You’re about 50% of the population, at least.

The modest half — overly modest.

Generally, the hard working half.

You make modest improvements (sometimes big improvements). You focus on the task at hand, and you don’t stir up trouble.  In fact, you seek to bridge gaps in teams or departments, this while not seeking accolades, just seeking harmony and productivity. You probably don’t work in Marketing, or other glamor areas, instead, maybe in HR, or Sales, Administration, or Operations.

And, you are Not Creative.

If people ask, you say out loud “I’m not creative,” or maybe “I’m not a creative type.”

You really believe this lie. Sorry brothers and sisters, I’m calling you out on this — it’s just not so — you are creative.

Okay, some of you, deep down, think, well, maybe I’m a bit creative, but nothing like my friend/associate, let’s call her Sally. Sally, is an outwardly creative person — you know the type, good at all things artistic, is somewhat extroverted (a lot extroverted), dresses in offbeat and interesting ways. Takes chances, corporate risks, and would definitely say Yes, if asked Are you Creative? You think, I’m nothing like Sally, so, I can’t be creative.

That’s crap.

So, for those of you who are, supposedly, Not Creative, a few questions:

a.) do you believe a creative person has to be outwardly artistic?

b.) do you think a creative person is way above average in intelligence?

c.) generally, is a creative person extroverted?

If you answered Yes to any of the above, you are mistaken, and the research bears it out.  The more important question is:

d.) do you solve complex problems in your work or home life?

Yes? If so, you are a creative person. Saying you aren’t creative is like saying you aren’t human. Sorry to blow your cover, but you’re hiding something great about yourself. Something that could be even greater.

Myth busting: You don’t have to be overtly artistic to be creative, even highly creative. You don’t have to be more clever than average. It’s great to have a high IQ, but it’s not required to be creative. In fact, amazing things have been done, invented, dreamed up, or fixed — by very average people. You don’t have to be extroverted. Extroversion or introversion has little to do with creativity. That element of personality style has more to do with the perception of creativity, not the reality of it. Introverted people can be highly, and creatively, self-expressed.

You have capacity to solve complex problems.  A very large percentage of human beings, everyone who can think at all, can solve problems, and therefore, has creative capacity. Everyone is creative. We may have different styles, or even levels, but we are still, all, creative.

And if you acknowledge it, accept it, embrace it, you can enhance it.

So, whether you like it or not, acknowledge it or not, you are creative. The time has come to stop giving this gift to everyone else.

You’re creative. Start acting like it.

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PS: If you want to start into more advanced practice, you might consider my book — Jack’s Notebook, a business novel about creative problem solving.

PPS: If you liked this post or found it interesting, please comment, and/or subscribe to this blog, thank you)