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The Creator’s Code teaches readers how they can find and develop their million dollar business idea.
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Most of us have heard of the “million dollar idea” or the belief that all of us (at one time or another) have thought about creating a product or service that could make us rich. We often listen to the story of someone who has taken an idea so simple (like Spankx, for example) and say “I could have thought of that!” For some reason or another, however, we never follow up on that idea.Why? Most of us say that we don’t have the time, the money, the connections or the energy to follow that dream to completion.
What if the problem isn’t external at all, though? What if the only obstacle to your “million dollar idea” was inside your head?
“The Creator’s Code:The Six Essential Skills of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs” by Amy Wilkinson explores and demonstrates the answers to this question. Her book outlines six characteristics behind the thinking patterns and attitudes of entrepreneurs that helped them get rich and famous. Wilkinson uses those characteristics to define what she calls the “creator’s code”, a strategic and adaptive mindset able to capture and capitalize on ideas for success.
“The Creator’s Code” covers the origin stories of business owners and entrepreneurs who have created everything from faster, inexpensive rockets to undershirts. These stories all center around the concept that the creative process behind the business led to the success, regardless of the business owner’s situation.
The Ideas Behind “The Creator’s Code”
The chief idea behind “The Creator’s Code” is to identify this mindset and outline its characteristics. Wilkinson asserts that this set of characteristics demonstrates that the key to success is internal rather than external. The six characteristics are not particularly unique, which is the point. Wilkinson wants to emphasize that the characteristics of profitable entrepreneurs are within the reach of everyone.
These characteristics are not a secret. But taking the time to identify and use them is a skill. We all have particular thinking patterns that can be used for future profit in the eyes of this book because all of us have the potential to connect ideas. Wilkinson highlights three specific thinking styles (Sunbirds, Architects, and Integrators), which are best suited to capture and act on potential business ideas. “The Creator’s Code” details examples of each type and how a person using that thinking style achieved success.
Wilkinson continues to emphasize her point that the “code” is within the reach of everyone by telling the origins of profitable businesses in an engaging and captivating way. As examples, the book talks about the founding of PayPal, Spanx, Starbucks and more. Because Wilkinson wraps this information in engaging stories, she is able to present a lot of case studies within the confines of a short book.
“The Creator’s Code” does recycle quite a bit of the advice you would find in other books aimed at business owners and entrepreneurs. (“Perseverance is key”, for example.) But the most significant part of the book is the mindset being encouraged. In “The Creator’s Code,” readers are encouraged to think outside of the box, utilizing knowledge from more than one source or thinking strategy to get to your goal. Instead of just focusing on this outside the box thinking, Wilkinson attempts to delve into what it means in real life.
In other words, what out of the box thinking process did the founders of PayPal use to come up with the idea? What other internal characteristics helped them to persevere in promoting and marketing their product in a field they had just entered?
Is “The Creator’s Code” Worth a Read?
If you are a business owner (or potential business owner), who needs the inspiration and motivation to take your idea to the next level, this book would definitely be of interest to you. It is filled with stories of entrepreneurs from all walks of life who kept asking the question, “What if I did this…?” These people persevered and adapted (two of the qualities identified in Wilkinson’s book) and brought their dreams to a happy conclusion.
“The Creator’s Code” also provides a deeper insight into the possible ways you can change your thinking process for future ideas. Are you a person who likes to take things apart and put them back together again? Or are you a person who can look at something and identify what it needs after it’s completed? “The Creator’s Code” is good for that kind of exploration.
On the other hand, if you have read countless books on creativity and entrepreneurship, you might have to dig a little harder to find some real benefit. As mentioned above, a lot of information in the book has been shared before. In addition, the six characteristics are laid out in a straightforward manner. They are shared in the book along with recommendations for other resources where readers can search for answers. If you just want a book that lists things like “Ten Steps to Be More Creative in the Office” without the use of stories, “The Creator’s Code” wouldn’t be for you.
About This Author
Amy Wilkinson is a public speaker, entrepreneur and advisor. She can be found at her website Her book will be available on Amazon on February 17, 2015. This review was based on an electronic copy provided for editorial purposes.
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