I'm listening to a musician named Sufjan Stevens and reading about the sheer volume of work he has already done, not to mention his ambitious plans for the future. Last week I downloaded and cataloged over 30 Todd Rundgren albums – the week before, all of Zappa and Brian Eno and some Ennio Morricone. Here are are a number of extremely prolific creative people and I ask myself, "am I am doing enough?".My wife used to say my life was too complicated and maybe she was right, but I was doing a lot. And I like doing a lot.
Oh, I wrote a book last year and even in that book it seems I've got a million things going on at one time in that rendering, but am I doing enough? I collect as much music as I can get my hands on, work a regular job, I write, I make films, I attempt musical composition from time to time. I read. I cook, I clean and keep a journal – different from what I do here.
But do I do enough? Do we all do enough? One thing I have always brought to the creative process is the idea of a million influences. From music to architecture to the social sciences to whatever. How can I create if I don't know anything? How can you give if the tank is empty? So my tank is probably brimming over most of the time.
But I'm not sure I always get more from it. Because many of the people I deal with only want a certain amount. Too many ideas is not what a lot of people want.
I like and old quote from Bill Bernbach. He said, "I've spent many years making up for not being a genius".
I suppose it's going to take me more than many years. That's why I always ask myself if I'm doing enough.
For more in the "Am I doing enough?" series, check below:
III An Ozomatli Day: Am I doing enough? III
II Blimps & bullshit: Am I doing enough? II
I "I've spent many years making up for not being a genius": Am I doing enough?
