the 7 rules of creativity

I was browsing Mumbrella today and came across a wonderful speech by Craig Davis, chairman of the Sydney AWARD School. He talks about creativity as the vital component of an ever-changing world, and the burgeoning modern trend of creativity being valued - or, in Craig's words, desired and lusted over. This movement makes me so hopeful and excited, and it harks back to Seth Godin's concept of leaning into life, which I mentioned a little while ago on this blog.

Here is an excerpt from the speech, which I find particularly inspirational...

So here are seven tips that you might find useful.

1. Believe in yourself. Have faith in your talent – confidence is crucial.

2. Stay true to your values – they will become more important.

3. Curiosity is the raw stuff of creativity. Eat up as much raw material as you can.

4. Don’t try to be a genius, try to have one. You’re an antenna. Be open and available to ideas.

5. Know that your best is always yet to come.

6. Always work with the best people you can find.

7. Be a generous person, hungry, competitive, restless, passionate, but most importantly, generous.

I believe in these things and I believe they will serve you well as you create progress in the world.

The wonderful thing about creativity is that it comes from within. Creative success does not rest upon where you come from or who you know or where you went to school or who you work for... anybody who is anybody can simultaneously reach within and open their minds to create something completely new, unique and beautiful. Isn't that such a refreshing change?

And the best part is that we have the opportunity to ride on this wave of ingenuity... It's a thought that I'm going to hold close to my heart in the years to come. Starting today.

“Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts. For out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment, of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built."

— James Allen (As A Man Thinketh)