Stop Asking "Am I Creative?" Start Doing This... (Part 1: Understanding Your Creative Foundations)

Stage 1 Creative Side Hustle: Smart Profits 📈
Written By Nicole Hard

Your Practical Guide to Unlocking Your Creative Potential (and Why It Matters for Business)

From Questioning to Creating!

Have you ever felt that pang of longing when you see someone else's incredible creation, followed by that familiar whisper of self-doubt: "I could never do that. I'm just not the creative type"? If so, you're not alone.

But what if I told you that the question itself is the very thing holding you back? Forget endlessly pondering "Am I creative?"; this detailed, practical guide is designed to help you answer that question with action.

We'll delve deep into understanding what creativity truly is, debunk the myths surrounding it, and, most importantly, equip you with tangible steps to uncover your own unique creative power – and why that power is the secret ingredient to building a thriving business from your passions.

Get ready to shift from questioning to creating!

Creativity & ‘the secret’ from a business perspective !

Have you ever stood in awe of someone's creation – a vibrant painting, a cleverly crafted item – and that little voice piped up, "I wish I could do that, but I'm just not the creative type"? Trust me, I've been there. At a recent art launch, admiring a friend's work, those very words slipped out. The surprising reply? "Everyone is creative!"

That simple statement sparked something in me, especially when I put on my business hat. Because understanding what creativity really is, and how to harness it, is the secret sauce for building a thriving business from your passions.

So, what on earth is creativity?

Defining Creativity

At its core, creativity is generally understood as the ability to produce ideas, solutions, or expressions that are both novel (new, original, or unique) and valuable (appropriate, useful, or effective).

Let's break down these two crucial components:

  • Novelty

    Think of this as the "newness" factor. A creative output offers a fresh perspective, something that hasn't existed in its exact form before. It could be a completely original concept, an unexpected twist on existing ideas, or an innovative approach to a challenge.

  • Value (or Appropriateness, Usefulness, or Effectiveness)

    Originality alone isn't enough. True creativity also delivers something meaningful. It serves a purpose, solves a problem, resonates with its context, or creates a positive impact. It's about being more than just different; it's about being relevant and functional. This "value" can be subjective and depends on the specific field or situation.

Why This Gets My Business Brain Buzzing – The Real "Secret"

Now, when I put my business hat on, this is where the excitement really kicks in!

A truly powerful offering in the marketplace isn't just strange or random; it masterfully blends originality (a fresh take) with meaning (solving a problem or creating a positive impact).

From a business standpoint, the ability to consistently provide value to your potential customers is absolute gold – in my opinion, the real "secret" to success.

And here's something crucial I often tell people: creativity in business isn't always about inventing something entirely new under the sun. Often, it's simply about creating something original.

For creators, crafters, and artists, this is often inherent. Each piece you design or make by hand is inherently original, often one-of-a-kind, and therefore unique. You've already nailed half the equation!

Now, the exciting part is finding the other half – that problem-solving element, that positive impact, that value. And that's where my business perspective comes in. My SmartSTARTERZ program provides you with a clear business framework to strategically develop your products and zero in on that all-important customer value.

If you're eager to jumpstart your product development right away, you'll find a link to SmartSTARTERZ here. Otherwise, let's continue exploring the fascinating world of creativity...

Am I Creative? The Challenge

Now that we have a clearer understanding of what creativity truly entails, it's time for the big question: "Am I creative?" If you've ever relegated yourself to the "definitely not creative" category, I'm here to challenge that very notion. But how do you truly gauge your own creative potential?

I find the Componential Theory of Creativity, developed by Teresa Amabile, to be an incredibly insightful framework for understanding the building blocks of individual creativity. This theory suggests that four key components work together to influence how creatively we think and act:

  1. Domain-Relevant Skills: Think of this as your Expertise – the knowledge, technical abilities, and talent you possess in a particular area.

  2. Creativity-Relevant Processes: This encompasses your Creative Thinking Skills – how you approach problems, generate ideas, and think flexibly.

  3. Intrinsic Task Motivation: This is your internal Passion – the inherent drive and enjoyment you find in the task itself.

  4. Social Environment: These are the external Factors – the support, resources, and feedback you receive from your surroundings.

We're going to explore each of these areas together, and I encourage you to actively engage with the questions and reflections that follow.

 

ACTION STEP - Reframe Your Perspective

For the "I'm Not Creative" Mindset: I challenge you to actively question your current beliefs. As we delve into these four components, consider how these elements might already be present in your life, perhaps in unexpected ways.

For Existing Creators: You're already producing original pieces – that's fantastic! Now, let's start thinking strategically. What problem might your product or item be solving for someone? What kind of positive impact could it have? Understanding this "value" is the key to turning your passion into a successful venture.

 

Let's Dive In: Component #1 - Your Expertise

The first key ingredient in understanding your creative potential is your expertise. Now, don't let that word intimidate you! Expertise, in this context, simply refers to the wealth of knowledge, technical skills, experience, and natural talents you've accumulated throughout your life. Think of it as your unique toolkit.

Often, we underestimate just how much we already know and can do. To truly uncover your expertise, let's embark on a little self-reflection, considering your past and present work, hobbies, and even those significant life experiences that have shaped you. Here are some areas to actively contemplate:

1.1 Unearthing Your Knowledge Basket

Think of your knowledge as the foundation upon which your creativity can build. What information have you gathered over time? Don't just think about formal education; consider:

  • Formal Learning: Degrees, diplomas, certifications, and any other formal qualifications you've earned.

  • Informal Learning: Short courses you've taken (whether it's still life drawing, coding basics, or even understanding hospitality regulations), methodologies you've picked up, and concepts you've been exposed to in different roles.

  • Industry Insights: Experience in various industries can provide valuable contextual knowledge. For example, working in retail might have given you insights into customer behavior, while a stint in an office could have exposed you to project management principles.

  • Specialized Know-How: Think about unique knowledge you've gained through specific experiences, like understanding customer complaint resolution or navigating specific software. This kind of knowledge can often translate into valuable insights about people and their needs.

Ask Yourself: What are the key areas of knowledge I've accumulated throughout my life? What facts, concepts, or information am I familiar with?


1.2 Showcasing Your Technical Skills

While knowledge provides the "what," technical skills are the "how." These are the specific abilities that allow you to put your knowledge into action. Consider your proficiency in:

  • Software & Applications: Be specific about your level – are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced user of certain programs?

  • Hardware & Equipment: Can you confidently operate specific tools or machinery, from sewing machines to pottery kilns?

  • Specific Techniques: Are you skilled in particular methods, like painting techniques, design principles, or crafting processes?

Ask Yourself: What tools, technologies, software, or specific procedures am I proficient in using? What can I do with what I know?


1.3 Recognizing Your Expertise – The Power of Experience

Expertise goes beyond basic knowledge and skills; it's about the wisdom you've gained through experience. It's the nuanced judgment and the track record of successfully applying your knowledge and skills over time.

Often, we take our expertise for granted because it feels so natural. Think about the things you've become really good at, perhaps without even consciously trying.

  • Consider the example of someone with extensive retail experience, a seamstress qualification, years working with a designer, and nimble hands – their expertise in the fashion field is undeniable.

  • Similarly, a busy parent expertly managing schedules, budgets, and unexpected challenges has developed significant expertise in time management, project management, and resource allocation.

Ask Yourself: What are my key areas of expertise? What am I consistently good at? Where do people often seek my advice? Have I developed unique ways of doing things?


1.4 Celebrating Your Natural Talents

Finally, let's acknowledge your inherent talents – those natural aptitudes and strengths that seem to come easily to you. This is often where your passions and your skills beautifully intersect.

  • Perhaps you have a natural eye for design, a knack for planning, or an innate ability to understand colors and shapes.

  • Think about the tasks you perform with relative ease and the things you get praised for.

  • Do you have a unique way of seeing things or a particular strength in understanding certain types of problems or people?

Ask Yourself: What aspects of tasks truly engage me? What comes naturally to me? What do people often compliment me on? What are my unique perspectives?

Recognizing these four facets of your expertise – your knowledge, technical skills, experience-based expertise, and natural talents – provides a powerful foundation for understanding your creative potential and identifying exciting avenues for a passion-based side hustle.

 

ACTION STEP - Uncover Your Expertise

  • Knowledge Inventory: List the key areas of knowledge you've accumulated.

  • Skills Audit: What technical skills are you confident in? Where could you expand?

  • Expertise Mapping: What are you truly good at? What experience has shaped your abilities?

  • Talent Identification: What comes naturally to you? What are your inherent strengths?

  • Reflect & Connect: Think about your accomplishments and challenges. What did you learn and what skills did you use?

By engaging in this thorough self-assessment, you'll gain invaluable self-awareness, not only for your personal and creative growth but also for pinpointing potential pathways for a fulfilling and profitable side hustle.

 

Component #2 - Unleashing Your Creative Thinking Skills

Now that we've explored your foundational expertise, let's delve into the exciting realm of creative thinking skills. This isn't some mystical talent reserved for a select few; it's a set of approaches and preferences that influence how you generate ideas and solve problems. Think of it as the unique way your mental engine works when it comes to creativity. This component encompasses your natural cognitive style, your inherent personality characteristics, and your preferred work style.

2.1 Decoding Your Cognitive Style: How Your Brain Loves to Create

Your cognitive style is essentially your brain's preferred way of processing information and tackling challenges. When it comes to creative hobbies, understanding this can make a huge difference in finding activities you genuinely enjoy and excel at:

  • Idea Generation:

    • Do you get energized by brainstorming a multitude of possibilities (divergent thinking) before narrowing down your choices? Perhaps you love sketching dozens of different design ideas or imagining countless color combinations for a quilt.

    • Or do you prefer to start with a clear vision and work methodically, step-by-step (convergent thinking)? Maybe you enjoy meticulously following a detailed recipe for a culinary creation or a precise pattern for a sewing project.

    • Are you someone who gets sudden intuitive flashes of inspiration, or do you prefer to be more analytical, carefully researching and planning your creative endeavors?

  • Structure Preference:

    • Do you thrive in open, unstructured environments where you have the freedom to experiment and let your ideas flow organically? Perhaps you're drawn to abstract painting or free-form sculpting.

    • Or do you find comfort and focus in clear guidelines and established frameworks? You might enjoy learning a specific craft with defined techniques, like calligraphy or jewelry making with set patterns.

Key Insight for Hobbies: Recognizing your natural cognitive style can guide you toward hobbies that align with your mental preferences, making the initial learning curve and idea generation process much more enjoyable and less frustrating.


2.2 Exploring Your Creative Personality Characteristics

Your personality plays a significant role in how you approach creativity. While there's no single "creative personality," certain traits often fuel the creative fire:

  • Openness to Experience: This is a big one! It involves being curious, imaginative, appreciating beauty, and embracing new ideas and experiences. High openness might lead you to explore a wide range of creative outlets.

  • Curiosity: A genuine desire to learn and explore new things. This can drive you to experiment with different materials, techniques, and styles within your chosen hobby.

  • Imagination: The ability to form vivid mental images and concepts. This is crucial for visualizing your creative projects and developing original ideas.

  • Risk-Taking: A willingness to step outside your comfort zone and try unconventional or new approaches in your creative pursuits.

  • Tolerance for Ambiguity: Being comfortable with uncertainty and not needing everything to be perfectly defined, which is often part of the messy and exciting creative process.

Key Insight for Hobbies: You don't need to embody all these traits to be creative! However, understanding which ones resonate with you can help you leverage those strengths and be mindful of areas where you might want to gently push your boundaries (like embracing experimentation if you tend to be more cautious).


2.3 Understanding Your Creative Work Style

Your work style refers to your preferred ways of organizing, approaching, and engaging with tasks, including your creative hobbies:

  • Learning Approach: Do you prefer to learn by jumping in and doing, or do you like to research and plan meticulously beforehand?

  • Persistence Levels: How do you handle challenges or setbacks in your creative projects? Are you easily discouraged, or are you determined to find solutions?

  • Concentration Span: Can you immerse yourself in your hobby for extended periods, or do you prefer shorter, focused bursts of activity?

  • Experimentation Tendency: Are you comfortable deviating from instructions and trying new things, or do you prefer to stick to established methods?

  • Feedback Preferences: Do you enjoy sharing your creations and receiving input, or do you prefer a more solitary creative process?

Key Insight for Hobbies: Understanding your work style can help you structure your creative time and environment in a way that supports your natural inclinations. For instance, if you have a shorter attention span, breaking your hobby into smaller, manageable sessions might be more effective. Knowing whether you value feedback can influence whether you seek out creative communities or keep your projects personal.

Ultimately, these three aspects – Cognitive Style, Personality Characteristics, and Work Style – work together to shape your unique creative fingerprint. There's no single "right" way to be creative; it's about discovering what resonates with you and allows you to fully enjoy the process of bringing your ideas to life!

 

Unlocking Your Creative Potential: Tools and Techniques

To further fuel your creative thinking, here are some powerful tools and techniques you can explore. I find these particularly helpful for sparking unexpected ideas and unlocking new levels of creativity:

General Idea Generation

  • Brainstorming: A classic technique for generating a large quantity of ideas.

  • Mind Mapping: A visual tool for organizing thoughts and exploring connections.

  • SCAMPER: A structured approach using prompts like Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, and Reverse to generate new ideas.

Specific Techniques:

  • Lateral Thinking: Solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, often challenging assumptions.

  • Reverse Thinking: Starting with the desired outcome and working backward to find solutions.

 

ACTION STEP - Dive Deeper into Your Creative Mind

Cognitive Style Reflection: What cognitive style do you think you naturally lean towards when approaching new ideas or problems?

  1. Personality Trait Awareness: Which of the personality characteristics associated with creativity do you recognize in yourself? Which might you want to explore further?

  2. Work Style Assessment: How do you typically approach new tasks and challenges? Does your current work style support your creative exploration?

  3. Explore the Tests: Take some of the free tests I've listed below to gain further insights into your cognitive style, personality, and work style. Remember, these are just starting points for self-discovery!


Apply Your Insights to Your Creative Journey

Once you've explored these tests and reflected on your tendencies, consider how these insights relate to your creative interests and potential hobbies. Do the results resonate with your past experiences with creative activities?

What did you enjoy or find frustrating? Use this self-awareness to guide you in trying different types of hobbies or approaches to creative projects. For example, if you discover you're highly kinesthetic (learns through doing), a hands-on craft like pottery or woodworking might be a great fit.

Be open to surprises – you might uncover aspects of yourself and creative inclinations you weren't fully aware of!

 

Ready to take the next step in unlocking your full creative potential? Stay tuned!

Now that you have a deeper understanding of your unique creative makeup, Part 2 will delve into the crucial role of motivation and environment in fueling your creative fire and provide actionable steps to cultivate these essential elements. 🌱

 

Ready to Turn Your Passion into Profit?

You've just gained valuable insights on your creative business journey. Here's your most powerful next step to begin!

Our FREE 6-Part Business Idea Maximizer Class is designed to help creative individuals like you unlock your true business potential. Discover how to define, refine, and validate your winning idea, ensuring you build a business that truly thrives.

Explore Our Full Creative Business Roadmap:

Unsure of your next step? Our interactive roadmap provides a clear path through every stage of building a successful creative business, linking you to the exact resources you need. See The Creative Business Roadmap.

Continue Your Creative Journey:

Explore more insights tailored to your specific stage and interests.

📖Related Reads:

Ready for the Full Framework? Introducing SmartSTARTERZ!

If you're serious about transforming your ideas into a thriving online business with a comprehensive, step-by-step framework, then SmartSTARTERZ is for you. Get expert guidance and all the tools you need to launch and grow with confidence.

Stay Inspired & Get Actionable Tips!

Follow us on Pinterest for a treasure trove of beautifully creative ideas, practical tips, and valuable knowledge across all our boards. It's where all the magic happens!

A Sign-off from Me

Thank you for being a part of nicolehard.com, your business family.

Building online businesses for passionate makers, Nicole! 🌱

Feeling stuck?

Reach out to us by Email and we’ll send you feedback so you can find your most promising business idea.

Nicole Hard
Previous

Stop Asking "Am I Creative?" Start Doing This... (Part 2: Fueling Your Creativity and Taking Action)
Next

What to Make? Discovering Your Creative Item & Profitable Path