One of the biggest influences on our creativity and indeed our life in general, are the people with whom we associate. They influence our thoughts and decisions, both consciously and unconsciously. They help us define what is possible and what we believe is not possible.
Getting around the right people
When you share time with creative people, people who are committed to thinking differently, their uniqueness adds to your own bank of possibilities and ideas. As Steven Johnson says, we often have half an idea or a hunch, which is then ignited, when we encounter something someone else says and put the 2 elements together. It makes perfect sense, therefore, to expose our minds to as many potential sources of good quality idea fragments as possible.
Nile Rodgers & creative inspiration
Last year, I was fortunate to spend an evening with my friend, the musical genius, Nile Rodgers. Nile is one of the world’s most successful record producers. As well as his recent international smash hit with Daft Punk, Get Lucky, Nile has worked with many of the biggest names in music. These include; Madonna, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran and many more. He’s also the guy behind the Halo soundtrack and the most creative person I know.
In the space of a few hours in Nile’s company, I learned more about creativity than at any time in my life. In fact, this site was born from an idea Nile inspired me to develop!
The bottom line: Make it a point to spend time in the company of creative thinking people. Their positive influence on your creativity can be immeasurable.