Creativity For Non-Creatives. A 5-word sentence that will change how you see creativity: the ability to see opportunity.
For a long time I was under the impression that Creativity meant being artful or able to create something new and original to the world —something that comes up from nowhere but your head, with no influence from anything. Da Vinci, Picasso, Beastie Boys.
Hearing “You’re so creative” in a setting where you don’t really feel that innovative / artsy / "creative" comes along pretty nicely, yet you know that’s not you. Nah. You’re no designer nor artist. You can’t even draw!!!
This definition that I ran into just amazed me… and it all started making sense. It was an interview to Blair Enns in The Futur referring to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's definition of Creativity: the ability to see opportunity.
The Ability To See Opportunity
5 words, 3 parts. Let's dissect it to better understand the concept.
#1: Ability
Here are a few definitions of what Ability means:
the physical or mental power or skill needed to do something.
... to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance
The most powerful interpretation I could give to Ability is the skill or predisposition to learn, develop and master something. It can be learned, if trained.