There are hundreds methods to boost one’s creativity and to reach the new ideas or solutions. Not all of them can be applied all the time and not all of them are equally successful. Some of them are based on group or team effort. Others rely on tools, like mind mapping software or sets of cards.
However, our creativity is in ourselves, being creative is actually very easy, and we don’t need much to be able to use it productively.
Do it alone
While team-based creativity methods, like brainstorming, can do much to boost our creativity and lead to new ideas and solutions, our most creative times are when there is no one there to distract us. Archimedes was alone (at least history doesn’t mention anybody else) in a bath when he jumped shouting “eureka”. Newton lay alone below the tree when apple fell on his head. Even in successful collaborations such as those of Gilbert and Sullivan, Simon, Garfunkel, Lennon, and McCartney there was only one (main) composer. Remember that no symphony has ever been written at a meeting of musicians.
While teamwork is still useful and sometimes unavoidable in case of cross-functional problems, we are more successful in finding a solution when we work alone. So, set aside time when you can be alone and not be disturbed by anyone. Since those times are rare and hardly found, be careful not to waste them to a routine work but instead devote them completely to some creative work.
Do it with available tools and materials
You don’t need that fancy new camera with zillions of features to be creative. Indeed, lot of those who own them are not, but that’s another story. Creativity can be expressed with any tool available at the time. There are many groups of enthusiasts who are committed to create wonderful pictures using only film (do you remember that?) or even pinhole camera. In addition, there are lot of innovative works there.
Beethoven advised his pupils to never use the piano while composing. Although sounds radical, this proves that we don’t need any tool except a basic recording equipment, to show our creativity.
The newest plug-in for your image processing software will not help you to become more creative. It can even stop your creativity and misguide you in a belief that your work is original when it is merely the result of using a tool in very limited manner. Not all sculptures made if Italian marble are David’s. However, there are great sculptures made of nails. The quality of the result depends only on if you know how to use the tool or material in a creative way before you get any of them.
Do it anytime, anywhere
in a bath or under the tree. Good ideas often come to our minds suddenly, without any preparation or effort. To be ready, it is good to have a mean to record everything that comes to your mind. You can use a peace of paper, notebook, palm PC or a voice recorder. It is only important that it is always with you and always ready for use. I use small Moleskin cahiers and a pen. They are very convenient because they fit in any pocket and I don’t have to worry if they will broke or stop work. Nabokov was a master of using small peaces of paper and writing at unusual places. He wrote Lolita on a set of index cards, which he used as a portable office while his wife drove him in a car.
There is nothing wrong with having a dedicated working place where you feel comfortable and that helps you to express your creativity more easily. This is particularly true if you need special and not easy movable tools, such as woodworking or sewing machines. However, this is not a reason to be unprepared for those moments of inspiration that can catch you in a bus, in a shop or at the street.
Being conscious about the importance of those three pillars of a creativity will help you to build upon them. After you master them, you can find a good partner, acquire a new tool or setup this fancy workshop and then nothing can stop you anymore.
About the author
Grigor Ćorić is the blogger behind the glasses and is continually trying to improve himself in his country of Zagreb, Croatia where he stays with his wife and child.
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Why would I take advice from someone who can’t even proof read the first sentence of their article.
I highly agree with #1. I can’t tell you how many times the creative process has been stunted by a team of people who all have their own idea of how it should go.
As a graphic designer it’s hard to make people realize you know what you’re doing until after it’s done.
@mael
because the topic doesn’t relate to good command of english – you can be creative in any language
#1 and #2, I hope you noticed that the author lives in a non-english speaking country. Spelling and grammar errors bug me a lot, but in this case it is understandable.
Read and digging. Also remember to have a lot of fun, be silly and goofy. I use to do new product development for a huge company and we would act like kids,messing around with gadgets, shooting each other with nerf balls to try to spark new ideas.
As the author clearly knows, all you NEED to be creative are some glasses, a black mock turtle neck and a pretentious sounding name with accents that don’t belong in the english language, like Grigor Ćorić.
Thanks Grigor for writing this article, it is much appreciated and it is the first one to get over 250 diggs. I appreciate English is not your first language but you have managed to convey your sentiments extremely well and I look forward to reading more of your articles.
Steve
Some very interesting points, especially that creativity occurs more often when we are alone than part of a group. I have found this to be true and it has implications with the way most companies expect their employees to work. However group based activities, such as brainstorming, can be useful for providing fresh perspectives or for demolishing preconceptions.
I agree with zet401…eventhoug there are some problems with the grammar…It’s still understandable..^^…thanks for the great tips Grigor..^^
Dull.
This is not a creative article. I feel a paragraph of substance trying to be heard in a storm of fluff.
Creative?
1) Give yourself time – a quite mind/place/moment is priceless.
2) Treat yourself well – exhaustion and internalized anger do not contribute to innovative ideas.
3) Laugh. Funny thoughts lead to more creativity.
Cheers,
MW
A light dusting on the topic of creativity, something very close to me personally. I agree with #1, being alone. The poet Carl Sandburg said that “all final decisions are made in a quiet rooms” or something like that.
You know, I think in complete opposition to the blog, I have to say that I don’t believe you can just sit back and wait for your Eureka moment. You must grind, daily, in and around the medium that you are trying to be creative in. Einstein did not “create” his theories out of thin air. He was grinding on the equations of physics of the day. Really, the same goes for almost anyone who has had a Eureka moment. I believe you must visit your intention to create daily, be that through practicing, writing, blogging, whatever. And you have to be prepared to have creating be ‘work’ most of the time. Every once in a while you will get lucky and be struck by lightning. But otherwise it’s work. Now, it’s the work I love, so I try to do it daily, but it is work that most of the time feels less like a flash of light than a long road up a mountain. Just my 23 cents….
Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
http://www.Next2Friends.com
Great article, and stop giving the author a hard time about the grammar. This post’s got 405 diggs, for Christ’s sake! Its the content that counts… which was pretty helpful today.
Keep on writin’!