Creativity is in all of us !

 “By standing on the shoulders of giants you can take existing ideas make small improvements upon them and create something quite different and successful”

 So often I hear “but I am not creative” yet creativity is in all of us it is just a matter of where we start. Sometimes it is from stracth and sometimes it is using someone elses market concept, a picture, someone talking about an issue, or the way someone else displays something- all of a sudden you think I could do that but differently.

The best time for creativity is when you take time to relax and think, making sure your cup is not too full that you are not open to new ideas and thoughts. Christmas time is often a good time for that thinking, we spend that little bit of time to just breath, take that walk, get up that bit earlier while everyone else is sleeping the Christmas cheer off.  Or just take time to sit and read a book or the paper – all of a sudden you start to be able to relax and think outside the square. 

You may decide without the pressure of work you have time to take half an hour to brain storm just one topic. – jot down those wandering thoughts and let them expand themselves.

It is also a matter of having the self belief to give some of your ideas a go.
Years ago I would think about things that I could do, but all of a sudden I’d get cold feet.  The mind would tell me – it won’t work, you’ll make a fool of yourself or I will lose customers.  Then 6 Months later I would see someone with the same idea I had and they were successfully making a difference to their business.  Business is a risk and some time we let our fear override a good creative idea.

 Not every idea will be successful but think of the Colonel Sanders KFC story.  Recite the childhood spider story try try and try again - give it a go!  After all it only takes one little idea to make a big difference to the way we do things and to creating an outcome for a far better success.

 Some steps to creativity:
Think back wards for Ideas - SAEDI
S - Get you self in a state of Mind – relax
A - The right atmosphere – in the shower, going for a walk or swim, play some good music.
E -Effective outcomes – Have a problem or an issue in mind -use mind maps to track your ideas. D – Be determined to try your ideas
I – put ink to paper – don’t use your brain or mind as a filing cabinet it does forget ideas quickly make sure you write them down.