Robin Good

The winning film argued that "total pixel space represents both the ultimate determinism and the ultimate freedom—every possibility existing simultaneously, waiting for consciousness to give it meaning through the act of choice."

In making this statement, the film suggested that creativity, above all else, is an act of curation. It's a claim that... See more

Over the past year, working on a book on curation, I have interviewed more than 30 curators—art and conference curators, creative directors, Instagram influencers, radio hosts, coders, and genetic engineers—and all agreed that saying no is at the core of the curatorial ethos . Saying no defines what matters.

Such proximity to information and audience gives the curator of the digital world an opportunity to wield substantial power. Influential online leaders gain credibility because, over time, they establish themselves as competent and credible through demonstrating a commitment to a group’s goals or purpose; by being centrally placed within a network... See more

Believe the same things you do

Want the same thing you want

Want to get there the same way you got there

Sell to the people who want the lifestyle you have because of the skills you developed and the process you used.

For brands, archives serve a parallel function: heritage as intellectual capital. Referencing your own past demonstrates institutional depth, creative continuity, and legitimacy that new brands cannot manufacture. In a world of conglomerate acquisitions and proliferating labels, archives prove you were there first. And that you still matter today.

In the age of infinite information, the competitive advantage isn't knowledge—it's wisdom. Not those who know the most, but those who can discern what matters. Not processing power, but purpose. Those who can extract meaning, connect dots across domains, and make wise decisions despite uncertainty are more likely to thrive.

As Susan Sontag said , to understand art we shouldn’t focus on the content (whether that’s political art that tells us what we want to hear, or easy art that appeals to our genre preferences). Instead, we must be able to say how it is what it is . We must have read, seen, and heard enough to know how each new work compares, where it fits.

In this new era, founders—of every kind—must become tastemakers, and venture capitalists the arbiters of taste. Because in a world where

anyone can create anything

, taste is what matters.