“CREATIVITY IS INVEnTING, EXPERIMENTING, GROWING, TAKING RISKS, BREAKING RULES, MAKING MISTAKES AND HAVING FUN” – MARY LOU COOK
Many wonder whether there is a way to enhance creativity or an ideal moment to have brilliant ideas. Many wonder whether we all potentially have a natural inclination for activities which require creativity as a fundamental pillar.
Are you too wondering about it?
In my opinion, everyone may enhance their creativity, but nurturing one’s inclinations in the right environment and with best-suited incentives is essential.
You just might be surprised by all the creativity you harbour inside which needs to be disclosed!
I deal with fashion styling and, for years, I’ve been working in the world of fashion, in close contact with creative people who face daily the challenge of creating new products and finding new ideas for the fashion system. This industry demands great creativity from each professional.
Enhancing beauty, creating new, leading-edge collections and images able to communicate the right emotions: all this looks a lot easier that it actually is!
To find, every day, good ideas and to create a working team that makes the difference is the result of a long “training” in the creative process.
Many share the weird idea that creativity is a gift for few chosen ones. That is the genius spark allowing artistic and creative expression.
This concept is undoubtedly linked to the image of the unconventional bohemian artist, but it is more like as a fairy tale told to highlight the idea of “brilliance for few”.
Creative attitude must go with method and perseverance.
As the Italian novelist Italo Calvino once said, “Fantasy is like jam… You have to spread it on a solid piece of bread”.
Success, no matter what creative area it belongs, is linked not only to innate gifts, but it evolves in experienced and competent people who, through hard work and perseverance, achieve unexpected and sometime surprising goals.
Do you know what qualities I mainly look for in the creative talents I surround myself with in my professional environment? Perseverance and reliability!
I personally relate to Calvin Coolidge statement: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent”.
But let’s not forget about another powerful quality for a personal creative growth, courage! Creativity is the ability of producing new, useful and sometimes even brave ideas! You should learn the method, but try not to become a slave to routine and conformism. Avoid walking every day on the same steps and dare defying rules!
In my line of work, a steady daily dose of creativity and unconventionality is the requirement. Sometimes I wonder whether I am able to deliver the sought-after results to my clients within the deadline and with proper creative contents.
Our mind is not always ready to “pop out ideas on command”. Giorgio Armani rightly affirmed that “the confident creative talent is an idiot”! It is OK to have uncertainties and, sometimes, a creative crisis. There are several ways to overcome creative block. The author of the book BREAK THROUGH suggests eating zingy food; however, though I find this book rich in advice, I believe it more useful to count on more pragmatic incentives.
Most creative talents share some characteristics and life choices which can inspire us!
Nurturing certain gifts and walking a given path may allow us to increase and trigger creativity and inspiration.
Here follows a list of focal points you should keep in mind in order to improve creativity.
– Train your talent
“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” (Thomas Edison)
– Nurture your vision and follow your path and don’t let other influence you
“Those who say it is impossible they should not disturb those who are doing it.” (Albert Einstein)
– Be unbiased and have faith in your potential
“Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.” (Harper Lee)
– Find inspiration in discontent
“Creativity is discontent translated into arts.” (Eric Hoffer)
– Choose a job you love
“Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.” (Florence Nightingale)
– Study and be in charge
“Chance favors only the prepared mind.” (Louis Pasteur)
– Dare and break the rules
“Genius is nonconformism.” (Vladimir Nabokov)
– Learn and acknowledge hunches
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” (Frank Capra)
– Use sense of humor
“Laugh and you’ll know more on yourself.” (Martial)
– Be curious
“You’ve got to keep the child alive; you can’t create without it.” (Joni Mitchell
– Be tenacious
“What matters most is not the idea, but the capacity to believe in it completely.” (Ezra Pound)
– Learn from your mistakes
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” (John Powell)
– Focus on the idea and keep it simple
“One should use common words to say uncommon things.” (Arthur Schopenhauer)
The last point is your point. Leave in the comments your winnig idea for this post.
Thank you for your precious time!
Team
Ph: Giorgio Cattani; Fashion Stylist: Manuela Mezzetti; Model: Ilona Martysh; Red Dress: Nu’Art; Mua: Barbara Montanari.
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