My daughter Mimi lives in Arizona. She has twin boys and twin girls, and for many years, she sent out a nice holiday card. More than 90% of her friends thanked her for this holiday card.
How did she do this? She sent it out in March. Why get involved with a gazillion other cards during the holidays?
January is International Creativity Month. Being creative in the first month of a new year can set you up for a year of success.
Creativity is a fascinating and essential aspect of human potential. It is not just about artistic expression. It is about problem-solving, innovation and looking at the world through a fresh lens.
"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have," poet Maya Angelou said.
Some of the strategies to help people tap into creative potential include embracing curiosity, creating the right environment, using creative-thinking techniques, taking risks, collaboration, looking after your well-being and practice, practice, practice. Let's take these one at a time.
By embracing curiosity, I am referring to asking questions and exploring new areas. Be inquisitive about everything. The more you question, the more you learn and the more your mind opens to new ideas. Step outside your comfort zone and learn about topics unrelated to your usual interests. This cross-pollination of ideas can spark creativity.
Adam Grant, a popular science author and professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, said: "Creativity begins to die when we fail to celebrate curiosity. We reward students for getting the right answer, but not for asking good questions. We promote managers for delivering results, but not for developing new ideas."