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The 6 Characteristics of Truly Creative People
Video

The 6 Characteristics of Truly Creative People

99U, 2014

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Overview
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Tina Seelig, the executive director of Stanford University’s Technology Ventures Program, knows a thing or two about innovation. For her, creativity isn’t a mysterious process but the result of a blend of factors that together generate new insights and ideas. In a lively presentation, Seelig introduces what she calls the “innovation engine” and examines its six components. Her framework empowers every individual to contribute to the creative process.

Summary

Unleashing your creativity requires the right blend of personal and environmental factors. The “innovation engine,” a framework that helps people conceive of and realize new ideas, has six interconnected components:

  1. “Imagination” – To hone your creativity, reframe problems to hit upon new answers. Instead of asking questions with one right answer – say, what is the sum of 5 + 5? – ask what two numbers add up to 10. Or seek out new connections and combinations. The Japanese art of chindōgu invites creators to forge “un-useless inventions” that surprise and delight. Try to challenge existing assumptions to gain a new perspective.

About the Speaker

Tina Seelig is the executive director for the Stanford Technology Ventures Program.