Maintaining the Creativity Muscle and the Art of Starting
In the past, content creation was a genuine expression of creativity and talent, a source of inspiration that reflected the unique imagination of its creator. Today, however, content has become a commodity. With the advent of Generative AI, we can now write books, develop movie scripts, or generate podcasts in mere seconds. This raises a critical question: where is the value of human imagination and creativity in this new landscape?
The role of AI in content creation is a topic of much debate. Should AI be used as the last mile, the first mile, or perhaps somewhere in the middle? Many of us start every “keyboard task” with a query to an AI tool. It’s undeniably convenient to get a good jump start, especially since the hardest part is often getting things started. However, this approach can drain our creativity, causing us to lose control over setting the foundations of our work.
On the other hand, using AI for final tuning can be beneficial. It provides a “fresh eye” or an objective perspective on our outcomes. Yet, this too has its pitfalls. AI suggestions are based on its training data, which can sometimes fade our original creativity or, in the case of highly creative content, offer complete hallucinations.
This dilemma extends beyond professional content creation and into our personal lives, particularly in how we coach the next generation. As a parent, I face this challenge almost daily with my young kids. How do we balance the benefits of technology with the need to nurture their creativity and imagination?
As with everything in life, it’s all about finding the right mix and balance.
Last week, I ran another marathon, this time in the beautiful city of Paris. It was a personal record for me and also a record for the Paris Marathon in terms of the number of participants. Running has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for me, the reason is clear: running takes me back to the basics. It helps me generate my best ideas, highest creativity, and clearest thoughts.
Reflecting on my father’s life, I see a parallel. He was a blue-collar engineer, a physically hard worker who never exercised in a gym. Decades ago, fitness rooms were not as common, yet he was always in great shape. Over the years, as more people shifted to office jobs, fitness rooms flourished and became essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The same principle applies to AI. We need to keep up with technology to benefit from it, but we must also ensure that we remain mentally sharp and creatively vibrant. We must maintain our cognitive “muscles”: think, imagine, challenge, and ultimately create and give birth to new ideas. Whether your favorite way to spark creativity is a walk in the park, a beer on the beach, or a ride on your bike, make sure to exercise your creativity muscle regularly.
For years, I followed the GTD (Get Things Done) methodology. Today, the challenge is to Get Things Started.
In a world where machines can create for us, the true art may be in remembering how to create for ourselves..
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