WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICES TO KEEP CREATIVITY FLOWING?
Lee: I like to do things that force me to be present: surfing, jiu jitsu, music. I find that there’s a pulse to cultivating creativity in work and in life. It’s not all about expanding and being creative all the time. For me, it doesn’t work like that. Sometimes I need to get outside of the box and sometimes I need to get back in it. For us in the Garage, it’s nice to go blue sky and think of anything possible as well as think about all the processes that go into creating something new. There’s value in working on the small things and making little innovations as well as working on the bigger ideas. When the creativity is flowing, let it flow. When it’s not, go back to the basics.
Ben: Music. I like to practice my improvisation skills. Perhaps the most important one is to say ‘yes, and…’ Another good way to get creative is to get out of my comfort zone. Maybe meet someone I would not normally, go to a show that I would not choose, or take a different route or mode of transport to work. A little diversity in my daily life helps the ideas flow. I like to do 10 things good enough more than 2 things almost perfect. I learn from failures.
Andro: Creativity is like a knife edge or your bicep muscle. You need to keep it sharp and strong through repeated sharpening and workouts. Everyone is different, but for me, here are some key words:
1. Observation. Your eyes, your hearing, the touch and feel are the gateway of the information. If you ask “why” on what you observe, you’ll be amazed on how much stuff that you took things for granted and don’t understand why it exists.
2. Ask your self, What ifs….
3. FORCE yourself into time constraints or any constraints and see how far you go.
4. Talk to others about your What ifs, your observation, or things that you are trying to solve. Anyone else other than your boss or coworker. Your spouse, daughter, neighbor….
5. Don’t settle on your ideas on your head. Try to materialize it to make it tangible. Create the roughest prototype possible. Go to your local hardware store, like Home Depot, JOANN, or Michaels to create it.
6. There are no dumb or bad ideas. A good idea is considered “good” only after you understand and stumble across the “Bad” ones.
7. Don’t get attached to the end product or what you are trying to solve or do. But focus on the process.
8. There is no absolute. You look at things or what you are trying to solve or do from the perspective of managing the good and the bad, instead of trying to focus on just the good.
WHERE THE FUTURE OF INVENTION BEGINS
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