I've always been comfortable thinking things through and doing it, more or less, my way. You can be as creative as you want, but if you're... unwilling to work on the details, to see those put into action, then creativity is just dreams, or worse, hallucinations.
I think most people act in their self-interest.
I do think a key to success in any walk of life is having a short memory and a thick skin - I know it has served me well over the years.