Recently I’ve become a huge fan of Hugh MacLeod, a rather irreverent cartoonist who was a struggling young copywriter living in a YMCA in New York City.  Hugh would pen these hilarious cartoons on the backs of business cards while sitting at a bar. Cartoons led to a blog which led to a  book…….you get the idea.

His most recent book, Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, is really a simple, brilliant compendium of some really cool ideas.  I am convinced that even if you believe you are just a accountant/lawyer/business type with no creative bone in your body, think again. 

Some of my favorite chapters in his book……..

Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

Merit can be bought. Passion can’t.

The thing that resonates with me about Hugh is that he has the guts to try an idea. Put something out there that may not fit the cultural norms or your firm’s for that matter.  What do you have to lose?

What can you do that is different, unique, cool, new or even brave in your firm? urx2n6qv9