“It’s quite something.”

1. Make a thing – anything.
2. Does it feel like it might be something?
3. If it’s something, work on it: Add things. Take things away. Get people you respect to help.
4. If it’s still nothing, put it away – you might be able to put it together with a few other things later. Make more things – you know, your sort of thing.
5. Rinse and repeat until your something becomes itself.

Paul makes a thing

Here’s Paul McCartney turning a few things into Get Back. Notice how George Harrison goes from yawning and fiddling with something on his guitar to paying attention and joining in.

Watch the first video to 2:00, then the videos below in order.

Something takes shape…

The others get it… and Lennon shows up

See also:

Mind at Work: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton, MVPs and innovation by accretion
W. Brian Arthur on combinatorial innovation
Patricia Fara on cumulative unhistoric acts
David Hume on combinatorial innovation and hybridity
Hinterland (2): The Beatles Live at the BBC