Do Creative People Have Jobs? ... Day #30

Google that!
I hear 'Google that' often and want to punch the speaker.  Do some real work.  Hit the card catalog or "The Reader's Guide to Periodicals."

I 'Google' a zillion times a day and just Googled "do creative people have jobs."  It's not clear if that quote requires a question mark.  That punctuation might not be required given that everything typed (or spoken, if hip) is a question.

The first result was interesting:

Whether you studied visual arts, music, filmmaking or writing, there are definitely jobs for creative people out there and you CAN make a living doing something you love. For example, art majors can find freelance arts jobs or look for art teacher jobs, art therapy jobs or art education jobs.



The image of a left-handed (as am I) artist was encouraging.  The important phrase in the quote was "...you CAN make a living doing something you love."

I love Google (even though I use Yahoo more often).

The second result had a few suggestions:

1. Teacher
2. Fashion Designer
3. Chefs/Cooks
4. Software Engineer
5. Management Consultant
6. Landscape Architect
7. Public Relations Specialist
8. Human Resource Specialist
9. Game Designer

Unfortunately my first response to all all of them is that they pay about 25% of what I earned as a C-Level executive.  Of course I had no life.  My world has touched on most of these with a couple of exceptions. While I have an appreciation for good design in many forms I don't think I'll be a fashion designer.  

Google Knows What I Should Ask
A few years ago (2?) Google inquiries started to prompt you with the results of millions/billion/trillions of inquiries entered by people smarter, or more likely dumber that you.  I typed "do creative people" and Google completed that with "think differently."


"The Daily Galaxy" provided the following insight:  "The study published in the journal Neuropsychologia, reveals a distinct pattern of brain activity, even at rest, in people who tend to solve problems with sudden creative insights, which are commonly referred to as “Aha! Moments”, that differed distinctly from people who tend to solve problems, and think in a methodical fashion."

"Aha" moments pretty much describe my approach to things.  It was always interesting in the 27-year gig.  People did not appear particularly creative and most said they were not creative.  The architects sort of breathed creativity but it really appeared that they were more of the cut and past creative mode.

"Thank You Google" for this one...

This is the one that I want to re-visit.  LHH has this precursor to a resume called a 'marketing statement' or 'position statement.'  What I like about this Google result is that it defines some structure and principles to a more creative (and hopefully satisfying) life.  That's not to say that it's not achievable in the C-Level suite.  It is a confirmation, however, that I spent a long time trying to sell ideas and solutions to people who did not want that and never would or will.  Thanks, Google.  I'll see if Eric Schmidt and his Google team can solve some of my personal problems.