Fast Company just released their list of The 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2011. Among the winners are Sal Khan, Arianna Huffington, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Hsieh, and Tina Fey. In addition, some of the most innovative companies such as Quora, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Nike are represented via their employees.
What does it take to get on this list? You could create a vast library of free online educational resources for the world like Sal Khan, invent a tiny device that attaches to an iPhone to process credit card payments, or recover a spacecraft from the Earth’s orbit. If those options seem unlikely for you in 2012, perhaps you could try to be the Best Creative Thinker in YOUR business this year.
Creative thinkers challenge the status quo. They are always trying to make an idea bigger, better, and more impactful. They draw connections between seemingly unrelated people and things. They generate lots of ideas before they narrow their focus on one magic solution. They see possibility where others see a dead end. The keep trying even after encountering challenges. They also worry less about failing or feeling foolish than most people.
Could you try to be a more creative thinker today?
Editor’s Note: Breanne Harris is the Solutions Architect for Pearson TalentLens. She works with customers to design selection and development plans that incorporate critical thinking assessments and training. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and has experience in recruiting, training, and HR consulting. She is the chief blogger for Critical Thinkers and occasionally posts at ThinkWatson. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter for more of her thoughts.
