My Creativity Is Like a Black Hole, Producing Flowers
Let me explain what I mean and why we need more of this in business innovation
Creativity is a tricky thing. How do you write your articles? With your rational mind only? If so, they will most probably not be your most creative work.
Well, I’ve found another way. After a lifetime of functioning in a mainly rational way, I discovered a new way to be. Before, I worked in business management, high-tech, and communication. It’s not as if I was never creative back then.
But it was staying at the edge. Showing its face around the corners of my rational explanations now and then. But real productive creativity? Nah, I couldn’t call it that…
Since around 2012, my life has turned a different direction. I trained my heart and my intuition. And I’m much more present. Alert. Alive. In contact with other people. Listening deeply. Observing. And these skills definitely affect my creativity and productivity.
Recently, the image came to me. My creativity is like a black hole producing flowers. Strange image. But the more I thought about it rationally, the more I understood that it’s true. Let me explain.
What’s a black hole?
A black hole is a phenomenon in our universe, in space. It has so much gravitational acceleration that it swallows up everything near. Forceful attraction, you can call it.
So what’s the analogy here? Ever since I trained my heart and intuition, I have become a much better observer. Everything is an inspiration for me. From the smallest flying dragon on a coconut tree to a snippet of conversation with business people.
I’m always full of inspiration nowadays. And I love it! I’ve finally become the writer I’ve always wanted to be but didn’t know how to. So the analogy is that I absorb all these inspirational sparks into my creativity just like a black hole. It’s like being a magnet to great ideas.
What about creating flowers?
Well, the inspirational sparks are like seeds. They germinate, grow into a plant and produce flowers. That’s what I do with the inspirational sparks that enter my creativity. I care for them, give them a loving environment, nurture them so they can grow into a product. A story. A project. A conversation with another person…
And then I say goodbye. Another person can take up my story, my project, my idea and build upon it. They can cross-pollinate it with their own creativity and grow their own fruits. So that in the end, all of us can harvest…
Why does business innovation need it?
Until now, business innovation is often no more than a sidestep. More of the same in different packaging. A bit more efficient here, a new add-on there and yes, we call it innovation.
This is no innovation, folks, there’s nothing new about sidestepping! So what we really need are inspirational sparks. Lots of them. Crazy sparks! Heart-felt sparks. Sparks that are really going to make a difference in our world.
We face huge challenges! We need to find ways to stay within our planetary boundaries in the very near future. That’s the kind of innovation we need!
And in order to get there, we need cross-pollination.
Physics scientists & artists
The health sector & ecologists
Educators & tree climbing
And we need open-source innovation. Only this way, people can build on each other's work. Turning seeds into flowers. Turning flowers into fruit. Only this way, we can make fast progress. And boy, do we need fast progress…
Head, heart, and presence
So, how can your creativity become like a black hole producing flowers from seeds or fruits from flowers? I think it has to do with balance. For most of us, our rationality has had enough training in our schools and business environments. Let’s add an open heart and real presence and we’ll get somewhere.
Oh, and I didn’t say anything about productivity yet. Mine flourished as soon as I found my balance in the trinity! Focus is so easy now. I can spend a lot of time just being inspired and less time being very productive. There’s a time for the black hole. And a time for the production of flowers…
And for anyone worrying about the business case? It will emerge, just like in nature... Start with the sparks, add some entrepreneurship, make sure you have a full portfolio using the synergy of all projects. And the business case follows. Experiment! It’s fun!
If you want to connect, please find me on LinkedIn or somewhere on a sunny balcony with my friend Anna Blume, drinking organic wine and laughing about pandas and bamboo…