(1:02) I recently ran across the follow piece by Mark Sanborn, president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc. Being married to a highly creative person, it is easy for me to fall into the traps he describes. I generally don't think of myself as creative, so it's good to be reminded that creativity is in reach for all of us.(0:52) 5 Things You Need to Know about Creativity
(0:51) 1. It is a muscle, not a muse.
Creativity is developed from effort. The more you exercise your creativity, the stronger it becomes.
(0:48) 2. Persistance trumps passion.
Rarely is great creativity accomplished quickly by passionate insight. More often it comes after much deliberation, labor and false starts. Passion is good, but persistence is more dependable.
(0:42) 3. Not everyone can be a genius, but anyone can be better.
I was never good enough to be a starter on my junior high basketball team, but I still play hoops in the driveway with my sons. Few achieve pro status in the world of creativity, but the rest of us can continually improve and learn to not only use the process but enjoy it as well.
(0:32) 4. The most important ingredient is effort.
The next time you hear someone say, "I'm just not creative," ask them how they know. People often let a perceived lack of ability prevent them from even trying. Reframe creativity to attempts, not just great successes.
(0:25) 5. Tools are everywhere.
The world is a sensory rich environment. You can get fantastic ideas for your work just by paying attention to what’s going on around you. Great writers of dialogue aren’t just making it up; they get their ideas from listening to what lots of different people say. Notice and note the interesting things you hear and see, whether the use of color, a turn of a phrase or a surprising element added to a familiar situation.
(0:12) The last point is something I do all the time. Most customer service interactions I have - at a marina, a restaurant, on the phone with customer support, anywhere - I analyze what was good and what could be better. This little exercise has taught me volumes about great customer service.
(0:04) So don't hesitate to exercise your creativity muscle to find ways to bring in more business.
(0:02) And that's the marina minute.
