Top 3 Creativity Myths That Hold You Back --- Myth #3

In my last two posts, I covered Myth #1 (how we define the word creativity) and Myth #2 (we think in terms of absolutes).

I saved this one for the last, because I find it can be the most pervasive on teams and across organization --- Myth #3: The Lone Creative Genius.

For example let’s take this fellow here – all alone, it would appear, in his lab. Want to take a guess as to who this inventor is? (If you give up, look at the big light bulb over his head for a clue.)

That’s right… Thomas Edison !

Many people think of him as a lone creative genius, but even he said “Genius is 1 % inspiration and 99% perspiration."

Let’s just stop and think about that a moment. Although in cartoons we might see something like a light bulb showing up over someone’s head or a bolt of lightning out of the blue – and boom a brilliant idea is born.

But that’s not how it works in real life. You have to nurture a brand new idea.

He also said another great quote – that I absolutely love and think can be instructive for all of us… “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

You might have thought that Edison worked alone ---- developing all those patents, but that’s not the case. In fact, he worked with a broad creative team.

Here they are in 1876 on the site of their industrial research laboratory in Menlo Park , Pennsylvania. He called it “the invention factory” – because they were always working on several different inventions at any one time.

Together they were more creative than Edison could have possibly been on his own. Together they found success – and over 400 patents.

Just like on your team – each one of you have a critical role to play to bring out the best in your team.

Because all of us are smarter than any of us. 

For more on this subject, check out my August 2019 Newsletter on "the wisdom of the crowds".