The desire to explore, the ability to see what isn’t here, and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone—these traits are kissing cousins. The same blood runs through his metaphorical veins. If you want to increase your CQ (creativity quotient), the first thing you need to do is remind yourself that we are all capable of being creative. Those who go around proclaiming “I’m just not creative” are dooming themselves to a life of undiscovery. We can all express ourselves creatively. And we can all develop our ability to do so.

READY TO EXPLORE?
Evaluate yourself: how willing are you to step out of your comfort zone, physically, emotionally, and mentally? If you limit yourself to the same thing that defines your life today, chances are you won’t come up with any brilliant ideas that will improve your life and/or the lives of others.

Here’s a way to deepen your curiosity: Ask questions. Not just any old questions, but those aimed at improving creativity. (Note what the father of modern management science, Peter Drucker, has to say about leaders: “Leaders know how to ask questions, the right questions.”) A good thought-provoking question is ” What would happen if… ?” Question.

Be playful at first, so you (and others, as appropriate) get into exploratory mode. “What if elephants could fly?” for instance. You’ll think things like “We should start making really big diapers.”

Next, move on to more relevant questions: “What if we invite clients to a board meeting?” Or, “What if you decided to go to law school after all, despite being middle-aged?” Review all the answers and then modify them to make them applicable to your own circumstances.

DO YOU HAVE A VISION?
Getting things done involves a change from “good enough” to “improved.” In fact, having vision is one of the two most valued competencies defined by our government. But if vision is the art of seeing the invisible, as Jonathan Swift asserts, then visionary individuals achieve no small feat in imagining and then inventing the future. Creativity is closely tied to skill with such imagination, a quality that Einstein himself says is more important than knowledge.

As you work toward reifying your vision, keep in mind the Japanese proverb that vision without action is a dream. And action without vision is a nightmare. Ideally, as a result of your hard work, you will not have daydreams or nightmares. Rather, you will put your vision of an improved life or an improved workplace into action by taking action.

CAN YOU MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
Cockroaches do it and have been doing it for centuries. If, for example, a certain cockroach discovers a new place that provides food, it will leave a chemical trail that the others will follow. Too often, we as humans prefer to stay in our known comfort zones, rather than blaze new trails. Change is difficult for us humans. Do you need proof? Just Google “books on change” and you’ll find almost 500 million entries.

Many believe that cockroaches will inherit the earth if humans disappear due to a natural or man-made disaster. Insects change as circumstances warrant. Cockroaches exhibit remarkably cooperative behaviors and are willing to rearrange themselves to suit their circumstances. For example, when the researchers placed cockroaches in spaces with limited capacities, they divided them equally among those spaces, rather than trying to squeeze the entire group into a single space. They seemed to voluntarily give up their territory when physical conditions changed.

CREATE A NEW REALITY
Explore, imagine, change – in ways both big and small, you can create a better future. You owe it to yourself.