PLENTYOFPEOPLE
hadquestionsafter
watchingDonDraper’s
weekslong, cross-
country journeyof
self-loathing, confes-
sionsandsupportgroupsendwithaCoke
andasmile.Minewas this:Doescreative
inspirationreallyhave tocomeatsucha
highprice?
Toanswer that, IcalledTomKelley, a
partnerwithglobaldesignand innovation
companyIdeo,whichhashelpedfirms
likeAppleandMicrosoftdevelopground-
breakingnewproducts.Kelley isalso
theco-authorof the2014book
Creative
Confidence
,whichposits thatcreativity is
not just theprovinceofartistsoradmen.
“Creativity isamuscle,”hesays. “You
have towork itcontinually. Ifyoudo, it
willgetstrongerandeasier touse.”Here
are fourwaysKelleysuggestsyoucan
develop, strengthenandflexyourown
creativemuscles.
THINKLIKEATRAVELER
“Whenyougo toadifferentcity,orespe-
ciallyadifferentcountry, youarehyper-
observant,”Kelleysays. “Soyousee the
differences inhowpeople liveandbehave.
Youfind ideas thatyouwant tobringback
homeand incorporate intoyourown
life.”That’sexactlywhatRobBiederman,
co-founderofBoston-basedHourlyNerd,
whichconnects freelanceMBAbusiness
consultantswithcompanies,does. “When
Iwant to innovate, Iopenabrowserwin-
dowandnavigate tooursite,pretending
as if I’manoutsider, experiencing it for
thefirst time.”
DAYDREAMINGISOK
“Oftenwhenyou letyourminddrift,
youfind themostcreative ideas,”Kelley
says. “Wecall thata timeof ‘relaxed
FindThatDingMoment
DonDraperhad togoacross thecountry tofind inspiration.Youdon’t.
BUSINESS
ByJosephGuinto
ILLUSTRATION
PAUL BLOW
AMERICANWAY
SEPTEMBER2015
81
“Creativity isamuscle. Youhave towork itcontinually.
Ifyoudo, itwill getstrongerandeasier touse.”
