An Embarrassing Question

by Gopal Ramasammy-Cook (Career-Creative Coach, ZestWare)

Sooner or later, if you're involved in a field like creativity, you are faced with the embarrassing question: "What is it?" Interestingly, the question seldom comes from outside, but in branding yourself as a practitioner, you feel obliged to answer it anyway.

Why embarrassing? Because in my opinion, no answer can ever be just right. In attempting to give one, you either run the risk of being overly simplistic or yawn-inducingly complicated. So here's my approach. First, let's assume that you already have a fairly good sense of what creativity is. Please post a comment below and tell me your ideas.

Second, let me tell you the very simple perspective that I like to hold - mainly because it leaves so much room for others and myself to build on. This simple definition also allows me to take a fairly inclusive view of creativity, rather than focusing on only one type of creativity, such as creative thinking or artistic creativity. The freedom to cast such a wide net is useful for what I wish to accomplish. But I will probably refine and constrain this broad view for particular contexts and purposes. Consider it a foundation on which to construct a humble farmhouse, or a mansion complete with home theater (I believe these are quite popular nowadays with the rich and famous), swimming pool, and twenty-fourth floor penthouse suite.

This simple perspective? Wait for it ... CREATIVITY IS THE POTENTIAL OR PROPENSITY FOR CREATING SOMETHING OF VALUE. Wow!!! Of course it's overly simplistic, and leaves out much of the nuance and the nice frilly bits that I have come to love and cherish. But most of those bits are contextual, and I promise to add them as the context demands - cross my heart etc.

OK, now that the Earth has stopped moving and the volcanic fireworks have died down, here are a few insightful quotes:

"Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual." ARTHUR KOESTLER (Author)

"Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter (like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity into the various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem." ROLLO MAY (Psychologist)

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." SCOTT ADAMS (Cartoonist)

"Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility." ROSABETH MOSS KANTER (Business Consultant)


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