Three Habits of Highly Creative People

I spent most of my lifetime career in helping clients to finding creative solutions and solving wicked problems. Over the two decades I have used, invented, re-invented and perfected many tools to help to get the job done. And now I am in the business of machine creativity. Despite most people believe that creative people who thrive are just “lucky” or “wired” or “crazy” which all have some role to play, there is something else. There are three creative habits that any creative professional must develop.

01/ Surround yourself with creative stimulation. I can assure you your creativity improves 5X or 10X when you are away from your fancy corner office or cubicle. You need creative space. Boring office (and people) kills creativity. Particularly if you work in a HQ corporate building that radiates power. Power kills creativity.

02/ Allow yourself for many mini quick recharges throughout the workday. Design your own rituals and use them to recharge your brain a few times a day. It needs to be more than just good coffee, music or a quick video game. Use mono-tasking, which is when you turn a mundane task—like cleaning your shoes, walking the dog or building Lego—into a grounding, intentional ritual.

03/ Organize your work. Organization makes room for your mind for creative energy flow more freely. That stereotype of the artist living in a mess with paint everywhere in a loft in some chic boho neighborhood doesn’t reflect the reality of the truly creative mind. De-clutter and re-prioritize your time for creative tasks.

Creativity is about connecting big and little things and once you form these habits, things will start to connect and big ideas will show up. Creativity needs discipline.