How to get creative (without taking 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. Consume Niche Content
Go to YouTube or Twitter.
Step 1 - Scroll through explore page
Step 2 - Only click on content that has under 5K views
Go to YouTube or Twitter.
Step 1 - Scroll through explore page
Step 2 - Only click on content that has under 5K views
90% is often a waste of time.
But 10% turns into an incredible niche input that nobody else on the internet is tapping into.
That 10% input is like a VC's investment portfolio - it makes up for all the failed investments
But 10% turns into an incredible niche input that nobody else on the internet is tapping into.
That 10% input is like a VC's investment portfolio - it makes up for all the failed investments
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. Spin Wheels
1. Collect the best questions you find
2. Add them to a spinning wheel app
3. Spin the wheel before bed
4. Leave the question with the subconscious overnight
5. Brainstorm on the question first thing in the morning before any input
1. Collect the best questions you find
2. Add them to a spinning wheel app
3. Spin the wheel before bed
4. Leave the question with the subconscious overnight
5. Brainstorm on the question first thing in the morning before any input
7. 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.
8. Be Like Japan
When I ask people where they want to travel to: Most say Japan
Japan practiced an isolationist policy called Sakoku for 265 years. They cut off the outside world -- resulting in their unique culture
Once per quarter, practice Sakoku for a weekend or a week
When I ask people where they want to travel to: Most say Japan
Japan practiced an isolationist policy called Sakoku for 265 years. They cut off the outside world -- resulting in their unique culture
Once per quarter, practice Sakoku for a weekend or a week
Sakoku is intermittent fasting for the mimetic mind
In the interconnected age, your thoughts feel like your own -- but it's often society's voice echoing.
When you spend a week alone with 0 external inputs -- the echoes disappear and you hear your own creative voice
In the interconnected age, your thoughts feel like your own -- but it's often society's voice echoing.
When you spend a week alone with 0 external inputs -- the echoes disappear and you hear your own creative voice
9. Create A Mood Log
When you feel creative -- log the causes.
When you feel uncreative -- log the causes.
Once per month, review it and redesign your environment based on this log.
When you feel creative -- log the causes.
When you feel uncreative -- log the causes.
Once per month, review it and redesign your environment based on this log.
10. Julian's Creativity Faucet
The incredible @Julian has this idea:
1. Visualize creativity as a backed-up pipe of water
2. The first mile is wastewater that needs to be emptied
3. After emptying the bad ideas, you begin to spot patterns as to why they are bad
The incredible @Julian has this idea:
1. Visualize creativity as a backed-up pipe of water
2. The first mile is wastewater that needs to be emptied
3. After emptying the bad ideas, you begin to spot patterns as to why they are bad
Shapiro shows this great example of John Mayer applying the creativity faucet live in real-time.
Notice how he empties all the bad ideas -- and the good ideas begin to click.
Notice how he empties all the bad ideas -- and the good ideas begin to click.
11. AirBnB's 11* Thought Experiment
Ask people: "What would a 5* experience look like?"
When they answer this, surprise them by asking what 6* would look like.
Keep cranking it all the way up to 11*.
Ask people: "What would a 5* experience look like?"
When they answer this, surprise them by asking what 6* would look like.
Keep cranking it all the way up to 11*.
12. 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.
13. Never Identify 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
If you enjoyed this, I put together a list of the 0.1% of ideas I've ever found.
You can get it for free here:
👇
george-mack.com
You can get it for free here:
👇
george-mack.com
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