CHAPTER
5

Characteristics of Creatives

In This Chapter

• Stereotypes surrounding creative people
• How opposing traits can work together
• Twelve common creativity traits
• A look into the lives of some famous creatives

While you know everyone is creative, there are certain traits typically found in people who create on a regular basis. In this chapter, I discuss the common stereotypes surrounding those who are perceived as creative. You also get to look at some of the more universal characteristics that are common to those who create regularly, determine which attributes you possess, and learn how you can develop more of these creative traits. You then get an opportunity to look into the lives of some of the better-known creatives to glean strategies for creative success.

Common Stereotypes About Creatives

In the first chapter of this book, I established that everyone is creative—artists and nonartists alike. Yet why is it that many people still limit their views of those whom they deem creative as being “out there”? That may mean they have spiked hair, tattoos covering much of their body, or wear wild-looking clothing. That’s just one stereotype that continues to exist. In particular, it seems that those who express their creativity in the arts have gotten a bad rap through the years. Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh, who led a troubled life and even cut off his own ear, prompted many people to refer to him as a “mad genius.” Some other labels that have been placed on both famous and everyday working artists are lazy, weird, sloppy, self-centered, irresponsible, gay, loners, and broke. You’ve even probably heard the phrase “starving artist” more than once.

Take a moment now to think about your own views and then bring to mind the most creative people you know. Do they seem “different” to you, or do they fit the “social norm”? What makes them stand out to you? For example, think about how they dress. Do they wear business suits, wild-looking outfits, or something in between? Are they independent thinkers or crowd-followers? Are they risk-takers, or do they play it safe? Get out your idea journal and list the top three to five creative people you know. Next to each name, make a list of their characteristics—both positive and negative. Once you finish with all of their attributes, see if you notice any commonalities.

How you view creative people you know and even those you don’t personally know may be a direct reflection of how you see yourself. Or you may fear that if you fully express yourself creatively that others may perceive you in a way that is less than flattering. Perhaps you have a friend who is an artist and while you cherish the friendship, you and others view him as quirky and even foolhardy at times. You might want to emulate his artistry but may subconsciously hold back from your own creativity due to the labels placed upon your friend.

For example, I know someone who held back from painting because when she engaged in that activity, her husband viewed her as being selfish, indulging in an optional activity, and taking time away from the family and him. After explaining that painting helped relieve her stress and that she would actually be more available to her family if she could have this quiet, creative time once a week, he changed his perception and she began pursuing her passion again.

See if there are shifts in your own thinking that need to be made when it comes to your perspective of creative people and yourself as a creative. Your views may already be positive, and if so, good for you! Optimistic, affirmative thoughts will always serve you better. Just make sure to stay aware of any negative stereotypes you might encounter when it comes to creativity.

Common Traits of Creatives

While there is no single recipe for highly creative people, they do share some common “ingredients.” Productive creators benefit from having their own creative, colorful traits, starting with an active imagination. As you read through the descriptions of these common traits, take a look at some of the things you do every day and when you’re creating to see which characteristics speak to you. You probably have more of these qualities than you realize! You also may notice that there is some overlap among these traits.

Additionally, you may feel you possess some of the opposite traits, and if you do, you fall right in line with the research conducted by author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Csikszentmihalyi has spent more than 30 years researching how creative people live and work and ascertained that most productive creatives appear to be paradoxical, which means they exhibit traits that are in extreme opposition to each other. Csikszentmihalyi boils down this observation to one word: complexity.

In other words, you’re not alone if you consider yourself to be both spontaneous and a planner, playful and serious, or rebellious and compliant. So keep this contrast in mind as you read through these common creative traits. Regardless of these paradoxical traits, Csikszentmihalyi said the most important quality that creative people consistently express is inherent joy of the creative process for its own sake. I’m guessing that includes you!

DEFINITION

Paradoxical is a way to describe highly producing creatives who display characteristics that are contradictory.

Curious

Curiosity is important to creativity because it expands your way of thinking, opens you up to new possibilities, and invites you to look at the same thing in a new way. When you are curious, you may ask a lot of questions because you’re interested in the details—the how and why behind things. You take it upon yourself to investigate matters for the sake of learning and gaining a better understanding. One answer might lead to another question, and another, and another—and the process continues. For example, I think it’s safe to assume that anyone who has surfed the internet has had the experience of starting with one web page and then seeing another link and clicking on it, which leads to another and another—all out of a sense of intrigue!

You can cultivate your own curiosity by getting in the habit of asking questions. Practice in both work and personal situations. Listen intently to the answers, which may prompt more questions. Your curiosity will grow with practice, which will help you feel more relaxed as you move out of your comfort zone and into the home of curiosity. You might think asking questions will mean others will judge you as ignorant. Let go of that fear. What it really shows is your interest. Another technique is to not allow yourself to make assumptions. Enter into conversations, books, hobbies, business meetings, and other areas of interest with an enthusiasm to learn as much as you can.

What areas of interest will grow your curiosity? Think about all of those things that light you up like a child—areas of life you truly wonder about—and like a kid, go on a continual quest of asking and exploring. As a truly inquisitive creative, you can take what you learn from your exploration to come up with new ideas, which you can then use as inspiration to pursue creative projects. Don’t underestimate your own curiosity!

Risk-Taking

Can you think of occasions when you shared a dubious idea with friends or family members and were discouraged from pursuing it? They may have said words of caution, such as “I’m not sure I’d do that,” “You could be opening up a can of worms,” or “There’s too much risk involved.” But you pursued it anyway and found it was the best decision of your life—or not, and you’re still willing to step into ambiguity. This kind of risk-taking is among the top traits of highly creative individuals. When you have this trait, you’re willing to fail and go beyond the limits of your comfort zone. You know you’re putting yourself out there in a way that could be characterized by others as crazy, reckless, or even stupid. However, you also know that if the risk pays off, you could reap plentiful benefits.

Taking risks opens you up to a whole new realm of possibilities, which will enhance your creativity. You can cultivate your risk-taking ability by starting small—engaging in interests or taking action that falls outside of your normal routine. Such behavior may increase your anxiety and stress levels but only to a small degree. For example, if you consider yourself to be the worst dancer in the world, take an introductory line dancing class. You may find it’s easier to have friends go with you as an encouraging presence. On the other hand, you may want to go where no one knows you. Either way, if it gets you out of your comfort zone, you’ll be strengthening your risk-taking skill.

Taking risks keeps you on your toes compared to being occupied with the “same ol’, same ol’.” When you push your limits, you have to pay more attention because you’re dealing with the unknown. This process can lead to those “a-ha” moments, which will help your creativity come alive. Taking risks can apply to anything you wish to create. For example, one of the greatest risks many people consider at some point in their lives is leaving a job in which they have stability and security to change professions entirely and enter a world of the unknown. What are you willing to do when faced with uncertainty—play it safe or take a leap of faith? Taking risks gives you the opportunity to experience anything from a small success to a whole new chapter in your life. If you always play it safe, you’ll limit yourself and your creativity.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“Since I reached the conclusion that the essence of the creative person is being in love with what one is doing, I have had a growing awareness that this characteristic makes possible all the other personality characteristics of the creative person: independence of thought and judgment, honesty, perseverance, curiosity, willingness to take risks and the like.”

—Paul Torrance

Adventurous

This trait can tie into risk-taking in that you have the courage to explore unfamiliar territory. When you are adventurous, you are not only willing to open yourself up to new experiences, you also thrive on the adrenaline it gives you. This can be important in the creative process. It keeps you enthused and energized and presents you with new ideas and perspectives.

Be proactive in seeking new experiences. Rather than waiting for an invitation from others, spend time with people who have an adventurous spirit. Does anyone come to mind? If you can think of several people, perhaps you could form a “creativity adventure group,” whose purpose is to identify new adventures you can enjoy together.

Another idea is to revisit past yearnings you either abandoned midstream or never started. Maybe the timing wasn’t right and now’s the time to pursue them. If you have a “bucket list”—those things you wish to experience in your lifetime—see if you can do any of the items now. Part of being adventurous is setting the intention to be so and then taking action. All of the thinking and planning won’t get you anywhere unless you act.

You don’t necessarily have to do something bold like climbing Mount Everest or skydiving. You just need to have a willingness to go beyond your normal boundaries to explore. For example, if you’re in a relationship, married or otherwise, make an adventure out of an activity you do on a regular basis, such as going out to dinner and add untried elements to make it different. New adventures often lead you to fresh inspiration, which liberates you to express your creativity in a way that satisfies you like never before.

Resourceful

Most productive creatives are naturally resourceful. Sometimes this trait grows out of a need. For example, if you’ve ever been short on cash to buy the necessary supplies to make your ideas happen, you find a way to improvise when you’re resourceful. You’re able to use your ingenuity by thinking divergently to find alternatives that will work just as well, if not better (see Chapter 4 for a refresher on divergent thinking). Beyond that, you use your make-do, can-do attitude to come up with clever ways to meet whatever creative challenges are before you. Whether it’s finding suitable substitutes for ingredients in recipes or making purses out of blue jeans that no longer fit, you find an alternative way to make things happen when you have this trait.

To increase your resourcefulness, don’t wait for a problem to happen; anticipate different scenarios, especially if you see signs of trouble or undesired outcomes looming. Start viewing problems as opportunities to create solutions. Also, reach out to others. For instance, I’ve become somewhat of a Mac geek because whenever I encountered a problem with my computer, I called tech support. Through the years, I’ve learned so much by working with the various technicians that frequently I can figure out the answer myself now.

Being resourceful often means thinking unconventionally, which can lead to innovative solutions. It also can spare you a lot of frustration. There will always be situations that arise that either require or desire a novel approach. The more resourceful you can become, the more this will aid your creativity by giving you more options to explore.

Spontaneous

When you’re spontaneous, you’re allowing yourself to respond to your impulses, a trait found in many productive creatives. Others may not understand your spur-of-the-moment decisions and may actually label you as irresponsible because you appear to be unstructured in those moments, yet it’s often those unplanned instances that lead you to your most creative output. If you feel you are more of a planner and have trouble being spontaneous, take heart. Just as with the other traits, it’s possible to develop this one as well.

Fear of making the wrong move or decision is what might keep you from being spontaneous. Try to get to the bottom of your fears and know that you don’t have to do anything perfectly (more on that in Chapter 6). Also, examine any beliefs that may be holding you back, such as thinking that planning everything is the responsible thing to do. This will enable you to think more quickly and try more new things.

One way to test this spontaneous mind-set is to give yourself a time limit. For example, if you’re the last one to figure out what you want to eat at a restaurant, decide ahead of time that you have two minutes to make your selection and then place your order. You can apply it to different situations, too, such as choosing your outfit for the day, buying a pair of shoes, or answering your co-worker’s email. By taking your normal time frame for making decisions and cutting it down, you allow yourself to make decisions without questioning every aspect of them.

There’s no question that planning is important to the creative process. However, being spontaneous gives you the freedom to instantly respond to your instincts and whims, which can prove beneficial. You may be breaking from your original plan, but the payoff is often well worth it.

CREATIVITY COMPASS

Cindy had planned a camping vacation in North Carolina. The day came to leave, and she drove from her place of work to the airport. When she got out of her car, she grabbed her purse and then inadvertently locked her keys in the car with her luggage still inside. With her plane departing soon, she didn’t have time to have a locksmith unlock her car, so she had to decide on the spot whether to still go on her trip. Even though all she had with her were the dress clothes on her back, her purse, and a boarding pass, she decided to go anyway. This went against her “planning nature,” but in the end, she was happy with her decision.

Energetic

Most people who are in the mode of creating on a regular basis are highly energetic when in the midst of a project. When you’re feeling vigorous, you’re full of life; always on the move; and in shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your creative initiative seems to feed itself.

When you’re energetic, your mind is usually very active, oftentimes spinning with ideas and how you might advance them. You get lost in what you’re doing and it’s easy for you to lose all track of time. Sometimes you have to force yourself to take a break because you have so much energy that you find it hard to slow down. You’re on a creative roll!

The way you can feel more energetic in the context of creativity is to discover your passions and then embrace them (see Chapter 11 for more on passion). Doing what you love helps you to feel more alive and vibrant and willing to try new things. Also, taking care of your physical needs—eating properly and getting enough rest—are important to help sustain your energy.

Ambitious

Productive creatives usually demonstrate a high degree of ambition. This means you have a strong desire to pursue your innovative interests and be successful. You’re willing to do what it takes to achieve your creative goals and make your dreams come true. You focus on what you want and go after it.

Ambition comes in many forms. For example, I had a friend recently say to me that she didn’t think she had much ambition. That’s because she was comparing herself to other people who, on the surface, appeared to be more ambitious because of their careers. When I pointed out how enthusiastically she pursued painting and piano lessons, decorating on a regular basis, and trying out new activities, she realized she was more ambitious than she thought. Ambition doesn’t always have to relate to a career—just a strong determination to succeed.

This trait overlaps with being energetic because your ambition can stem from finding your passion and then having the exuberance to pursue it. Identifying your passion will help you develop your ambition. If what you’re doing is meaningful, you’ll be more driven to become absorbed in everything it involves. There are different pictures of creative success. Start by visualizing a mental image of what that means to you and then write down your thoughts to bring clarity to it. Once you have a defined idea of what you want, you can then focus on your creative goals.

CREATIVITY KEY

Are you ambitious because you’re trying to prove to yourself or someone else that you’re worthy? This is the dark side of ambition. The bright side of ambition is responding to your motivational drivers and doing what it takes to answer your creative calling and achieve creative success. Your passions fuel your creative ambition.

Rebellious

When you are rebellious as a creative, it’s usually because you’re striving for originality, which often means ignoring rules, directives, restrictions, instructions, and standards. It’s because you want to go to a place where no one else has gone so you can express your creativity in a way that’s real and true for you, even if it means standing up for yourself in a way that comes across as headstrong and uncooperative. You break away from others’ cherished beliefs in an effort to express purely from your own heart and mind.

In this regard, rebellion is a positive aspect of creativity. To further develop this trait, practice speaking out against something you don’t agree with. You can do this respectfully while at the same time maintaining your position, which may be counter to the norm or the other person’s point of view. It’s a statement that your individual perspective has value. Rebellion is about establishing boundaries and actively saying no to someone’s attempt to influence or change you. This is especially valuable when it comes to your own creative expression.

Independent

Not surprisingly, being independent is another common trait of creatives and can overlap with being rebellious. The key difference is rebellion has a lot to do with resisting social norms and outsiders’ points of view, whereas being independent is more focused on the freedom to express your creativity in your own way that doesn’t necessarily involve opposition. It simply means you take charge of your own life. You enjoy working alone when that’s what the situation calls for and when you work within a group, you’re still able to maintain your own creative voice.

Being independent means you have a sense of who you really are. You choose to be different as a way to declare your individuality not necessarily in a rebellious fashion, although that’s possible. It’s more about finding your creativity style and feeling confident and comfortable with what and how you’ve developed it. This may show in the decisions you make, your work and artwork, and perhaps your personal choices (such as clothing, hairstyle, and overall appearance).

As you begin to work more with your creativity, you will probably begin to feel more independent—not looking so much to others for validation—although feedback can be helpful. A truly independent creative can withstand feedback that is in opposition to his way of doing things because he believes that much in his own creative expression. Independence is about having the freedom to create exactly how you desire.

Sensitive

If you’ve ever been told “You’re so sensitive,” you may have felt the need to defend yourself because usually what the other person means is that you are overly sensitive. But there’s really no need to apologize or explain. Simply say “thank you,” because what this really means is that you easily tune into the beauty that surrounds you, which can translate into magnificent pieces of creativity.

Being sensitive can fill your soul with appreciation and also gives you a greater understanding of others, which again, can only help your creativity. Sensitive creatives can also take their feelings and transform them into inspiring works of art, heartfelt songs, motivational talks, dramatic movies, and more.

One way you can advance this trait is to practice becoming present. This means releasing thoughts about the past and worries about the future and tuning into what’s in the here and now. Be in the moment by quieting your mind and becoming aware of your inner feelings, as well as your external surroundings. This allows you to pick up on even the slightest changes in your environment and the people around you. You might pick up on other people’s feelings just by observing their body language or facial expressions. Other observations may have to do with sounds, colors, the room temperature, or scents. You can then see if any insights come to you from the sensory information you’ve gathered. Perhaps they can be applied to a creative project.

Another way to increase your sensitivity is to observe your own feelings in response to what’s going on around you. Even if you’re not an artist or feel you have little to no artistic ability, draw or paint your feelings. Sing or chant. Write in your idea journal. It’s this relaxed, open state of awareness that can lead to innovation. And finally, becoming a better listener—that is, listening to others intently and without judgment—will help you be more empathetic, which ties directly into being sensitive.

Passionate

One reason most active creators have so much energy can be summed up in one word: passion. When you are passionate about an idea, activity, or cause, your emotions light you up. Like a magnet drawing you in, you’re attracted to involving yourself as much as possible. Your strong feelings mean you are willing to devote your time, resources, and energy into advancing your passion. It’s so important that I’ve even devoted an entire chapter to the subject (see Chapter 11)!

This passion usually comes from an inner wellspring of feelings that may be related to a past experience, which may have been painful, and therefore something you wish to change for yourself and perhaps others; or your passion may arise from a happy memory that you wish to further enhance. Or you develop a passion for something you’ve experienced for the first time and you can’t wait to learn even more about it. It’s like someone just lit a fire underneath you, prompting you to get up and go!

To intensify this trait, notice how you feel about one of your passions, and then see how your feelings change if you could double or triple the feeling. Exaggerate and act it out. For example, if one of your passions is creating art programs for children of single mothers, imagine how you would feel if one of your local programs was so effective it got replicated statewide. Not only would this be an honor, it would probably provide you with even more fuel to continue embracing this passion. Ideas begin in your imagination. Once you’ve captured that passionate feeling, as long as you’re willing to dedicate yourself to the work that’s involved with it, there’s no limit as to what can happen in the creative process! Also, commit yourself to learning as much as you can about your passion. This could involve speaking with others who share your passion and experts in the field, reading books and articles, researching the topic online, and getting actual hands-on experience.

Playful

Most productive creatives have a keen sense of play. When you’re being playful, it’s easier to tap into your imagination. When partaking in fun activities, you may even personify the zeal of a child. You’re not afraid to act silly and you’ll seek out things that make you laugh.

You may have found that when you’re all work and no play, your creativity gets thrown off because you’re feeling an imbalance. Life has gotten too serious and your inner child is nagging you to come out and play again. If you want to get back on the creative track, you’ll listen to this little voice (see Chapter 9 for more on the power of play)!

If you’d like to become more playful, think of what you liked to do as a child and see which activities you can apply to your life today. You can then schedule in playtime in the same you make business appointments. This could mean having a game night and playing board games or more physical games such as Twister, picking one of your favorite sports, or taking your kids or grandchildren to the park. Being playful helps you to loosen up, relax, and not be so serious, which can lead to new insights.

CREATIVITY KEY

As with everything, there is no one set formula to blend that guarantees that a person will be highly creative. The traits I’ve listed have risen to the top of various studies, but the beauty of creativity is that regardless of your personality, you have the capacity to be as creative as you allow yourself to be through a level of commitment that you select. I have said or implied repeatedly in this book—you get to decide!

A Look into the Lives of Famous Creatives

Now that you’ve read about some of the more common traits of creative people, you have a better idea of your own characteristics and what it’s going to take to further strengthen them. Because creative people who have become famous share some of these same traits that you and I do, for additional inspiration, I’ve included a few examples of famous creatives—two modern-day and two from yesteryear—to close this chapter. See what insights you can gain from a brief look at their stories.

Oprah Winfrey

I’ll start with one of the most recognized faces and names in the world who can be identified by first name only—Oprah. The multitalented Oprah Winfrey has brought to life more creations than you can even count. Her creativity transformed the basic talk show format where she dared to explore what were once considered “taboo” topics, which falls right in line with the risk-taking trait. She also facilitated the improvement of millions of people’s lives as she, along with her expert guests, helped them grow and heal. Her sensitive nature allowed her to make people feel as though they were in the comfort of their own living room, despite the fact that millions of people were actually watching. Her creative juices also opened new avenues in the world of book, online, and magazine publishing, and she has not been afraid to present new, sometimes unpopular, beliefs pertaining to spirituality.

What has made Oprah stand out? Among her attributes are her unrelenting drive to create—representing both ambitious and energetic traits—and her upbeat, positive focus that she extends to others. At the same time, she remains open in her quest to gain a better understanding of others’ points of views, whether or not she shares their perspective. As popular as Oprah is, she has had to endure some pretty ugly attacks publicly, which is common among celebrities, yet it hasn’t stopped her from creating what she believes in.

Clearly, Oprah exhibits a passion to find and create more beauty in the world. Her worldwide influence is undeniable and yet she was quoted in an article on her own website as saying she didn’t think of herself as creative. She acknowledged that she’s usually not the one to generate the ideas but that her strength is in making a good idea even better. She also talked about how teaming with other creative souls boosts her creative senses and that her only limitation is within her own mind.

Like Oprah, maybe you don’t see yourself as creative, but as you know, taking risks and asserting your independence are important creative traits. Without those, projects may never get off the ground.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“This is what all great works of art do: resonate with the artist inside you, no matter how deeply buried that artist might be.”

—Oprah Winfrey

Leonardo da Vinci

Now I’m going to take you back in time to the Renaissance period of the fifteenth century to observe the life of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most prolific and influential creatives ever. As an artist, da Vinci produced two of the most recognized and greatest paintings of all time: the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He generated a vast collection of drawings as well, but his creative talents didn’t stop there. His tremendous ambition, energy, and passion allowed him to excel as a sculptor, architect, military engineer, inventor, and scientist, pioneering many discoveries along the way. da Vinci serves as an excellent role model and possessed creative traits you may already have or can develop.

In exploring da Vinci’s life, Michael J. Gelb, author of How to Think Like Leonardo: Seven Steps to Genius, spoke of da Vinci’s traits and ways of being that made him such a creative genius. According to Gelb, da Vinci displayed the following qualities. He had an insatiable curiosity and a continuous quest for learning. As a risk-taker, failure didn’t stop him because he was willing to learn from his mistakes, test knowledge through experience, think independently, and persist in his pursuits. He was comfortable with uncertainty and fully examining what appeared to be logically unacceptable. The fact that he was able to make connections among diverse phenomena that were not apparent to others further points to the trait of being independent.

Read through each of those traits again, slowly, and see if you feel in alignment with any of them. Think of how each of them may apply to your overall life and then specifically to your creative interests and efforts. You don’t have to be a genius to take ownership of these attributes; you just have to be willing to open yourself up to the possibilities they hold and to pursue them.

J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books are now the best-selling series in history, according to an online article in The Telegraph. In 2008, she delivered a Harvard commencement address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination,” that revealed some of what makes her tick. During the talk, she showed her sensitivity by admitting her struggle between her own aspirations and what her parents expected of her.

Not surprisingly, her only interest was in writing novels, and if you’ve read any of them, you know that her sense of adventure comes through in dramatic fashion. During the address, she went on to say that her parents appreciated her “overactive imagination” but were concerned that she wouldn’t be able to financially make it as a writer due to their own financial challenges and lack of a higher education. However, Rowling’s greatest fear wasn’t being poor—ironically, it was failure, a creative block that will be fully discussed in the next chapter. Seven years after she graduated, she actually described her life as failure on an “epic scale”—the “biggest failure I knew.” She hit rock bottom.

Rowling was able to start her upward creative climb by getting back in touch with her true passion by pouring all of her energy into writing. Despite her parents’ concerns, she took a risk, which everyone now knows paid off handsomely. According to an online article in The Telegraph, she wrote her initial Potter ideas on a napkin on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990, which shows her resourcefulness. Ambition and energetic traits also are apparent with the success she had and continues to enjoy.

One important lesson from her story based on her creative traits is that those who don’t use their imaginations remain in their own comfort zone as opposed to those who dare to see new images and conjure up new thoughts. Doing this may invoke fear, but it’s well worth the journey.

INSPIRATIONAL INSIGHT

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

—J. K. Rowling

Albert Einstein

For a final look at a famous creative, consider Albert Einstein, one of the most influential, brilliant physicists of the twentieth century. He never stopped questioning due to his unquenchable curiosity. It was this passionate thirst for knowledge and answers that helped lead him to his success. In an article on the HealthResearchFunding.org website, Einstein was also described as a playful man who sometimes presented as mischievous as well. His playfulness manifested as a violinist (since age 6) and how he preferred performing to practicing.

He also depended largely on music for his scientific insight and intuition and saw a connection between music and science, which points to his independent thinking. Had he not been a physicist, he would have loved being a musician, as he saw his life as music, according to Michele and Robert Root-Bernstein in a Psychology Today online article. When asked about his theory of relativity, he is quoted as saying “The theory of relativity occurred to me by intuition, and music is the driving force behind this intuition.”

An obvious risk-taker, Einstein said, “Failure is success in progress.” In his initial stages of finding solutions to problems, he used visual images rather than logical symbols, words, or mathematical equations, another example of his independent thinking and resourcefulness. Only in his secondary translation step did he try to express his findings in words.

As you can see, imagination can apply to anything and everything. What can you take away from Einstein’s perspectives? Does it change your view of how to think about systematic or technical subjects?

The Least You Need to Know

• There are many stereotypes about creative people. Take the time to examine your own views to see if these are based on any facts or simply your own perception.
• Highly creative individuals are a study in paradox. They often exhibit traits that contradict each other. In a word, they are complex.
• Productive creatives, whether they are well known or not, possess a lot of the same traits, including being insatiably curious, adventurous, spontaneous, imaginative, passionate, playful, and willing to take risks.