ARE YOU CREATIVE? A SIMPLE EXERCISE TO FIND OUT.
(Short answer cum spoiler, YES, you are!)
People often associate creativity with the arts. Writing, drawing, acting composing, singing, dancing. Understandable. Because inherently they think you're creative only when you 'create' something new or a derivative of something. That view is flawed.
In fact, the biggest deterrent to being creative is believing you're not creative. And to have such a limited definition of creativity only limits you. Creativity is displayed often across functions, industries, categories. And often by people who have practically nothing to do with media, entertainment or the arts. As a tool to solve problems, to invent something or more. And the world needs so much more of that to take on the challenges we face today.
So, at times, some creative thinking, expressive exercises, and experiments can be so liberating. I used to often create cross-functional teams (CFT was a part of lexicon at MTV, and later even YRF) comprising people from sales, finance, production with promos, shows, marketing to brainstorm on everything from new content ideas to solving business problems, new business opportunities. And the contribution of the most unexpected people came in the most surprising ways. If nothing else, they got to know each other better and had some fun.
One smaller exercise like that I often do is also a song/ rap writing workshop. The process is quite simple and really fun. I followed this exact same process for a session like this with my son Risshan. Now Rissh is special needs, on the autism spectrum, so expressive language is usually a challenge. But this worked like magic. The pizza example I used is all him!
So, try it. For yourself, your team, your kids, your family. It's liberating and mad fun.
(Short answer cum spoiler, YES, you are!)
People often associate creativity with the arts. Writing, drawing, acting composing, singing, dancing. Understandable. Because inherently they think you're creative only when you 'create' something new or a derivative of something. That view is flawed.
In fact, the biggest deterrent to being creative is believing you're not creative. And to have such a limited definition of creativity only limits you. Creativity is displayed often across functions, industries, categories. And often by people who have practically nothing to do with media, entertainment or the arts. As a tool to solve problems, to invent something or more. And the world needs so much more of that to take on the challenges we face today.
So, at times, some creative thinking, expressive exercises, and experiments can be so liberating. I used to often create cross-functional teams (CFT was a part of lexicon at MTV, and later even YRF) comprising people from sales, finance, production with promos, shows, marketing to brainstorm on everything from new content ideas to solving business problems, new business opportunities. And the contribution of the most unexpected people came in the most surprising ways. If nothing else, they got to know each other better and had some fun.
One smaller exercise like that I often do is also a song/ rap writing workshop. The process is quite simple and really fun. I followed this exact same process for a session like this with my son Risshan. Now Rissh is special needs, on the autism spectrum, so expressive language is usually a challenge. But this worked like magic. The pizza example I used is all him!
Here's how it flows...
1. Pick a topic to rap about (e.g.: Food, your favorite dish, pizza)
1. Pick a topic to rap about (e.g.: Food, your favorite dish, pizza)
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2. Generate words that come to mind when you think of that word (e.g.: Yummy, Cheese, Toppings, Khaana)
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| 3. Write words that rhyme with these against it (e.g.: Tummy, Please, Gaana) |
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4. Form short sentences, phrases with them (e.g.: Gimme extra cheese, hurry up please!)
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| 5. Search a free rap instrumental beat/ track (there are tons on YouTube, slow, fast, gangsta, funny... you can go from Baba Sehgal vibe to Eminem on it, I suggest starting out with a slow flow) |
6. Rap out the words on the track (a couple of iterations are enough to get the meter, rhythm... and then you can add some keeda lines too to polish it)
7. Take it a step further, shoot a video of yourself rapping off the phone and add in some of the keywords as supers, looks very gangsta (most smartphones can do this or download any basic app, e.g.: PowerDirector)
And you have an original rap song ready of the newest hip-hopper in town... MC (insert your name here)!
Here's a link to the end result...
Risshan's "I Love Pizza Rap".
https://youtu.be/c_gs_UMGcP0
And you have an original rap song ready of the newest hip-hopper in town... MC (insert your name here)!
Here's a link to the end result...
Risshan's "I Love Pizza Rap".
https://youtu.be/c_gs_UMGcP0
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| He got a shout out from Dominos UK on Twitter! |
So, try it. For yourself, your team, your kids, your family. It's liberating and mad fun.
And don't let anyone ever tell you, you're not creative. Least of all, yourself!
