This sounds crazy, but I thought I had finally done it. After over 12 years of devouring all of the classic and big name books on self-development, performance, business and the creative process, I felt like I had read everything that was worth reading.
Everything new seemed more and more like a regurgitation of great ideas that I had already heard many times over from the original innovators of them.
As I was killing some time walking through Barnes and Noble waiting for my car to be fixed, a book with a bright yellow cover caught my attention.
It was called "A Whack on the Side of the Head" by Robert von Oech. It's big selling point was that it would show me "how you can be more creative."
I picked it up and made a quick pass across the pages, mostly looking for graphics or text callouts that caught my eye.
Fortunately, this book was absolutely loaded with bits and pieces that did just that. It was full of quick chapters dense with original, thought provoking ideas. I bought it and I am so glad I did.
The first thing I thought as I finished it was "I have to share these ideas with other people."
I highly recommend you go and get yourself a copy when you can (it's on print and Kindle, but you want the print version to fully appreciate the graphics) but for now, I want to share what is essentially a condensed summary of the book broken down into 10 ways to be a more creative thinker.
But first...
A Quick Creativity Self Audit
"I'm already pretty creative," I thought to myself while I was reading.
However, on page 40 of the book, I realized that I had fallen into the trap of black and white, uncreative thinking.
Let me show you the test that made me aware of this and see if you have the same epiphany that I did.
What do you see below?
Take your time...
I promise this isn't one of those inkblot tests where I'll tell you that you have some unresolved childhood issues.
Got your answer?
In the book, Von Oech tells a story that a teacher drew this same dot on her chalkboard and asked her class of high school students this same question.
The students were quiet at first, not wanting to be caught under or over thinking the question.
One of them finally said, "A chalk dot on the blackboard?"
The teacher said, correct, and waited for another reply. No one else chimed in.
She said, "I'm somewhat disappointed, but I showed this same dot to my Kindergarten class, I got over 50 different answers.
- A star!
- A squashed bug!
- A rotten egg!
These children were lucid with creativity. They weren't afraid of looking silly or missing the point. They showed that we are so often looking for one "right answer" that we mute our creative voice.
Why is that? What happened to us?
As we age, we stop letting our imaginations work at the same level as when we were children. This isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. Clearly, it's beneficial for the majority of us to trend in this direction. But for those of us who want to be creative for our entire lives, this trend has neutered the skill that we value so much.
If we want to be more creative, we should try to rekindle that childlike wonder, bravery and creativity.
So, here are the 10 lessons I've pulled from the book on how to do just that that.
1. Challenge the "Right Answer"
As demonstrated in the chalk dot example above, we're often trapped by the notion that there is always a single correct solution. Von Oech urges us to break free from this constraint and seek multiple "right answers," fostering a mindset of exploration and diverse perspectives.
The author writes that an idea is like a musical note. When on it's own, it means very little. It can only be understood in relation to other notes (either as part of a melody or a chord).
An idea is best understood on the context of other ideas. If we have only one idea we can't compare it to anything else. We don't know its strengths and weaknesses. It has little value.
French philosopher Emile Chartier Alain put it well when he said,"Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have."
For more effective thinking, we need to adopt different points of view. When faced with a problem, brainstorm at least three distinct solutions before evaluating any of them.
2. Embrace the "Illogical"
Logic is essential, but don't be confined by its rigidness. Allow room for "soft thinking," where intuition and imagination intertwine, leading to unexpected and ingenious solutions.
Von Oech introduces the concept of "hard thinking" (logical, analytical) and "soft thinking" (intuitive, metaphorical).
He argues that both are essential for the creative process, as soft thinking helps us make new connections and break out of rigid thought patterns.
Use analogies, metaphors, and visual thinking to connect seemingly disparate ideas. Don't be constrained entirely by basic logic when trying to create something new.
3. Bend the Rules
Rules provide structure, but their unwavering adherence can stifle creativity.
Von Oech encourages us to question, bend, and even break the rules to discover groundbreaking paths.
Sometimes, groundbreaking solutions come from challenging or re-interpreting established norms.
The author tells the story of a young Macedonian general named Alexander. In the winter of 333 BC his army arrived in the Asian city of Gordium to take up winter quarters.
While there, Alexander learned of the town's famous knot, the "Gordian Knot." It was a massive entanglement of rope that no one has ever been able to untie.
A prophecy states that whoever is able to untie this strangely complicated knot will become king of Asia.
This story intrigues Alexander, and he asks to be taken to the knot so that he can attempt to untie it.
He studies it for a bit, but after fruitless attempts to find the rope ends, he becomes frustrated.
"How can I unfasten the knot?" he asks himself.
He gets an idea: "I'll just have to make up my own knot-untying rules." He pulls out his sword and slices the knot in half. Asia is fated to him.
Identify a rule that's hindering your progress and explore ways to challenge or modify it.
4. Balance Practicality with "What If?"
While practicality is vital, don't let it extinguish the flame of "what if?" questions.
Though often outlandish, these types of questions can spark innovation and lead to uncharted territories.
The "stepping stone" concept emphasizes the importance of exploring impractical ideas, as they can trigger new lines of thought and lead us in unexpected directions.
Here's an example of this concept in action.
Several years ago, an engineer at a large chemical company asked the following question:
"What if we put gunpowder in our house paint?"
The people around him were somewhat taken aback, but the engineer continued.
"Have you ever noticed what happens to paint after it's been on a house for five or six years? It chips and cracks and is very difficult to remove. There has to be a better way to get it off. If we put gunpowder in our house paint, we could blow it off the house!”
The engineer had an interesting idea, but it had one draw back — it wasn't very practical. The people who were listening to this man, however, did something very much to their credit.
They didn't evaluate his idea on the basis of its practical merits. On the contrary, they approached it as a stepping stone which might lead them to a practical, creative solution.
They thought, "What other ways are there to create a chemical reaction that would remove the old house paint?"
This question opened up their thinking and eventually led to the idea of putting additives in their house paint. These additives would remain inert until another solution containing other additives was applied to the old paint at a later date.
At this point, a reaction would take place that would cause the paint to strip right off. That company went on to make such a process a reality.
I spent a lot of time on that GIF for you by the way, so I hope you like it and it actually loaded on your browser 😂
Dedicate time each week to brainstorming "what if?" scenarios, no matter how far-fetched they seem.
5. Befriend Ambiguity
The world isn't always black and white. Embrace the gray areas, the uncertainties. That's where the hidden possibilities are waiting to be unearthed.
Ambiguity can be a source of creativity, not a barrier to it. Practice interpreting ambiguous images or situations to develop your tolerance for uncertainty.
6. See Your Errors as Creative Fuel
Mistakes are not setbacks; they're invaluable learning experiences. Embrace them, analyze them, and leverage them to propel yourself toward creative breakthroughs.
Nature itself is a testament to the power of errors in the evolutionary process. Mutations, for example, are errors in DNA replication that have lead to many beneficial traits in our biology.
Do you enjoy milk? Me too, we can thank genetic mutations (mistakes) for this!
1,000s of years ago, most mammals would typically lose the ability to digest milk (lactose) after infancy. However, a mutation arose in some human populations thousands of years ago that allowed them to continue producing the lactase enzyme for their entire lives.
Similarly, our mistakes can lead to unexpected discoveries and creative breakthroughs. Keep a "mistake journal" to document your errors and extract valuable insights from them.
7. Infuse Play into Work
Play isn't frivolous; it's the breeding ground for creativity. Integrate playfulness into your work environment to foster a culture of experimentation, joy, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Google's famous for valuing play and work. Google has a "20% time" policy, where employees are encouraged to spend 20% of their time on personal projects they enjoy.
This policy allows employees to explore their own ideas and interests in a playful and unstructured way, which can often lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
This has led to the creation of some of the company's most innovative products, such as Gmail and Google News.
Playful exploration can lead to unexpected discoveries and innovative solutions. Incorporate brainstorming games, humor, and creative exercises into your work routine.
8. Transcend Boundaries
Don't limit yourself to your designated "area." Venture beyond your comfort zone, explore diverse fields, and cross-pollinate ideas to ignite the spark of creativity.
Read books outside of your usual area of study. Attend conferences or workshops outside your field of expertise to gain fresh perspectives. Meet with people in different fields.
You can live in the traditional zone of comfort, but vacation regularly into the unknown.
9. Embrace the Fool's Wisdom
The fool, with their unconventional perspectives, often challenges the status quo and unveils unseen possibilities. Don't shy away from "foolish" ideas; they might hold the key to innovation.
The book uses the court jester's role in medieval times to highlight the value of unconventional thinking.
In medieval times, the court jester was allowed to challenge the king's thinking and offer unconventional perspectives.
This highlights the importance of valuing diverse viewpoints, even those that seem foolish or outlandish. If you are a business owner or team leader, encourage a culture of "psychological safety" where team members feel comfortable expressing unconventional ideas without fear of judgment.
10. Nurture Your Creative Confidence
Believe in your creative potential. We all possess the capacity to innovate and generate groundbreaking ideas. Cultivate this belief and unleash your creative spirit.
The "two frogs" analogy emphasizes the importance of perseverance and self-belief in overcoming challenges and achieving creative success.
This analogy tells the story of two frogs that fall into a cream bowl. One frog gives up and drowns, while the other keeps kicking and eventually churns the cream into butter, allowing it to escape.
Practice positive self-talk and celebrate your creative achievements, no matter how small.
Embracing these 10 lessons, or whichever handful of them you choose, might be the key to unlocking your creative potential.