Creativity Enhancement Techniques
(How to Become a Creative Genius)
Maybe you've heard the saying, "The harder I work, the
luckier I get?" Guess what? That's the way it is with creativity
too. The harder you work - if you do the right work - the more
creative ideas you'll have.
Don't Wait for Creativity
Graham Green, the famous English writer, attributes much of
his success to a habit: He forced himself to write at least 500
words daily, whether or not he felt like it. Creative inspiration
can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there
is work instead of waiting.
Don't Expect Creativity to Come Uninvited
Do you want to have creative ideas for inventions? Start redesigning
everything you see. Imagine a better light bulb, a faster way
to serve food, or a better air conditioner. Remind yourself to
do this for three weeks or more, so it will become a habit. It's
also an entertaining way to pass time while driving or waiting
for an appointment.
Do you want creative ideas for poems? Take random words, use
one per line, and start writing. We created a game (Deal-A-Poem)
from this technique, and my wife has had poems published that
were written in this way. There are numerous tricks like this
for creating poetry. Make a few of them into habits, and you'll
never have writers-block again.
Would you like to have something unique to say on any topic?
Train your mind to think from other perspectives. What would
Ghandi say? How would a Martian view this? The point isn't to
ask silly questions, but to see what creative ideas might come
from other perspectives. Make this automatic, and you'll have
something interesting to add to any conversation.
Your Two Step Guide to Greater Creativity
There are dozens of problem-solving techniques you can learn,
and many other methods of cultivating creativity. There are two
basic steps, though, to be creatively productive.
1. You need to work, so you have more opportunity for creative
ideas. You'll have more ideas for new furniture designs if you
are making furniture, right?
2. You need to train your mind, so you'll have more creative
ability. You'll have more good ideas, if you are habitually using
techniques that produce them, right?
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