Young Geniuses and Old Masters: Two Life Cycles Of Creativity

One thing that's pretty hard to miss if you spend any time in the web/tech world is that many of the superstars/geniuses are on the youngish side, oftentimes still in their 20's.

These guys are inventing groundbreaking products, creating jobs for themselves that have never been in existence in the world before, and living lives filled with freedom, creativity and invention.

I don't think I need to give ya a detailed list of young upstarts and their accomplishments--you know who they are. Just think of the twenty-somethings Ben and Mena Trott (creators Six Apart), David Heinemeier Hansson (creator of Ruby On Rails), Larry Page and Sergey Brin (creators of Google), to name a few.

Seeing the amazing accomplishments of these younguns is enough to make anyone over the age of 21 who has not already created their history making product/site/language feel like an underachiever, but even if you're in your later 20's, 30's, 50's, or 70's don't start panicking yet.

Daniel Pink points out in his article "What Kind Of Genius Are You?" that this early bloomer / late bloomer genius phenomenon is present in pretty much every field of work on the planet, whether it be web/tech, painting, architecture, economics, poetry, science or whatever.

You have your folks who come out with their groundbreaking ideas early (like Ben and Mena, David H H,  F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, and Picasso) and then others who hit their stride later in life (like Doc Searls, Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Cezanne, and Mark Twain).

Conceptional Innovators vs. Experimental Innovators

The big question is "Why do some geniuses burst out of the gate while others have a less dramatic rise to the top?"

David Galenson has been studying this question for over 30 years, and he says that there are essentially 2 types of geniuses--conceptual innovators and experimental innovators.

Conceptual Innovators make bold, dramatic advances in their fields and are known for doing their breakthrough work when they're young. They are known for their sense of certainty in their work--because they're guided by a big concept, they can envision the end result of their creativity. In fact, their work of art may be finished in their head before they actually pick up the brush to paint. As an example of a conceptual innovator, think about Picasso who invented Cubism while in his 20's.

Experimental Innovators work in fits and starts and are characterized by creating as they are working, which means that they do not have a clear vision of what the finished product/work will look like. As a result of their creative style, they take a more meandering approach to creativity, which explains why they're often late bloomers. They make decisions about which brush stroke to put where as they are painting, rather than before they start. Paul Cézanne is a perfect example of an experimental innovator.

I would say that experimental innovators are the types that start with a blank canvas and just start painting, and conceptual innovators are the types who sketch out what they're painting will look like before they pick up a brush.

What Kind of Innovator Are You?

Without a doubt, if you're a successful entrepreneur your success is dependent on your ability to be creative, so it helps to keep these creative cycles in mind.

I would say that in terms of pure art for sure I am an experimental innovator. Just from looking at how I do my paintings, I definitely don't have a clear idea of how it's going to turn out--I just go with it and make decisions as I'm painting. I'm a bit more "conceptual" when it comes to business--I definitely plan business stuff out based on a clear underlying idea--this makes it easier for me to get where I'm going quickly.

So how do you do your creative work--are you a fast and furious innovator guided by a big idea, or are you more of a "figure it out as I go along" creative type?

The answer that you come up with may help you 1) not feel guilty if you haven't yet created your masterpiece 2) be more patient with yourself and your own creative life cycle. I know it's helped ease my mind a bit!

Top photo, story via

Comments

[Howie]

Compared to experimental innovators, I think conceptual innovators have a better chance of survival in their chosen field because of their preparation and certainty.

[mindblob]

Very interesting post Sharon!

I'd say that the key word between creativity and innovation is probably "patience". "Patience" is also the limit between time management and risk taking. I think that if you believe in your destiny you can easily jump/loop between "fast and furious" and "figure it out as I go along". Time does not matter. Well, it does... because you learn all the time.

[Elenora]

Very interesting article Sharon!

Being a late bloomer myself, I can relate quite easily to the article you posted. Funny, I have always seen myself as an experimental innovator in all of my ventures...
But, after reading this last post, I am now reconsidering my approach as to how I carry my creations through their birthing processes, and it does seem that “with experience” I have now become more of a conceptual innovator!!

“Do not feel guilty if you haven't yet created your masterpiece”

The way I look at it, and this is taking a chance of sounding conceited, all that I have “created” in these past years, have been “masterpieces”. What I am trying to say, is that from one creation to the other I have always tried to better myself, thus, creating a “better physical reality” then the last time!. This is why I believe that I am now more of a conceptual innovator!!

[David Krug]

I really hope I'm still the young genius. Although I'm beginning to wonder if the ocncept of genius means ... anyhow great article. Really loved this gem. :)

[Charlie]

Wonderful post. It's great to know something new about people in the creative level. Thanks for sharing this.

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Whoa and yay! It really just made my entire day to check on this post and see that there was a bunch of wonderful comments on it. Looks like all the comments came in over the weekend. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it.:-)

Now off to make my replies...

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Howie--thank so much for chiming in. RE: the survival rates of conceptual innovators vs. experimental ones--it's so hard to tell. On the one hand, yes, it seems like the super planned out conceptual innovators would have more staying power, but one of the things that distinguishes these two types from each other (and I think I forgot to include this in the post ;-)) is that the conceptual innovators skyrocketed to do their genius work early in life, but then fizzled out right afterwards.

Take Picasso for example--although he did paint for many years after the birth of cubism, the Daniel Pink article points our that Picasso's greatest masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (pictured in the post), was created when he was in his 20's.

Same with F.Scott Fitzgerald--his masterpiece novel is The Great Gatsby and that was written when he was 29. Then after that, it was relatively downhill.

So, there is some beauty to being the turtle instead of the hare--you get to develop slowly, languidly and live to be an old master.

Of course I hope we see the "young geniuses" of today going against the "conceptual innovator type" to keep on creating well into their old age. :-)

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Mindblob (Luc)--you are so correct. It doesn't have to be that you're one type of innovator or the other--some folks do hop back and forth at different times in their lives, and I would think that would be an interesting way to be. I think I kinda do that too.

Picasso and Cezanne are extreme examples of the types--it helps to remember that patience and belief in your destiny can help you be creative throughout your life, and maybe you'll have more balance than Picasso and Cezanne did too. :-)

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hi Elenora,

Oh, that's cool--I can relate to the "late bloomer" thing myself too, and I think for some of us it just takes longer to cultivate our talents and decide how we want to use them to better the world.

You're right--as long as the creations we make are building on each other and getting better and better, then they're valuable in themselves. That's an excellent point!

One thing that makes me excited though, is to think that my masterpiece is still ahead of me--I enjoy the anticipation of cultivating ideas and layers of depth for a masterwork. The process of collecting experiences, skills, and points of view is enjoyable in itself, and I'd really like to draw it out for as long as possible. I guess this shows the "experimental innovator" in me!

For experimental innovators I think the importance of the creation is the overall journey, whereas for the conceptual innovators, the important part is the end result.

When I think about it from this perspective, I really do find myself to be a potential future "old master" ;-) because I enjoy the process of creation so much.

Thank God speed isn't everything...;-)

But it sounds like you're building on you're experiences, and always improving your creative approach, and that's wonderful!

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hmmm, David for you, I can see you being one of those unique people who are gifted at being both the young genius and the eventual old master.

You have made major advancements and creations and you're only 27, but I think you're maturing (like a fine wine ;-) ) and that throughout your life you will continue to trump your previous accomplishments.

I don't see you skyrocketing and then fizzling out like so many young innovators do. You're going to have a long life, and a very fruitful, creative career filled with greater and greater masterpieces.

If you were to get chinese food tonight, this is what your fortune cookie would say ;-).

[Sharon Sarmiento]

Hey Charlie,

Thanks so much for chiming in. I'm glad you liked the post. :-)

Cheers,
Sharon

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[DT]

Great post Sharon. I think honestly the spread is about the same both young, middle and old. Its just the media hype of the young simply because the fact that they are young and rich makes great news.

There are lots of successful entrepreneurs of middle age (30-40ish) but many reside outside the internet. Design, travel, real estate, etc.

Perhaps its what the generation best understands and thus the take up of the business they decide to get into.

At the end of the day its how you define success. Perhaps its young with 100million? Or making enough, but get the flexibility to spend time with the kids and family.