsy turvy using our skills and interests as creatively as possible. We will create new services, products, processes and cultures. We are living the change and propelling it. We know it and sense it and do it.

So, bankers beware. You are either the processors of transactions and the short term accumulators of wealth deposits, or not. If not, then you will need to find a new home for your career interests. I hope you find something palatable. In the meantime you must get out of the way of progress and allow it to happen. Hell, it’s going to happen anyway. So either be a part of it or go away and fiddle with something else.

Creativity is required from all of us to deal with inevitable change. Each bit of change prepares us for the next change. And so on until revolutionary inventions are fully adopted and propel society onward to new places in history.

This is not just an American story. It is the story of each nation on the globe. Some are better prepared than others. Some are behind the learning curve so far one wonders if they will ever join the rest of the cultural revolution taking place.

I have faith that mankind’s creative energy and grasp of reality will work it all out. Some will be lost along the way, but others will be engaged let loose on an upward trajectory of exploration and discovery. And accomplishment.

For the laggards only disappointment and defeat portends.

For them I have pity. But not for long; there’s work to be done and others to save!

May 11, 2016