Unleash Creativity through Execution
My mind has been firing on all cylinders lately coming up with new and creative ideas when it comes to different personal projects I’d like to pursue. This is largely in part due to the fact that I get a high from living in an external, fantastical world for the moment. I know that I’m not alone when it comes to the idea of creativity - it’s natural for us to find a new and creative way to do something. That’s what makes us human after all.
When it comes to the other side of the spectrum, there is a mental barrier when a big, creative idea meets the dreaded execution phase. It can stem from the image of the uphill battle of work it’ll take to take the idea from the ground up, restrictions based on resources, or even simply self-limiting beliefs of failure. Why is it so easy and difficult at the same time to mix creativity with execution?
Let’s start off by looking at a profile of both concepts:
Creativity
Losing yourself in the space of creating ideas and visions, you find yourself dabbling in the artistic side to life. The best part about living in this space is there is technically no right or wrong answer. The intangible process of creating an idea is exhilarating as you continuously grow and flex your mental muscles in the right half of your brain.
Folks that come to mind when you think about creativity include Walt Disney, Jony Ive, and Mozart. There is an element of playfulness and childlike curiosity that stems from this sort of environment. The preposterous becomes normal in this world - that is until it becomes less crazy and adopted as the new normal when everyone else catches up to the idea.
It’s best encapsulated by:
Creativity is intelligence having fun. - Einstein
Execution
We ultimately live in a world that is about doing and bringing ideas to life. The notion is that value is only created once it has been substantiated, and the only way to do that is to execute on a plan. In the world of execution, there is a precise, defined, surgical method to devising strategy and then acting upon it.
Folks that come to mind when you think about execution include Beyonce, Kobe Bryant, and Oprah Winfrey. Being able to execute, and well at that, is the separating factor between greatness/excellence and just falling short. Structure and clarity are of paramount importance in this world, which thrives on rolling up its sleeves and putting one’s head down.
It’s best encapsulated by:
A strategy, even a great one, doesn’t implement itself. - Jeroen De Flander
Now comes the real fun looking at the interplay and merging of the two!
Creativity on its own merit has little to no substance until acted upon. It’s the greatest gift and curse that we have and live with in our livelihoods. Think about all the times in your life where you had a creative idea and just let the thought sit idle forever. Do you ever wish you acted upon it? What caused you not to act upon it?
I’ve asked myself these very questions time and time again and find myself psyching out myself through answers such as my lack of ability or lack of resources to do it right. And this is exactly where I believe the true power in the interplay between creativity and execution is found!
Looking back at those answers I gave, it’s easy to see that we stop the creative process once execution comes into play. Why is that now? Couldn’t it be possible that you need to be creative in the execution phase as well by maneuvering your way around the obstacles in front of you?
This, in my opinion, is where we find the common theme of life’s cyclical nature. Creativity and execution constantly feed back into one another in an iterative process from inception to the final moment.
From my experience, the real creative fun begins once you have to start tackling the execution phase:
How do you manage your own lack of skills and abilities to take on the challenge?
Can I find another way to bring this idea to life with fewer resources?
Is there a way to more efficiently take this from point A to Z?
These are all questions that you will face at one point or another, but the manner and mindset at which you look at them make all the difference. To preface this, I’d say that I’m a practical idealist, so when I look at those very questions above, I like to keep the creative juices flowing in the execution process by thinking of those questions as if I am playing a game. You have to keep it fun and light at the end of the day.
The natural process of creating is fleeting if, and only if, you allow it to stay that way. I understand that there are a lot of realities every individual has to deal with in life, especially given the current state of the world, but it’s a matter of attitude that can make everything that much easier and lighter.
Through this entire cyclical process, I believe we can hard wire our brains to become even more creative as a result of adopting this creative problem-solving gene. As a result of integrating this process more and more into our lives, we can carry out ideas with greater efficiency and increase our aptitude for creativity as a result of increased repetition and practice. Unlike the commonly held belief, creativity doesn’t magically spur up from out of thin air when you’re in the shower; structure and repetitive practice are the true gateways to the “aha!” moment that we romanticize as the creative gene.
Throughout this entire journey, it won’t even be the fruits of your labor that will bring you the greatest joy, but rather, it will be the self-discovery process that will astound you. You and your mind’s architectural makeup are the barriers to the beautiful cycle that is creativity and execution. Tap into that untapped power and ability within yourself, and unleash creativity through execution.
“The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.” – Bruce Lee
