START THINKING CREATIVELY
The Bible calls you a ‘child of God’. Stop and consider what that means. God’s creativity is already built into your DNA; your job is to recognise it, release it and put it to work. Advertising executive George Lois said, ‘Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything.’ But for your creativity to be released, you must first identify the barriers and start taking them down. Here’s a common one: ‘We've always done it this way.’ People who say that have stopped thinking for themselves. They’re just putting in their time, waiting for a pay packet and going home at the end of the day without thinking, reflecting or even considering the possibilities of change. If you’re one of these people, it’s time to wake up and start looking around you. Mind-deadening routine is the cancer of creativity. If you mindlessly go about your business the same way every day, your routine is opening you up to mistakes. Why? Because, the chances are, your habits have caused you to lose the ability to think critically and question your methods. Start questioning policies, techniques, forms, rules, paperwork—anything that’s become routine. Ask, ‘Why do we do that? Is it even necessary? Can we do it better?’ On the farm of success there are no sacred cows. If you insist on doing things the way they’ve always been done, you’ll end up being out-thought, out-sold, out-produced and finally out of business. So start thinking creatively.
Not everybody is willing to think creatively, and some people resent
those who do. The apostle John said: ‘I have written briefly to the
church; but Diotrephes, who likes to take the lead among them and put
himself first, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept
my suggestions or listen to me.’ Every organisation has at least one of
these people; just make sure it’s not you. Author Phil Cooke says: ‘One
of the most damaging sacred cows in organisations is basing employee
status on seniority rather than talent. Yes, loyalty is important, but
some of the most loyal employees I’ve ever met are loyal because of
selfishness. They project loyalty to keep their jobs, retain their
benefits, or hold on to their authority. Real loyalty is about
innovation, original thinking and helping the company get to the next
level…Every person has worth and is important. But a great leader always
knows the people who bring the most value to the organisation. Those
are the people to be developed, trained and cultivated. When you create
an atmosphere of original thinking, you’ll have more loyalty than you’ll
know what to do with. Most companies are so ignorant of how to develop
an environment of innovation that if you’ll do it, you will have people
coming from every direction to work with you.’ The apostle Paul
practised and taught this principle: ‘We urge you…to recognise those who
labour among you…and to esteem them very highly in love for their
work’s sake…’ (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NKJV). To become a creative
thinker, you must value creative thinkingSource: http://www.ucb.co.uk/

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