3 Easy Steps in Becoming a Creative Genius!
The other day I had a friend ask me, what seemed to be a very open-ended question “What are the basic steps in becoming a creative genius?” There is no easy way to answer it, but I figured it can be done in three phases.
With that said, here is my disclaimer, if you want to become a bit more creative then you cannot put yourself down and claim that you have zero imaginative skills. It won’t work in your favor.
So now that we have that out of the way, let’s get started:
Step 1
As you go about your normal routine on a daily basis such as: taking out the garbage, driving to work, making breakfast or lunch. etc., you should find ways to simplify your process. When you start to make your breakfast try to think of ways that you can save time but still manage to enjoy the most important meal of the day. You may consider buying products that have healthier options, or prepare your meal the night before so you can use that time to really relax and start the day off right.
Another way to utilize your creative skill set is to really observe your surroundings. When you are driving down the street, have you considered what measures can be taken to alleviate traffic other than road expansion? Think outside the box, and reflect on this frequently. Your thoughts should only last as long as it takes to finish your task. Creativity cannot be forced; it has to come to you. You will be surprised, there will be some days that you may come up with most interesting ideas.
Step 2
It is absolutely normal to feel as though you have lost your creative know-how. It happens to the best of us, and despite what others might say it occurs more often than you think. Perhaps this is the reason that many individuals in the creative department often struggle, there is a lack of inspiration and motivation to do well.
Our positions as professionals requires us to come up with simple solutions or utilize our creative abilities to come up with an effective solution. Does it sound typical to you? Well, the truth is that its an absolute. We tend to be so hard on ourselves that we forget that we are only human. You cannot force the next best idea, nor can you force the best design within a restricted time frame either. I always tell my team to take a break and go out to find a bit of inspiration. It works for my team all the time, and in fact, they have been known to produce the best work when the pressure and stress is taken off their shoulders.
Personally, I use the 5-minute interval to brainstorm with the caveat that I have the mental energy and focus to complete the task at hand. This helps to generate brilliant ideas, however, if I am worn out from the day then I take a break too. In other words, do not hesitate to get out of office to seek out inspiration. Consider going for a walk, a workout, or even as simple as watching your favorite movie. The upside is that we have creativity all around us, but the objective is to really open your eyes and see it. Creativity is simplicity.
Step 3
The final method to focusing your creativity skills is to really believe in yourself as a professional. No one in this industry made it big, by giving up. The reality is that the individuals who really strive for perfection and make a name for themselves make the effort to put aside the negativity. Is it a challenging task, absolutely. However, this is something that you will learn to overcome. If you really want to explore your creativity, start by focusing on your confidence. Begin telling yourself the following “I am a creative genius, and my idea is going to stand out against the competition.” Learn to take the pressure off of yourself, and you will be surprised how quickly you will work towards success.
There you have it, three methods to efficiently boost your creative skills.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Great points you’ve raised here – the fundamental aspect of creative thinking is to KNOW you can do it and to think positively about what you’re doing.
A great book I’ve recently read on the subject of creative problem solving is called Jack’s Notebook by Gregg Fraley. It takes you through an empowering creative process that anyone can learn – and you do learn the process because it’s delivered in a fast-paced emotionally engaging “business fable”.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:31 am
WHAT THE CATERPILLAR CALLS THE END OF THE WORLD, GOD CALLS A BUTTERFLY
If you always think the way you’ve always thought, you’ll always get what you always got. The same old, same old ideas over and over again. The future belongs to those thinkers who embrace change, break new ground, forge new paths, and transform the way they think. Discover how to look at the same information as everyone else and see something different by using the creative thinking techniques and strategies that creative geniuses have used throughout history.
Internationally acclaimed creativity expert Michael Michalko’s Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques have inspired business thinkers around the world to create the innovative ideas and creative strategies they need to achieve unimaginable success in today’s changing business environment of complexity and uncertainty. Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:57 am
[...] 3 Easy Steps in Becoming a Creative Genius by Mitesh [...]
May 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I totally agree with your sentiments in this article, especially number 3, the creativity has to begin within your own mind, everyone is capable of achieving great things, you just have to truly believe it.