The 5-step process for coming up with fresh creative ideas
The 5-step process for coming up with fresh creative ideasthat can be used for everything from art to business. Based on the works of John Cleese.
How to come up with fresh creative ideas – a 5-step guide from legendary comedian and in-secret creativity researcher John Cleese
John Cleese rose to fame as the co-founder of the comedy group Monthy Python.
Over the years, he also created hits like Fawlty Towers, Fish like Wanda, numerous standup shows, and starred in movies like James Bond and Harry Potter.
So, he built his career on creativity.
But during the 1970s, he also started working in academia, dabbling in the sciences of psychology, creativity, group dynamics, and even religion.
He did research, collaborated with academics, gave lectures, and wrote books on various topics.
He also co-founded and sold a management video training company, where he taught people, amongst many other things, how to be creative, for 60 million dollars.
(Back in 1989, when that sum meant something)
And now the process he has used throughout his career is here for you to steal.
First of all,
Creativity is a way of operating. It's a childlike mood of playing with ideas not for immediate purposes but for the sake of enjoyment.
It's not a talent.
It's a new way of thinking about things.
Most people think of creativity as being about the arts—music, painting, theatre, movies, etc.
But creativity can be seen in every area of life—in science, business, or sports.
It's the process of coming up with original ideas and solving problems in original ways.
To be creative in your field, you need to understand this.
People function in 2 modes.
Open mode
- Relaxed,
- Less purposeful.
- Inclined to humor.
- Playful.
- Extremely curious about things.
- Asking "What if"s, "Why"s
- Inclined to experiment.
Closed mode
- Getting sh*t done
- Active
- Tunnel vision
- Mildly anxious (can be pleasurable.)
- Impatient.
- Tension.
- Not much humor.
- Can get stressed.
You can't be creative if you're in the closed mode.
Yet people are in it most of the time.
To be creative and execute these ideas, you need to switch between these two mode
When you're figuring something out - open mode.
Once you come up with the solution - closed mode to implement it.
Narrow your focus. Be efficient & decisive.
Don't be distracted by doubting and analyzing.
Be 100% in the closed mode.
Once done, go back to open mode to review the feedback & analyze it.
Ask what ifs, be curious, go down rabbit holes.
How to get into the open mode?
You'll need
1. Space
2. Time(1)
3. Time(2)
4. Confidence
5. Humor
Space
You need to seal yourself off. Get into a quiet undisturbed place. Protect yourself from distractions.
Time(1)
Have a specific time period to be creative. For example, Tuesday from 1pm to 3pm.
At first, when you start the session, you'll feel anxious. You'll remember all the things you should do (emails, cleaning, BeReal). And this seems like an utter waste of time.
But don't give in. Your mind will wind down again. After you've entered the open mode, you'll roughly have an hour. Altogether, plan 1.5h You'll need a break after 1.5h.
Time(2)
Give your mind as long as possible to come up with something original.
If you have a problem and see a solution, don't go with the first one.
Keep on pondering. Don't decide before the time is up.
The most creative professionals always stay with the problem longer & play with it before triying to solve it.
We don't like the anxiety, pain & discomfort that comes when we haven't solved the problem.
So we are tempted to take the easy way out - the first idea
Don't do it. Embrace the creative pain.
Throw another 1.5h in if possible.
John Cleese observed for years how one of his Monthy Python colleagues, whom he considered a more talented writer, failed to produce as good material as him.
He then started to notice that unlike him, the colleague usually went with the first creative solution. He didn't stick with the problem to keep on wondering what if...
He later got confirmation from a scientist, that this is a usual distinction between people who produce the best original material and those who don't.
Confidence
Nothing will stop you more than the fear of making a mistake.
The very essence of playfulness aka creativity is "what if".
Whatever happens is okay.
You cannot be playful, if you’re afraid that some direction is wrong.
Humor
Humor shouldn’t be taboo. Even in the face of serious problems. It loosens up the mind.
And improves your idea factory.
So giggle all you want. Especially if it's a serious matter.
Once in the open mode
Keep your mind gently around the subject. Daydream, but keep bringing your mind back to the problem. Think about what-ifs, combine various ideas, have fun, experiment, play.
If you don't figure it out right now, no problem.
The answer will hit you at some point.
Probably in the shower or when having breakfast. But only if you’ve pondered about it at first.
After ten long years of hardcore thinking on the problem of general relativity, on one evening, Albert Einstein decided to simply give up.
He went to bed early, and when he awoke, the solution suddenly came to him.
So often, the solution comes to you when you've put in immensely focused work but then let go of it. (Story from Robert Greene's Mastery. Page 20)