Why You Should Think Creatively As An Entrepreneur And How To Do It.

By Shannon Marshburn

    In preparation for this blog entry, I looked through a two foot high pile of bent sketchbooks I’ve kept around over my four years of study, looking for old scribbled notes I’d taken during my studio art classes. My professors often faced me with questions like, “What is creativity?”, and “What defines the meaning of creativity and who/what gets that label?” As I read through my notes, I finally concluded there are multiple ways to interpret what creativity is, and there are multiple ways creativity can benefit all types of people.
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    Color outside the lines, think outside of the box, take the road less traveled; we have all heard these sayings before, and often it is easier said than done! It is hard to break free from your comfortable process and to break out from an industry that has been doing things a certain way for decades, but it is needed for you and your idea to stand out. This requires a creative mind, and the word “creativity” can be daunting for some people, but I will tell you how you can benefit from opening your creative entrepreneur mindset and how you can start today! 

   Creativity is often associated with the art scene, but I think there is more to it. Entrepreneurs can strongly benefit from adopting a creative mindset, after all innovation is powered by creativity! The old school stereotypical, one trick business-type entrepreneur does not cut it anymore in today's over-saturated industries. There are products for everything and there always seems to be an app for “that”. Carrying creativity with you at all steps of your business planning can separate you from your stagnant competition. You can do this by questioning what is out there in the market now, rethink what is not effective in this market today, and solve the problem of how can we make this product better? 

Here are some quick tips to how you can think creatively as an entrepreneur:

• Think from multiple angles and iterate until you have it right. Take the time now to make your foundation strong.
• Never settle. If you know you can do better, then keep working on it. 
• Fear can be our biggest hurdle. You can worry forever if your ideas will work or not, so here is your sign to go for it!
• Do not stop. Embrace the long nights and enjoy what you do.
• Your flexibility and being open to change will help you to succeed.

What to dive deeper and change your process or routine? Try these creative thinking tips:

• Keep it moving and the gears turning.

Often our best ideas come to us when we are not thinking about the problem. Don’t get hung up on one problem and move onto the next, and by doing so you subconsciously continue to think of the problem you left behind while moving forward. Embrace the subconscious creative process and let it become a part of your workflow.

• It’s all in the positive mindset.

By repeating positive thoughts such as, “I can figure this out” or “I’m open to new ideas”, you are far more likely to get a rush of the creative inspiration that will help you solve your problem and far less likely to get caught up in the destructive negative thoughts that happen. 

• Stimulate your brain!

If you are struggling to be creative, try moving out of your comfort zone from your normal process. If you struggle to come up with a solution to your problem in a discussion, try to visualize a solution to the problem. You could try to go through a physical process or construct a model. Challenge yourself and your process!

• Physically change your surroundings.

Feeling stuck in a part of your process? A change of scenery can open your mind to the new scenery and can welcome creative thoughts to come in as well. This can be a simple switch from the bedroom “office” to the kitchen table “office”, or seek a new study spot on campus.

• Listen to stimulating music.

   For me I have a playlist titled, “Head Space” that I immediately go to when I need to take a deep breath and clear out all my thoughts to focus on one area. I like the soundtracks to some of my favorite movies like, Blade Runner 2049, Tron Legacy, and anything produced by Hans Zimmer. It brings my mood up and my stress levels down, opening my mind for those clear and positive thoughts I need to solve a problem!


   These steps can help you mentally refresh and this means new ideas, inspiration, and insight that can revitalize your process. Creativity means different things to different people, so how you be creative is unique to you and embrace that power you have of individuality! Write to me in the comments how you plan on becoming creative and how it will benefit you!