Treat ideas like investments

Creativity is often thought of as creating something unique. But, most of what we experience as "new" is simply old stuff presented in fresh or unexpected ways.

Creative work also adds some kind of value to the world. If something is novel but doesn't add ...

It triggers some degree of surprise or excitement within us and gives us a new way of seeing things that we could not see before.

However, history and science teach us that the process of creativity is actually completely ...

Boredom itself allows creativity to flow. However, modern society with all its gadgets has gotten really good at distracting us from this boredom.

In the right environment, boredom fuels creative people. Instead of staring at your phone, stare at the blank page. Inste...

An ordinary life allows creative people to put food on the table and hone their crafts at the same time.

• Ernest Hemingway, one of the most famous American authors in the past century, had a day job during most of his literary career.
• Salman Rushdie was a copywri...

Combining novelty and value requires a lot of trial and error. It requires feedback. It requires understanding your audience and their values. It requires shaping and perfecting your craft over many years. For every great idea, there are hundreds of failed ideas.

And that ...

The idea that creativity happens due to a moment of inspiration is false. Inspiration happens when you put in the time to be creative.

• Mozart and Beethoven each composed over 600 pieces of music. Their contemporaries composed less than 1...