What is creativity worth?

How much are you willing to pay for an idea, a painting, or a poem?

Issue #74

All creative leaders must face the question of whether they would still create if they didn't get paid for their work. The answer is in the affirmative for true artists. Many will labor for a lifetime without financial reward, recognition, or fame. The joy we find in the creative process ultimately becomes our reward.

Do you find joy in the creative process? Can you get lost for hours creating a story, a painting, or a poem? Do you enjoy solving problems and finding solutions? The creative process in and of itself is rewarding. I feel good.

If I go for any period of time without creating something, I feel down. My mood is impacted by whether or not I have spent time creating something. The creative process brings me joy in a world that can be negative, hostile, and crazy.

Why do you think successful writers continue to write? Why do successful songwriters continue to write songs? Why do successful painters continue to paint? Why do successful actors like Morgan Freeman continue to act? Why do movie stars, who are paid millions for some of their films, take roles in plays that pay them peanuts? The answer is the emotional high they find in creating something. Creative leaders are blessed with the joy of creating.

Creativity is a gift that we have been given. Enjoy the gift for itself. Don't fret over whether you will make any money. There are other ways to make money. Just don't give up on your gift. Keep creating even when you are surrounded by darkness—even when your world collapses. For only in the creating do we find salvation, healing, and joy.

What is a poem worth? How much are you willing to spend to read a poem? Can you put a price on a poem? Is it a commodity like milk, eggs, or a new car? I can buy a gallon of milk for $4.07. Is that what a poem is worth? I can rent a car for less than $50. Is a poem less valuable than one day of transportation? A hotel room can cost $150 a night, excluding taxes. Is a poem more valuable than a hotel room for a night?

The American society puts a dollar value on almost everything. The price of weddings has gone through the roof, but a divorce can cost even more. What price is love? How about sex? Even dying costs thousands of dollars. Should I have you bury me in a coffin made of poetry books? It would be cheaper.

So, what is a poem worth? Or a short story? Or a song? Or an idea? I recently bought two hamburger patties to grill for almost $7.00. Are you willing to pay me $7.00 to nourish your soul instead of your body? A Swedish massage will cost me $75 for one hour. I could buy six books of poetry for that amount. The poetry could nourish my soul for years. Poetry can change my life and teach me to see the world in a different light. So, what is a poem worth?

In the words of Bertolt Brecht, "We don't make merchandise; we just make gifts." Whether you paint, draw, sing, or write. What we do is a gift. What we create is a gift that we give to the world. We can't measure our gifts with price tags. Some things can not be sold; they must be given. Not all success comes wrapped in dollar bills. What gifts are you creating? What gifts are you giving away?

Plant seeds of hope in the hearts of others!

Thanks for reading.