Some people think that these are 2 things that don't go together. In the world of the
academic the creative mind typically isn't valued. The value of constant socializing and
group think is a ticking time bomb, lets all remember that the humans of today are standing
today because of creativity. Several thousand years ago somebody hadto get creative and
come up with the the tools that that enabled them to survive. So why in the modern world
should we keep our creativity alive?
Creative minds are those of not only the artist, writer, and performer, but they are the
minds of the humans who many thousands of years ago thought to domesticate plants, invented
the car, computer, light blub, and every other thing we take for granted today. Somebody had
to have the idea.
What's my point?
There are a number people in the world today who think they shouldn't bother with their
creative side because it can't help them pay the bills. Yet a touch of creative thought
could be that one thing that sets them apart from every candidate for that job you are
applying for, or shows your boss you deserve that pay raise, and if you want to start
your own business creativity (be it creative ways to cut expenses, draw in customers,
an original sales pitch, a unique product something has to set you apart from your
competitors) is what I consider the first prerequisite for making your business work.
Of course the day I am writing this times are economically hard for everyone. I got
faced with a pretty clear choice, I could work my tale off for minimum wage with no
chance for advancement and never be able to afford my own place (that's assuming anyone
would hire me), or I could dust off my creativity and find a way to use that for money.
As evidence by the fact that you are reading this article I decided on the latter.
There was nothing special on my resume, the only thing that was ever going to set me
apart at this point was my creativity, I've got plenty of work ethic but that by itself
won't set me apart. My creativity on the other hand was something unique to me, my only
real competitive edge be it in the world of jobs seeking, or business owning. Deciding
against dusting it off and using it would have been the act of a fool.
Creativity is something fun that anyone who can has 5 minutes a day and a piece of paper
can learn, write, draw, paint, think of alternative endings for your favorite TV shows.
Sound silly? Your creative thought can't help you make a better life for yourself if
you never use it, it's like your muscles you have to train yourself to use it. True
some creative blocks go deeper, but some are simply a need to get your creative juices
flowing. Being able to look at a problem with a creative mind set might just cause you
to see something you've missed. That 5 minutes a day might seem like a waste but it's
one of the best investments you can make in yourself. You'll boost your over all brain
power in the process.
Creativity and competition:
The dirty little secret of competition is that you don't want to compete with your
competition you want to have something unique to you. What does that mean, the secret
to winning every competition is to make sure you always have something that sets you so
far apart from your competition that you don't have any. Do things have a unique
product or service, deliver it in an unique way, have a unique enough sales pitch that
nobody else can pull off. As long as it's unique to you nobody can compete with you
because your on a whole different playing field. But this comes back to creativity, to
have that unique quality creative thought is the only way to come up with it. After all
before anyone put any method into use they had to think of it.
Get creative, bending the rules but not breaking them. If your creative enough to think
of it first you can sell it, or use it first, that's your edge. That creative thought
that set you apart from your competition is your best chance for success.
So why do so many people ignore this?
Well there are several answers to this question. Since I don't know them all, I won't be
supplying you with them all. Feel free to do more research on this topic if you like. Some
of the answers I have come across are creative blocks, lack of confidence, impoverished
mind set, and it's educated and socialized out of us.
Confidence issues speak for themselves. Sometimes it's been awhile and you aren't sure of
yourself as a result (I've had that happen), other times you are just worried nobody will like
it. Well, not everyone will. The rule of thumb I apply to my own artwork before displaying
it is if I like it at least one other person in the world will too. So before you worry
about other people liking it ask yourself this question �do I like it?� assume that at least
one other person will like it if you do. Maybe not the people you'd prefer but somebody.
But feeling a lack of confidence can really interfere with your creativity.
Impoverished mind set goes like this, got bills to pay, need money to pay them, can't
waste time on what won't pay. Now above I've explained why stifling your creativity may
even keep you poor if for no other reason because there's no reason to hire you rather
than somebody else. Look if nothing sets you apart then you are that much less likely
to get hired. I don't care what the job is that you are applying for if you are creative
and can come up with a unique way to do it better and faster, you are more likely to get
hired and less likely to get laid-off. And if times are so hard your only option is to
start your own business then creativity is the first tool you want with you at all times,
remember uniqueness has to start with creativity and uniqueness is an important part of
what is going to ensure you make your bottom line, and being creative in your job will
leave you more fulfilled by your work than the person who is doing their daily grind.
Education and socialization are really 2 parts of the same issue. Young children have
active imaginations that can come up with anything (think of how many times you wished
you could get a machine to do your homework for you (never mind that you are using a
machine that will do it for you at the risk of getting caught cheating) wanting to use
your creativity to get out of the work) children at some point are told that this skill
is valuable but that one isn't, by teachers, parents, and eventually other kids. Some
of it is a group think issue, individual and creative thought is undervalued in general.
Some of it is about money, some of it is just being told that their goals are unobtainable
(that one deterred me from pursuing making money from my artwork for several years but
should never deter the person who just wants to make artwork for fun), still another way
this happens is that the kid who just wants to be left alone to draw a picture or read a
book is often told that not wanting to be social 24/7 means there is something wrong
with them. The bottom line is at some level our imaginations are socialized out of
us and so is the creative thought that comes with it. We are taught to associate most
creative professions with struggle and poverty, or even just a quality we just don't
have.
There are other answers. Some that I am answers that I have read about deal with some
schools of thought on spiritual matters I am not prepared to write about. There is a
great deal of complicated information dealing with those schools of thought that can
be found on many websites. The understanding I have of this is only a basic understanding
of a very complicated subject.
In any case stop ignoring your creativity because of practicality. Awakening your
creativity is one of the most practical things you can do. I don't care if you are
looking to boost your brain power, make a better living, out do the competition just
for the sake of it, or heal and old wound, or just have some fun. Your ability to
think creatively is one tool that can help with all of this.
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