Two generative rules

People sometimes ask me if they can use my stuff, published material and resources like those on the educational consultant site. I always appreciate that they ask and tell them they are free to use whatever they find helpful for their work or ministry. It’s at least better than the guest lecturer I invited to speak at one of my courses. He distributed handouts to the students apropos to his topic, but the handouts were copies of my material with the copyright tag suspiciously removed, and he used it without attribution.

With those who are responsible and kind enough to ask permission I sometimes share my two generative rules:

1. Share your stuff.
2. If you find a good idea, steal it.

Share your stuff. Be generous in sharing the products of your work. Take to heart what Protestant theologian Schleiermacher wrote,

You must confess that when an individual has produced and wrought out something on his own mind, it is morbid and in the highest degree unnatural to wish to reserve it to himself.” (On Religion: Speeches to its cultured despisers).

So, don’t be morbid. Besides, ten years from now no one will know or care that you created something. So get over yourself and leave something useful for those who come after, or, for the Kingdom. God gave spiritual gifts and talents for the benefit of the Body, not for personal gratification, entitlement, personal gain, or self-aggrandizement. Share your stuff.

If you find a good idea steal it. You can’t copyright an idea. If the material you want to use is copyrighted, ask permission. In my experience creative people are also generous and will more often say “yes.” If the copyrighted material calls for a fee, pay it. Someone used time, creativity, and energy to produce the work and deserves recognition and compensation. If they decline your request to use the product you can still use the idea, but then it is incumbent upon you to learn to be creative yourself, and then, share your stuff.