Startup Guides > How To Be More Creative In Business

To be an innovative entrepreneur, you want to foster creativity in your daily life so that your mind is ready when opportunity arises. As Will Smith put it, "If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready."

Unusual combinations, sometimes called "remote associations," are related ideas that may seem unrelated at first glance. They are the essence of creative thinking.

To cultivate creativity, you want to increase your chances of stumbling upon an unexpected link. Here are four strategies you can use in your everyday life that will train your mind to be more creative in business:

1) Shake up your routine.

To expand your creative horizons, surround yourself with a broad range of perspectives and experiences. A diverse workplace is helpful, but it isn't enough. Outside of work, seek variety in what you eat, where you hang out, the types of art you look at, the places you travel, or the books you read. You are more likely to find an unusual solution when you have more options at your fingertips.


2) Cast a wide net for feedback.

We often discuss important ideas with the same inner circle of colleagues, but in doing that we can miss the obvious answers. Try to see a problem or idea in a new light.

Find smart people with little knowledge of your business and talk through whatever you're working on now. You may be surprised by the solutions they help you discover.

3) Let go of rigid rules.

You want to train your mind to be more open. Practice letting your mind wander and come up with as many ideas as you can, however absurd they may seem. You can even be silly or funny. Relaxing your standards while you generate ideas increases your openness and boosts creativity.

4) Observe the world around you.

The most creative people are always on the lookout for interesting things, even if they don't apply to whatever they're working on now. Keep a notebook or a computer folder full of interesting ideas, articles, images, or even passing thoughts. They will likely come in handy at the moment you least expect, and that lightbulb will illuminate in your head.

"The greatest dreams are always unrealistic!" ~ Will Smith

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