We Were Creative As Children
If you want to be more creative as an adult, you must find your ikigai, or “reason for being” in Japanese. One of the biggest reasons why I’ve been able to post three times a week on Financial Samurai since 2009 is due to ikigai. I’ve found something I love doing, I’m good at, that helps others, and generates income.
Coming Up With A New Lullaby
A New Rendition Of Cutie Baby
Where Does Creativity Come From?
Here are Charlie’s thoughts on where his creativity comes from,
With music and improvisation in particular, I often think of it as playing with Legos. When I improvise a sonata or piece after audiences give me four or so random notes to use as a melody, I try to figure out what key can work and what “feel” I want the piece to have. Then, I’ve also got a “timeframe” in mind (is it a 5-minute piece, or is it a 30-minute, multi-movement work?). After that, and keeping how long into the piece I am in mind, I just go for it.
People often ask if I’m thinking about chord progressions and theory and whatnot, and the answer is a resounding no. It’s like having a big box of Legos, where you’ve got all different shapes and sizes and colors. You can build whatever you want (i.e. house, car, boat, etc.). But you don’t cut up Legos into different sizes or re-paint a different color. Instead, you take existing Legos and fit them into your creation to make whatever the final product is.
Now, I think you can expand the different types of Legos you’ve got in your “box” by doing more and more improvisations and whatnot. You find out what works and what doesn’t and keep what works for future pieces. “Expanding the Lego box” can include a combination of just fiddling around at the instrument and trying out stuff, trying to play piano versions of different songs (i.e. pop, K-pop, jazz, etc.), learning other composer’s pieces, etc. :)
Fundamental Skills Are Important For Creativity
Spend Time to Be Creative
According to the artist, Colleen Kong-Savage, creativity is both innate and learned. She writes,
“What works best is that you have some structure in place – boundaries or a set of rules. It gives the artwork some focus. In Charlie’s example it was the timeframe. For me, maybe it’ll be a limited color palette. Or maybe it’ll be a theme or it’ll be variations of a shape.
Visual arts is not just drawing. It’s color, design, ideas, and feeling. We all have art tendencies. Color – we get dressed by deciding what colors match or go with patterns. Design – shifting furniture around in the room to create flow and balance the space.
I get a lot of ideas from seeing/hearing other people’s creative work. You remix those same building blocks/legos – it’s all been done – but you put in your handprints – your style, your sensibilities – and that’s what makes it an original.
Piano Likes To Play, an upcoming children’s book by Colleen Kong-Savage
Take Risks To Be More Creative
Peer pressure forces many to conform. However, it’s difficult to stand out if you’re always doing what everyone else is doing.
Embrace The Criticism To Make A Better Product
Related posts:
The Next Big Investment: Rare Books And Memorabilia With Autographs
Learn To Be Still To Be More Creative
Increase Your Production Percentage
Examples Of How Creativity Helped Me Live Better
- Came up with the idea of engineering my layoff so I could receive a severance package and retain all my deferred compensation. In the past, it was almost impossible to break gold handcuffs. As a result, people just kept working at their miserable jobs for longer than they wanted to. Then they’d eventually quit with nothing. No more!
- Had the vision in 2014 and 2019 to redesign two fixer-uppers by reclaiming unused ground floor space. Then proceeded to go through the painful process of remodeling over three years between the two to create more value. Having an eye for design helps buyers see through the ugly and better recognize the potential beauty.
- Started Financial Samurai in July 2009 as a creative outlet to deal with the financial crisis. This site saved me from abusing drugs or alcohol during an extremely harrowing time. Financial Samurai has also given me more purpose every day.
- Synthesized 23 years of financial experience and wrote an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller to help readers build more wealth and make more optimal decisions. From cover design to book structure, it was fun collaborating with others to make something special.
Finally, for an interesting talk on creativity, watch this video. The late Sir Ken Robinson’s contention is that creativity is as important in education as literacy. To be original, be prepared to be wrong!
Reader Questions And Recommendations
Readers, how has creativity helped you make more money and live a better life? Are there some strategies you use to boost your creativity? Do you think creativity is inherent or can be developed?
Pick up a copy of Buy This, Not That, my instant Wall Street Journal bestseller. The book helps you make more optimal investment decisions so you can live a better, more fulfilling life.
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That was a beautiful rendition of Cutie Baby. The article was a great reminder for me to get back into creating again.
I’m speechless. That has to be some of the most beautiful music!
Hey Sam – thanks for another great newsletter! Regarding this “ You have to really grind for an extended period of time in order to experience tremendous joy and pain.” I am currently reading a book called From Strength to Strength that deals with this subject. And just like you said, the book points out that mediocrity can shield people from the risk of disillusionment. Overall, it’s a fascinating read and very applicable to me at age 43. The broader theme of the book is the reality of professional decline and the need to recalibrate our expectations and approach to life as we enter the second half.
I always love reading your informed perspectives on the economy and the stock market, but I’m glad that you also write about non-financial aspects of success and happiness. At this point of my life I’m lucky enough to have some financial strength and I’m working more for the non-financial rewards than I am for the comp. It took a lot of effort to get my money situation and investing strategy right, but I think the other aspects of preparing for the fruitful semi-retirement I want are even more tricky.
For now, I’m focusing on bringing as much creativity and relationship fulfillment into my work as possible. I convinced my employer to let me create a youtube travel show that lets me travel the world and document the lives of our global team. All of the things that led up to this only happened because I had the financial strength to work without fear and to take some big risks.
If you want you can check it out at OurWorldOurWork.com
I would be fascinated to know what you think if you watch the 2-minute trailer.
Also, congrats on landing your #5 WSJ bestseller spot against incredible odds. That’s an astounding accomplishment!!
All the best,
Rob
Love your recognition of Creativity’s place in the world—not just in the arts, but also in business, general problem-solving, and a sense of well-being. Thanks for sharing my thoughts and work. Keep feeding and flexing that creative muscle, Sam!
That is amazing! As a psychology instructor I teach on the principles underlying creativity. This was a nice read- and loved the composition!
While nature- genetics- play some role in creativity, nurture- the environment has a far greater influence. Particularly at a young age.
Expertise: A well-developed knowledge base.
Imaginative Thinking: The ability to see things in novel ways.
Creative Environment: A creative and supportive environment. Intrinsic Motivation: A motivation to be creative from within.
Venturesome Personality: A personality that seeks new experiences.
Sam, you have an extraordinary voice! At least coming from someone who sounds like a wounded pterodactyl. I’m impressed with your creative side. You grind, grind, and grind! I’m so inspired to invest time in creating my artistic projects outside of work. Thank you!!
Hah! I’m sure you sound better than you realize. My voice is just average, like most everyone else. But Charlie’s piano is in a different stratosphere!
I hope you enjoy spending time creating! It feels wonderful to come up with new things. More people should set some time in their week to do so.
Hi Sam,
I loved this post and was amazed by Charlie’s rendition of your song. How creative of you to think of contacting him, and thank you for sharing the end result!
I’m a fellow blogger/podcaster/journalist and I believe creativity begets creativity, i.e. the more I write, the more ideas I get. You might enjoy my post on creativity here:
happyasianwoman.com/blog-2/how-to-increase-creativity-produce-structure-emulate-ignore
I also run a boutique college admissions consulting company where my specialty is essay coaching. I love this job because it’s very creative. I help my students brainstorm story ideas and when we work on their writing, it’s like putting a big puzzle together to make sure everything fits and flows.
You asked how creativity has helped people earn more money and live a better life. I’ve written several blog posts on college admissions that regularly bring me new clients. Those posts also allow me to authentically show my values and coaching philosophy, so I find clients that are a strong match.
For me, there’s nothing better than making a living as a Creative, especially since I grew up as the child of Asian immigrants and was told it couldn’t be done :) Glad you’re able to embrace your creativity as well. I love your unique angles on your articles – your writing / path has always inspired me.
Great article! I felt very identified with this article, I consider myself a person who likes to explore her creative side. Creativity has especially helped me when I’m stressed or stuck with work.
For example, I love to assemble Lego figures for adults (or sometimes my nephew’s legos) create origami figures, I feel that they help me release stress or improve productivity in some task either from work or from university.
Good to hear Silvia! I didn’t realize you enjoyed assembling legos for adults. You’ll have to assemble one for me next time you’re in SF :)
Thanks for including me in your article, Sam!
Charlie, your rendition of Cutie Baby was magnificent! Thank you for sharing your talents with the world.
Holy smokes Charlie’s “improv” sure does’t sound like an improv to me – it sounds like a full on masterpiece! That is phenomenal!
Really fun article and great insights. I’ve also watched that TED talk before and really enjoyed it. It is sad how we do tend to lose our creativity as we grow up. Becoming a parent has helped me re-tap into my creative side though. I’m all into art projects now and creating the next coolest tower with blocks etc.
I also find that sleep makes such a huge different in my ability to be creative and think outside the box. My mind goes into flatline mode when I’m tired lol.
Thanks for the extra motivation to boost creativity!