What does it mean to be 'creative'?

A lesson from someone who absolutely cannot draw!

Hi, I’m Dave.

I can’t draw. I can’t paint. I can’t code.

*sits down*

This isn’t meant to be Creativity Anonymous, but there is a point to this ‘confession’.

None of it bothers me.

My career is not defined by the ability to use any one of these skills.

What it means to be ‘creative’ is so much more broader.

Looking back

I massively envy those who can orchestrate something not far off sorcery in Photoshop or After Effects – it’s genuinely enjoyable and inspiring to watch them work.

I can’t do any of those things but I know my skills are better used elsewhere.

At school, we’re given a broad education – across multiple subjects – to help us work out what we do well. Not just because it’s essential to pass those exams (although thank god you get a choice the older you get!), but also to open our minds to different forms of creativity.

If we’re lucky enough, we’re given the chance to express this in ways that build our experience and confidence.

The more we do it, the better we become.

Crucially, the more we enjoy it!

(Ideally!)

Additionally, we’re taught to analyse, question and evaluate, not just so we can show an examiner how well we understand the subtext of Animal Farm or The Handmaid’s Tale, but to teach us the ability to process information and make new findings or recommendations.

Even new ideas.

All of this has relevance to work.

Being ‘creative’

The infectious and inspiring Kirsty Hulse once wrote that you should treat creativity and idea generation as a muscle.

Much like you would do if decided to run a marathon, you need to train to get fitter, stronger, and more effective.

The same applies to creativity.

Tweaking, refining, and improving to maximise the impact of that ‘muscle’.

The more you develop new ideas, try new things, and figure out how your version of the creative process comes together, the easier it becomes.

Once you understand the information you need to form good ideas, and the nuts and bolts of how you use that information to get those ideas moving, everything starts to click.

You don’t have to be the one doing it, but it can all start with your idea.

From a data demon to help council staff keep information secure, the Premier League Squads of Instagram, to an April Fool’s spoon set for the Blue Light community (it makes sense for the audience!), I can look back on my career at different points and know that my ideas launched them all.

I then worked with those better skilled in other areas to bring them all to life.

I absolutely couldn’t have done that without them, but I’m proud to know that all those ideas started with me.

Changing the definition

Creativity doesn’t mean you have to write. Or code. Or draw.

Creativity can be seen in planning, problem-solving, brief writing… even in budgeting.

(That’s using your budget creatively, not ‘creative budgeting’ – the latter will get you sacked!)

It also means passion, energy, and ideas.

But more than that, it’s a willingness to try, and the bravery to shout up in front of friends and colleagues and say “I’ve had this thought…”

It’s the ability to bring others along with you and inspire even more creativity with their input.

Perhaps most importantly, it’s the inner honesty to know when you need help, and who to speak to when you want to turn your brainwave(s) into reality.

We can all be creative. We just needed to change the definition.

Dave

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A little peak behind the scenes of this post.

As I wrote in the main section, I hope many of you don’t get hung up on what you can’t do with tools like Photoshop, Figma, or After Effects.

Instead, I’d love for you to focus on what you can do with your ideas, knowledge, and insight – wherever you work.

I’ve discussed what it means to be creative a lot in recent years. It was something I used to regularly repeat to those I managed and mentored at Blue Light Card – so I’ve had this post title on my Notion plan for a while.

However, I brought it forward after receiving an out-of-the-blue message from someone who is exceptionally creative, both by artistic graphic design standards and what I’ve written above, who asked for my thoughts on the subject.

They know who they are, so a big thank you to them for asking for my thoughts on the topic.