Zig Zag

1. Creativity Begins with Asking the Right Questions

The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.

Questioning assumptions. Creativity isn't just about solving problems; it's about identifying the right problems to solve. The most innovative solutions often arise from challenging existing assumptions and reframing the initial question. This involves a willingness to look beyond the obvious and explore alternative perspectives.

Examples of reframing:

• Instead of asking, "How can we make a better mousetrap?" ask, "How can we keep mice out of the house?"
• Instead of asking, "How can I create a great location-sharing app?" ask, "How can we create a simple photo-sharing app?"

Problem-finding vs. problem-solving. The most creative individuals are skilled at "problem-finding," which involves actively seeking out new and interesting problems to solve. This requires a curious and inquisitive mindset, as well as a willingness to challenge the status quo.

2. Mastery Through Deliberate Learning

Creativity is close to 80 percent learned and acquired.

Deliberate practice is key. Exceptional creativity isn't a matter of innate talent; it's the result of dedicated, focused practice. This involves actively seeking out challenges, focusing on specific tasks, and reflecting on your performance.

Elements of deliberate practice:

• Challenging yourself with tasks slightly beyond your current skill level
• Breaking down complex problems into manageable subcomponents
• Seeking immediate feedback and actively reflecting on your performance

Beyond formal education. While formal schooling is important, creative mastery also requires a lifelong commitment to learning. This involves seeking out knowledge from a variety of sources, including mentors, books, and real-world experiences.

3. Cultivate Awareness Through Active Observation

People only see what they are prepared to see.

Mindfulness is essential. Creativity requires a heightened state of awareness, where you're constantly observing the world around you and noticing new and unusual details. This involves challenging your assumptions and being open to unexpected opportunities.

Techniques for cultivating awareness:

• Practicing mindfulness to break free from rigid mental categories
• Actively seeking out new experiences and perspectives
• Looking for patterns and connections in unexpected places

Serendipity and luck. By being more aware of your surroundings, you increase your chances of experiencing serendipitous moments that can spark new ideas. This involves being open to valuable accidents and reinterpreting negative events as positive opportunities.

4. Unleash Imagination Through Playful Exploration

Almost all really new ideas have a certain aspect of foolishness when they are first produced.

Play fosters creativity. Playful exploration is essential for freeing your mind and unleashing your imagination. This involves letting go of inhibitions, embracing silliness, and creating alternate worlds in your mind.

Techniques for playful exploration:

• Visualizing alternate realities and imagining "what if" scenarios
• Relaxing and allowing your mind to wander freely
• Playing with children's toys and experimenting with new combinations

The power of worldplay. Engaging in elaborate imaginary worldplay, both as a child and as an adult, can have a profound impact on your creative abilities. This involves creating detailed narratives, geographies, and cultures within your imagined worlds.

5. Generate Quantity to Achieve Quality in Ideas

The best way to get a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.

Quantity breeds quality. The most creative individuals are often the most prolific, generating a large volume of ideas. This is because the more ideas you have, the more likely you are to stumble upon a truly exceptional one.

Techniques for generating quantity:

• Thinking different by listing unusual uses for common objects
• Trying toppling by creating chains of associations
• Setting an idea quota and forcing yourself to meet it every day

Divergent thinking. These techniques exercise your brain's ability to engage in divergent thinking, which involves generating multiple possibilities and exploring a broad range of perspectives. This is essential for breaking free from conventional thinking and coming up with truly original ideas.

6. Fuse Disparate Concepts for Innovation

Creativity is just connecting things.

Fusion sparks innovation. Many of the most groundbreaking innovations result from combining seemingly unrelated concepts. This involves looking for unexpected connections and finding ways to integrate disparate ideas into a cohesive whole.

Examples of successful fusions:

• Magic: The Gathering: card game + collectible items
• Reese's candy: peanut butter + chocolate
• Rollerblading: ice skating + roller skating

Techniques for fusing disparate concepts:

• Force-fusing random objects or ideas together
• Making analogies between seemingly unrelated things
• Engaging in people mash-ups by collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds

7. Choose Wisely by Knowing What Truly Matters

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

Critical evaluation is key. While generating a large volume of ideas is important, it's equally crucial to be able to critically evaluate those ideas and choose the ones with the most potential. This involves developing a keen sense of judgment and knowing what to look for in a good idea.

Techniques for choosing wisely:

• Training your intuition by studying examples of successful creativity
• Color-coding your choices to quickly sort through a large number of ideas
• Considering the pros and cons of each idea and identifying potential flaws

Simplicity, elegance, and robustness. The most creative solutions are often the simplest, most elegant, and most robust. This involves paring down your ideas to their essence and ensuring that they can withstand adverse conditions.

8. Drive Creativity Forward by Making Ideas Tangible

Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes the difference.

Making drives creativity. The act of making your ideas tangible is essential for driving the creative process forward. This involves putting your thoughts into words, shaping them into objects, and building prototypes to test their viability.

Techniques for making ideas tangible:

• Drawing pictures and creating visual representations of your ideas
• Taking photos and gathering images that inspire you
• Building physical models and prototypes to test your concepts

The power of thinkering. Engaging in "thinkering," which involves thinking while tinkering, can lead to new insights and discoveries. This involves experimenting with different materials and tools and allowing the process of making to guide your thinking.

Last updated: April 17, 2025