book covers the creative curve

A 5 Minute Overview Of

The Creative Curve

How to Develop the Right Idea at the Right Time

About the Author


Allen Gannett is the founder and CEO of TrackMaven, a marketing data and intelligence consulting firm. TrackMaven focuses on marketing analytics and aims to help brands evaluate the effectiveness of their social, content and digital advertising. TrackMaven's customers include General Electric, Microsoft, Marriott, Fidelity and several other Fortune 500 companies. He is also an online contributor for Fast Company and an early-stage technology investor through Acceleprise Ventures. Allen Gannett is a graduate of the George Washington University.

The Main Idea


The key to creative success is to come up with something which hits the sweet spot on "The Creative Curve" – an idea which is familiar enough that people intuitively know what it is and yet which also has an undeniably novel twist. To hit that sweet spot, all of history's greatest creative geniuses have systematically applied the same four laws:

  • They relentlessly consume to plant the seeds.
  • They start imitating so they learn the constraints.
  • They build communities of collaborators.
  • They systematically iterate until they come up with something new which is just the right blend of familiarity and novelty.

    When you're innovating, don't generate totally radical ideas which nobody gets. Follow the process. Apply the four laws.

Want in-depth 30-minute summaries?

In addition to this 5-minute overview, Summaries.Com has a premium 30-minute summary of this book and 1,000+ more, to help you advance your career and business.

Check Out Summaries.com Premium Plans Today!

Want more 5-minute Snapshots?

To get a new 5-minute business book snapshot each week, sign up for the Summaries.com free plan.

Sign Up for the Summaries.com Free Plan