About 

 

 

Since the first human crawled deep into a cave to make art, creativity has flourished among rebels and risk takers, mavericks, and visionaries.

 

However, if creativity thrives among outsiders, how can it be nurtured inside large organizations? How can one build a team that works together to solve real problems while leaving room for individual inspiration? How can one ignite the creative spark without burning down the building?

Roy Sharples draws on decades of experience at the vanguard of business innovation and a deep affinity for applying an artistic instinct to explore these questions, offering novel solutions.

Building on a broad survey of the misfits who defined the modern world, from Dada to Elon Musk and Bauhaus to Acid House, he explores what makes the creative mind tick. He also examines the conditions that nourish creativity in organizations of all sizes, from artists to corporations to civilizations. 

The result is a manifesto for harnessing inspiration and unleashing the creative power we all have inside.

 

 

​

CHAPTER 1: PHILOSOPHY IN THE BEDROOM
What creativity is, why it matters, and what difference it makes. Aspire to be as great as the things that are influencing you. Aim not to be like them, but to be as influential by defining your own unique structure and style. Constraints, barriers, principles, and standards are critical to expressing yourself through what you are, what you are not, and appreciating the differences.

​

CHAPTER 2: THE MODERNISTS, MAVERICKS, AND MISFITS
True artists are always outsiders looking in; rebels with a cause—themselves. They provide something new to the world that we live in, overturning the status quo by positively impacting people's lives and moving society forward. Learn how sustained creativity has always been a true differentiator. The people who transcend the status quo—and inspire others to do so, too—become our models for ingenuity.

 

CHAPTER 3: POP CULTURE REFLECTS TIME
Learn how popular culture has mirrored time and change by connecting society, entertainment, politics, fashion, and technology by provoking action to change minds and translating experiences across space and time. Understand how to stand on the shoulders of giants by learning from history and how to avoid reinventing the wheel as you make progress in your creative pursuits.

 

CHAPTER 4: CREATIVE SOCIETIES
Understand how societies are a catalyst for inspiring creativity and sociocultural movements, where people can realize their full potential and live more enriched, fulfilled, and happy lives.

 

CHAPTER 5: CHAOS TO CULTURE
How to nurture a culture of creativity through a do-it-yourself sensibility and a social system that allows people to create without fear and which is embraced, nurtured, imparted, and practiced by individuals, teams, and organizations; backed up with proven examples from creative industry experts.

 

CHAPTER 6: AESTHETICS IN LOVE – THE CREATIVE PROCESS
The creative process initiates and transforms an idea into actualization by bringing it to fruition through three steps—Dream, Make, and Do. Supported by true stories and perspectives from creative industry experts about their creative processes, keys to success, and pitfalls to avoid.

 

CHAPTER 7: LEADING WITHOUT FRONTIERS
The creative leadership values, principles, and competencies. The five learning stages and personas of creative leadership: Fledgling, Journeyman, Expert, Innovator, and Artist. The behaviors, knowledge, skills, and proficiencies to build creative competency in your team and organization, and the manifesto for creating without frontiers that arms your arsenal to achieve creative freedom and excellence.

​