In a world fascinated with conformity, mediocrity is sanity. People are unfortunately content living up to the status quo – go to school, get a good job, get married, buy a house and have kids. Not necessarily in that order but more or less in and around those areas.

When you consider this quote by Steve Jobs, you realize that being ‘creative crazy’ is not just about thinking outside the box (a classic interview trope), it is creating the box that normal people will think inside of.

“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… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but 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 ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

Take what you will from that statement or my initial narrative but here is a condensed list of 10 reasons why being “normal” isn’t great grounds for being successful, relish in your controlled insanity:

1. They create new boxes for normal people to think inside of.
   Crazy people like Kane West don’t just challenge the norm: they create new norms for others to either challenge or think inside of. Innovation doesn’t always mean coming up with something new. Most times, it is as “crazy” and mind blowing as making something that already exists better. By thinking differently, crazy people like kids use the power of their imagination to power their way to success. If the battery is too expensive to make, question if there is an unconventional way to make it and thus potentially cheaper.
2. They are too foolish to be scared.
   When crazy people set goals for themselves, they aren’t concerned with the “what if” possibility of failure. For them, there is no plan “B” because plan “A” will absolutely work. While normal people are paralyzed by the fear of failure, the crazy ones saddle up and ride anyways. To them, failure is a word with no meaning. This ability to seemingly disregard the fear of failure is why the crazy ones are more likely to succeed.
3. They strive for authenticity.
   The need to be authentic is the need to be different from everybody else. Crazy people develop their own sense of style and paint the portrait of life exactly the way they see it. This ability to be original has seen many crazies achieve success by developing life skills that normal people would call a bad habit or simply absurd. Be so hipster that being hipster seems too mainstream, that is the only way forward.

“Develop your own style and wear it long enough to become a trendsetter” – Wise guy.

4. They have high energy.
   Normal people can’t wait to do nothing. They can’t wait to get off work, go home, sit in front of the TV and do nothing. They always complain about how much energy they don’t have and how much more time they wish they had. Crazies however have all the time, passion and energy in the world. They dedicate themselves to a craft and work tirelessly to develop their skills. This intent focus and energy definitely gives them an advantage for success. This can seem too much for some and if you find yourself with a lot of energy it can be draining for those around you so get used to working alone.
5. They dare to break the rules.
   Deviating from the norm isn’t always easy, especially if you have spent your whole life following rules. However, crazies understand that while rules are important, they can be limiting. What rules in your industry do you accept as fact? Why do you follow them? If the answer is “that’s the way it has always been” then you are normal and probably will never succeed. It is this ability to question authority without disrespect that makes the crazies more likely to be successful. Push the boundaries but also try not to break any laws please, not being constrained is handy but also being fined or put behind bars can be far more limiting.
6. They invent out of necessity.
   To other people, crazies may seem like highly resourceful people, which is true. But a deeper truth is that they are just people who take action to solve a problem they can no longer ignore. Their unusual minds help them view the world from a different perspective than normal people. So problems that normal people would just accept as “the way things are,” crazy people cannot accept. Crazies embody the old adage, “necessity is the mother of all inventions.” Best way to be resourceful is find something that really annoys you and question how it could be less annoying, if the solution doesn’t already exist then make it into existence.
7. They recognize other crazies.
   No matter what type of person you are, it is easy to recognize others of like mind. Crazies all over the world have begun a revolution to find other crazies. They almost seem to be drawn to inventions, ideas and other individuals born a little crazy. They see genius in what normal people have written off as abnormal and are often the early adopters of all the great new trends and technologies. The idea of being able to brainstorm with others who think as differently as you do gives you a greater chance of success. Crazy people challenge one another’s beliefs and enjoy playing devil’s advocate in order to further the conversation.
8. They are always curious.
   Crazies have the minds of kids, constantly asking why. Their minds are insatiable and they are not afraid to follow the rabbit hole no matter how deep down it goes. This allows them to see life as not full of problems, but full of wonder and potential. This ability to always see the glass as full, not as half full or half empty but in a constant fullness but differing states of matter is what separates us from the normies.
9. They are like a dog with a bone.
   Once crazies sink their teeth into something, they never let go. Crazy people become obsessed with certain problems and how to solve them. They become so engrossed that no matter how impossible a task supposedly is, they will always find a way. This is the X factor that will drive a crazy person to succeed at a task that a normal person would have long ago given up in frustration.

If you’re looking for the tenth reason, you figure it out, that’s the first step to breaking that creative wall. Don’t just simply soak in what I am saying, live it, intuitively imagine what the tenth reason could be or should be. The best thing about being insanely creative is that there is no right or wrong answer, simply solutions to a different question.