How to Become Creative

To be creative is to be schooled in creativity.

As a reminder, creativity is problem solving. So if you’re thinking, “I’m not creative,” consider this -

Ever have to figure out what to wear, what to cook, how to get to work because of a traffic jam or power outage? To live is have problems and to solve problems is to grow creatively.

Now, imagine adding intention and skills to influence the quality of outcomes, solutions and resolve…

And if you really want to know what creativity is about, then look at what creatives do. Every single artist has to solve a problem. They need to get to a product, an outcome a solution, a thing that we as audience members or consumers can enjoy…and buy.

Let’s pause here and take this in. (Incubation is one of the principals for creativity, by the way).

Think about an artistic rendition of anything. What do you experience? What happens? Answer: A resonance.

Art has an often inexplicable resonant quality. That’s what makes art art. A certain .’je ne sais quoi’ quality for probing and poking invites the consumer to see and to consider something differently. We feel something different because of the art. We’re moved to consider new thoughts. And with any luck, we may even think something differently as a result and approach life differently.

While we as audience members generally consume art as products, we rarely engage in the creative process that culminates in product. This is the creative education we’re missing, at least in part.

What comes before the creative product is the creative process.

To become creative, we must learn the hows of creative process.

Everyone is born with a seed of creativity. Very unfortunately, creativity is taught out of us by second grade, according to creativity scholars. Sad, right?

And then there’s the good news.

Everyone can and should develop their creativity. It’s only the number one professional skill in demand in the world today… Become creative - get your creative ‘how’ on.

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