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Probably the most persistent myths is {that a} inventive thought is a very unique thought. That’s, to be inventive one should be capable of create concepts which have by no means been thought earlier than, concepts that by no means existed earlier than, completely unique.
The reality is that almost all revolutionary concepts usually are not unique concepts. Typically, they’re merely the mixture of earlier concepts into a brand new idea or format. It’s about making connections with stuff that’s already there. Steve Jobs, the founding father of Apple, introduced this all into perspective when he stated:
Creativity is simply connecting issues. If you ask inventive individuals how they did one thing, they really feel just a little responsible as a result of they actually didn’t do it, they only noticed one thing. It appeared apparent to them after awhile. That’s as a result of they had been capable of join experiences they’ve had and synthesize new issues. And the rationale they had been in a position to try this was that they’ve had extra experiences or that they’ve thought extra about their experiences than different individuals.
Supply: Geralt/Pixabay
Probably the most-oft cited circumstances of creativity facilities round Johannes Gutenberg who, in 1450, mixed the wine press and the coin punch to create movable kind and the printing press. Movable steel items allowed pages to be printed rather more shortly than the usual picket blocks used to press ink onto paper. His “mixture of pre-existing applied sciences” created printing presses that would print hundreds of pages a day. This revolution allowed books to be printed extra shortly and extra effectively, permitting the center class to acquire them as by no means earlier than. The end result was the speedy unfold of data throughout the European continent. That mental revolution happened due, in giant measure, to the mixture of two earlier (and seemingly unconnected) concepts: a wine press and a coin punch.
Artistic Combos
Historic Greeks had been additionally conscious of the ability of inventive mixtures. For instance, it was the Greeks who mixed smooth copper with smooth tin to create laborious bronze. At their most elementary ranges, Gutenberg’s printing press and the creation of bronze had been merely a mix of already current concepts. Historical past additionally data these attention-grabbing mixtures of pre-existing ideas:
1. Copier + phone = fax machine
2. Bell + clock = alarm clock
3. Trolley + suitcase = suitcase with wheels.
4. Igloo + lodge = ice palace
5. Arithmetic + biology = legal guidelines of heredity
We wish to consider that creativity is the results of a decided, targeted, and solo entrepreneur who, by way of a flash of inspiration solves an issue for the betterment of humankind. It’s an incredible plot line for a TV particular, but it surely ignores a fundamental truth of life in regards to the tales of most improvements: They hardly ever embrace the human networks that maintain (and make potential) radical new concepts or modifications. In truth, historical past is often edited to be able to acknowledge a sole genius or innovator. Phil McKinney, host of the nationally syndicated radio present, Killer Innovations, places it this fashion:
We have now a saying within the innovation trade: “There’s no such factor as a really new thought. Concepts are the results of constructing on the work of others.” Most of the inventive concepts that led to creating nice firms had been the results of a workforce. Some examples: Microsoft, Intel, Google, Skype and plenty of extra.
We proceed to assume that to be inventive is to have the power to create new concepts relatively than to mix outdated concepts into new configurations. It’s a persistent fable that often blocks us every time we’re confronted with a private problem or work-related endeavor. On the contrary, nevertheless, creativity will not be at all times a sequence of “sensible new concepts,” however usually is the results of a lifetime of experiences and diligence in engaged on mixtures of these concepts (as an alternative of giving up on them after one or two failures). The parable that each thought should be an thought by no means thought of earlier than (within the historical past of humankind) is a major obstacle to our means to assume creatively.
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