The Creative Monkey Scale

Did you happen to see this season of Top Chef? If so, perhaps you remember contestant Jeff, and what his opponent Carla said about the  "creative monkeys" he just couldn't tame.

Jeff was very capable in the kitchen and everyone seemed to enjoy him too. But when they teased him in the post-Finale episode, it was about how often he couldn't resist pulling out every trick with every ingredient on every plate. It didn't seem to be about ego or showing off; it came across like a kid in a candy store having too much fun to rein it in.

 

Unfocused might be the kindest way to put it. Except that wouldn't be entirely accurate, since Jeff was incredibly focused while working, and he had to be unusually good at multi-tasking to produce three variations or more on almost every theme. His problem, if it was one, was that he was the King of Complexity. He was rarely content producing one thing, unlike his opposite, Carla, the Queen of Simplicity, who was also very creative, but within a narrower range.

On my "Creative Monkey Scale" below, Jeff would clearly be a 5, while Carla would be a 1. If Jeff was challenged to a banana dish, he'd be hunting for every flavor and kind, from Chiquita to plantains, then presenting small bites of the experiments that worked out the best.  Carla, on the other side, would be looking for the one best banana in town, then making a great rendition of her single best banana dish.

The payoff for Jeff was taking a shot at a creative coup. The judges often seemed torn about whether to give him more points for innovating or penalties for inconsistency. Overall, by attempting so many different things, he scored less often than Carla with her more singular focus.

In short, Carla knew how to make her own strengths shine, while Jeff was more often seeking his next new hit. But the world rewards both kinds of creativity, doesn't it?

 

So which way do you tip on the Creative Monkey Scale I noodled out below?

Do you lean to the Carla side on the left where the point is to demonstrate depth and singular substance dominates? Or do you tip towards the Jeff end on the right where the point is to push the envelope and demonstrate range? (click on image to see full size.)

My own default more often tips towards the right, but there's no instant better or worse about this in my book. I think the point is to know your own tendencies and find ways to max your own assets.

That said, I suspect what we creative types all really want is to skillfully swing both ways. And after seeing what happened this season, I also suspect that Jeff and I will both be working on that.

Comments

[Puma Clyde]

Life is always constantly looking for opportunities to realize their own value! I read your blog see you realize the value of your own! But you also want to help more people realize the value they place!

[taobao in english]

To be or not to be, it is a question.

[Supra Vaider]

I won't give up*_*