How do creative people come up with great ideas?
How do they implement these ideas well?
What makes them creative?
What habits do they have in common?
Adam Grant, an Organisational Psychologist and professor at Wharton, sought to answer these questions and more, about the people he calls ‘Originals.’
Watch the video for his insights, or read on for highlights of the main points he makes.
Originals are Late to the Party
They may work on ideas for a longer period and often they are not the first to market.
They will look at the world around them and see ways to make a product or an idea better than previous ones.
Though they don’t get the initial recognition, they can fix any issues with the original idea.
Originals Have Balance Between Procrastinating and Finishing Quickly
This balance allows them to make sure their ideas are solid and creative.
If they rush into a project and complete it quickly, the creative process breaks down. If they procrastinate too much, someone else may take their idea before they have a chance to start it.
Time to Consider New Ideas
Procrastinating within a reasonable time frame allows creative thinkers to form new ideas.
You can work on a project for a little bit, do something else, and come back to make your idea even better.
Procrastinating a task has a virtue for creativity because it makes you think about how an idea can be better. You can think outside the box and see what is wrong with certain ideas.
First Movers Have a Higher Failure Rate Than Improvers
To be the first one to have an original idea is a great feeling, but this can lend itself to failure.
The reason why first movers fail is because of the lack of experience with certain ideas. They don’t know how the market will respond and don’t think of every little detail to make their ideas successful.
Easier to Improve on Ideas Than Create New Ones
Original thinkers don’t have to come up with a new idea to be successful.
They take what they have and look at it from a different angle to improve upon the idea.
Apple has grown significantly because of their ability to look at something and improve upon the idea. They may not have made the first cell phone, but they have evolved the design and technology.
They are Willing to be Different and Better
Original thinkers have an innate ability to take a stand to start their new ideas.
They take risks and chances that others would be hesitant to make because of a variety of reasons.
Original thinkers don’t know if they will fail or not, but they give it a go. They want things to be better.
Originals Have Doubts and Fears
Everyone has doubts and fears that may hold them back from going after something they want.
It is true that originals have them, but they don’t let those things hold them back. They know how important it is to stand up and say or do something, even if they’re ridiculed.
They Manage Doubt Better
When doubt clouds the mind, many people choose not to speak up.
Original thinkers can take their doubts and fears and use them to relay their messages. They aren’t afraid to give their opinion and carry out their ideas. Their process makes them easy to listen to and to learn from their ideas.
Self-Doubt is Paralyzing
When someone has any self-doubt, they tend to bottle up and won’t speak up when they should.
It could be because they’re afraid of the ridicule or of failing to deliver their message. Original thinkers don’t let their self-doubt get in the way of their ideas, even though they may fail.
Idea Doubt is Energizing
While self-doubt is detrimental to creativity, idea doubt lends itself to become a better version of the original idea.
It gives the sensation that an idea will work because of belief in the notion. Original thinkers get excited when they have a new idea and how they can improve upon it, giving them the energy to accomplish their goals.
They Take Initiative to Make a Better Option
Working on a new idea and getting started gives the original thinker the ability to understand why something is wrong.
If your cell phone only gives you cat wallpaper instead of dogs and cats, they will take the steps to make sure all cell phones can download both options.
Afraid of Failing to Try
Being afraid of failure is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t experiment with their ideas.
Original thinkers take that failure and seek to understand why something may fail and learn from those mistakes.
They See Things as too Important Not to Try
Even if they know that something may fail, the idea is too important not to give it an attempt.
Not trying at anything won’t lend itself to any answers and it prevents any progress.
They Don’t Feel Judgment on Bad Ideas And Are Not Afraid of Embarrassment
Original thinkers know they will be judged, but that won’t stop them from trying something.
Originals don’t let any feelings of embarrassment prevent them from achieving their dreams.
Need to Generate More Ideas to Create More
It is the duty of an original thinker to put in a lot of work.
They will have a lot of terrible ideas, but with each bad idea, there is bound to be a new and better one.
They never give up quickly, especially when they have some obstacles to conquer.
Succeed with Patience and Practice
Original thinkers use patience and practice.
They will toil away at a certain project until the original idea is only a small makeup of their perfect end result.
A single idea can morph into something that doesn’t look like the original idea, but the new and improved idea is much better. They will work endlessly on a single idea until it is perfect and a reality.