One of my many passions is to play the Devil's Advocate. I wish I were joking, but I enjoy the exchange of having someone convince me. I do it with a desire to understand, not to squash or squelch an idea. I do it to hear people's passion.
Chris Brogan..
· 3 years ago
There are other ways to hear that passion. What if you signed on for the role of "anthropologist?" What if you said, "Okay. I hear what you're saying. I'm from another planet or another time. Tell me what impact this has. How do I discover it? Show me this in action."
The difference is in the flow of energy. Devil's Advocates are more like walls to be scaled.
There are many roles you can take (see Tom Kelley's 10 Faces of Innovation) that keep the energy and momentum going forward.
Eric Allam
· 3 years ago
I am passionate about new things that could change the world. I love things that constantly change, that don't get boring. I am passionate about change, I would say, but more specifically growing. Being static is boring. I don't care how much money I have, if I'm not changing, I am not living.
Jon
· 3 years ago
I think this subject calls for a clarification between devil's advocate and naysayer. Naysayers are useless unless they are willing to share the reason behind their negative view. Devil's advocates are often a great asset to the creative process, as long as you don't take their challenges personally and are willing to examine and have your ideas examined.
dydimustk
· 3 years ago
This is an interesting post to me, because my passion is helping people catch that spark. I love to help them find the tools and courage to take their dreams and make them a reality.
What a fun dichotomy.
chrisbrogan
· 3 years ago
Might be a good point in that distinction, Jon. I just have rarely met a Devil's Advocate that was credited with bringing the ball forward.
"Special thanks to Bob. He said it probably wasn't very viable."
Jon
· 3 years ago
That sounds like a quote from a naysayer.
Point being, a Devil's Advocate will constructively argue an opposing viewpoint. That can be helpful in revealing flaws that might otherwise go undetected.
Jon
· 3 years ago
Wait...am I being a Devil's Advocate for Devil's Advocacy right now?
chrisbrogan
· 3 years ago
I just don't know. How soon do you want to know what won't work? When's the right time to throw wet towels?
I think maybe it's a personal preference.
For me, Devil's Advocate types can f*ck off until I've got all the dreaming out of the way, especially now where I execute so often.
Jon
· 3 years ago
That's the risk of putting your ideas out there, I guess. Ready or not, here come the critics. To me, it's all a matter of what and how much you're allowing yourself to take to heart.
You say "f*ck off" and I say "that's very nice and thank you but I'm doing my own thing for right now".
Personal preference, indeed.
chrisbrogan
· 3 years ago
Interesting. And maybe that's it. Do all performers just learn how to filter critics?
Do YOU filter critics?
Your music isn't "typical," and yet it's visionary.
Think of Thom. His music was so far ahead of its time that I basically picked on him the whole time, ridiculed him, disuaded him.
I was simply the Devil. Maybe still am.
No, I don't wear Prada.
Jon
· 3 years ago
I think you spend enough time listening to people tell you stuff about what you're creating and eventually you get used to that as part of the process and keep it in it's proper perspective. More importantly, you learn to distinguish what's useful from what's half-hearted or, worse, simply destructive. You develop a certain detachment. Not that you don't still have passion for what you do, but that you emotionally prepare yourself for the potential reaction of outsiders once you release it to them.
It's kind of liking making a baby and learning to be okay with someone calling it ugly.
With my band, the music is out there for people to either hail or deride. We've had both reactions. In both cases, I've learned to try and just be as gracious as possible and not allow it to be a personal thing. I have to do this because, good or bad, I don't want someone else's feedback on my mind when I'm writing the next song. If that happens then they might as well be writing the damn thing because it sure as hell ain't me. Same thing with live performances. If all I'm thinking about is how I'm perceived, I'll come off as forced and probably be a nervous wreck to boot.
So, yeah, I filter critics. Most of the time. Sometimes I have weak moments and other times I invite criticism because I'm trying to work through something.
chrisbrogan
· 3 years ago
You're truly an artist's artist, Jon, and I'm not just saying that.
Jon
· 3 years ago
Now if I could only become a grammarian.
And a billionaire.
Oh, and "Aw, shucks!"
Seriously, I'm just a self-important loudmouth like everyone else in the world.
All Comments
The difference is in the flow of energy. Devil's Advocates are more like walls to be scaled.
There are many roles you can take (see Tom Kelley's 10 Faces of Innovation) that keep the energy and momentum going forward.
What a fun dichotomy.
"Special thanks to Bob. He said it probably wasn't very viable."
Point being, a Devil's Advocate will constructively argue an opposing viewpoint. That can be helpful in revealing flaws that might otherwise go undetected.
I think maybe it's a personal preference.
For me, Devil's Advocate types can f*ck off until I've got all the dreaming out of the way, especially now where I execute so often.
You say "f*ck off" and I say "that's very nice and thank you but I'm doing my own thing for right now".
Personal preference, indeed.
Do YOU filter critics?
Your music isn't "typical," and yet it's visionary.
Think of Thom. His music was so far ahead of its time that I basically picked on him the whole time, ridiculed him, disuaded him.
I was simply the Devil. Maybe still am.
No, I don't wear Prada.
It's kind of liking making a baby and learning to be okay with someone calling it ugly.
With my band, the music is out there for people to either hail or deride. We've had both reactions. In both cases, I've learned to try and just be as gracious as possible and not allow it to be a personal thing. I have to do this because, good or bad, I don't want someone else's feedback on my mind when I'm writing the next song. If that happens then they might as well be writing the damn thing because it sure as hell ain't me. Same thing with live performances. If all I'm thinking about is how I'm perceived, I'll come off as forced and probably be a nervous wreck to boot.
So, yeah, I filter critics. Most of the time. Sometimes I have weak moments and other times I invite criticism because I'm trying to work through something.
And a billionaire.
Oh, and "Aw, shucks!"
Seriously, I'm just a self-important loudmouth like everyone else in the world.