Not in the sense of being an artist, which is how I had always defined the word. I can’t draw. Or paint.
But last summer, I realized I had limited myself by my own definition so I set out to try to become more creative. I read “Thinkering,” by Michael Michalko, started following Creating Brains, read Fascinate, by Sally Hogshead, and bought myself a Livescribe pen to practice taking notes in a graphic format that I could upload to my blog.
I’m not there yet, but I’m making progress. One idea that resonates with me is the way we need to take two ideas not necessarily connected and find a thread. Reading The Heart of Innovation this morning, I realized this method would also yield good results. He suggests:
WHAT TO DO
1. On a piece of paper, create three parallel headlines — the first, “What Fascinates Me,” the second, “People I Admire,” and the third, “What I Would Do If I Had More Time.”
2. Jot down at least five responses under each headline.
3. Look for connections between your various responses.
4. Write down your inspired ideas. Then circle your favorite.
Read Mitch’s post for a better explanation, and then try it. I’ll post my results and hope you’ll share yours, too.