What motivates you to create?

"What motivates you to create?
In a down market when things are not selling well?
When you are tired?
When life makes you busy?"

Come across the above questions in another blog. Very interesting questions and I try to answer them honestly. I believe it can help myself to understand my own creative routes more. Thus, I hope it can improve my future creations. Of course, every person has his/her own creative routes. What works for me may not work for other people and vice versa.

What motivates you to create?
- an interesting topic
- new production method
- new material
- an open-minded client that encourage creativity
- a comfortable environment with relatively less limit
- a chance to showcase the final product
- interaction with other people
- interaction with environment
- others: movie, music, books and other type of reading, travel, internet
- with more available resources

(I want to put "good payment" as well, but after think about it carefully, I take it out. Good payment will encourage me to pay more attention to a job and the outcome may only doing what the client intended to do. However, that may not boost creativity.)


What motivates you to create in a down market when things are not selling well?
In this case, be realistic, control budget is important. Spending $1,000 does not mean it is more creative than spending $100. Creative ideas may need to compromise with reality. If things are not selling well, try new outlets, try new pricing policy, try re-package the product, try add value to the product.... No golden rules, but there must be a way to make them fit the market better.


What motivates you to create when you are tired?
That's really a big problem. When my health condition is not good, for sure it will affect creativity. Have a good rest and save energy for work is my only advice. Consult a doctor and take medicine and do some treatment when it is necessary.

If it is not related to illness or injury, go out and have a walk can help.

A tired body or a tired mind can slow down creativity but will not kill it totally. The point is when you cannot do something due to illness or injury, don't think that it is the end of the world. Think of some creative ways or create something to adapt the situation.

What motivates you to create when life makes you busy?
From my experience, I can be very creative when I am very busy. As far as I can manage my work well, there is no conflicts. I have a note book to take down some ideas that come to my mind suddenly so I won't forget them later.

又想起柴九哥的金句

整理公司中的雜物時，發現了這塊紙版，看看年份，竟然是十年前的。

這只是個商業味很重的獎，可是也好奇再上這家公司的網站看看，但已經面目全非了，以為此公司已不存在，後來再search一次，卻又在另一個相近的網址找到，但業務性質已和當年不太一樣。那時一同得獎的還有一位網頁設計師及一位建築師，不知道他們現在又如何？

漫步於2009年尾的街上

漫步於2009年尾的街上，馬路上的汽車在塞車，有司机在響號，那是完全於事無補的響號，車龍一點也不動；還好，我是行人，還可以向前行。響號的聲浪令人討厭、心煩，但退一步想，這種宣洩怨氣的方式只是制造噪音，不像高空擲物般會傷及無辜途人，由他吧。

心中另一個響號：來年在工作上將會有很多改變，雖要勇敢面對。

別人的響號：得悉我第一份工的老闆快退休了，他的公司將會因為無人接手而結束，感到有點可惜；想當年，他的有趣產品曾在許冠文的電影中出現過的。

身體的響號：三天後會去做例行的身體驗查，希望一切安好吧。

漫步於2009年尾的街上 — 塞 — 響號 — 慢行 — 繼續塞 — 繼續響號 — 繼續慢慢行；已不會怨了，但在鬧市會載帽子，萬一有漒水從天而降，也未至於照頭淋；請不要笑，漫步於2009年尾的街上，除了耐性，還雖要一點自保意識。