Foster Creativity and Innovation: A Simple 3-Step Approach
What makes a person innovative? Is it simply a matter of natural talent, or is it something that can be learned? These questions have been explored by many great thinkers throughout history, from Einstein to Darwin, Seneca to Asimov. While each had their unique approach, they all had the following three in common: a passion for experience, searching for connections, and communicating. By combining their methods, we can create a more holistic approach to innovation and creativity.
1: Searching for Connections
Isaac Asimov was a prolific writer who wrote or edited over 500 books throughout his career. He attributed his success to his ability to see connections between seemingly disparate fields of knowledge. By drawing on ideas from science, history, and literature, Asimov was able to create unique and groundbreaking work. We can learn from his approach by seeking out connections between different areas of our lives and interests. By looking for common threads, we can find new and innovative ways to approach problems and create solutions.
Isaac Asimov is known for his groundbreaking work in science fiction, but he was also a prolific essayist and thinker. In his essay “How Do People Get New Ideas?” he explores the creative process and how people come up with new ideas.
Asimov argues that all new ideas come from a combination of existing ideas and knowledge. He writes, “The way to come up with new ideas is to combine existing ideas in a new way.” This is the essence of creativity — taking old ideas and transforming them into something new and innovative.
But having ideas is only the first step. Asimov notes that it’s important to take action and bring those ideas to life. He writes, “The key to creativity is action. If you have an idea and you don’t do anything with it, it’s worthless.”
2: Communicating Ideas
To do this, Asimov suggests that we need to be open-minded and willing to explore different ideas and perspectives. He writes, “The world in general disapproves of creativity… The world likes conformity and hates creativity… But creativity can be a social act as well as an individual one.” This brings us to having connections with peers and working on communicating our ideas.
A good example is the relationship between W.D. Fox and his cousin, close friend and collaborator, Charles Darwin. He was also a naturalist and entomologist, particularly collecting butterflies. At Cambridge, Fox and Darwin became friends. In fact, Darwin wrote a total of 212 letters to Fox between 1837 and 1881, which have been preserved and published in a collection known as the “Darwin-Fox Correspondence”. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including Darwin’s scientific research, personal life, and travels.
Together, they would exchange letters and ideas, sharing their discoveries and challenging each other’s assumptions. By engaging in this kind of dialogue, they were able to refine their ideas and push each other to greater heights of creativity. We can learn from Fox’s approach by seeking out opportunities to communicate our ideas with others, whether through collaboration, public speaking, or writing. By sharing our ideas and receiving feedback, we can refine our thinking and create even more innovative work.
I’ve previously mentioned another friend and a contemporary of Darwin, The Swiss botanist Alphonse de Candolle, author of “La Phytographie”. Darwin and de Candolle discussed the benefits of using slips of paper to record observations, and he noted that Darwin had independently developed the same method. With this approach, he was able to break down complex information into smaller, more manageable pieces while still seeing the big picture, creating an organic and evolving system of knowledge that is flexible and adaptable to his needs.
3: Embracing Experiences
But it’s not just about the methods themselves either. As Isaac Asimov points out, it’s also about cultivating an environment that is conducive to new ideas. This means exposing yourself to diverse experiences, reading widely, and being open to new perspectives.
Asimov also emphasizes the importance of curiosity and asking questions. He writes, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’” This curiosity and desire to understand the world around us is what drives scientific and artistic breakthroughs.
Charles Darwin was a master of observation. He would spend hours exploring the natural world, taking notes and making sketches of everything he saw. By immersing himself in his subject matter, he was able to uncover new insights and ideas that would have been impossible to discover from a distance. We can learn from Darwin’s approach by taking the time to engage with the world around us, whether through travel, hands-on experimentation, or simply being present in the moment. By embracing new experiences, we open ourselves up to new ways of thinking and seeing the world.
By combining existing ideas, being open-minded and curious, taking action, and persevering through setbacks, we can all become more creative and bring new ideas to life. So let’s take their advice to heart and see where our own creativity can take us.
Innovation and creativity are not gifts that are bestowed upon a select few. They are skills that can be learned and cultivated through practice and discipline. By embracing the methods of these great men and many others we can create a more holistic approach to innovation that encompasses experience, connection, and communication. All that is left for us to do is pretty simple, go out into the world, seek out new experiences, find unexpected connections, and share your ideas with others.
Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can help you tap into your inner creativity and generate new ideas that can take your work to the next level. If you’d like to read on “how exactly”, you can read on my personal method here.
