claudia paghunie

Are you a "Creative"? Those who produce in the typical categories of artistic expression can boastfully claim their title as Artist. However, those who do not express themselves through the medium of paint, photography, fashion, or the like find difficulty in making such a statement. And yet the simple fact is that we all are creatives - that is, we all create. 

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If you struggle to see yourself as creative or perhaps have stopped seeing yourself as creative, here are ways to tap into your creativity*:

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1. Research

2. Rest

3. Rediscover

4. Recover

5. (Re)create

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*This 5-step process is not linear. Sometimes steps 1-2-3-4 need to be repeated more than once before the final step. It is completely Okay to return to the previous steps. However, remember that "perfect" does not exist. 

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RESEARCH 

Choose a topic and do the research. Before we begin any creative process, we first need information. Our brains need to be fed something. Start with history then move to current trends or a particular time period that catches your interest. Let your curious mind collect any piece of information that interests it. Satiate your hunger then STOP. 

Note: I can get lost in the process for far too long. I suggest putting a time limit on this step. 

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REST

It's time to digest your information, and how best to do that than to rest. Give your brain a break by stepping out of this topic completely for 1-3 days. Focus on other things you love. Don't worry, you'll get back into it.

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REDISCOVER

Go back to your topic and begin to visualize it. It is important to be as expansive as you can be (in other words, do not limit yourself. Not to time, not to resources. Go big!). Once you have visualized it, you will either need to do a little more research (no harm in that!) or begin speaking to others about it. Create a list of names either within your network or outside of it and inquire, brainstorm, or even begin to collaborate. 

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RECOVER

This step is crucial to the creative process. Recover your "why". Why are you doing this? Return and recover your passion and remember why you got into this in the first place. Recovering your "why" allows you to overcome any fear that comes your way. If you need inspiration, check out Forbes's Creativity Is the Only Investment That Never Fails piece. 

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(RE)CREATE

Finally, BELIEVE you are made to create. You have been creating since you were a child - made-up drawings of creatures, stories of invisible friends, and buildings made from sticks and mud. It is in you to create so step into your creative zone and allow yourself the risk of creation. 

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Turn your creativity into business value with additional insight from McKinsey's Creativity’s bottom line: How winning companies turn creativity into business value and growth.