10 Creative Change-Maker Quotes To Inspire You to Think Differently

I had a hellacious time slogging through last week.I am trying to block out the awful meeting. I witnessed well-established trainer stubbornly refuse to ease their vice-like grip on their beloved 67 slide ‘Go-The-Extra-Mile Customer Service Training' – designed circa 1998.Imagine for a moment, an individual flailing in the middle of the rising tide of change, clinging on to that hefty PowerPoint presentation like a life ring. I know, it will end badly. Change is relentlessly rolling in.I am still flabbergasted by a hiring manager’s behaviour during a full day of interviewing. He couldn’t resist consuming 80% of the allotted candidate interview time talking about himself – university attended and social/professional connections.At the end of a long day he was bitterly disappointed that none of the 7 candidates met his exacting standards of culture fit.  All attempts to guide and open his mind to the benefits of hiring for contribution and NOT for fit fell on deaf ears.I believe I know the cause.I travelled with my clients to the edge of conventional wisdom, skirting around the rim of their known world. For a while it was exciting but it is crunch time now. It is time to turn talk into action. But the fear of change is biting hard.They are backing away from the spot where new discoveries lie waiting. They want no part of the disruptive, interesting and transformative stuff that can take them and their team from stagnant performance to stellar contribution.I could go on; but I won’t.  That would mean giving in to the ‘whine festival’ threatening to take over every last inch of positive real estate in my mind. I need to take evasive and curative action... fast.I don’t have time to read a motivational book or listen to a brain-boosting podcast.I need fast-acting uplifting inspirational quotes NOW. I know it is a cliché, cheesy even; but these quotes work like a double espresso shot. It is a case of 'break glass in emergency!'Let me share with you my 10 go-to quotes from Creative Change-Makers.They are a sample from my (not so secret) collection of inspirational sayings from rule breakers and creatives who have made their mark by thinking differently and conquering our resistance to change.Are you ready? Good! Let’s go!1. The reality of ruffling The Establishment’s feathers: “If you try to do something disruptive, the immune system of the organisation will attack you. Because all our [current] organisation structures are built to withstand change and risk.” Unmistakable Creative Podcast – Srini Rao interviews Salim Ismail about “The Keys to Exponential Personal and Professional Growth” LISTEN HERE. 2. The Edge Dwellers roll call: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Apple Inc. “Think Different” Advertising Campaign 1997.3. You need to start with yourself. “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” Bob Marley, Redemption Song.4. Being unconventional will upset AND inspire: “People will always try to stop you from doing the right thing if it is unconventional.” Warren Buffett, Philanthropist, Investor.5. Will you heed the call to greatness: “Maybe you answered the call but at some point gave up. You started down the road but decided to retire or settle, and at some point, you let go. You settled for good when you were called to greatness.” Jeff Goins, “The Art of Work”.6. The perils of not putting your creativity to work: “Possessing a creative mind, after all is something like having a border collie for a pet: It needs to work, or else it will cause you an outrageous amount of trouble. Give your mind a job to do, or else it will find a job to do, and you might not like the job it invents.” Elizabeth Gilbert, “Big Magic”.7. Why stop at creativity when you could be a ‘genius’ at divergent thinking: “Divergent thinking isn’t the same as creativity. I define creativity as the process of having original ideas that have value. Divergent thinking isn’t a synonym but is an essential capacity for creativity. It is the ability to see lots of possible answers to a question, lots of possible ways to interpret a question, to think laterally, to think not just in liner or convergent ways, to see multiple answers, not one.” Sir Ken Robinson, Author /Educator.8. “Keep an open mind; it’s the only way new things can get in.” A mother’s advice to her children in the book ‘Slammed’ by Colleen Hoover.9. Fail Safe: “If you imagine less, less will be what you undoubtedly deserve. Do what you love, and don’t stop until you get what you love. Work as hard as you can, imagine immensities, don’t compromise, and don’t waste time. Start now. Not 20 years from now, not two weeks from now. Now.”  Debbie Millman’s Advice on Courage and the Creative Life via Brainpickings.10. The Chance for new beginnings: “Lift up your heartseach new hour hold new chancesfor a new beginning.Do not be wedded forever to fear, yoked eternally to brutishness.” Maya Angelou, ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ – her poem for Bill Clinton’s inauguration as US President in 1993.

Don't Sabotage Your Motivation to Make a Difference Before You Even Start

These entrepreneurial creatives all started out as ordinary individuals who chose to do and create the extraordinary.  We can all be inspired as we set out on our own journey making tiny but hugely significant changes in our personal and business lives. If we conquer our resistance to change, we move one step closer to creating the extraordinary for ourselves and others .What are your favourite inspirational quotes that inspire you to think differently and make positive change?Share in comments and let’s motivate each other to move forward.Until we meet again down the HR Rabbit Hole…