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7Creativity

Creativity does not require genius

Based upon an independent survey of advertising and marketing executives, which was reported in USA Today, there are three common misperceptions about creativity:

• That the time of day when people tend to be the most creative is at night,
• That the common causes of creative block are lack of inspiration and concentration, and
• That the best way to prevent creative block and keep ideas flowing is to focus harder on the task at hand and talk to others to gain their perspectives.

The truth of the matter is that most people are more creative in the morning. Most of us do not work better under a tight deadline. And taking a break is the best way to avoid creative blocks.

Notice I said most people. Everyone is different. Beethoven poured cold water over his head when he sat down to compose music, believing that it stimulated his brain’s creative process. And no one ever doubted his creative genius.

In my case, I’m sharpest in the morning after a good night’s sleep, or when I’m exercising. But ideas hit me at all times during the day and night. That’s why I always carry a pen and paper with me, or make a voice recording if I can’t take time to write. If I get an idea during the night, I have a pad of paper and pen on my nightstand, and I get up and write it down. Sometimes I even check my phone messages to jar my memory in the morning. I don’t trust it to memory alone. I hate to waste an idea, even if it doesn’t turn out to be great when ...