Why Businesses Need Creativity

Creativity. It’s powerful, personal and present – in all of us. Sadly, many of us leave behind the bold, vibrant, vital force that is creativity when we leave childhood. What often blocks us, leaving our creativity shut down is that 'we have created a society that honours the servant – the rational mind -  and has forgotten the sacred gift – the intuitive mind' (Einstein).

Your intuition, your essential business compass hangs out in your creative mind. If you allow your creativity to open up hearing those hunches become easier and clearer. Creative people are more at ease with the unknown. A fear of uncertainty can cause untold stress and lead to poor decision making. What surprises many linear thinkers is that the seeming chaos of the creative process has boundaries. In it there is the intention of creating something and control has to be let go of in the creative space.  The chaos is in fact play – but the work ethic brings Cherophobia – fear of play – with it.  

Resilience is another benefit of creativity. Vital if you’re an entrepreneur in meeting the challenges that are inevitable in business.  Reflection is second nature to the creative mind.  All artists know that if they put something to one side and allow the unconscious mind to work on it, the next step presents itself easily.  By being creative the same applies to business problems and personal development in business.  Understanding the benefits of the flow versus direct action (feminine/creative thinking vs. masculine/linear thinking) can reap benefits for entrepreneurs in a rapidly changing world since it can ease stress and present solutions.  Business skills can be learnt – by our intellect and through experience – but a creative approach to learning any new skill will ensure it is learnt more swiftly and anchored more easily – and involves fun!  

If you want your self and your business to flourish take the time to honour your creativity and remember You Can’t Cook a Poem like an Egg!*

Blog written by Louise Taylor, author of the forthcoming book The Heroine’s Journey in Business – Recovering your Inner Power. She is a business coach, mentor and performance poet. She uses creativity, including poetry, to help her clients to grow both themselves and their businesses successfully and profitably. Visit www.shoutthesun.co.uk for more information. 

Louise Taylor can be contacted can be contacted at louise@shoutthesun.co.uk or on 07772 464672.

*The title of one of Louise’s poems and of her forthcoming collection.

You can't cook a poem like an egg!
by
Louise Taylor

Ingredients

    Words, freshly laid in your heart’s hearing
       ensure they’re free range
       not stopped by the glottal of mundane life
    Freshly squeezed passion
    An abundance of ideas
    Emotions - a pint or two
    Sprinkling of commas
    Teaspoon of full stops
    Time measureless
    One Laptop or PC
    Notepad and pen

Preparation:

Close the door,
switch off the mobile
and yesterday’s unfinished tasks
remove the mask of doing, doer
sit carefully and comfortably
undisturbed
fresh tea, coffee, a glass of wine to hand.
Caution: keep the critic out of The Poet’s Kitchen.

Instructions:

Pour ideas into your creative bowl.
Crack open the words and stir gently. 
Pour in emotions engaged in memories.
Add a smidgen of colourful vocabulary
tho this isn’t always necessary.
Mix, taste, adjust.
Leave to stand.
Sip tea,
Stand, stretch, have a pee!
Dream and drift,
As you sift
these first stirrings.
Go walkabout!
Listen to the cat purr; count raindrops, 
Ponder, reflect but remember,
you can’t cook a poem like an egg.
Let it simmer in the slow heat 
of your unconscious mind.
Return. 
Sieve cold commas, fruity full stops,
exuberant exclamation marks, one or two will do.
Read.
Now carefully lay your mixture on to your laptop or PC.

Set at one and half line spacing.
 
It is now in need of some correction
stirred by your laid back reflection;
type, delete, 
ignore being neat.
It is now in need of more correction,
stirred by your critic’s interjection;
type, delete, try being neat.
Use butter greased verse cutters,
Stifle the critic’s mutters.
Save.
Turn down the flame of your inspiration.
Hungrily print out,
Smothering the doubt
that your poem is half baked.
Read.
Nod sagely, sip dregs of wine.
Relax.
You know you’ve cooked your poem.
Serve with no garnish, just as it is.

Louise Taylor © 
www.shoutthesun.co.uk

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk