How to get creative (without doing drugs):
At a first principles level:
1. The brain has inputs and outputs
2. Creativity is an output that is both novel and useful
1. The brain has inputs and outputs
2. Creativity is an output that is both novel and useful
The mistake people make is treating creativity like productivity
We try to work harder and expect creativity to appear
Instead, add new inputs...
We try to work harder and expect creativity to appear
Instead, add new inputs...
1. The Swedish House Mafia Technique
Get a room with friends away from the outside world.
Throw ideas back and forth like a tennis rally.
Here's Swedish House Mafia creating the iconic "One".
Get a room with friends away from the outside world.
Throw ideas back and forth like a tennis rally.
Here's Swedish House Mafia creating the iconic "One".
2. Balaji's Transformer
If you have a written idea -- try to draw it
If you have a visual idea -- try to write it
If you have a numerical idea -- try to explain it out loud
The process of transforming the idea from one language to another produces a new perspective.
If you have a written idea -- try to draw it
If you have a visual idea -- try to write it
If you have a numerical idea -- try to explain it out loud
The process of transforming the idea from one language to another produces a new perspective.
E.g. Walt Disney's business plan
Turning a dry 10,000-word business plan into an interconnected diagram opens up creative pathways.
Turning a dry 10,000-word business plan into an interconnected diagram opens up creative pathways.
E.g. Christoper Nolan's Plot for Inception
Turning the written script into a sketch opens up creative pathways
Turning the written script into a sketch opens up creative pathways
3. Create An Evil Twin
Imagine there's an evil identical twin of you whose sole job is to out-think you.
What are they thinking?
This thought experiment allows the mind to explore creative ideas -- because you can blame it on the twin.
Imagine there's an evil identical twin of you whose sole job is to out-think you.
What are they thinking?
This thought experiment allows the mind to explore creative ideas -- because you can blame it on the twin.
4. Wake Up Early -- Or Stay Up Late
Most people hit peak creativity whilst others are asleep.
Why?
The brain is free to stop worrying about other people -- and fills the vacuum with ideas instead.
Most people hit peak creativity whilst others are asleep.
Why?
The brain is free to stop worrying about other people -- and fills the vacuum with ideas instead.
5. Just Keep Walking
If bored and struggling with ideas -- just keep walking until the day becomes interesting.
Best case scenario is you get a tonne of new ideas.
Worst case scenario is you hit your step count for the day.
If bored and struggling with ideas -- just keep walking until the day becomes interesting.
Best case scenario is you get a tonne of new ideas.
Worst case scenario is you hit your step count for the day.
6. Study History
Most people only consume content made in the last 24 hours.
@david_perell calls this the "Never-Ending-Now"
If you study history, your inputs go from the best content in the last 24h to the best content ever made.
Most people only consume content made in the last 24 hours.
@david_perell calls this the "Never-Ending-Now"
If you study history, your inputs go from the best content in the last 24h to the best content ever made.
7. Avoid Dramatic People
Human Brain Paradox: Your brain is a supercomputer -- but it can only have 1 thought at a time.
Every thought has an opportunity cost.
Toxic and dramatic people are so dangerous to creativity -- they eat your supercomputers RAM.
Human Brain Paradox: Your brain is a supercomputer -- but it can only have 1 thought at a time.
Every thought has an opportunity cost.
Toxic and dramatic people are so dangerous to creativity -- they eat your supercomputers RAM.
8. Consume Niche Content
Go to YouTube or X.
Step 1 - Scroll through explore page
Step 2 - Only click on content that has under 5K views
Go to YouTube or X.
Step 1 - Scroll through explore page
Step 2 - Only click on content that has under 5K views
9. Spin Wheels
Add the best questions you find to a spinning wheel app. Spin the wheel before bed.
Leave the question with the subconscious overnight.
Brainstorm on the question first thing in the morning.
Add the best questions you find to a spinning wheel app. Spin the wheel before bed.
Leave the question with the subconscious overnight.
Brainstorm on the question first thing in the morning.
10. Never Identity With Ideas
People don't have ideas. Ideas have people.
You are just a vessel for ideas to pass through
2nd album syndrome and writer's block are often caused by the creator building an identity to defend
People don't have ideas. Ideas have people.
You are just a vessel for ideas to pass through
2nd album syndrome and writer's block are often caused by the creator building an identity to defend
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