Creativity is Overrated (or, if you want to be really successful, stop being creative)
Creativity is overrated. At least creativity for its own sake. And it really pains me to say this as I am a very creative person.
But the reality is, you can be extremely successful if you are not creative. In fact, I would venture to say you have a chance of being even more successful than those that are creative.
Let me explain. As a creative person, I love to think up new ideas. But new ideas are generally worthless and a dime a dozen. Most ideas are crap. They will not work. And those that MIGHT work will only do so after a lot of hard work. Sorry all you inventors out there…unless you are willing to put in the work to execute your idea, you will be broke and frustrated.
But what about creativity in business for the entrepreneur? It is highly overrated. The only purpose of a business is to provide a customer with a good or service that he (she) cannot get anywhere else in exactly the same way (in terms of price, convenience, familiarity etc.). That is all. And that is all the client wants. To have his or her expectations met. (and they can be high expectations…folks shopping at Nordstoms expect exceptional service).
So what is the alternative to creativity? I say steal from the best. Decide in advance what the purpose of your business is (screw mission, what is the purpose of the business). Then think about how best to fulfill the purpose and promise of that business by stealing ideas from other industries and incorporating them into your business.
Look around and see what other businesses are doing that are successful for them that you could incorporate in your business. Is another industry doing a newsletter or ezine? Could you do that in your business? Some restaurants send out birthday cards to their guests with a coupon for a free meal knowing that folks will want to celebrate their birthday with others (paying full price). Could you do this in your business?
See, it is not coming up with new ideas…it is only incorporating ideas from other places into your business. If there is any creativity at all, it is simply making a connection that others have missed.
So forget about being creative…if you want to be successful, steal from the best. (and we won’t tell anyone!)
