It seems like this week a ton of people have been asking me how they canbecome more creative. I even had one client jokingly accuse me of being incahoots with the Devil in trade for my creativity. "Where do you get all of yourideas?" he asked. Well, I have decided to share my secret with you in this issue.
In the following paragraphs you will learn my creativity secret weapon. I use itall the time. It will work for you just as it works for me. It has served me welland it is this technique that got me into the buyers meeting of a major drugstore when I was just 15 years old. Yup! You read that right. At age 15 mycreativity strategy got me an appointment with a major drug store buyer whereI sold my "Idea's" to them. I didn't even have a clue what I was doing and Iwalked right past the suit and tie businessmen right into the office of the guythey were trying to get an appointment with. This happened simply because Iwas more creative. I know you will have fun with this weeks issue. Enjoy!
It's not rocket science! : Creativity doesn't have to be rocket science. We all have fountains of creativeenergy flowing within us. Our problem is that the world teaches us, in theinterest of our own security, to use our heads far too much. In the process, weshift from the habit of spontaneous imaginary expression to intense self- censorship in service to our security conscious ego-minds. We become soconcerned with the image we project that we lose touch with our inner "wizardbehind the curtain."
I've learned that when I feel stuck, confused, and frustrated, and my intellectcan't seem to find its way out of the cage, that it's this same mind that createdthe prison in the first place. Fortunately I've found a very simple way out. I'vetaken up the mantra during times such as these to simply "Just Make Stuff Up."
Experts became experts by studying other experts: Now our culture typically doesn't give a lot of credence to stuff that's just madeup. Particularly if it's yours and you're a nobody (a non-expert withquestionable credentials). But I think you'll find that in most cases, the expertsbecame experts by studying other experts. And if you follow the line of expertsto the very heart of their lineage, you'll most likely find that the originator oftheir expertise actually "just made stuff up" that hadn't been seen before andthat happened to work, at least for the time being.
So the next time you or your group is stuck in a problem-solving or creativeventure, please, encourage them to try "just making stuff up," and see whatcomes forward. There's something about this approach that frees us of ourneed to be right and invites our inner creative children out to play. Try it. Youmay be pleasantly surprised!
Example:I've been personally challenged with just about all of my major projects for thepast few weeks. I've felt a change of course was not only needed, but the path Iwas taking with these projects seemed to be reaching an impasse. Now I'm apretty creative guy, but I felt really stumped, to the point of giving up on someof them. But being open-minded and self-reflective, I realized that thefrustration and confusion I was feeling was energy that I could use to evolvethese projects to the next level. This process could be effortless if I simplysurrendered to the timing of the project in lieu of my ego-mind.
I discovered that I could view these projects as living beings with intelligenceand a natural impulse to unfold in a way they are "intended." Like seeds thatknow fully what they are to become if nurtured properly and patiently. I madeall of that up and you can do the same thing. Make stuff up that makes yourlife easier, more free, happier, etc.
We make up everything: So I began to actually listen to what each project had to tell me. I also started"just making stuff up" around each project. I found that the openness andfreedom brought by the attitude of "just making stuff up" combined with theact of doing something, got me moving again into creative new arenas, with asense of childlike lightness, fun, and adventure.
My Coach Steve Davis was discussing this with his partner Anna Dargitz. Shedecided to consult the wisdom of her seven year old daughter on this subject.When asked what she thought about the nature of "making stuff up," shereplied with something like this. "Well, I make stuff up when I want somethingreal." It took me awhile to decipher this sage advice. But then it hit me that wemake up everything, including what we call real, and that admitting that wemake it up, is the closest thing to real we can get...she's now our new guru.
How to practice this...This week, try just making stuff up or if you find your group, friends, clients, orcolleagues stuck or confused, give them permission to try just making stuff upto see what happens. I'd love to hear you're perspectives and experiences onthis. Please email them to me.
Before Ricky Brandon was a life coach, he was a professional Magician. Hededicated his entire life to learning and understanding how to tweak people'sperception of reality. By by his early 20's, he was consulting and working withthe worlds top Illusionists as well as training tigers for large production shows.Ricky now combines his skills as a Magician with Personal Coaching to teachpeople how to see through life's illusions so they can focus on what reallymatters. email him at: ricky@mymomentum.com
Visit Ricky's website at: http://www.mymomentum.com |
