Ashar Kazi
University of British Columbia
Only a few hours ago, I found my cousin (the name of whom shall not be disclosed) in a desperate quest to generate some money from a virtual game called “Second Life”. This virtual platform, allows you not only to invest your ‘real’ money - ie: convert your (earth) money to the currency that another 5,778,898 people are currently using- but also the (game) money can be converted into ‘real’ $$$. Apparently, universities have spent months developing their infrastructure in Second Life so that students have access to virtual classrooms. People have entrusted their lives and their 
passtimes to a machine. Amazing, isn’t it? The things we do for money.
Once upon a time, the objective (for any rational homo-sapien) was simply survival. Now, its ‘luxurious’ survival. I’ve seen beggars who earn more than executives; they’re still beggars. I kid you not, it’s a profitable occupation. Although that would be classified as truly luxurious, I wouldn’t recommend it. What is the point of making money from something which has no input, no creativity whatsoever. A few hours later, I saw my cousin sitting on a chair in Second Life- he was being paid $3 (game currency) for every 15 minutes he was on that chair. Of course, he would have to go for weeks sitting on that lousy chair to actually make something for real. Pointless really.
I’ll tell you whats really making money. It’s creativity. Many times I’ve thought about doing something different, but my (perhaps below) average brain can only think till the point where I say, you know what, everything has been done in the past and there’s nothing new left to do. Really, its not even the size of the brain that matters- there are questions being raised as to if we really need a brain at all! Creativity comes from the most unexpected situations.
Mourtada from Reportonbusiness.com writes: “Walk into the Men’s PowerSpa in Toronto and here’s what you’ll see: a bunch of guys dressed in belted black martial-arts outfits watching TSN on a 90-inch screen. Oh, and they’ll probably be getting their nails done”. This is in relation to Alan Stransman’s new business initiative, where men come to look good and feel manly at the same time- its all a matter of presentation really.
Another scenario where creative presentation is really paying off: a new book store in Toronto attempting to compete with Amazon’s neck breaking prices. Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm showcase books and gifts in a rather welcoming way, demonstrating to the people how stacks of books can be a source of socializing. Saul says: “We wanted to bring back the idea of the community bookstore as a meeting ground.”
Examples given here are chosen as they are very recent, and (obviously) are not even a fraction of the true potential of creativity. It’s an endless resource, which may appear as though it is diminishing when its really getting broader. Running after money is only going to be a chase throughout; invention or innovation is not the product of any money hungry quest. I think my cousin’s done playing that game.
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