When I initially think about creativity I think of musicians, artists or people achieving incredible feats. I rarely think of the parent multi-tasking at the supermarket whilst managing three little ones, or the accountant coming up with a spreadsheet she’s spent hours on, to deliver to her colleagues or the group of students collaborating on a group assignment. Creativity can often be misinterpreted. There are a few types I will touch on.
They include:
• Creativity – pop
• Creativity – common
• Creativity – specific
I will also look at two catalysts for creativity:
• Natural talent
• Discipline
Creativity – Pop
Whether we realise it or not, we are creating every single day. The modern world has elevated pop stars’ specialised creativity to an unattainable standard. We see athletes on the world stage and musicians at a concert or in a music video. Popular creativity can separate us from them. There’s nothing wrong with having people that inspire you. But, remember, (and here comes the cliché), we each have a unique skill that nobody does better than us. How many of us look to an enviable pop star, actor or athlete and not think about the team of 100 people whose job it is to keep that person at that level.
Creativity – Common
Growing up in LA when I was younger we had family friends who had 6 kids - 5 boys and 1 girl. The dad went off to work full time while the mother had her full time role cut out for her. She home schooled the kids and raised them to a standard I hadn’t seen before. The creativity that a mother possesses when raising a child is the gold standard. This creativity encompasses discipline, love and sacrifice.
Creativity–Specific
Specific creativity is using our creativity in setting a goal or task and coupling that creativity with discipline to achieve it. Examples of specific creativity are learning an instrument, writing a song or learning a language and playing a sport. We never stop learning, therefore, we never stop being creative.
Natural Talent
Over the years I have met a few people with incredible natural talent. Some have used discipline to aid their talent. Others have simply relied on their natural ability and thought that this was enough to succeed. Without discipline and sacrifice, natural talent can become a wasted endeavour. Some people have struck lucky in life. For example, a person with good genes that has led them to a modelling career. Many models work extremely hard too, but my point is most of us have to combine our creativity with discipline to achieve an attainable outcome.
Discipline
When I was in high school, two friends and I seriously got into breaking and hip hop dancing. We turned my parents’ garage into a studio with a huge mat we could practice on. We practiced and practiced because we enjoyed it. We did not have natural talent. It became a creative pursuit fuelled by discipline. And we became quite good at it, going to clubs and getting free drinks, and performing at many parties. But it was discipline combined with creativity that gave the three of us these opportunities.
A Bit Of Luck
Growing up I wanted to be a professional soccer player. I started playing at the age of 5 and played the game I love for over 20 years. During this time it was twice a week training and a match on Sunday. In my later years had repetitive ankle injuries. It was only when I saw a podiatrist that he told me my feet were inclined to turn slightly outwards. I didn’t heed his advice and was determined to continue playing. It was only after my 10th ankle injury I knew I had to give up the game. Elite athletes, musicians and famous artists are no doubt incredibly disciplined with their eyes on the prize. Some of them possess a combination of creativity, discipline
and natural talent. They are also extremely fortunate to get where they are. My dad is still playing competition indoor soccer at 70 years of age. He started playing when he was 8. I always joke that I took all his injuries for him. He has worked tirelessly on his skills over the years, yet has also been extremely fortunate.
Creativity is something we are all born with and it need not be confined to certain kinds of people. We can all use our unique abilities to benefit ourselves and others.
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