Creative Thinking Hub

Creative thinking expert Jim Connolly, shares tips & resources to help you think more creatively.

Creativity and curiosity: The undeniable link

Updated November 2013

Here’s an interesting question: How curious are you?

As young children, we are endlessly curious about the world around us. We examine and explore everything. Then, as we get a little older we are made to sit down in class, listen to what the teacher says and just accept that they are right. We leave the school system and unless we are very careful, we start accepting what we are told by people in positions of authority; from our boss at work to the most persuasive politicians and everyone in between.

Asking ‘why?’

It’s hard to think creatively or independently, if we just accept what we see and hear. The solution is to re embrace our natural curiosity and start asking ‘why?’ again, like we did when we were kids.

Why? Because forming your own opinions, based on a deeper examination of what others automatically accept, allows you to build a unique and massively more accurate picture of the world.

It’s easier to offer truly creative ideas and answers, when you operate from such an original vantage point.

Jim Connolly: The cartoon

Updated November 2013

jc caricature

I’ve always been fascinated by caricature art. So, you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was, when one of my readers sent me the wonderful caricature above.

Richard Glynn explained that it was his way of saying thank you, for the contribution I make to small business owners, with the free help I provide on my marketing blog.

As a lover of art and caricatures, it made the perfect gift.

Video: Reimagining work

Updated November 2013

Here’s a wonderful video from the RSA animate team, on flexible working.

Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft, looks at the benefits of a flexible, fully open and collaborative working culture. Technology makes this possible now, yet many businesses still operate on the old industrial approach to productivity. An approach, which is horribly outdated.

You can find out more about the RSA here.

Art, courage and freedom

Updated November 2013

I recently found a great quote from Bob Dylan. It describes in just one sentence, the link between courage and freedom.

A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom. — Bob Dylan.

Of course, the same can be said of the coward. He or she also understands the responsibility that comes with freedom, yet chooses to act differently.

As artists, we have the freedom to put our best work forward or a less risky, weaker alternative.

There’s already a surplus of safe, predictable work. Where the shortage is.. what people are aching for… is work that matters. Art that touches them.

What if?

Updated November 2013

Some ask, “What if it works?”. Others ask, “what if it fails?”.

Some ask, “what if I really make a difference?”. Others ask, “what if no one cares?”

Some ask, “what if they say YES?”. Others ask, “what if they say NO?”

The minority who do work that matters… who make art that’s worthy of them… ask themselves empowering questions. This opens their mind to exciting possibilities. It inspires, motivates and compels.

The others focus on what they fear and attract what they expect.

Maybe next month?

Updated November 2013

Maybe next month the economy will pick up a little or you will feel more productive, have more time, have fewer problems to deal with… or not.

Take a close, hard look at whatever stories you’re telling yourself right now, to avoid shipping. If the only reason that story exists is to give you permission to linger, call it out for what it is and do what you know needs to be done.

Steve Jobs was right: real artists ship!

Ignore your critics

Updated November 2013

Put your art out there and ignore your critics. After all, critics seldom create anything. They know nothing about the creative process.

Instead, use the anger of those who criticise your work, to make you stronger.

As David Brinkley said, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

Wise words indeed.

Anger is toxic and contagious

Updated November 2013

Maybe one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves, and those around us, is to be fast to forgive.

Anger is toxic

It acts on us like a poison. Hold onto anger for long enough and it makes us ill, physically and mentally.

Anger is contagious too

Angry people tend to make others angry… who then make others angry.

Ralph Waldo Emerson gave us a reminder of another great reason, for letting go of anger. He said; “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind”. Wise words indeed.

Boost your creative productivity with this simple idea

Updated November 2013

creative productivity

This is maybe the easiest creative productivity idea I have shared with you. It’s also extremely effective.

It starts with an understanding, that the words we use to describe something, have a huge impact on how we think and feel about what we’re describing. In other words, we can deliberately get our mind into an optimal state for whatever we need to do.

The example I am going to focus on here, is the way we can improve our creative productivity by changing the language we use for our place of work.

Allow me to explain…

Change your words, change your mindset

I used to make a living from working in my office. Today, I make a living by developing ideas in my studio. The actual room I operate from today is the same and when I first changed it’s title from office to studio, it looked identical too. All I changed was the name I gave the room.

Immediately, 2 things improved that had a direct, positive impact on my output:

  1. I felt a great deal more creative, operating from a studio each day rather than an office. Within a few weeks, the room looked far more like a creative space or studio than an office, as it started to reflect the way I felt about it.
  2. Other people started to regard me as a creative thinker or artist, when they discovered I operated from a studio. This reinforced my new found creative mindset.

Switching from the mindset of working, to the mindset of developing ideas, was also a huge breakthrough for me. It feels so much easier to think creatively about the work you do with your clients, when you start each day focused on developing ideas.

Some creative examples

Here are a few suggestions, to demonstrate what I mean:

  • If you currently work from an office, consider developing ideas from a studio.
  • If you currently build websites, consider designing amazing online architecture.
  • If you currently write copy, consider painting inspirational pictures using words.

Try it. Just see what a difference it makes to how you feel and what you do!