Chances are, you are not creative...

My intent is not to be comical, nor to remind you of someone. I am most likely speaking about you.

Just because you have a pirated copy of Adobe "anything" does not make you a truly creative individual. I don't care if you can create "cool" logos are "edgy" graphics. I don't even care if you can make a living the rest of your life by creating websites and brochures. This still does not qualify you. I don't care if you can take a camera and take "great" photos, even award winning photos. You are merely taking an already developed tool and responding to the already laid out environment around you. I commend that you are able to at least notice things and capture them, but still; not truly creative. I don't care what you do that you consider “creative”. Most likely it is not.

Now, more then ever we are surrounded by powerful tools and ever increasing point and click abilities. The more that progresses the lazier and increasingly watered down creativity can become. The act of creating is no longer costing you anything. Owning a camera does not make you a photographer. Opening Illustrator doesn't make you a designer. Creating something that simply looks cool DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ONE OUNCE OF CREATIVITY. Being creative to simply be creative or relevant inherently removes any creativeness from the entire process.

A truly creative person is one in a million. Maybe one in a hundred million. Chances are you have not even met a truly creative person. People need to understand the difference between having creative inclinations and tendencies and being a true creative. The difference is immense.

Since when have you revolutionized anything? Since when has your “creativeness” been in response to a seemingly unachievable problem that you in turned conquered. Since when have you done anything with your life that changed the world, even a little; as apposed to make people say, “Oh that's cool looking.” Shame on you for taking something as powerful and unique as true creativeness and using it for watered down, self serving, worthlessness; all in the name of relevance. You are not edgy until you have brought someone to tears with your work or spurred someone to change their life. You are not trendy until your thoughts set forth a revolution that people write about for years to come. Would you give up your life if it meant creating something truly world changing? Do you understand how many people are out there creating logos, brochures and websites? I guarantee 95% of them are better then you. Maybe 98%. Will anything you have done up to this point be remembered in 5 years... 5 months... tomorrow?

So if you would, stop insulting and eroding the powerful force that is creativity and just be honest and tell people you create pretty things. Or better yet, try to do something truly creative.