The Beginner's Mind

In Creativity Inc., Ed Catmull, founder of Pixar, describes the beginner’s mind as "not being constrained by what we already know (222).” This mindset accompanies any startup because how can one know what’s not yet been done? Yet once successful, we forego that mentality, trading it in for the dreamy conclusion that we don’t have to be beginners anymore.

While Catmull’s book targets leadership/management styles, so much of what he says parallels the human voyage. The task of pursuing creativity requires delving into the uncreated, something he describes as “a vast, empty space (231).” How often do we find ourselves in the same position, knowing the new we desire requires stepping into what could end up being absolutely nothing. Creativity, while beautiful in concept, demands we make room for the unknown. There is no guarantee of success just by trying; we must experiment - but experiments only guarantee exposure. Yikes. Maybe it’s better, then, to stay with what we have because at least we know what to expect and can avoid mockery. But isn’t complacency its own assured death?

The movie Up was originally pitched as a story about a floating kingdom and two clashing princes vying to inherit it until they fall off the kingdom and onto earth where they try to find their way back with the help of a tall bird. If you’ve seen the movie, you’re aware this plot didn't stick. Through Pixar’s rigorous, honest, and even adventuresome process, an incredibly wholesome movie came to be, but it took several years of perseverance. After four drafts, the only thing that stuck from the original pitch was the title and the tall bird. While this could be seen as demoralizing, Catmull uses it as an example of process. No one sits down, writes out their vision, then poof! Success. Instead “creative people discover their visions over time and through dedicated, protracted struggle (Catmull, 223).” Instead of fearing failure, Pixar sees experiments as ‘fact-finding missions’ making every effort a success because data is collected getting them closer to their goal. If Pixar, an extraordinary organization respected for its success, not only accepts but endorses this process, why shouldn’t we?

Seeking a confidence built on knowing what to do all the time is an illusion guaranteed to hold us back from what we might actually discover if we’d allow ourselves the freedom to not know but try anyway. We can test the waters, or we can fearfully admire them our entire lives without ever knowing what lies beneath or beyond them.

In summary - daring stories are never right the first try, as it should be.