Process or Product?

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

In discussing creativity with clients and other interesting people, the question often emerges: What is more valuable, the process or product of a creative endeavor?

While there are of course specific instances when either the process or product may be seen as more important for a particular objective or context, I feel that in general, this is a good candidate for Creative AND-Thinking, and so my answer is usually: "Both."

If we do not appreciate the value of the creation process itself, it is unlikely to be satisfying or to result in personal growth, and the creation of meaning. If our resulting creative products are seen by us as unimportant, we are likely to flit from one project to another, always engaged in the process, but never building a substantial and meaningful body of creative work. Both of these situations are likely to be unfulfilling.


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