Every Professional Is A Creative Type: A Review of 'Creative Confidence'

The Kelley brothers inspired and convinced me of our universal creativity. There aren't "creative" types and everybody else. Creativity requires two things: an ability to solve a problem in a new or unconventional way, and an ability to empathize. This is Design Thinking. All problem solving should be human-centered and driven by empathy for the end user, whatever the product or service may be. Regardless of our educational background, professional choices, or college major, we should and can develop Creative Confidence. The Kelleys highlight stories from IDEO and the D.School--both are founded by them--demonstrating the eclectic teams they draft to tackle any variety of problems. In one example they enlisted a team to redesign a shopping car---using Design Thinking. This team included an anthropologist, an engineer, a computer scientist, and a graphic designer. Each person brings a special, but creative skill-set to a problem. When they adopt Design Thinking, magic happens: human creativity is unleashed and human lives are improved.

Creative Confidence crystallized my professional direction--before it I was mired in uncertainty about whether I had what it takes to assume more creative roles professionally. I have carried it around for the past few weeks, a new manifesto or professional bible. I also came away with dozens of action items. I have already put several in place. I recommend this book to anybody, in any firm, doing anything that touches the human world--it is especially relevant for people in the "start-up" landscape.

This book is filled with engaging success stories across all industries with people using Design Thinking. At times the book felt like a promotional for IDEO and the D.School--which it is--or a series of "shout-outs" to the Kelley brothers' friends and successful entrepreneurs--and their books. 

Each of us has creativity within: "creativity comes into play wherever you have the opportunity to generate new ideas, solutions, or approaches. And we believe everyone should have access to that resource." 

On Design Thinking they say "being human-centered is at the core of our innovation process. Deep empathy for people makes our observations powerful sources of inspiration. We aim to understand why people do what they currently do, with the goal of understanding what they might do in the future...An empathetic approach fuels our process by ensuring we never forget we're designing for real people...Design thinking relies on the natural--and coachable--human ability to be intuitive, to recognize patterns, and to construct ideas that are emotionally meaningful as well as functional. We'ere not suggesting that anyone base a career or run an organization solely on feeling, intuition, and inspiration. But an over-reliance on the rational and the analytical can be just as risky."

Creative confidence becomes a way of life "by adopting the eyes of a traveler and a beginner's mindset, you will notice a lot of details that you normally might have overlooked. You put aside assumptions and are fully immersed in the world around you."

By the time you finish this book, you will want to have your entire house and office space covered in white boards, and a notebook in every pocket. Creative Confidence means being prepared to capture all the amazing ideas that pass through your limitless mind. Once you start doing this, be prepared to swim in a pool of creative flourishing.