Let’s discuss what it means to be decisive in a way that can distantly be related to installment 18 [Underacting] – somewhat of a loose continuation that still stands on its own.

I’m continuously defining words and searching for the textbook definition of them almost every day. So before we begin, let’s look at the definition of decisiveness.

de·ci·sive·ness

/dəˈsīsəvnəs/

1. the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.

2. the conclusive nature of an issue that has been settled or a result that has been produced.

“The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively” sticks out like a sore thumb. Quickly is not what comes to mind when considering how one can be decisive. Amongst artists and creators, “quickly” is almost always spoken about as an unforgivable sin that can tarnish the creative luster of a project or finished piece of work. Quickly has become synonymous with low effort and is oftentimes questioned in a way that discredits the creator. Both inside and outside of the creative field, quick is sometimes seen as too good as if efficiency is a bad thing – “You’re already done? Are you sure?”

If decisiveness by definition is quick and effective -

How does quickly sometimes equate to lackluster work?

What if quick work is better than work that’s fermented in the mind of its maker?

I believe artists need to exercise their ability to be decisive. Myself included. Oftentimes, creative minds tremor when faced with the pressure of taking action (see installment 18 once more.) This is a common way that the human brain works but does not lend to persistence. Tom Sachs has an exceptional rule that can be applied to indecisiveness and creative procedure within this context. The rule states that “Creativity is the enemy.” Maybe not what you were expecting from a world-renowned artist – but his reasoning is valid. Creativity is the enemy of getting the job done. Arbitrary decision-making and personal inventiveness are obstacles while creating something. When approaching an idea you have – be decisive. Do what needs to be done to make it happen before you begin adding creative flair and embellishments. When done this way, your focus can move from getting the idea out of your head and into the real world to adding what makes the idea a work of art.

This is not to say that being creative is a negative trait to possess. What this is saying is that creativity needs to be treated with respect. Creativity is a close friend that we can bond with and grow fond of – but only if boundaries are set in place to teach us how to treat it.

Anyone who creates anything accepts the burden of responsibility to birth an idea and bring it into the world. You don’t have to call yourself an artist, but creation is something that is innately embedded into our DNA. We have the urge to be decisive and reactionary but hinder ourselves by wondering if our intuition will lead us astray. The reality of this is that we’ve put margins on what astray really means. And with that being said, we must define –

a·stray

/əˈstrā/

1. away from the correct path or direction.

2. into error or morally questionable behavior.

For this one, we must understand that there is no such thing as going away from the correct path as an artist. We can call it wishful thinking or stubbornness all day, but I believe that creativity is a gift that when treated with respect can only change our minds for the better. I have never once seen a project through to completion and wished I could discard the lessons it taught me. Even if the finished product is not what you were aiming for when creating something. At least you were decisive. You saw it through. You got the job done and didn’t let creativity stick its head into your taking of action. You peeled back a layer and found a new side of your relationship with creation as a multi-faceted entity.

If we wanted to get into the 2nd definition of astray and dive into the morality aspect of creation and the decisive nature of why we do what we do we could. But I’ll pocket that for another conversation within The Newsletter.

Lastly, I wanted to mention one thought that comes to mind when revisiting the definition of decisiveness. “Acting quickly and effectively” is a beautifully worded way of saying “have intuition” when you boil it down to its purest form. If you feel something. Really feel it. And then let creativity show you what to do with that feeling.

With that being said – I will decisively end by challenging you to do one thing intuitively and creatively this week. Even if you aren’t fond of the outcome, get the job done.