Today’s USA Today includes the article Johnny Depp plays it his way, an interesting peek into the mind of one of Hollywood’s most creative actors. Some Depp-ology [from the article]:

It’s about “pushing yourself to the absolute brink of failure, in terms of like, ‘Boy, if this don’t work, it’s going to be real bad. And if it does work, it might be great.’

If you don’t sort of tread in the arena of fear, you won’t move forward somehow.

It’s not like you get a thrill out of worrying [studio executives]. But if they’re freaked out about it, that means it’s different. Let’s keep going in that direction.

Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, tells USA Today that he and Depp were constantly seeking ways to “one-up each other” with risk-taking ideas. Their intent: Avoid the safe path that usually leads to mediocre performances.

Do you have a Johnny Depp type working for you? If so, let him do his thing (within moral and legal limits, of course) — even if he makes you squirm a bit. He (or she) might create millions in new revenue for your company.