Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is contagious” and he is right. One of the ways I boost my own creativity is to look for other examples of creativity. I am always inspired when I see how amazingly creative we are as a species.
Have you ever noticed that creativity always involves risk? Always. To create is to make something that has never been made before. It is unique and therefore precious. So embracing creativity requires a leap of faith and a willingness to fail.
That is why creativity is contagious. When we see others try, even if they fail, we get more emboldened ourselves. And when we see their success, even if it comes after many failures, we can be inspired to overcome our own fears.
When I need a boost of creativity, I seek out creativity role models—those trailblazers who have done something cool and amazing. I mostly seek out videos and images because they create a greater emotional impact for me and I can view them again and again.
Here are my favorites:
- A Virtual Choir (20 mins) is Eric Whitacre’s TED talk on how he created a virtual choir of 2000 voices from around the world. I am always inspired about how powerful media is helping us connect and create.
- Caine’s Arcade (12 mins) tells the story of 9-year old Caine, and how he built a real, working arcade from cardboard boxes. The true definition of thinking outside the box!
- Big Bang Big Boom (10 mins) shows how a spraypaint artist animates junk to tell a fun and funky story.
- Landfill Harmonic (13 mins), is an amazing documentary set in Paraguay, South America. It shows the story of how trash has been recycled into beautiful working instruments that allow children to play music, and how the hunger to create is universal.
- Peadoodles (cartoons) are whimsical and funny cartoons of food and creatures that will make you look at everyday objects in a new way. These inspirational and sweet drawings, by Lisa Slavid, always make me smile. Lisa also a creativity and innovation consultant extraordinaire.
- Rivers and Tides (3 mins) features nature artist, Andy Goldworthy, creating temporary and amazing works of art out in nature. This is a brief excerpt from full-length documentary by the same name.
I think all of us need creative inspiration now and then. It reminds us that we are not alone in the journey and that creativity can take many forms. Consider how you can build your own go-to list of creative inspiration.
Let yourself catch the contagiousness of others’ creativity. And then pass it on.