Turning myths into facts
In this article we will be addressing 4 of the biggest creativity myths. If you haven't read the first article of this series, make sure to check it out here!
To clear out the misconceptions, we need to be sure that creativity is for everyone, believe that we can improve our skills, and understand that all we need is study, practice and application.
The world is changing fast, and so are its problems. Old solutions will not fix new problems. Creativity is being able to continuously adapt our solutions to a dynamic and changing world.
Myth of the artist
Myth: Creativity is for artists, inventors, advertisers.
Fact: Creativity is for anyone who has problems, in other words, everyone.
We often think that creativity is exclusive to artists or creative professions in general. This is not true, creativity is a tool to solve problems.
We can be creative in any area of our lives, being it personally — how to give a fun gift, how to escape traffic jams, how to make our kids eat better — or professionally — how to reduce costs, how to improve products, etc.
It doesn't mean that we have to be creative 100% of the time though — and we shouldn't. Automatic tasks help us save energy so we can spend it on the tasks that really matter, the ones that will create value.
We need to clearly define the problem so we can focus on the solution. An architect solves a problem of space, an advertiser solves a problem of communication, a comedian solves a problem of boredom. Everyone is trying to solve a problem.
Myth of the talent
Myth: Creativity is a talent few people have.
Fact: Creativity is an innate ability that needs to be developed.
Creativity is not for special gifted people, it is the practical application of an innate human ability — imagination. Every human being has the capability to imagine.
We are born creative, but in time we forget how to be creative. We are invited to think within existing templates and accept existing solutions.
As Carol Dweck explains in her book, we need to develop a growth mindset. In a growth mindset, we believe that our most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work — that brains and talent are just the starting point.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard”, Tim Notke
We have to keep practicing and exposing ourselves and in time our creativity will flourish.
Myth of the creation
Myth: Creativity is to create something new, original and unique.
Fact: Creativity is to combine things that already exist, in a different way.
As we have discussed before, the word Creativity gives us the idea that to be creative, we need to create things out of thin air.
"Creative people are the ones capable of combining past experiences to create something new today", Steve Jobs.
The most important creative trigger of humanity has to be these two words — What if?
What if, is the trigger of imagination. What comes after it — an idea, a comment, an insight — is our imagination being put to work by combining two or more ideas. It opens up new possibilities.
But this doesn't mean that every idea is achievable. Sometimes the timing just isn't right.
In the book Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson explains a concept called Adjacent Possible. Both evolution and innovation tend to happen within the bounds of what is possible next, in other words, the possibilities available at any given moment.
Progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready, and then it is inevitable.
Da Vinci ideas for the helicopter took more than 500 years to come to life — he was missing the engine. The internet had to precede emails, so that emails could precede instant messaging. Things happen at their own logical time.
Myth of chance
Myth: Creativity happens spontaneously and out of the blue.
Fact: Creativity happens by following the steps of a defined process.
People associate creativity to ideas that appear out of nowhere. The interesting thing is that these ideas were already there!
Until we distance ourselves from the problem, the combination of ideas might not take place. How many times we let go of something we are trying to solve, and when we come back to it, we can see a solution? This is the power of our subconscious. We need to give it space to work.
"Chance favors the prepared minds", Louis Pasteur.
To be a victim of chance we need to be constantly exposing ourselves to new experiences. There are two types of people when it comes to facing problems:
- Focuses on the problem:
Sees a problem, says that it is not their responsibility, and does nothing about it. - Focuses on the solution:
Sees a problem, thinks about possible solutions, even not being the one responsible for it.
The latter will be forced to expand his creativity, by being exposed to more experiences, growing his repertoire, and then when chance presents itself, he will be more prepared.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working", Picasso.
Next article we will be go over some of the educational blockages. Has school blocked our creativity? Read the next article to find out.
