Creativity, Innovation And Happiness

from the thanks-to-everyone dept

Last year, for our final post of the year, I wrote a message On Staying Happy. It seems, at time, that people think that I am filled with anger or rage, because of all the annoying or "bad" stories that show up here all the time. Of course, for folks who know me, this is pretty funny. I'm pretty laid back and quite happy and content for the most part -- which was the point of last year's post.

This year, for my final post of the year, I wanted to take that a step further, and point out how in awe I am of the continued amazing creativity we've been seeing. In just the last year alone, we've seen and written about so many incredible stories of creativity and innovation in a sea of negative from those who insist that it can't be done. We've heard that music and movies are "dying" because of piracy, even as we've seen incredible new music and movies being created by people who are embracing new and innovative business models.

We've seen things like how Amanda Palmer connected with her fans and gave them a reason to buy, allowing her to create some fantastic new music. We've seen how a guy in Israel by the name of Kutiman, that no one had ever heard of probably broke all sorts of copyright laws to create create an amazing album (one of my favorites of the year). We've seen how Nina Paley went from being stifled by copyright to embracing alternatives and how she's used that to build a different kind of business model. We've seen how the business models we talk about are suddenly being applied widely to things like books, photography and even everyday objects. It's been an incredible year for amazing creativity both in content creation and in business models.

As a part of that, I've personally been blown away at the reception I've received (sometimes from initially "hostile" audiences) when I've been granted the opportunity to go out and present and discuss these business models and how they're working.

Finally, as a result of all this, we've had a lot of fun running our own experiments, from which we've learned a ton and were able to work with some amazing and talented partners and content creators. Seeing all this happen even as the stories (without any evidence) of doom and gloom get louder and louder from those who aren't willing to embrace change is even more exciting and encouraging. The pace with which these ideas are being adopted (and adapted) is breathtaking and exciting. We're looking forward to the pace of this activity to only increase in 2010, and we've got a bunch of surprises in store as we look to not only continue discussing these concepts but to really help more people join in the fun as well.

Thanks to everyone here for making it yet another fun year. We've been at this for over a dozen years now, and each year is more exciting than the previous one -- in large part due to the amazing community of folks who spend at least some of their free time here. We hope that you had a wonderful and exciting year as well, and look forward to more opportunities in 2010...

34 Comments | Leave a Comment..


If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
 

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1.  

    Right back at ya

    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Dec 31st, 2009 @ 7:48pm

    Keep on keeping on. We will, too.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    The Antique-Mike

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Dec 31st, 2009 @ 7:49pm

    I'm filled with puppies!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Happy New Year

    icon
    The Anti-Mike (profile), Dec 31st, 2009 @ 7:56pm

    seriously, happy new year.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

    identicon
    xboxps3wow, Dec 31st, 2009 @ 10:29pm

    Wooo happy new years to everone!!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Re: The Antique-Mike

    identicon
    Long Time Lurker, Dec 31st, 2009 @ 10:43pm

    LOL
    I'll drink to that

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 2:17am

    :)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 2:18am

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Re:

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 4:37am

    and happy new decade as well.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  

    Happy New Year

    icon
    Niall (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 4:53am

    Happy New Year to all, even (and especially?) The Anti-Mike, for making us all think harder.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    Re: Re:

    icon
    Niall (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 4:54am

    Isn't the new decade next year, what with 2001 being the start of the 2000s, not 2000? :)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    A lovely story for you

    identicon
    Susan Stevens, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 7:26am

    Here is a story that you might enjoy about a group of people who rescued a treasure from obivion. Although it is nominally about a knitting pattern, it's a tribute to the Internet, creativity, to international cooperation, and the use of new technology to recreate the old. I hope you and your readers will smile. And thanks for all the informative, thoughtful posts in this blog.

    http://fleeglesblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/queen-susan-shawl.html

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  

    Thanks to Climategate

    icon
    transmaster (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 7:42am

    I would have not have learned of this blog except for Climategate. So I have to thank the unknown Russian hacker turning me on to this place, and the RSS feed so I can easily follow. I am graduate research archivist, and technological historian, in a way you can think of me as a human search engine. What truly excites me we are, at last, starting to see the vast impact on society of the internet. Climategate is an excellent example. No longer are there gate keepers on information. Look at the impact the unknown hacker had on Copenhagen. Blogs, Podcasts, search engines, and news feeds are bypassing the old information media If you try to conceal the truth you will be found out. What is so gratifying is to listen to the old guard information brokers bitch, moan, accuse, dismiss, make excuses. and otherwise sputter in indignation as their world collapses around them. Mike you are contributing to this demise, keep up the good battle we will win in the end.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  

    Re: The Antique-Mike

    icon
    Pjerky (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 12:40pm

    Your filled with puppies, my girlfriend is filled with kittens, and I am filled with a 20 year scotch and lots of spaghetti (well last night I was for New Years Eve).

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  

    Re: Thanks to Climategate

    icon
    Pjerky (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 12:42pm

    I'll drink to that. Cheers!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 1:21pm

    A happy new year to all.

    Anti-Mike, you should be on Mike's payroll. You post more on this site than he does.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  

    Re: Re: Re:

    identicon
    So, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 4:39pm

    Are you suggesting that 2000 was the last year of the 1900's?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  

    HAPPY 2010

    identicon
    Joe - compare dog insurance, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 5:02pm

    I don't think your full of anger, you just don't sugar coat anything. Say it how it is!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  18.  

    Happy New Year!

    identicon
    McBeese, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 5:40pm

    All the best in 2010!

    And remember, file sharing is stealing!

    Looking forward to lots more stimulating debate.

    Cheese McBeese

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  19.  

    Re: Happy New Year

    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 5:47pm

    Dude, you're doing it wrong.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  20.  

    Re: Happy New Year!

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 5:52pm

    And not collecting stamps is a hobby! And bald is a hair color! Why, just the other week I used file sharing to steal a loaf of bread.

    I am a modern-day Jean Valjean!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  21.  

    From Norse Edda Havamal

    icon
    Chris in Utah (profile), Jan 1st, 2010 @ 9:17pm

    The Wise One has spoken words in the hall,
    Needful for men to know,
    Unneedful for trolls to know:

    Hail to the speaker,
    Hail to the knower,
    Joy to him who has understood,
    Delight to those who have listened.

    -Havmal

    If I hadn't have tech-dirt I would not even know hot cofee existed. (BigEvilGrin)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  22.  

    Re: Happy New Year!

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 1st, 2010 @ 11:00pm

    I see you didn't get a dictionary for a present over the holidays.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  23.  

    Re: Re: Re: Happy New 2010 From Norse Edda Havamal

    icon
    Blatant Coward (profile), Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 2:52am

    Wooo Penguin commandos!

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  24.  

    happy new year

    icon
    Dave H (profile), Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 5:40am

    same to you mike. please keep doing what you do. i feel that if you're pointing out what's wrong and also giving examples of what's right, there should be no confusion on your motives. it's unfortunate, and clearly not your fault, if there's more 'wrong' than 'right' going on (obviously loose definition of wrong and right needed here).

    dh

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  25.  

    Let's start a pool--

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 6:51am

    Any guesses on how many oversold business problems which cite "internal studies" will require government and/or legal intervention in 2010?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  26.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 11:03am

    Creativity = inventor or author coming up with something new.

    Innovation = Getting that "new" invention or work into the hands of consumers (who will judge its merits with their wallets).

    Happiness = The inventor or author being the one who gets $$ for their new invention and/or work.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  27.  

    Re: Re: Happy New Year

    icon
    The Anti-Mike (profile), Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 1:23pm

    raey wen yppah

    Is that better?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  28.  

    Re: Re: Re: Happy New Year

    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Jan 2nd, 2010 @ 6:53pm

    Oddly, yes.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  29.  

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    icon
    Paul Hobbs (profile), Jan 3rd, 2010 @ 7:30am

    2000 may not have been the last year of the 1900's, but it was also not the start of the new millennium. The 3rd millennium technically started on January 1, 2001 (not 2000). Consequently, the first decade of the new millennium doesn't end until Dec 31, 2010.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  30.  

    Re:

    icon
    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), Jan 3rd, 2010 @ 5:59pm

    Sadness = Innovators and Consumers who have their products hijacked or delayed by sit-on-their-ass 'inventors' and 'artists.'

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  31.  

    Re: The Antique-Mike

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Jan 3rd, 2010 @ 11:34pm

    you eat dogs?

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  32.  

    Happiness and Rage

    icon
    mermaldad (profile), Jan 4th, 2010 @ 8:27am

    Happy New Year to Techdirt and all its readers!

    I still think that deep down, Mike harbors a cauldron of rage, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off... :-)

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  33.  

    Creativity

    identicon
    Club Penguin Cheats, Mar 31st, 2010 @ 7:17pm

    Being creative is one of the best ways to relieve stress, especially when in the company of other creative people.

    Club Penguin Cheats

    Kids Virtual Worlds

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  34.  

    Creativity Innovation Happiness

    identicon
    mole removal, Dec 11th, 2010 @ 12:20am

    These three are what most people are doing to get a better result in their daily lives or goals.
    If one has done these three I think he is a satisfied man.
    In short these 3 are the main basis in which we base our goals.
    Creativity to get a new way to get the job done. Innovation provides the basic means to get the right ones on track. And happiness comes later when the result of the efforts are fantastic.

    reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Save me a cookie
  • Note: A CRLF will be replaced by a break tag (<br>), all other allowable HTML will remain intact
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>


A word from our Sponsors...
Follow Techdirt
Flattr rss rss
From the Techdirt Archive...
A word from our Sponsors...

Close

Email This