Honing Creativity

Creativity, an idea that is both novel and useful, can be honed through deliberate practices and a change in mindset. This is particularly important because while intelligence can get you into the game, creativity and emotional intelligence are what help you win in the long run.

Habits of Creative People

1. Curiosity and Associative Thinking: Curiosity is the driving force behind creativity. Leonardo Da Vinci, for example, was an anatomist, artist, and inventor, driven by an insatiable curiosity that allowed him to break disciplinary boundaries. This is known as associative thinking—the ability to connect ideas from disparate fields to create something new. Everything in the universe is made of the same fundamental elements; creativity lies in combining these elements in novel ways. To foster this, you must resist the urge to compartmentalize your identity by your profession.
2. Hobbies: Hobbies are not a luxury but a vital part of a creative life. They provide self-confidence, expose you to different perspectives, and connect you with people from different walks of life. Nobel laureates, for instance, are 20% more likely to have an artistic hobby than their peers. Hobbies serve as a stress-reliever and a source of inspiration that can unexpectedly solve problems in your professional life.
3. Multiple Affiliations: It is crucial to have multiple affiliations beyond your job. People who focus solely on their careers, even reaching the pinnacle of success, often feel a sense of emptiness and a lack of purpose afterward. This is because they have put all their eggs in one basket. The joy of life is in the pursuit of happiness, not just the attainment of it. By developing other dimensions of your identity (e.g., as a social worker, an artist, or a meditative person), you create a more balanced life that is resilient to setbacks in any single area.
4. Networking: Effective networking isn't about the number of connections on social media but about the quality of human interaction. A creative network is broad and shallow, exposing you to a wide variety of people and ideas without the burden of deep personal intimacy. This allows you to deliberately expose yourself to uncertainty and be open to rejections.
5. Taking Half Chances: This involves having the courage to pursue opportunities even when you don't feel fully ready. Taking a half-chance lowers your inhibitions about failure and forces you to develop your true competencies. MS Dhoni, for example, was given a "half chance" to be a wicketkeeper and later captain, a role for which he wasn't fully prepared, but through which he discovered his true potential.
6. Embracing Serendipity and Randomness: Life is not a perfectly systematic plan; it is largely random. A creative person doesn't detest this randomness but learns to embrace it. You should have a sense of humor, especially a self-deprecating one, to avoid taking yourself too seriously. Creativity and humor are neurologically similar; both involve a sudden, benign violation of logical patterns.
7. Meditation: Meditation is the practice of centering your mind in the present moment, rather than letting it ruminate on the past or worry about the future. It doesn't require a specific ritual but a mindful practice that cultivates three key attributes:
   • Non-resistance: Accepting reality as it is rather than fighting it. Much of our pain is psychological, stemming from the friction between reality and our expectations.
   • Non-attachment: Aspire for goals but do not get attached to the outcome. This is the essence of equanimity and is crucial for avoiding disappointment and pain.
   • Non-judgment: Being non-judgmental about others, or about yourself, frees up mental energy. A person's behavior is often a reflection of their circumstances.
8. Sense of Humor: A sense of humor, particularly self-deprecating humor, is a hallmark of creative individuals. This is because creativity and humor share a similar neurological basis—both rely on a benign violation of logical patterns. A joke often works because it sets up a predictable pattern and then delivers an unexpected twist. Similarly, a creative idea is often 80% familiar and 20% novel.
   • This mindset allows for bounce-back from setbacks and helps one avoid taking themselves or their failures too seriously, which is crucial for continuous experimentation.