Creativity is taking two different things and nailing them together. Genius is when it works.
We tend to think of a genius as someone imbued with special powers beyond those of mere mortals. To unlock your own inner genius, you’ll need to rid that image from your mind. After all, Einstein was a patent clerk and Edison was considered “addle brained” as a student.
In other words, there is nothing mystical about genius. The truth of the matter is that genius is well within your reach and completely under your own control. Unlocking it is a matter of vision, ingenuity, tenacity, opportunity, and most importantly, sharing it with others.
To illustrate, let’s use a simple example: Scallops and Bacon.
Quite frankly, in this cub reporter’s opinion, the combination of scallops and bacon is a stroke of genius. If you don’t agree, that’s fine. It’s only a metaphor. We could just as easily have picked the light bulb, the microchip, or the Wankel rotary engine. The point is that scallops and bacon are two disparate things that have been nailed together. That, in a nutshell, is the very essence of creativity.
Such vision isn’t universal. Many suffer from not being good with the “vision thing”. However, it is a skill that you can acquire. It is a matter of rejecting “what is” for the more ethereal “what it could be”. As a practical matter, vision and creativity don’t usually start with invention but rather renovation. If your mind’s eye can’t create something from scratch, then improve an existing idea or object instead.
Doing so requires a bit of ingenuity. Bacon comes in strips. Scallops are round. They don’t really fit together easily. Keeping these two things together requires a toothpick. The concept is simple enough, but the structure is more complex. In order to reach the level of genius, you are going to need to summon up all of your creative problem solving skills.
But what if you lack vision and ingenuity? If you do, you can make up for it in tenacity. It doesn’t take a creative mind to be strong of will. All it takes is organization and patience. To reach the genius level using tenacity, you start with a scallop and an alphabetical list of other foods. After pairing the scallop with an apple, an apricot and an avocado, you finally make it to bacon.
Opportunity comes next. Success in business involves defining the need and then filling it. If you hear patrons complaining “Gee, I wish we had more options for appetizers” then perhaps it’s time start experimenting with scallops. The same can be true in the obverse. If the truck accidentally delivers too many toothpicks, it’s time to start thinking about using them
In the long run, genius isn’t a number on a test. It is something conferred upon you by others who appreciate your efforts. The final element in this quirky equation is the willingness to give to the world at large. If you keep you best efforts locked inside you, the world will not be able to appreciate them. You need to share it.
Although willingness to share is the last thing mentioned, it is actually the first step you need to take in your search. Commit to creating something bigger than yourself and sharing it. That simple act is the key that will unlock the genius within.
