creativity

Be creative, anywhere, everywhere

One of the reason I chose to work in the software industry is that it makes it possible for me to create something. The ability to turn your ideas into reality can be extremely fulfilling. The software industry is part of the creative industries where you deal with ideas, knowledge and information. If you are generating or exploiting knowledge and information, then you are too part of this industry.

Personally, I think everyone should be in the creative industry. What I mean by that is that everyone should be creative in their work. No matter how repetitive and boring your job is, there's definitely something you can change and make a difference.

If you are a factory worker doing the same thing like everyone else, you could lead your fellow co-workers to ensure that all your benefits and welfare are taken care of.

As a sales person in multi-national company, you could treat your clients with respect and provide the best customer service among your colleagues.

No one else is better suited to improve and enhance your job than you. You are armed with the domain knowledge to know what works best for you and your clients. All it takes is some creativity to bring things to the next level.

The next time anybody complains about their job, tell them to shut down their lizard brain and start getting creative in their work.

The need to create

I always wondered why people can devote so much time and effort into their hobbies. After all, to an outsider, it all seems just like a big waste of time. But after observing some of the hobbies, I've come to a conclusion that the hobbies that allow you to inject your own creativity and create something are the ones that's most addictive and time consuming. In Warhammer, players get to assemble and paint their own army. For Magic: The Gathering, you get to design and pilot your own decks. Hobbies like these gives you the opportunity to accomplish something.

I think in general, all of us have this need to create something of our own, be it in your working life or your leisure time. As a programmer, I can fulfill this need by coding applications. For those that feel they can't accomplish or create something in their career, they might seek to do this in their hobbies instead.

The best case scenario for this would be to be able to create something and make a living out of it. That is basically what entrepreneurs do. If you can somehow align your need to create with the demands of others, you got yourself a business right there.