
Creative Confidence
Tom Kelley & David Kelley
What's inside?
Discover and unlock your innate creativity with practical strategies and inspiring stories that can transform your personal and professional life.
You'll learn
Key points
01Believe in yourself to boost your creativity
Let's debunk a myth: creativity isn't a special gift that only a select few are born with. Nope, it's not. In fact, each one of us has a wellspring of creative potential just waiting to be tapped into. Think of your creative energy as a superpower. It's what helps us come up with out-of-the-box solutions to problems that seem impossible to crack. But here's the catch - for many of us, this superpower is often kept under wraps, blocked for various reasons. But don't worry, this block isn't permanent. You can break free from it. The secret? It's all about changing your mindset and tossing out any wrong ideas you might have about creativity. Let's talk about 'creative confidence.' It's the idea that you have the power to make a difference in your world. It's the rock-solid belief that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. Studies show that our actions, goals, and how we see the world are heavily influenced by what we believe. People who believe they can make a difference are more likely to reach their goals. This belief in our own abilities is called 'self-efficacy.' Folks with a high level of self-efficacy tend to aim higher, work harder, stick to their guns longer, and bounce back from failure more easily. Now, let's dive into a concept called 'design thinking.' It's a way to solve problems that encourages us to empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. This mindset sees failure not as a roadblock, but as a chance to learn and grow. By embracing this mindset, you can unlock your creative potential and boost your creative confidence. So, to wrap it up, getting your creativity back isn't about learning a new skill or talent. It's about shifting your mindset, getting rid of wrong ideas about creativity, and believing in your power to make a difference. It's about having the guts to try out new ideas and the resilience to bounce back from failures.
02Choose to be creative: decide your goal and work on it
Let's talk about Jill Levinsohn. She spent six years in the advertising world, a place where creativity is often seen as a special talent that only a few possess. Jill wasn't one of those few. She was part of the support team, not the "creative" group. But that didn't mean she wasn't creative. It just meant she hadn't chosen to be. One day, Jill decided to change that. She signed up for Pinterest, a place where people share and discover new things by posting pictures or videos. Jill started sharing her own creative ideas, starting with a unique cookie recipe she found and decided to try for a party. These weren't just any cookies. They were piñata cookies, made of three layers with a hidden stash of mini M&Ms in the middle. They were a hit at the party, and online too. Her pin was repinned over 500 times in just a few days. People loved her creative idea. Jill didn't stop there. She kept sharing her creative ideas on Pinterest. People loved her unique style, and her follower count quickly grew to over 100,000. Even Pinterest noticed, and featured her on the site. By the end of 2012, Jill had over a million followers. This recognition led to a job offer from a design company, where she now works as a creative. Jill often thinks about how this journey helped her find her creative confidence. She believes that if she hadn't chosen to be creative, she would have stayed on the sidelines. Jill's story shows us that creativity is a choice. It's not something that only a few special people have. It's a decision to see the world in a different way, to look for and share unique ideas, and to be open to new experiences. To be creative, you have to choose to be. You have to want it and be willing to do the things that help it grow. This includes being open to new ideas, taking risks, and not giving up when things get tough.

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03Keep your mind open like a traveler to stay creative
04Stop overthinking, start doing to create great work
05Surround yourself with supportive people for fresh ideas
06If you're not passionate about your job, change it
07Try out side projects to discover your true calling
08Conclusion
About Tom Kelley & David Kelley
Tom Kelley is a partner at IDEO, a global design firm, and author of best-selling books on creativity. David Kelley is the founder of IDEO and the Stanford d.school, and a leading voice in human-centered design. Both are renowned for their innovative approach to design thinking.