Stand Out Advertising: How to Embrace Your Uniqueness

Trends come and go but good advertising lasts forever. We read a great article yesterday on the benefits of standing out from the crowd in the ad business or any business. We couldn’t agree more that it’s easy to go with the flow and just be like everyone else. The hard thing to do is be different and creativity should be wary of consensus. So, as humans how do we step into our uniqueness and let that shine through in a world that attempts to stifle it? Here are some steps you can take to embrace your one-of-a-kind self.

1.     Accept your flaws and imperfections: No one out there is perfect and giving yourself grace is important as you try to better yourself on this journey of life. Accepting them is the first step to improving them. Growth will happen as you attempt to better yourself.

2.     Lean into your strengths and talents: What are you good at? Are you creative with art, writing, and music? Are you more science-minded? Find those things that you are good at but also enjoy doing. The last statement is important here. Just because you are good at something does not necessarily mean you enjoy it. The two must be in tune.

3.     Find like-minded individuals: Being around those who think like you is important. People who accept you for who you are and all those little weird quirks. Those that inspire you to step into your weirdness and power forward through life.

4.     Spend time doing things you enjoy: What are some of your passions? Do you like nature? Do you like baking or cooking? It’s important to find a little time each day to do these things. They

5.     Stop compromising: Don’t be a people pleaser. Stand out from the crowd and do what you want. Real connections are those that accept you unconditionally rather than who they want you to be.

6.     Embrace your beliefs: Everyone has a different belief system based on upbringing and personal experience. Your beliefs represent a large part of who you are. It’s important that you still be open-minded but also don’t be too fluid. Find a good middle ground.

7.     Stop comparing yourself: comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone has a different path of life. You must trust yours and allow it to unfold as it should without judgment.

8.     Stop asking for validation: Self-confidence goes a long way. It’s one thing to ask for advice here and there but if you need constant validation, it means that you aren’t exactly in tune with trusting yourself.

Dare to be different. Dare to be weird. Dare to stand out. Being you is special because there is only one out there just like you. This means that what you bring to the table in the creative world is unique. Your individuality is the best thing about you. It’s why your company hired you over the other guy. Don’t let the world try to convince you that those cookie-cutter styles are the way that you should be. Being different is extraordinary.

Digital Age: Effects on Creativity

 We heard someone say the other day that their friends’ children were told to go play outside. They then saw the kids have absolutely no idea what to do when technology wasn’t present. They sat there. Doing nothing. Kicking rocks around. This made us start to think about what it was like for our generation growing up without IT. We had to get creative and think of things to do. We made up games, we hunted for critters, we rode bikes or other fun things with wheels. We then started to think, “what if this digital age is going to negatively affect creativity for that younger generation when they enter the work force.” We think that maybe it hasn’t shown its true colors because those creatives working in industry did grow up without these things and know how to tap into their imaginations. What happens when Gen Z comes into the work force? Will their creativity be less than their older counterparts? Turns out that people are already trying to study these effects on creatives. One study found that when professionals were overloaded with technology the cognitive absorption of creativity suffered. They also reported higher levels of burnout with high levels of tech overload, which also led to negative impacts on creativity. Some argue that technology can facilitate creativity. Here are some negative and positive effects of technology on the creative process.

Positive:

1.     It can be a source of information/inspiration

2.     It can help come up with new ideas

3.     Allows for easier collaboration

Negative:

1.     It can be a distraction

2.     It can cause digital burnout/overload

3.     It can cause dependency

4.     Lack of original ideas

We believe that creativity is spawn from the thought processes that it comes from. When we analyze information and need to solve something, it is our critical thinking skills that create innovative ideas. Not Googling it to find the best answers. This diminishes the act of critical thinking. We have a friend who plays a drinking game called, “Not allowed to Google.” They spend the evening hanging out enjoying the evening together with drinks. They’re not allowed to Google any thought or question that they end up talking about for the entire evening. This promotes creative/critical thinking skills. It’s actually very hard to do and really fun to play! This is where we need to be in our professional lives from time to time. Put the phones down and try to solve a creative problem with looking up solutions. We guarantee it will help you increase creativity. We’re not sure where creativity is headed with the younger generation but we sadly think that there will be a decrease in creativity in the near future. Think AI.

Creativity: Different Types of Research Design

In our creativity research, we’ve learned that deliberate and cognitive are types of creativity. Creativity is not limited to the artsy types who are spontaneous and emotional. This style of creativity will require research. Think of Thomas Edison or Albert Einstein. They were creative leaders who were highly deliberate and cognitively creative with their scientific innovative efforts. This is where research design comes into play with creativity. Research design refers to the overall strategy that will be used to integrate the different parts of a study in a coherent and logical way. It’s a blueprint of how you will collect data, measure it and analyze. It allows you to test a hypothesis. It’s important that your research be conducted in a way that is neutral, reliable, validified and generalized. If you’ve ever taken a science class in college, you’ve probably written a research paper or read plenty of them. There are a lot of types of research designs but they can be broken into two main categories: quantitative and qualitative. Qualitative design is focused on the what’s and how’s whereas quantitative is focused on variables that include numbers and stats. I like to think of these as macro and micro styles of research. Quantitative is more of the testing and measuring, where numbers, graphs and tables focus in on small details. Qualitative is the broader research in the form of general ideas for theories that will be represented in words instead of numbers. Breaking research design down further, there are 4 major types: descriptive, correlational, experimental, diagnostic and explanatory. Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these.

1.     Descriptive: this style of research design refers to a process of observing and describing something that exists in a natural environment without any interference. It helps provide answers of who, what, when and how with a particular problem. It’s best for gathering unbiased data the can reveal certain behaviors or phenomena.

2.     Correlational: this examines the relationship between two or more variables without intervention. Think of this as a cause and effect situation. One thing happens that causes the second to occur. It identifies the link between two things. The correlation can be positive or negative. Positive meaning, they both change in the same direction and negative meaning they change in opposite directions.

3.     Experimental: this is where the researcher will manipulate one variable to see how it interacts with another. Typically, these studies are done with one control group and one experimental. It will tell you cause and effect relations between variables for the experimental group and the placebo effect of the control group.

4.     Diagnostic: this style of research looks to investigate an underlying cause of something in order to find the best solution.

5.     Explanatory (exploratory): this is a fun one. It’s goes into depth on topics where there hasn’t been much research previously done. More mystery here and it helps to gain insight into something unknown. This looks for the “why” of some event through establishing a cause-effect relationship.

There are many benefits to conducting research, so having a proper design and understanding of which is best to use for what type of research is important. It can make or break your research study. With proper design, you can really get a deeper understanding of the subject in question. It can assist in solving complex problems within an industry and increase understanding of topics that may not be well studied. The type of research problem will determine the type of design that you use! In business, it will help you gain success to make informed decisions with data.  

Psychology of Creativity

Neurology is intertwined with creativity and how it works within the brain. There is research to show that those who are creative use the three brain systems of neural networks: the default/imagination network, the salience network and the executive network. The salience network is a large-scale neuro network located deep within the brain. It is in charge of complex functions, such as social behavior, communication and self-awareness. This system plays a role in motivation and readiness to act to stimuli. The default mode is one that works when we are in our resting state. For example, when we daydream or thinking about a memory we use this part of our brain. It’s what creates simulations of possible scenarios and is also used for social cognition. Lastly, the executive network is one that monitors and resolve conflicts between thoughts, feelings and responses. This is the part of the brain that is used when someone is focusing intensely on a challenging task. Forging new creative connections in the brain are tied to certain personality traits of creative people. These include, but aren’t limited to, openness to new experiences, curiosity, positivity, high energy and persistence.

It has been said in the past that people who are creative are dominant right brained. However, this is a myth. As you noticed we talk about neuro networks above and whole brain functions. Each side of the brain is not separate from the other, especially when it comes to creativity, according to Anna Abraham. She also talks about the importance of the frontal lobe with involvement in creative ideation in an interview with Scientific American. Different parts of the brain will be involved in different parts of the creative process, hence the dynamic nature between neural networks. Study of the brain during the creative process is still in earlier stages. Much more research will be done in the coming years and we look forward to seeing what they find.

Creative Leadership: Characteristics

“The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself.”

-Plato

When we think of leadership we don’t typically think about creativity. Creative leadership can be defined as an act that develops and realizes innovative ideas through shared ambitions of improving the world. Basically, leading in a way that fosters creativity, promotes innovation and endorses entrepreneurship. Being a leader does not inherently mean that you are a creative leader. Some are not. But those that are tend to have similar personality characteristics. We will list some of them here.

1.     Adaptable, Resilient

2.     Independent, Yet Inspiring

3.     Purposefully Driven & Great Listeners

4.     Unorthodox, Yet Calculated Risk Takers

Creative leadership is often complimented by cognitive leadership. Now that we know that there are different types of creativity, we can see how this might be so. According to a scientific article, A Propulsion Model of Creative Leadership, there are eight different types of creative leadership. These are all broken down into categories. 1. Leadership that accepts current paradigms and attempt to extend. 2. Those that reject current paradigms and attempt to replace them and 3. Those that integrate existing paradigms to create new ones.  This is interesting, but we won’t divulge too much as this can be a whole other article all together. No matter which creative style a creative leader has, their ability to solve problems with divergent thinking and cooperative encouragement remains the same. Their open mindedness makes them constant learners. They have the ability to create innovative ideas by developing new answers/decisions by looking at things from a different perspective. They ask difficult questions that aren’t the status quo and aren’t afraid to shake things up. Creative thinkers actually encourage disruptive thinking. They also have the courage to make tough decisions and take it on the chin when things fail. They see this as an opportunity to grow and improve and thusly, are more adaptable than the rigid leaders of the past.

Feel Good Friday: Creative Thinking Skills

Creativity is an interesting and somewhat uncharted topic. Where does it come from exactly? Are we born with our creative skills or can we learn them? Last week we wrote a little about the different types of creativity, so now let’s dive into some of the skills that creative thinkers’ user to problem solve. Creative thinking is defined as coming up with innovative, unique solutions to problems but what are some of the ways that creative thinkers can discover these answers. Creative thinking skills come in all shapes and sizes but we wanted to put together a short list of some that might be useful to creatives in the workplace. We’ll break them up into categories since we know that there are different types of creativity from our research last week.

Analytical: these skills help sort through factual information to develop more rational solutions. These skills would fit those who are dominant in deliberate & cognitive creativity as well as deliberate & emotional.

·      Analysis

·      Research

·      Interpreting

·      Experimentation

·      Critical thinking

Innovation: These skills can be utilized by all types of creative thinkers.

·      Resilience

·      Imagination

·      Abstract thinking

·      Lateral thinking (using non-traditional logic)

Collaboration: These skills can also be used by all types of creative thinkers.

·      Brainstorming

·      Story telling

·      Open-mindedness

·      Active listening

While we will not go into detail for each of these skills, the overall theme is reframing things as a means to find alternative and unique approaches. No matter what problem you are trying to creatively solve, being able to look at the larger picture as well as the small, is important. Visual and abstract thinking can come into play when coming up with new answers. Some advantage to using these skills in the workplace are that it helps come up with better solutions, improves on problem solving and increases effective teamwork. In order to flex your creativity muscles, it’s important to use them every day. Try to create something new each day that requires you use some of the skills listed above. Creative thinking must be sharpened like a tool.  

Feel Good Friday: Types of Creativity

We work with so many creative people in our industry and each one is unique in their very own way. Content creators, creative directors. You name it, we’ve worked alongside them to help make the best UGC campaigns possible. We’ve always been under the impression that you are either creative or you’re just not but apparently, and surprising, this is not the case. There are four different types of creativity, according to neuroscienctists. Did you know this? That means we’re all creatives in one way or another. The four ways of creativity are deliberate & cognitive, deliberate & emotional, spontaneous & cognitive and spontaneous & emotional. Let’s dive in to each type.

1.     Deliberate & Cognitive: This comes from the prefrontal cortex of the brain tasked with focused attention and forming connections between information. This type of creativity is associated with a scientist. It requires a lot research, investigation and problem-solving as well as a lot of time and knowledge.

2.     Deliberate & Emotional: This style of creativity requires quiet time and has to do with those “ah-ha” moments. It is influenced by our emotions and those with this creative style tend to be logical/rational as well as emotional. Located in the amygdala and cingulate cortex, these moments happen someone suddenly thinks of a solution working on a problem in a particular emotional state.

3.     Spontaneous & Cognitive: Taking place in the basal ganglia of the brain, this type in unconscious by doing an unrelated activity. “Eureka Moments” type of creativity. Your unconscious mind took over and solved the problem for you. We’ve all had this happen when we’re doing something mundane like the dishes when a big answer just comes to you out of the blue for something else.  

4.     Spontaneous & Emotional: This type of creativity is associated with musicians and artists and comes primarily from the amygdala that deals solely with emotions. These moments occur when the prefrontal brain is just chilling. Some call these the “epiphany” moments, where rare discoveries take place. This is a style that cannot be worked on. This is the creativity we think of when we think of being creative. The, “you either have it or you don’t” kind. We all have it but some just more than others.

What’s interesting is that most of us are dominant in one type of creativity but not limited to it. Someone can be an engineer as well as a writer. Creativity is more important in business than one might think.  If you understand what creative strengths you bring to the table for your current or future employers you will be more confident and know what roles suit you best. When it comes to hiring, the opposite can be said. You need to know what type of creative style you’re looking for each role you are trying to fill.  You want the right type creative people working for your brand in the right roles. So ,it’s key that you understand which type creative individuals you are looking for.

Feel Good Friday: Sparking Creative Inspiration

 It’s time to spice things up again here at Locomotive. Every Friday for the next few weeks (maybe months) we will be focusing on topics that will inspire you. Today, our first topic will be ways to spark inspiration for all our creatives out there. Let’s face it, we all suffer from lack of inspiration here and there so it’s always nice to have something you can fall back on when these creative blocks hit and the deadlines are creeping in. What in the world is inspiration anyhow? Let’s define it. It has been defined by psychologists as a motivation from external sources that cause someone to have an idea and/or creatively produce something. We’ve done some digging on ways to spark creativity when you’re in a rut.

1.     Journal. Seeing your thoughts written down can offer insight into new ideas. Free journaling is recommended. Just grab a pencil and get going. Don’t think about what you’re writing just let it flow. We like to use the laptop since it’s faster to get our thoughts out than with typing than actually writing. Not only does this help spark new ideas, it clears your mind and lets you see a clearer picture of things. We highly recommend doing this not only to spark creative inspiration.

2.     Mix up your routine. Doing the same thing over and over day in and day out can feel like you’re living in the movie Groundhog Day. No wonder our creative juices stop flowing here and there. It’s important to shake it up in your personal and professional life. Try a different order in your routine. Go for your run in the morning instead of after work or try to change the order of your daily work flow. Maybe take a later or earlier lunch. Things that may have worked for you in the past may not be working now. We adapt quickly and become complacent. We get bored. You can’t expect different results doing the same things you have always done. 

3.     Spend time with artists or other creatives in your field. Everyone thinks and creates differently. Spending time with other creatives will allow you to bounce ideas off one another and potentially spark new ones. It’s not only good for this but important to spend time with like-minded individuals in your field, so it also benefits your networking practices. 

4.     Rearrange your space. Look up some basic Feng Shui. What usually gets your inspired n the physical sense? Imitate that and attempt to recreate it. Add some living things to the area. What better to inspire thoughts than vegetation? If you want to get really deep with this, certain plants possess certain properties. For example, mother-in-law’s tongue acts as an air purifier. There’s no better way to provoke creation than something that does just that.

5.     Branch out into new styles of music. Who doesn’t like to discover new jams that they vibe with? We enjoy all styles of music but of course, we have our favorite go to’s. Switch up the style of music that you find yourself listening to often. Throw in some bluegrass or dive into something cultural, such as Afro-Caribbean. Get crazy!

6.     Meditate. The benefits of meditation reach far beyond promoting creativity. It reduces stress and allows you to see new perspectives. It increases self-awareness by focusing on your breath and letting go of thoughts. It’s a great way to clear your head. Again, something we recommend doing not just to motivate creative thought.

7.     Try something new. We love trying new things! Adventure tends to spur new thought processes. Typically, you’re learning something when you try new things. It gets your mind working and, most likely, unlocking potential brain power in new ways.

These are just a few ways to inspire creativity when you’re stuck. Adding on to this and creating your own list is a great way to combat blocks. Think back to some times when you felt your most creative. What were the circumstances? Write them down. What were you doing when you had that really brilliant idea? This will give you insight into what works for you. You can use that. Happy creating!