When you have to listen to an entire album, you're forced to hear songs you would otherwise never have heard. You can pay attention to certain harmonies, or notice background vocals, or the way the instruments were arranged. You might catch some weird sound effect that's mixed in.
Paying attention to input in this way is surprise-fueled potential. Inspiration. A way to get to discovery. Which of course is the way to get to fresh ideas.
When you choose what you see or hear or do, rather than letting it happen, the opportunity for surprise decreases just a little bit. Since you know what you’ll be getting, the chances of a happy accident go down.
But what about the TV remote control? Can the generation before mine say the same thing about the way I learned to channel surf, therefore bypassing what could have been unlimited unplanned viewings? Sure.
Do I think I’m any less creative or inspired because I mastered the remote? Not really.
But just remember, Playlist Generation, as your appetite for control grows greater and you pick and choose with every decision: don't forget to pay attention to the B-side of life. It's the key that opens the door to discovery.
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