Small businesses are started by creative individuals like you and me. And don’t tell me you aren’t creative – you have to be. Whose business idea was it in the first place? Who was entrepreneurial enough to put their vision into action? YOU!
But there are times when our personal curiosity, sense of fun, and enjoyment of the creative process isn’t quite what is was as we get lost in the day to day operations of running a small business.
What’s the key to getting your creativity mojo back? Curiousity. Curiosity may have “killed the cat”, but the truth is that curiosity is the basis of learning, and the creative process itself. If you are not curious about how things work now, you cannot see the improvements that you can make through implementing some creative thinking.
Learning to think creatively always starts with a spark of curiosity. “I wonder what would happen if …” is a phrase that has sparked many creative innovations. So how can you build your own sense of curiosity for yourself?
Look For a New Perspective
Sometimes, just looking at something you are familiar with in new way can give you great ideas. Look from above for a bird’s eye view, or cut through to show the layers of an object. Give yourself a challenge of finding a new perspective, or a new way of thinking about the object.
Ask How It Works
If you are a parent, you probably hate the continuous questions from your young children. “Why?” can certainly drive parents crazy! However, what your child is trying to do (besides test your boundaries) is to learn and to discover how something works. It is in asking this very question that you can discover your own sense of curiosity. Do not be afraid to ask, “How does it work?”
Look With a Child-like Sense of Wonderment
Children often walk around with wide eyes, exhibiting a sense of wonder at everyday objects that adults are familiar with and tend to ignore. When was the last time you touched a fabric just for the pleasure of feeling the texture? Go back to your own sense of wonderment and explore the world as if everything is new, exciting, and different to what you think you already know.
Ask Plenty of Questions
People who have developed a strong sense of curiosity never stop asking questions. Give yourself a challenge to ask several questions a day, beyond the typical “How are you?” question and see if the responses you receive spark further questions as you become interested in and fascinated by the people, processes, and products around you.
As well as curiosity, developing a sense of fun and enjoyment of the creative process as a whole will certainly help yourself and encourage your team to think creatively. Here are three ways you can develop a personal sense of fun for the creative process:
- Live in the Now
Stressing about something that happened in the past or worrying about an event that may possibly happen in the future are both creative thinking killers. Avoid these murderers of creative thoughts by allowing yourself to focus on what is actually happening right now.
- Smile Frequently
It actually takes more muscles to frown than to smile, and you feel instantly better and more energetic when you do smile. If you want to train your brain into believing the creative process is fun and enjoyable, you need to smile often while undertaking the creative challenges life throws at you as an individual.
- Laugh at Yourself
Laughter is the best medicine in the world because it instantly makes you feel wonderful. Lift your own spirits and allow your mind to spark creative genius by being open to laughing and having fun. Poking fun at your own mistakes or thoughts can be extremely healthy – it stops you taking yourself too seriously.
Building your own senses of curiosity and enjoyment of the creative process will free your mind to become truly creative for yourself. When the team leader exhibits these characteristics, the team is sure to follow and to find the creative process fun instead of a tedious chore.
What do you do to boost your creativity and stay curious?
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photo credit: fazen
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