Building a uniquely creative business - a masterclass from Picasso
The ultimate creative entrepreneur? Picasso. This is a Picasso masterclass for building a uniquely creative business -
The artist built a brand so powerful that his estate was estimated to be worth more than a billion dollars.
His secret? A killer combination of shrewd businessman and visionary creator. It cemented his status as the most enduring artist of the 20th century.
His six success strategies:
- Speed
- Consistency
- Progression
- Experimentation
- Control of his brand
- Control of the market
Picasso’s strategy to enormous differentiated business value
Picasso’s strategy created enormous differentiated business value.
Why is this relevant? It reveals dozens of business insights about commercialising creativity.
Let’s break down how you can deploy The Picasso Way at work:
Be critical in assessing where you currently stand: Innovation dies with complacency. Be honest about what needs to improve. Endurance and success are the outcomes of continuous improvement
Create a consistent system: This will open your business up to creative thought. Let ideas flow upwards and downwards, horizontally and diagonally. And listen. Any role, at any level, can produce winning ideas
Nurture an accepting culture: The system requires nurturing a culture where your people are free to use their innate creativity at work. Being authentic reaps rewards in uniqueness and originality
Shake off the fear about doing something different: Experiment with fresh concepts and new directions. And failing experiments are easily abandoned. It’s a win-win - minimum risk, maximum learning
Be open to things not going according to a plan: Heck, stop adhering so closely to roadmaps. Risk and innovation are symbiotic. Openness moves you towards the next and better thing
Collaborate, but be unique in your references: Collaborate with competitors, and look at what they are doing. But never lift references directly from your immediate peers
Lessons for managers: It comes from within - roles, culture and ethic are everything
Typically, businesses top-out after 40 years because they have lost their zest.
Yet longevity is the prize of creative reinvention AND smart positioning. One supports the other.
Like Picasso’s incessantly productive studio, a business’s roles, culture and ethic need structure and guidelines.
It’s essential for leaders to learn this lesson and find their own sweet spot. Fresh thinking from careful planning.
I love this topic. What measures have you seen that enhance creativity in business? Are you thinking about creativity as an asset? Would you be interested in learning more about how the masters did it?
Bull’s Head, 1942, Picasso