Five Key Areas of Life Where Creative Thinking Is Helpful

The Practical Use of Creative Thinking

By the way, I recommend that everyone reads Academic Vocabulary for Critical Thinking, Logical Arguments, and Effective Communication before reading even one book on creative thinking. It creates the foundation of clear, logical, and organized thinking that is required for productive creative thinking. It’s a vital resource for both academic and professional success.

Over the last 50 years, an entire creative-thinking vocabulary has emerged. Here are two of my favorite synonyms for creative thinking: 1) creative problem solving and 2) applied imagination.

I like those terms because when you devote time to learning creative thinking skills, you do so for a reason. We are not learning them just to daydream better. These skills help with understanding, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

However, creative thinking skills are only part of the success puzzle. According to Robert Sternberg’s “Triarchic Theory of Intelligence,” success also depends on (1) analytical and (2) practical intelligence. Don’t think (3) creativity is everything.

So, when is creative thinking most useful? I’ve concluded that creative thinking is most valuable in these three areas. If you grasp these three categories, you are more likely to be productively creative. Do not forget these three categories!

1. Idea Generation
2. Seeing Possibilities
3. Making Connections

Remember, when it’s time to make a final decision and take action, we may want to be more (1) analytical and (2) practical than (3) creative. Clearly, skill and knowledge are crucial for making most things work.

The Five Key Areas of Life Where Creative Thinking Is Essential

Steve Jobs couldn’t be Steve Jobs without creative thinking. Mozart couldn’t be Mozart without creative thinking. Admittedly, many tasks don’t require a great deal of creativity. However, you must be a creative thinker to excel in many competitive fields.

Do you remember the three categories I asked you to remember above? Once again, they are: 1) getting ideas, 2) seeing possibilities, and 3) making connections. Well, here are five categories in which those three categories are critical!

1. Creative Endeavors
2. Innovation
3. Entrepreneurship
4. Problem-Solving
5. Negotiation

Are you involved with any of these activities? Do you want to be? If so, keep reading!

Note on the Headings: You will notice that I included “Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections” in each heading. Why? I hope you consider these three concepts as you consider the five activities.

Let’s go!

1. Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections: Creative Endeavors

How should we define creativity? For this section, I will leave it as the ability to create things in ways that are new, different, beautiful, valuable, or useful. To be clear, we are all creators and can approach almost everything as a creative endeavor. The best always approach their jobs with a sense of creativity. Creativity is not just about art.

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) famously said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” I would put it this way: Learn the old rules so you can write the new rules. I don’t think Picasso and others like him were breaking the rules. They were inventing rules.

In Lateral Thinking (1970), a groundbreaking book on creative thinking, Edward de Bono used many comma splices. Comma splices are one of the most basic and serious grammar errors. Was de Bono breaking the rules with his comma splices? Well, Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) did far worse and was revered. The point is there are no rules—you just have to live with the consequences. The consequence for de Bono is that he sold millions of books. Gertrude Stein is revered. However, if you break the rules and your teacher or boss reprimands you or gives you a failing grade, those are the consequences.

When you have a creative purpose for your choices, it’s not breaking the rules. It’s experimentation. Experimentation leads to success, failure, or learning. In reality, breaking the rules is a strategy or technique. I do agree with the part, “Learn the rules like a pro!”

1. Creativity takes courage. – Henri Matisse

2. To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. – Joseph Chilton Pearce

3. The day before something is truly a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea. – Peter Diamandis

4. I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been. – Wayne Gretzky

5. Creativity is the ability to see relationships where none exist. – Thomas Disch

2. Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections: Innovation

Innovation is the improvement of existing processes, products, ideas, or methods. Although innovation is commonly associated with business and technology, we can use the term in any area of life where we seek improvement.

The need for business innovation is a critical reason for needing to think differently. Peter Drucker (1909 –2005), the father of modern management theory, considered innovation as a primary purpose of a business. He viewed innovation as necessary for the survival and success of organizations. In Innovation and Entrepreneurship (1985), Drucker argued that businesses must systematically pursue innovation, encourage creativity, and take risks. The following quotes illustrate the point:

1. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. – Steve Jobs

2. The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious. – John Sculley

3. If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. – Sam Walton

4. Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat. – Steve Jobs

5. Change before you have to. – Jack Welch

6. The pace of change is never going to be slower than it is today. – Mark Zuckerberg

7. When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts. – Larry Ellison

8. Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things. – Theodore Levitt

9. The heart and soul of the company is creativity and innovation. – Bob Iger

10. There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period. – Brene Brown

11. I’m as proud of many of the things we haven’t done as the things we have done. Innovation is saying no to a thousand things. – Steve Jobs

3. Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections: Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the business of (1) idea generation, (2) seeing possibilities, (3) seeing opportunities, and (4) taking action for your business. Peter Drucker’s (1909 –2005) business book is called Innovation and Entrepreneurship (1985) because the two concepts go hand in hand.

Although an entrepreneurial spirit is always an innovative spirit, an innovative spirit is not always an entrepreneurial spirit. Some creative people don’t grasp how to turn innovations into business profits. If you are unsure what that means, research the lives of Thomas Edison (1847–1931) vs. Nikola Tesla (1856 –1943).

We associate entrepreneurship with owning the business. Did Drucker write his book just for business owners? Of course not. He wrote it for everyone who wants to get ahead in business. Steve Jobs and Thomas Edison exemplify what it means to be an innovator and entrepreneur.

Steve Jobs (1955–2011) was an entrepreneur when he founded Apple. But when he left Apple in 1985, he sold all his shares. He returned to Apple in 1996 and quickly became CEO, transforming it into what it is today. However, he owned very little stock. Although he acquired significant stock through CEO incentives, he was not even close to a major shareholder.

Steve Jobs’ final net worth was about 65% Disney stock ($5 billion) and 35% Apple stock ($2.5 billion). Although Steve Jobs was not a major shareholder in Apple, he was still an entrepreneur. Was his role any different than it was before? No. Jobs brought back both the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Steve Jobs was always an innovator and entrepreneur.

What is entrepreneurial thinking? Here are a few questions that illustrate the concept:

» » How do we innovate? Where lays the future? Where are the opportunities? How can we make products people want? How can we outcompete? How do we make a profit? Is there a better way? How can we grow? How should we reinvest in our future?

To be clear, food cart vendors who search for a sauce that will transform their business are using entrepreneurial thinking. They are innovators if they work on inventing that sauce or seek novel alternatives.

Here is some wisdom on how creativity relates to entrepreneurship:

1. Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship… the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth. – Peter Drucker

2. Creativity is the spark of innovation; entrepreneurship is the fuel that ignites it. – Various

3. Entrepreneurship is the art of turning creativity into reality. – Various

4. Entrepreneurship is the ultimate expression of creativity, turning vision into value. – Various

5. Creativity is the backbone of entrepreneurship; it’s about solving problems in innovative ways to create value. – Various

6. Entrepreneurship thrives on creativity; it’s about turning ideas into actions and dreams into reality. – Various

7. Creativity is the key to entrepreneurship; it’s the ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles. – Various

8. Entrepreneurship is the marriage of creativity and action; it’s about bringing imaginative ideas to life. – Various

9. Entrepreneurship without creativity is like a bird without wings; it may move, but it can never soar. – Matshona Dhliwayo

4. Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections: Problem Solving

Many modern creative thinking techniques were created with creative problem-solving in mind. To some degree, all creative thinking is creative problem solving—but possibly in advance of the problem. Can you think of any problems in your life or the world? What if we could learn to solve them in advance? Now, there is a creative idea!

Problem-solving is composed of stages. We may think we have a solution and then find that the first stage of our solution is composed of a problem. Even with simple problems, there may come a point where creative problem solving may help us find a solution. For example, you may come to see that the solution is that you need more apples. Creative problem solving may help you discover how you can acquire more apples.

Logical and rational thinking should always be a part of problem-solving. However, when stuck, it’s usually worth thinking outside the box just to see where it goes. If you are stuck, creative problem solving is a way to keep things moving forward. By definition, you will consider new ideas.

Problem-solving is a complex topic. The number and magnitude of problems wouldn’t exist if it weren’t. On the other hand, humanity keeps moving forward. In brief, here are a few concepts to consider when thinking about problem-solving.

» » Stages: Where are we in the problem-solving process? Are we making progress? Or are things getting worse?

» » Seriousness: How serious is the problem?

» » Time: How much time do we have to solve the problem?

» » Complexity: Is the problem simple, complex, or a dilemma?

Dilemmas are the most difficult type of problem to solve. By definition, a dilemma has no acceptable solution, and all the possible choices are problems. When facing dilemmas, creative problem solving will present ideas we have not considered.

1. Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected, to find solutions where others see only problems. – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

2. We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. – Albert Einstein

3. Every problem is an opportunity in disguise. – John Adams

4. Every problem has a solution. You just have to be creative enough to find it. – Travis Kalanick

5. Ideas, Possibilities, and Connections: Negotiation

Negotiation is often a part of problem-solving, and problem-solving is usually a part of negotiation. Think of all the serious problems people are trying to solve through negotiations. To put it mildly, serious problems often require negotiations. Yes, many basic negotiations focus on terms and conditions, and both sides can walk away with no deal if they choose without great harm or loss.

However, other negotiations are far more complicated. This is true for business, personal, political, national, and international negotiations. In short, just as with problem-solving, we can think of negotiations as having three levels: simple, complex, and dilemmas.

Creativity is essential in negotiation because it allows you to see beyond the obvious and find solutions others may not have considered. The art of negotiation lies in finding common ground and creating value for both parties through creative problem-solving. Negotiation is like a puzzle; creativity is the key to unlocking the puzzle’s solution. Each piece may seem unrelated, but with the proper perspective, they can come together to form a picture of mutual success.

Prepared for Creativity: Creativity Is Built on Knowledge!

Yes, people are born with gifts. You may have heard the stories about how Mozart and Beethoven intuitively understood the piano the first time they saw one. The reality is that there is no evidence that this is true. It is true that both had parents who saw they had a gift and that they were well into their music studies by the time they were five years old. Therefore, a considerable part of their creativity came from their extensive training.

In summary, it’s wise to prepare for creative thinking by learning how to think creatively. However, you must also have knowledge and expertise to be creative. Creativity without knowledge, expertise, and logical thinking skills won’t get you far.

Below, I rewrote a few old sayings about luck and success to apply the wisdom to creativity. In short, to be creative, you must be prepared for creativity.

1. Creativity is what happens when preparation meets opportunity

2. Creativity is the residue of good preparation.

3. The harder I work and the more I learn, the more creative I become.

Most creative people are experts at what they do. Their expertise helps them see things differently—but with skill and good judgment.

The Science of Getting Rich: Become a Creator!

Once again, creative thinking is particularly helpful for creating success in five key areas of life: 1) Creative Endeavors, 2) Innovation, 3) Entrepreneurship, 4) Problem-Solving, and 5) Negotiation. What do all of these have in common? They focus on creating! Or at least, they should!

How often do we get sidetracked by things or thinking that work against creating? I’ve always loved Zig Ziglar’s (1926–2012) quote about positive thinking: “Positive thinking won’t allow you to do anything, but it will allow you to do everything better than negative thinking will.” That’s positive but realistic.

Here is a fact plain and simple: When creating, you provide value to the world and improve your life. This point was brought home to me in a classic book.

The Science of Getting Rich (1910) by Wallace D. Wattles is a classic self-help book that delves into the principles of achieving wealth and success. The basic tenets of the book deal with 1) The Power of Thought, 2) The Law of Attraction, 3) Taking Action, 4) Gratitude and Visualization, and 5) The Right to Be Rich. It’s basically an early and maybe better version of “The Secret.”

I listened to an audio-program version of this book well over a decade ago, and this next point stuck in my mind. In short, I realized that the solution to everything is to create.

Stop wasting your time and energy by focusing on anything other than creating. Stop thinking about past failures, current circumstances, fear of failure, external validation, approval, scarcity, competition, your problems, the world’s problems, complaints, and arguing. Instead, focus on creating.

By creating, you are the solution. Be the solution! Create! Here is a section of text that stuck in my mind for over a decade.

You must get rid of the thought of competition. You are to create, not to compete for what is already created.

You do not have to take anything away from anyone.

You do not have to drive sharp bargains.

You do not have to cheat or to take advantage. You do not need to let any person work for you for less than they earn.

You do not have to covet the property of others or look at it with wishful eyes; no person has anything of which you cannot have the like, and that without taking what they have away from them.

You are to become a creator, not a competitor; you are going to get what you want, but in such a way that when you get it, every other person will have more than they have now.

Although the book is not about creative thinking per se, it goes deeper because it emphasizes the creative power of thought and action. The goal of creative thinking is to create. You can download the free eBook version of this classic book at Project Gutenberg.