The "Artless" Entrepreneur: Why You’re More Creative Than You Think
I meet entrepreneurs every day who tell me the same thing: "I don’t have a creative bone in my body."
They view "Art" as something separate—a hobby, something "cute," or a skill reserved for people with paint-stained jeans and graphic design degrees. They see creativity as something flashy, aesthetic, and ultimately, out of their context.
But then I ask them two simple questions:
"How did you break into this industry?"
"How did you solve that massive roadblock last quarter?"
Suddenly, the tone changes. They describe brilliant pivots, unconventional networking strategies, and "outside-the-box" solutions to complex logistical nightmares. In those moments, they are describing pure innovation.
The irony? They are being profoundly creative, but they refuse to claim the title.
The Definition Trap
We have been conditioned to believe that creativity must be graphic or "pretty." We’ve limited a massive human superpower to the confines of a canvas.
However, let's look at the facts. Oxford defines creativity as:
“The use of imagination or original ideas to create something new, emphasizing inventiveness and the ability to produce novel, valuable, or appropriate ideas and objects.”
Notice that it doesn't mention a paintbrush. If you develop a novel financial strategy that slashes expenses by 20%, you haven't just "crunched numbers"—you have used original ideas to create a valuable result. That is, by definition, creativity.
The Hidden Muscle
The danger of not recognizing your own creativity isn't just a matter of semantics; it’s actually irresponsible.
Think of it like the gym. You go to the gym to strengthen your muscles because you can see them in the mirror. You know they are there, so you know they need a workout.
Creativity is a muscle, too—but because it’s invisible, most entrepreneurs let it atrophy. They think, "I'm not creative," so they outsource the thinking, they delegate the "visioning," and they never sit down to actually practice the art of problem-solving.
Stop Outsourcing Your Genius
When you claim you aren't creative, you give yourself permission to stop growing. You stop daring to think.
Every human possesses the capacity for creativity, but we have a responsibility to exercise it. You need to dare to have sessions where the only goal is to think through a problem using a different lens. You need to "work out" your inventiveness so it’s ready when the market shifts.
Unleash Your Inner Artist
It’s time to stop seeing yourself as "just a business person" and start seeing yourself as the artist of your own enterprise.
I invite you to join me on February 10th at VenturePoint Medical for our Master Class: "Unleash Your Inner Artist." We will dive into the specific techniques I use to help professionals bridge the gap between "business logic" and "creative fire."
Don't leave your most valuable asset to chance. Dare to practice.
