We use the word a lot, but what exactly is creativity? It seems like everyone wants more of it from ourselves and our colleagues, but it is not like a faucet that can be turned on at will. David Allen used a recent blog post to ponder the subject:
“The time and energy required for creating something goes through a cycle, one that is seldom as easy or as immediately evident and as clear as I would like to imagine it is. … I still don’t know much intellectually about the nature of that creative process. What is the underlying principle at work here? Why do we seem to have to work so hard to get the kernel? And my interest in productivity causes me to ask how I can get to it faster, easier, more effectively, with less mess and the frustrations that often accompany it.”
While reading David Allen’s post, I was reminded of an article from David Perell. He explored the topic in a post called, The Magic Moment. In the article he brought up the idea of inspiration.
“The Magic Moment is a moment where you have the freedom to create without the demands of publishing. You can’t predict a Magic Moment. They’re spawned by long periods of incubation, but they strike when the mind is at rest. They’re likely to come when you’re showering, driving, or exercising because that’s when the mind is at rest and you can finally hear yourself think. Like a surfer in the ocean, when a special wave swells up, you have to catch it and ride it to shore.”
Creativity is a large and fascinating topic. I challenge you to think about your relationship with creativity? When is it easiest for you to be creative? When it is hardest? Finally, what do you do when the moment of inspiration strikes?
