Why Achieving ‘Genius’ Is Less Than Glamorous

Navigating the world of business, whether you are a seasoned businessperson, business owner, entrepreneur, or leading a company, is undeniably a wild ride. While you may grasp the basics, fully immersing yourself in the intricacies of running a company exposes you to a myriad of situations, some familiar, others unprecedented, as vividly illustrated by the unforeseen challenges presented by events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This journey mirrors a roller coaster, where the anticipation of a bumpy ride is constant, yet the timing and nature of each turn remain uncertain. 

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Scaling Up Coaches Confab in Nashville, where Beth Chapman, a Grammy-winning songwriter celebrated for her chart-topping hits, shared insights on creativity. Her perspective inspired me to delve into the multifaceted nuances of creativity and its indispensable role for leaders in the corporate realm and, indeed, in life.

Beth and I share a common belief that creativity is a cultivated habit — an ability to tap into a realm of creation consciousness, whether you define it as God, the universe, or by any other name. Much like any habit, the workings of creativity can lack glamor. 
Benjamin Franklin's quote, "Diligence is the mother of good luck," echoes in the realm of creativity, emphasizing the diligence required to nurture this invaluable skill. It is this idea that can come in an undefined way or it can even give you a full picture of how to do it; you will not really know.

Creativity has two sides: the hard and the soft. Unlike luck, the hard side of creativity demands an unattached approach to outcomes. It necessitates focusing on the given task, making it work in the present moment by following your intuition and passion, trusting that the rest will unfold when the time is right. Creativity is forward-looking; it applies exclusively to the future, to what you are engaged in at this very moment and what you will undertake shortly. The timing of creativity is crucial, rewarding only those who act upon their inspiration and pursue that elusive feeling. Creativity's hard side requires resilience in the face of uncertainty.

 
On the soft side of creativity, it is a habit that anybody can develop. You don’t need to know how to do it in order to be creative. It will mean pushing beyond the known, taking steps into the unknown, and trusting that, while not every endeavor will result in a masterpiece, consistency will significantly enhance the likelihood of touching upon profound inspiration. You can trust the process of simply opening your perception, flowing with the moment, stepping back. Sometimes it is hard to understand this, as you are required to go to the edge of what you know and just place one step after the other into that unknown, allowing for something that will revolutionize your objective. Cal Newport, in his book So Good They Can't Ignore You, explains that many of the great discoveries have been made by people in other areas outside of their expertise, who went to the edge and took a step forward, without knowing what to do, just trusting and combining their current knowledge with the new to revolutionize human knowledge. He says this is part of tapping into this bigger consciousness that concedes us the creativity needed, and that can be seen in history by discoveries and advancements made simultaneously by people in different parts of the world with no connection between them whatsoever. 

Now, you may wonder why I emphasize creativity to such an extent. As alluded to in my initial sentences, challenges are an inherent part of the journey to success as a leader. It is at these junctures that I introduce the concept of incorporating creativity into your problem-solving skills.

The imperative is to push boundaries, venture to the edge, and take that step into the unknown to revolutionize one's work. Recall Steve Jobs incorporating beautiful new fonts into the first iPhones, inspired by his calligraphy classes in college. This seemingly unrelated experience provided him profound insights into typography and design. Intuitively, he invested in creativity, he took those classes — a suggestion I extend to you.

The ability to develop not only your genius but also that of your team, consistently tapping into creativity, elevates your company to greatness. When contemplating solutions, connecting with clients, or propelling your enterprise forward, good ideas may abound, but it is the touch of greatness that transforms the ordinary into something magical.

While it may be tempting to believe that current efforts are sufficient, I invite you to ponder if that aligns with your true aspirations. In my conversations with leaders and CEOs, many express a passion for transforming people, industries, and problems. Courage in the face of entrepreneurial and leadership challenges often stems from tapping into stamina and the will to perform duties, but few truly access the fountain of creativity that births revolutionary ideas. This, I believe, is why there are so few awe-provoking and inspiring leaders making a profound impact.

Why not join them? It is merely a process of developing this frequently overlooked skill for managers and leaders. Perhaps, like many, your first experience of riding a roller coaster left you unsure of what to feel. However, with repetition, you learned to move with the curves, flowing with the velocity, rhythm, and style of the ride. Learning to be creative in all aspects of your life can be very much like this. There is nothing to lose and much to win.