Jumpstart Your Creativity (10 page)

One challenge with the museum project was to create an entrance to the museum that blocked people's view from seeing what was inside, yet was fully portable and could be set up in a hotel ballroom. This of course was all done on an extremely limited budget. Shawn was able to create an eyecatching museum entrance completely built from lightweight foam core material, which was colorful and cut into shapes to look extremely modern and aesthetically pleasing. By volunteering to participate in a project at work, you can learn how to apply your creative skills and abilities, and more importantly enhance them. You also learn you have the ability to be creative and have more talent than you realize. Check out
www.strengthsfinder.com
to learn about your strengths so you can choose projects that tap into your strengths.

Another way to foster your creativity is to do work with charitable, nonprofit organizations. By working with teams of people to help the charity, you will be forced to come up with creative ideas and solutions in order to help the organization achieve its goals. Because nonprofits often lack money and resources, you're often forced to be much more creative than you would be normally. This gives you the ability to learn how to solve problems in different ways and to learn from other
people who are working with your team and how they solve problems.

Once you have completed this chapter on individual creativity, pull out a piece of paper and create an action plan for your individual creativity development. This plan would include what you're going to do in the next three to six months to enhance and foster your creative abilities individually. The plan needs to include three basic elements: 1) what you're going to do, 2) how you're going to do them, 3) a timeline or measurement for each item. For example, on your list you might write, “I am going to read one book on creativity.” Next, write the title of the book, and next to that write the specific date you plan to finish reading the book. This really is like having a workout plan at the gym; this is a workout plan for your creativity!

Put either one of us in an empty room with blank walls, and we have the ability to be creative. Put either one of us in a room with flip charts, markers, music, and props, and then put this room on Walt Disney World property—and we will be much more creative. Don't underestimate the value of an environment that stimulates your creativity. We were once presenting a creativity and critical thinking program in Pennsylvania at an insurance company. On each table in the room we placed odd items. On one table there were two or three strange items such as a whisk broom, a box of 20 Mule Team
Borax, a sculpture of a fish, and a giant fishing lure. It was so interesting to see the expression on people's faces when they walked in and sat down. Before the training started, we could see the energy level go up as they were looking at the odd mix of items on the tables. We did this technique on purpose to illustrate the environment definitely can be stimulating for creativity, or it can be a creativity killer. From an individual creativity perspective, we want you to look at four areas that are important in your environment: your office, your home, your car, and your network.

We realize that most organizations have specific rules and regulations as to what is allowed in an office space. At the same time we also realize there are several elements within your control. If your office or cube space is an area where you will be participating in work that requires creativity, why not give yourself an advantage by having a creative office space? By now you probably know what stimulates your creativity. It may be certain books, it may be flowers and plants, pictures on the walls, or a set of rotating screen savers with different images. Try to figure out which elements you need to have in your office to help you be more creative. These elements can be broken down into several different categories:

•
visual
- pictures, calendars, flowers, small sculptures, collectibles, candles, screensavers

•
auditory
- music, a small fountain, a white noise machine

•
texture
- fabrics, wood, desktop surfaces

•
scent
- cologne or perfume, incense, flowers, air fresheners, candles

•
touch
- stress balls, desktop play toys, rubber bands

•
taste
- candy, gum, mints, nuts, popcorn

The big idea is to have a creative space that stimulates as many senses as possible. Try to create a space where you are incorporating some of the elements from each category, and you'll find your creativity will be dramatically enhanced. Steven has an 18-inch sculpture of Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket on his desk, Mickey Mouse on his bookshelf, and a bag of marbles he rolls around in his hands whenever he is thinking. Later in this book you will discover some great tools that you should have near your desk at all times as well.

We believe your home should be your castle, your oasis, your place to get away from the world at large and be at your best. Take a closer look at your home and see if there is one room or one area that could be your creativity area—home office, “man cave,” covered corner on your backyard deck, or even a converted closet, for example, where you can create the perfect environment with no restrictions except your own. Shawn is in the process of dividing his home office in half. It is a large space with an open floor plan. Half of the office will be an art studio and the other half will be a functional office.
This is designed to make his office creatively stimulating as much as possible.

We're sure listing the car is somewhat of a surprise to you as a reader; however, many people spend a lot of time in their car every day. We know many people who commute a total of at least two hours or more each day in their car. What if your car could be stimulating in terms of creativity? How is that possible? Using a little creativity, of course. Here are a few ideas for making your car more creative:

•
No Radio
. Don't just listen to the radio, have specific downloaded music or audio CDs you find most inspirational and stimulating, or change your radio's preset stations every few months to expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives.

•
Rolling University
. Back in the old days, salespeople used to call their cars a “Rolling University” because they would listen to instructional or motivational audios whenever they were driving around in their sales territory. Take the same idea and purchase several audio programs on creativity and innovation (how-to and biographies). Each day on the way from work or to work listen to them. You will be learning and getting creative stimulation while you drive!

•
Call People
. Use the time in your car to call people and brainstorm with them on the phone while you're driving—hands free, of course!

•
Quiet Time
. When you have a specific problem or challenge, reserve quiet time in your car on the way to work or on the way home to think it through. Turn off the radio or the CD and just quietly reflect on the problem with no interruptions, and don't answer the phone—you are in the “Do Not Disturb” mode.

The same ideas apply if you ride a train or bus every day. Use your time wisely! Now your car or train becomes a source of transportation
and
a source of inspiration!

In Shawn's book
Jumpstart Your Motivation
, he covers the value of surrounding yourself with the right people as part of your social network in order to enhance your level of motivation. He also mentions the idea of eliminating negative toxic people who will destroy your level of motivation. We believe the same applies in some ways to creativity. If you associate with people who are not creative, who are negative and not open to new creative and innovative ideas, it will negatively impact your ability to be creative. The idea, as far as your network goes, is simple. Hanging out with more creative people enables and inspires you to become more creative. Creative people try to hang around with other creative people, which enables them to become more creative. Carefully review all of
your friends and acquaintances, spend a little less time with those who are less creative and more time with those who are more creative.

Please take the time to sit down and take a hard look at every element of your environment and what you can do to adapt or change it in order to be a more creative person. You'll be glad you did—and your creative brain will thank you.

WORK IT

What kind of training could you get to help with your creativity?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Who could be your potential creativity mentors?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Where could the creativity area be in your home?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

How could you change your car time to be more creative?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Who should you add to your network?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________