Put “creativity” along with “love”, “happiness” and “a good steak for under $20” to the list of things one cannot buy.

Title: Why You Can’t Buy Creativity
Context: Sure you earn your salary but the quality of your output does not (or should not) be a function of how much money you make. It’s the other way around really.
Synopsis: How much does creativity cost? It must be expensive since it’s usually in such short supply. But this asks the wrong question, and certainly garners the wrong answers. Creativity is not something you purchase, it is something you inspire in people either through exciting assignments, interesting problem tasks or effective management skills. Keeping creative people engaged and productive is not a problem you can generally throw money at. Sure everyone likes to be recognized as being important to their employer and traditionally salary is a contractual manifestation of that, but it is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Motivation is generally not a transactionable product. And yes I just made up the word “transactionable”. I was being creative. And no one paid me for it either.
Best Bit: “While it may seem obvious that the stick has a negative impact on creativity, it’s counterintuitive that the carrot has the same effect.”

via the99percent.com