Indian Management Magazine Article
The spark is within
Creativity can sometimes feel like it’s shrouded in mystery. Like a sacred mountain top hidden
in secrecy where mere mortals are not allowed to go. Just a chosen few people controlling
creativity and the rest of us will never get it! Wow! How I am ever going to be creative?!
But in really isn’t that way at all, even if most of us think it is. That is why it is so important to
once and for all bust creativity myths to unleash real creativity that can be used by all in
business.
1. MYTH #1: I’m NOT a creative person!
So I think I know what you must be thinking. “I’m NOT a creative person, Nir. I don’t draw
portraits, dance ballet or play the saxophone or whatever. That’s just not me. I’m a lawyer or an
accountant. I’m an engineer or a nurse. I’m a call center rep or a corporate events planner. I’m
not a singer or an actor or artist or someone in the creative field. So, how will this creativity
help me?”
Well, it turns out that we are all born creative. It is found in the very DNA that makes us human.
It is part and parcel to our experience as human beings. It’s that spark we are all born with. That
spark that most of us have extinguished as we grew older. And, that spark must be relearned
because as adults we are told that creativity is not part and parcel to maturity. It’s not serious
business acumen. It’s frivolous because it cannot be measured and quantified.
But nothing can be further from the truth.
What we lose by believing this myth is significant. Our ability to compete in the hyper
connected economy of the 21 st century depends on creativity. A new economy where ideas and
creativity and innovation are the most valuable equity we produce.
2. MYTH #2: You need to WAIT for lighting to strike to be creative!
Creativity is like most things in life. It’s something you can go out there and do. It is not
something you wait for to happen. The more you practice at it the better you get.
I bet you didn’t wait around to learn how to play golf -- you practiced it. And I bet you didn’t
wait around and hope that you will learn how to drive a car – you practiced it and now you can
do it easily – almost without thinking. Creativity is the same. It is something that can be learned
and moreover it is something that can be taught. It just takes the will to do it.
For far too long we in business have been operating on a half tank of gas, wondering why we
are never able to arrive at our destination. It is because we are operating on analytics alone,
bereft of the benefit that creativity can bring to us as the other whole half of our mind.
3. MYTH #3: Creativity is TOO EXPENSIVE $$$
This is a hurtful myth because it is so wrong. The truth is that every tool in The Creator Mindset
– every single one of them – costs you nothing. Absolutely nothing. They are free to use. No
licensing. No royalties. Nothing. Just free. Adding creative principals will cost you nothing to
implement.
Because it is all about shifting your mindset.
How cool is that?! But there is a catch. Because here’s the thing: not adding these tools and
techniques can cost you everything.
In an ultracompetitive global economy, there is only one chance to get it right. And as the
economy shifts from the industrial economy of yesteryear to the new idea economy of
tomorrow, it is imperative that we are armed with the ability to create ideas readily and
frequently.
4. MYTH #4: Creativity won’t help ME in MY business / industry / career
You might be saying at this point: “Come on, Nir. Really? I run a roofing business. Or a factory.
Or an IT organization. Why do I need any of this creative stuff?” If so, the truth of the matter is
that through the lens of creativity you will find your audience. And if you can connect with your
audience you will enable business opportunities. And if you enable business opportunities you
will increase your bottom line. It really is that simple when you’re armed with The Creator
Mindset and creativity.
Or perhaps you are a professional, trying to get ahead. Working hard day after day, putting in
more hours than the rest, consistently hitting the mark. Yet time and time again you hit a
ceiling. Unable to climb any higher. Unable to achieve your goals wondering why you can’t get
ahead. The bottom line is that without creativity you cannot scale to new heights and reach
your chosen destiny.
You might be tempted to think that creativity is all about an advertisement or your business
card or website design – and while that most certainly is important – it’s necessary for us to
take risks far greater into unfamiliar ways to harness creativity in all you do. It’s a different way
of looking at things which might be scary at first, but it will ultimately open you up to new and
exciting opportunities never before seen.
5. MYTH #5: It’s NOT the stuff of the SERIOUS BUSINESS PERSON:
We tend to devalue creative solutions in modern life. It’s too flimsy. It’s something that it too
“out there”. It’s artsy-fartsy. We roll our eyes. It’s probably for someone else because I’m not
that smart or funny or artistic. But the truth is that it is not for someone else. It is for you. This
different way of thinking is for you, to help you and to be of service to you and your goals.
The creative mind is one that is not subject to limitations. The creative mind sees what can be
rather than what is. And how incredibly powerful is that?
Just think about it for a second. Simply looking at something as it can be rather than what is can
change the very nature of the problem you are thinking of right now as you read these words
on the page. And that is creativity you can use today in your business or career.