subject: Creativity Gets Easier When You Break The Rules [print this page] Growing up we learn that we need to follow the rules if we want to stay out of trouble. There is a good reason for rules, but not when it comes to creativity. If we want to figure out solutions to problems and come up with new ideas we need to break the old patterns of thinking.
Once we get out of school our thinking is pretty well set and we are used to following rules, respecting authority, and following what everyone else says is right. In other words, you have learned to blend in with the crowd and follow the herd.
When you conform you are keeping yourself from discovering new ideas for fear of looking stupid. But to truly be creative and innovative you have to get over that fear. To be truly innovative you are going to make a lot of mistakes. And that means breaking a lot of rules. The trick is to figure out how to minimize your mistakes so you won't be afraid to look stupid.
Its rare that you will ever find the answer to a problem or a great new idea in one shot. This requires some experimentation. And along the way you will probably come up with some dumb ideas. That is, if youre doing it right. If you're afraid of making mistakes and looking stupid you'll never break through with a really great idea. Dont be afraid to break the rules. You can be sure that you are closer to solving a problem or coming up with unique, new ideas if you are making a lot of mistakes. If you do the same thing youve always done before you will just get more of the same. Don't think about what is holding you back. Just ask what might happen if you actually followed through with your idea.
The more times you experiment with something, the more times you will figure out what doesn't work. Be bold and take things to the extreme. How can you know what will happen if you don't try. Dont throw away the bad ideas because they might be valuable some day. Also, bad ideas can be reworked to become brilliant ones.
Just because something is a rule today, doesnt mean it couldnt change in the future. Inventors with wacky ideas now might be looked at as a success in the future. Its just that their time had not come yet. Think in a new way and be ahead of your time.
