When I say the word “intelligence,” you may associate that word with science or mathematics, because they are measurable. While scoring high on a college placement exam may set you above the rest, there's an even more important element that's hard to test: creativity.

My name is Darryl Hicks, CEO of Tungsten Solutions, and I'm a huge believer in the power of creativity. It's easy to fall into the routine of a 9-5 job, or maybe a hobby or two, just for the purpose of survival. But true success comes from beyond that, and getting there comes from creativity.

There are several stages to the creative process; if you own a business, utilizing these can boost your productivity in new ways.

Stage 1: Imagination/Inspiration

You might think of imagination and creativity as being very similar. They are not; imagination is part of the creative process. Picture a problem you've been having lately. Is your business too quiet on certain days of the week? Are your employees not motivated? Did you get a negative review about something? Imagine a creative solution to this problem.

Equally important is inspiration. What inspires you? Your inspiration is the key to your imagination. Take a close look at your role models; we all had one at one point or another. What would they do? What decision would your ideal self make? Will you regret that decision in the future? Questions like this are important for reaching a strong inspiration, and a better outcome.

Stage 2: Invention

If your creative idea is a good one, it's time to test it out. Create your idea and see how it works. Remember, in order for it to be creative, it has to be something that can come from only you. If Alexander Graham Bell didn't invent the telephone, would it ever have been invented? Yes, because there was a need for the technology and the science was advanced enough to make it. But if Shakespeare hadn't written Hamlet, would it ever have been on stage? No. Theatrical performances would have lived on, but no one could have created Hamlet the way Shakespeare did.

Stage 3: Application

No idea is foolproof. Even after you create it, consider it a work in progress. If it's an idea for your business, test it out for a while; you may want to make further changes once you see how customers react to it. Nothing should be set in stone, including your ideas and creativity.

If you have any questions, or if you want to bounce some creative ideas around with me, I'd be more than interested to hear what you have to say. Drop me a line at Darryl Hicks Tungsten, and we can inspire each other to new heights.

source: https://darrylhickstungstenblog.wordpress.com/