Creative Confidence

Sharing my learnings from the book, Creative Confidence by David Kelley & Tom Kelley.

Creative Confidence by David Kelley & Tom Kelley

IDEO founder and Stanford d.school creator David Kelley and his brother Tom Kelley, IDEO partner and the author of the bestselling The Art of Innovation, have written a powerful and compelling book on unleashing the creativity that lies within each and every one of us.

Too often, companies and individuals assume that creativity and innovation are the domain of the “creative types.” But two of the leading experts in innovation, design, and creativity on the planet show us that each and every one of us is creative. In an incredibly entertaining and inspiring narrative that draws on countless stories from their work at IDEO and with many of the world’s top companies, David and Tom Kelley identify the principles and strategies that will allow us to tap into our creative potential in our work lives, and in our personal lives, and allow us to innovate in terms of how we approach and solve problems. It is a book that will help each of us be more productive and successful in our lives and in our careers

• insistence that learning facts is more important than flexing our creative muscle has a dampening effect on our ingenuity. This lack of appreciation for creativity is outdated: today’s companies actively seek out creative minds, and what’s more, creativity is a key factor in designing your life to match your values and aspirations.
• Creativity means simply using your imagination to create something new. This broader definition embraces many different aspects of creative work that otherwise go unseen. Not only does it include the work of artists, but also the work of more analytical types, like CEOs or computer programmers.
• Today’s businesses have begun to recognize that the best way to find novel solutions to complex problems is by investing more time and money in nurturing their employees’ innovative drives.
• Develop the courage to explore your creativity – it’s a great first step toward discovering your new self.
  • create a roadmap to guide you through creative processes. This roadmap has all the different techniques you need to train your creative muscles, providing you with an easy, straightforward path to follow.
  • design thinking helps us to identify human needs and create new solutions by thinking like design practitioners.
• Allow yourself to fail in order to succeed. Creative geniuses learn from their mistakes and modify their next attempts so that they are closer to the mark.
• New experiences allow us to see the world in a different light, thus helping novel ideas come to us more easily. Ask “why?” at every opportunity. You’ll find that the answers will offer you insight into why people behave and use products the way they do, and how you can improve things.
• innovation is a product of teamwork. Indeed, the most creative environments are those where many people work closely together.
  • working in a group lowers your own stress factors.
  • group work increases your creative output
• Changing your mind-set from, “I know I should probably do this,” to “I will do this,” is the most powerful means you have of taking charge of your own life. Even when the outcome is not successful, you will have no regrets, because you know that at least you tried. The worst mistake you can make is to not try and never learn.
• Balance money and passion to find a job that fulfills all your desires. Even if it takes time and effort to balance the scales so that you’re happy, it will be time well spent.
• Allowing yourself the freedom to think creatively and to innovate is one of the best ways to ensure your own happiness, both professionally and personally.