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Hey there, innovation champions!
Ever notice how a four-year-old will fearlessly create masterpieces with finger paint, while highly skilled professionals often freeze when asked to innovate? The difference isn’t talent or resources – it’s pressure.
Let me share a story that transformed how I think about innovation and pressure.
For 15 years, I lived what many would consider the dream – making my living as a professional artist. But there was a dark side that nobody talked about.
When your art has to pay the bills, it’s easy to get trapped in a mindset that everything you create must make money. Every piece needs to be sellable. Every project needs to be perfect.
And you know what that kind of pressure does to creativity? It kills it.
For an entire decade, I almost never allowed myself time to just play and create for the joy of it. And on those rare occasions when I did pull out my pens and brushes, the pressure was overwhelming. Whatever I made had to be amazing!
I vividly remember getting calls for entry in the mail. You know, those invitations to submit work for juried art shows? I’d get so excited about the possibilities… and then make absolutely nothing.
Why? Because the pressure of knowing my work would be judged made it impossible to even start. After all, if it was going to be evaluated by a jury, it had better be brilliant, right?
So instead of creating something that might not be perfect, I created nothing at all.
Needless to say, this was not an effective strategy for innovation – or happiness!
The solution came when I finally developed what would become my Create the Impossible™ framework:
1. Play Hard
First, I had to reconnect with my inner four-year-old. You know, that part of you that creates simply for the joy of it? I let go of the need for everything to bring in money, win awards, or impress other people. Instead, I just followed my curiosity.
2. Make Crap
This is the real game-changer. I deliberately lowered my expectations and gave myself permission to make things that sucked. Because here’s the truth: we need the crap to fertilize the good stuff!
3. Learn Fast
From every “crappy” artwork, article draft, song, or workshop, I gathered feedback and used it to iterate and improve. The key was seeing everything as an experiment rather than a final judgment.
Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. This framework didn’t just help me create more art – it completely transformed my relationship with pressure and competition.
Case in point: Last year, when the National Speakers Association announced its Last Story Standing competition, my old self would have been paralyzed. A competition? With judges? Forget it!
But instead, I saw it as an opportunity. Not to win (though I ended up taking second place!), but to use the competition as motivation to get a story stage-ready.
And guess what? I’m doing it again this year! On March 1st, I’ll be performing my new story, “The Reluctant Leader,” at this year’s Last Story Standing competition.
The difference? Instead of letting the pressure shut me down, I’m using my Create the Impossible™ framework to channel it into creativity:
– Play Hard: I’m approaching the competition as a playground for storytelling
– Make Crap: My first drafts were terrible (and that’s okay!)
– Learn Fast: Each practice run teaches me something new
This same principle applies in any innovative environment. Whether you’re developing new technology, launching a product, or transforming an organization, pressure is only useful when it’s channeled properly.
Too much pressure creates paralysis. Too little provides no motivation. The sweet spot lies in creating what I call “productive constraints” – just enough structure to guide innovation without crushing it.
So here’s your challenge for this week: Look at where pressure might be killing innovation in your organization. Ask yourself:
– Are we creating space for play and experimentation?
– Do people feel safe sharing imperfect first attempts?
– How can we turn pressure into productive constraints?
Remember: The goal isn’t to eliminate pressure entirely – it’s to transform it from a creativity killer into an innovation catalyst.
Stay curious, stay playful, and keep creating the impossible!
I’d love to hear from you. How do you handle pressure in your creative process? Click here to share your story!
Senior Leaders: would you like to learn more about transforming pressure into creative fuel? Book a complimentary Innovation Strategy Session and let’s explore how the Create the Impossible™ framework can revolutionize your team’s approach to innovation.
