5. They have open networks.
The number one predictor of success, according to research conducted by scientist Ron Burt, is being in an open network instead of a closed one. Being in an open network is about putting yourself in uncomfortable situations with people who are different from you. Here, Steve Jobs explained the necessity of open networks best:
“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people. Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.”
6. They turn adversity into advantage.
Creativity requires that you solve a problem. Whether that means creating a unique product to show the world what kids with dyslexia can do, as in the case of Max Ash, or trying to help others find an easier way to study like Lane Karlitz has, embracing a challenge and finding a solution is the very food that feeds creativity.
Psychologists studying post-traumatic growth have found that many people are able to find substantial creative growth in the wake of hardships and trauma. Creativity, more often than not, may happen not in spite of challenges but because of them.
7. Creative people defy peer pressure.
Truly original thinkers see possibilities where others don’t – and have the courage to share their visions with the world. Overcoming peer pressure requires that you value your own opinion more than others. That sounds like an obvious trait we should all aspire to, but this kind of self-concept is much harder to cultivate than it seems.
Creative people have fear just like everyone else. They just do things in spite of their fear because they have kept up the discipline to develop a talent, maintain a support group, help others, and spend enough time alone to validate and form strong convictions that aren't easily shaken.
Creativity as we know it is never isolated; it doesn’t exist in the vacuum of our heads. It must be relevant in a way that others can understand and appreciate. This relevance requires more than splashing paint onto a canvas.
Many of the world’s most creative people will tell you that creativity isn’t contrived, it’s recognized. You never completely own your ideas. You catch inspiration when it strikes you; you digest it, and regurgitate it through your own lens. The output is creative because every individual’s perspective is unique, but true creativity is open to all.
Deborah Song
