There’s something special about working with creativity and innovation. It’s like getting into a rusty, mismatched car and driving straight into a chaos of music, challenges, and unexpected twists. It’s like, like Jake and Elwood Blues, being given a “Mission from God.” A mission that feels both sacred and a little crazy – to show the world what the power of creativity can really accomplish.
Just like in The Blues Brothers, the road is filled with obstacles, incomprehensible skeptics, and spectacular moments of brilliance.
“We’re on a mission from God”
When Jake Blues (John Belushi) utters the classic words in the film, “We’re on a mission from God,” it’s easy to giggle at the conviction in his voice. But for those who work with creativity and innovation, it truly feels like having a mission bigger than yourself. Our job is not just to think differently, but to convince the world that being different is actually valuable – that it’s the key to solving complex problems.
Like the Blues Brothers, creative work is about taking the playful, the unexpected, and the odd and using it to create something extraordinary. On the surface, it may seem like pure improvisation – like a jam session of ideas – but in reality, it takes an almost supernatural ability to combine logic, intuition, and playfulness to achieve success.
Meeting the Skeptics – the Muggle World of Creativity
Like all the skeptics and enemies the Blues Brothers face – police, Nazis, and rival bands – creative thinkers often encounter a parallel world filled with people who have not understood the power of creativity. Skeptics see creativity as something superficial, a childish pastime, or something used to paint the walls of the office in cheerful colors.
But in reality, the mechanisms of creativity are so much more sophisticated than they appear on the surface. It’s not just about “playing” out ideas – it’s about daring to throw yourself into the chaos, trusting the process, and structuring the chaotic into something useful. Just as Jake and Elwood must convince the world that they can actually save their old orphanage by raising money with their band, creative souls must show the world that their seemingly crazy ideas can be the answer to the most complex problems.
“We’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”
One of the film’s most iconic lines is when Elwood sums up their situation before they set off in their Dodge Monaco: “We’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.” It’s a moment that captures the essence of creative work – daring to throw yourself into the unknown with limited resources and still believing that it will work out.
When we work with innovation, we often don’t know exactly where we’ll land. It’s like setting off on a road trip without a map, but with a clear vision of the destination. Trusting the process, the collaboration, and our own ability to navigate through the chaos is a fundamental part of the journey.
A Band, a Vision, a Miracle
Just as the Blues Brothers put together their band to accomplish their mission, creative work is about bringing together the right people. It takes a team of different skills – a saxophonist here, a pianist there – to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The same is true in creative processes. We need engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who can play their roles perfectly to create something magical.
But it’s not enough to put together the team; it also takes a vision. In the Blues Brothers, it’s about saving an orphanage, but for us, it’s about saving ideas from drowning in a world of square thinking. It’s about showing that playfulness and intuition can solve problems that logic alone can’t.
The Finale – The Masterpiece of Creativity
At the end of The Blues Brothers, the band performs their now iconic number in front of a large audience, and suddenly everyone understands why their journey was necessary. That’s what it feels like when a creative project succeeds. All the skeptics who once scoffed at the idea – those who saw it as simple, trivial or naive – suddenly realize what a sophisticated journey it has been.
Working with creativity and innovation is truly a “Mission from God.” It’s seeing opportunities where others see problems, using playfulness to break through barriers, and convincing the world that the most advanced solutions often come from the most unexpected ideas.
So the next time someone dismisses creativity as simple or unimportant, think of Jake and Elwood. Put on your sunglasses, ignite your inner creativity and remind yourself – “We’re on a mission from God.” And remember: Nothing is impossible when you believe in the power of creativity.
