InGenius summary

Sometimes we face problems where the solution seems obvious. But, just because it’s your first idea doesn’t mean it’s the best – in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The most innovative ideas often emerge at the end of a long creative process that involves numerous attempts and continuous questioning, even if things appear to be working well!

The reality is that easy solutions are major obstacles for creativity, and most of the time we don’t even realize when we’ve fallen into their trap. The author often gives her design students the challenge of lining up according to their birth date without talking to one another. Usually students use hand signals and body language to solve the task with moderate success. Yet rarely does anybody rethink the solution and simply pass around a piece of paper so each person can write down their birthday; written communication isn’t banned by the rules of the game, and it would be much faster.

Sometimes it’s good to be a novice, as your inexperienced perspective may help you break through the status quo. But generally, the more knowledgeable you are about your field, the more starting points you’ll have for creative problem solving.

Remember, every little bit of information counts, so never stop observing. Sometimes, even the most trivial aspects of your environment can inspire fantastic ideas.

Sure, none of us enjoy failure. But don’t we learn the most from our biggest mistakes? They can even inspire us to create radical change in our lives. Failure is inevitable, so why waste time worrying about it? Instead, start looking forward to trying again. And again. And again!

Think of it like a science experiment. In order to test whether your hypothesis is true, you’ll need to test it. If the results prove you wrong, you’ll need to reformulate your theory, and try once more. Thomas Edison tried thousands of different materials for the glowing filament in his light bulb until he found the right one that soon lit up the world.

Creativity can be a long, hard road with many setbacks along the way. If you want to keep at it, you’ll need the right attitude to fuel yourself. So what is the right attitude? Well, it’s as simple as this: If you believe that you’ll reach success, you absolutely will.

Take the case of neurosurgeon John Adler. In the mid 1980s, radiation therapy emerged that was used to treat tumors, but only those in the brain. Adler was convinced that the therapy could be useful in other regions of the body too, and set out to make it possible.

Wouldn’t it be great to have as many great ideas at your desk as you do in the shower? While you can’t bring the steaming hot water to your workspace, there are ways to ensure your environment is stimulating and inspiring.

Begin by appreciating that how we feel, think and act is profoundly shaped by the space we’re in. We feel and think differently whether we find ourselves in a concert hall, at a doctor’s office, in a lecture hall or at an airport.

Admit it: we all love a good game! No matter what it is, if we’re challenged to reach a goal, often in a competitive setting while following a set of rules, we’ll be motivated for the reward that’s promised at the end. We can stimulate our creativity in this way too, with new incentives to get those ideas flowing.

For instance, the company Proteus Biomedical rewards employees who file for a patent with rubber brains that are displayed in jars on their desks. This makes social recognition a reward for creative activity, and is called gamification, since it resembles the immediate reward mechanisms that make video games so enjoyable.