In my recent article for the Examiner, I pose the question about the reason behind the choice of Ellen as a judge for American Idol. Is it yet another example of executives covering their tails by making decisions that "borrow the success" of another person or project as justification.
My real interest is not in whether Ellen is a good choice or not (because let's face it, it's just not that important), but how much is this type of decision making influencing our personal choices (I'm choosing it because someone else is); our corporate decisions (I'm following suit, because I don't dare say 'no') and our political decisions.
While it's easy to point the finger at others, what might be more productive is to notice where we are doing this and to what extent it may be affecting our lives, our creativity, and our ability to generate bold new outcomes.
I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.
P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"
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For a glance at other topics covered so far, please visit:Christopher Harding's Entertainment Column at the Examiner,
My most recent posts are:
Leonard Cohen (writer of "Hallelujah") Collapses During Concert Performance
Music Nomad -- a Philanthropist for Indie Artists
How to Empower Your Band -- Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Artist Integrity and the New Music Business -- A Match Made in Heaven?
Or check out some of the articles that have generated the most discussion:
"20 Questions Every Band Should Answer"
or
"Secrets of Social Networking for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 3",
Social Media Basics for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 4 and
Social Media Stragegies for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 5
The decision making process you speak of is a firm reality in the entertainment biz. Everybody is simply trying to keep their job and are therefore risk averse (why risk when it will only get you fired).
ReplyDeleteTruly great creativity and innovation occurs when there is a zone of safety for risking; when risk is rewarded as long as it's done responsibly. Sadly, however, our nation as a whole seems far more bent toward disowning failure and borrowing success than in taking true ownership of the outcome.
“Borrowing success” is an interesting term. I believe that on some level we all “borrow success”. Why would we, after all, make a decision to repeat a failure? It appears conditioning is one of the most powerful mechanisms in the human psyche, and as a learning tool, it works rather well. We are conditioned to seek success, we are conditioned to follow certain culturally approaches to find success, and we are conditioned, encouraged and rewarded (in terms of both capital gains and social status) when we achieve said success. Consequently, we always “borrow” from someone else’s experience, at least to some degree. Original thought and action are rather sparse commodities, at least in my experience.
ReplyDeleteI think they are, but is that wrong, if she agrees? I guess your point is really more about when this gets carried to extremes though, right?
ReplyDelete"Borrowed success" as you call it is nothing new. While there is good logic behind the process at times, it's become the default method for making decisions in the entertainment business. I don't see it changing any time soon, either, because the industry has forgotten the art and craft of its business and is merely focusing on right now... what will save my ass today.
ReplyDelete