DIGITAL TRENDS: That ‘spark’ in the digital creative curve

Do you have an idea of what is the secret behind the success of the most creative brands? The one place where you can come across the most unused talents is said to be the grave yard. However, the challenge is how to tap into such talents? There must be better ways before we go into our graves. What about in your dreams when asleep? Any great idea doesn’t come as a sudden electric light-bulb moment. What about opening the pages of history books, then come up with a better narrative? What about strolling in a museum, then create something that has never been imagined before? This is what all the time.

In the the latter two places above, it won’t take long before anyone comes across men and women who made all the difference. Call them pioneers, geniuses, whatever you want. In reality the geniuses whose remarkable talents have helped to shape the digital world had a journey influenced by their parents, teachers or associates who were always on their side, who helped them to explore the hidden phenomenon behind their successful encounters.

Sometimes, it’s not just about

unique inspiration, convenient timing or merely good luck. It is hard work. It’s a continuous creative thinking process. I want to cite how one young musician,

Paul McCartney who woke up one day obsessed with a melody he heard in his dream. By managing to tap on his dream after waking up, he became so successful. That melody he heard in his dream would ultimately become the hit song known as “Yesterday,” the most recorded song in music history with thousands of different versions. It has been played several times worldwide. The young singer himself was once quoted saying that his song “Yesterday” was the best ever biggest hit, which apparently was the result of paying attention to what is happening while asleep. Why was that song became one of the best hits twentieth century? You can say anything, however it’s what is known as happy accident or serendipity. But how do people become so accomplished in their creative fields, and how can we emulate their success? It could be something to do with their environment, sorts of sorts of classmates and teachers they have had by their side, who helped them to explore the hidden phenomenon behind what their successful products, services and creative ideas.

The sudden melodic epiphany for the singer McCartney has been labelled as a classic example of creativity which can happen to anyone unplanned, in a flash of genius. Remember, the eureka moment? It’s a “moment of inspiration,” whereby an idea suddenly rises to one’s conscious awareness as an unexpected nature of different bursts of inspiration, with no apparent origin, that brings them to life. Anyone who has had a great idea in the shower or walk has experienced some version of what happened to

McCartney. It also happened to J. K. Rowling when she was struck with her idea for the book Harry Potter when she was travelling in a train to London. Shakespeare was able to write books without effort, these accounts have become modern-day staples of what is known as inspiration theory of creativity.

As such, serendipity is not confined to the traditional arts, like music and literature only. The likes of Steve Jobs, the prototypical genius of the digital empire, explained, in his quote, “When you ask a creative person how they did something, they feel guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw it.” Creative curve is an organic process.