Creativity Is Highly Valued.
The admiration of creativity in the U.S. is illustrated in a Time magazine article, revealing that 94% of Americans value creativity in others. Creativity is valued above intelligence, 93%, compassion, 92%, humor, 89%, ambition, 88%, and beauty, 57%. Yes, and 65% think creativity is central to America’s role as a global leader [Kluger, 2013]. Author Richard Florida claims that a “Creative Age” is the driving force behind America’s economic recovery, led by a creative class of 40 million creative professionals—30% of the U.S. workforce—including educators, entertainers, architects, engineers, and others whose primary responsibility is to “create meaningful new forms” [Florida, 2012].
Lisa Carmen is the owner/director at The Burlesque Experience. Photo by Dee Hill.
Creativity is Admired And Appreciated.
In fact, creativity and innovation are the top ranked priorities for businesses, according to Boston Consulting Group’s annual strategy survey [Andrew, Manget, Michael, Taylor, & Zablit, 2010]. Further proof is in the word “creative” is the most commonly used buzzword on LinkedIn—the social networking website for people in professional occupations. Individuals today value creativity above all else. Nations today depend on innovation to drive their economic upswings and solve their crises.
Creativity Is A Birthright.
Some of us are born with natural creative ability. Like owlets, able to fly on the first try, occasional artists are born wise. Some of us learn to fall before we learn to fly, more like squirrels, while still others claim to have no hope in flying, like fish out of water. But flying fish do exist, you know. The truth is this: creativity can be learned, practiced, and developed. From the preschool level to the university level and beyond, all of us can realize our creative potential.
We all have the ability to tap into the clouds of the subconscious, where creativity lives.
Big Ideas Can Save The World.
Research studies demonstrate the need for creativity in today’s workplace everywhere from the developed countries to the developing countries, and from the individual to the organization as a whole. A recent United Nations report states that creative industries are stimulating economic recovery, globally. For example, exports of creative goods and services more than doubled between 2002-2008, during a time of recession and world crises [UNCTAD, 2010]. Evidence that creativity is part of our everyday work is the 2009 NESTA Everyday Innovation survey proposing that creativity is an integral part of modern work. Truly, creative problem-solving is a responsibility shared by every professional, from the shop floor to the cubicle, and from the executive computer to the artist’s canvas [Patterson, Kerrin, Gatto-Roissard, & Coan, 2009].
Johnny Olson is the founder and host of Mad Swirl, a platform for creative expression, publishing and amplifying the work of poets and storytellers.
Modern Times Require Creative Solutions.
Sociologists argue that the emerging creative class holds the potential for radically reshaping the attitudes and material realities of American life. The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World is a nonfiction social sciences book that coined the term “Cultural Creatives” to describe one quarter of the American adult population. By definition, cultural creatives approach the world with enlightened creativity. Their characteristics include: involvement in creating a new and better way of life, and awareness of planet-wide issues, i.e. climate change, poverty, etc. Their values include: interconnectedness, altruism, self-actualization, and authenticity [Ray & Anderson, 2000].
Creative Problem-Solving Is The Key.
Spinning off the Cultural Creatives book is the marketing consumer book, Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs. Here, the authors identify a highly creative subculture in entrepreneurship: “innerpreneurs.” Innerpreneurs have the defining characteristics of a cultural creative entrepreneur: high need for achievement, independence, and opportunity; low need for conformity, and propensity for risk-taking. Unlike yesterday’s entrepreneurs who use their business solely for monetary gain, today’s innerpreneurs use their business for personal fulfillment, resulting in creative expression and social change [Rentel & Zellnik, 2007]. The existence of innerpreneurs and cultural creatives in this world is a sign that things are changing in ways favorable for the entire planet.
Nathan Zavalney is an audio specialist, recording artist, instructor, and director of the Childbloom Guitar Program.
References
- Kluger, J. (2013). Assessing the Creative Spark: What Americans think about creativity. Time, 181(19), 58.
- Florida, R. (2012). The Rise of the Creative Class--Revisited (2nd edition). New York, NY: Basic Books.
- Andrew, J.P., Manget, J., Michael, D.C., Taylor, A., & Zablit, H. (2010). Innovation 2010: A Return to Prominence—and the Emergence of a New World Order. Boston, MA: The Boston Consulting Group.
- UNCTAD. (2010). Creative Economy Report 2010. Retrieved 9/7/13 from http://unctad.org/en/Docs/ditctab20103_en.pdf
- Patterson, F., Kerrin, M., Gatto-Roissard, G., & Coan, P. (2009). Everyday Innovation: How to enhance innovative working in employees and organizations. London, UK: NESTA.
- Ray, P.H., & Anderson, S.R. (2000). The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing The World. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
- Rentel, R., & Zellnik, J. (2007). Karma Queens, Greek Gods, and Innerpreneurs: Meet the 9 Consumer Types Shaping Today’s Marketplace. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
I am an award-winning filmmaker, musician, and writer, with published works including: (1) the Wild Family documentary feature film; (2) the Take A Deep Breath album; (3) the creativity toolkit, Big Idea Patterns; (4) the children's book, Be Well Bee; and (5) the young adult fiction novel, Wyld.
Great to see you here!
Hope you are able to see the potential and succeed in being a part of it!
Looks like an article the Steemit community will appreciate. Hope it gets some attention!
Best Regards~*~
Thank you, brother. Yes, I trust there's room here on #steemit for discussion on the importance of creative solutions, and I know there are beautiful posts in the works starring Trailblazer, Quinn Eaker. :)
Loving this call-to-action for artists in the #steemit community! So many positive reasons to put our heads and hearts together for the #loverevolution.
Yes! And the best news is this: We Are All Artists.
What do you have to say about this: @quinneaker, @bridgetbunchy, @opheliafu, @fairytalelife...? Each of you is an artist I admire greatly.
During my ayahuasca and san pedro experience, I understood for the first time that what makes us human is things like expressing ourselves through art in all forms. I agree, art can help heal our world. It gets us thinking outside of limitations. I find it interesting how too often the arts are underfunded. Convenient way to continue to keep the people controllable.
I agree with you about art and its healing potential. My hope is that one day we will all grow in our appreciation for the arts, and artists will have the freedom to create with our without funding. Thanks for chiming in!