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- INVISIBLE CREATIVITY: HOW WE'RE ALL MORE CREATIVE THAN WE THINK
The other day, I was chilling out with one of my best friends. He’s a foreman in the construction industry, and we got talking about his work. As usual, I was fascinated by the stories he shared—juggling team management, finding quick fixes on-site, keeping projects on schedule. So, I told him, "Man, that takes some real creativity." He just looked at me, confused, and said, “I’m not creative. I’m just doing my job.” That really stuck with me. Here’s a guy who spends his days solving problems on the fly, coming up with new ways to work around unexpected issues, and making out of box decisions in real-time. And yet, he doesn’t see himself as creative. This is a concept that has emerged to me time after time, something I call Invisible Creativity —the creativity we use every day without even noticing it. What is Invisible Creativity? Invisible Creativity is when you’re using your brain to come up with solutions, ideas, or new ways of doing things, but you don’t realize it’s actually creativity. Because you’re not drawing, painting, or writing songs, it’s easy to dismiss these moments. But creativity isn’t limited to artists or designers. It’s in the way you solve problems, adapt to unexpected situations, or come up with little hacks to make life easier - by combining what we know when facing the unexpected. Take my friend, the foreman. He’s not sitting in front of an easel painting a masterpiece, but every day, he’s problem-solving in ways that require quick thinking and resourcefulness. That’s creativity , plain and simple. Everyday Creativity Happens All the Time Most people don’t see themselves as creative, but I’d argue we’re all a lot more creative than we think. Think about the last time you: Had to figure out a way to keep your kids entertained while juggling work Found a quicker way to do something at your job Improvised a solution when things didn’t go as planned That’s creativity at work—just not the kind we usually think of. It’s easy to overlook because we’re so used to seeing creativity as something that belongs to artists, writers, or musicians. But the truth is, creativity is happening all the time, often right under our noses. Psychologists like J.P. Guilford have long argued that creativity isn’t just about artistic ability, but also about problem-solving and adaptability in everyday situations (Guilford, 1967). Why Do We Miss Our Own Creativity? We’ve been trained to think that creativity is some kind of magical gift, only reserved for the “creative types.” It doesn’t help that our education system pushes us to focus on the right answers instead of encouraging exploration and innovation (Robinson, 2011). Over time, we start believing that unless we’re making art or inventing something groundbreaking, we’re not creative. But in reality, creativity is about how we think, how we solve problems, and how we navigate challenges. It’s something we all do. The Science: Creativity is in Your Everyday Problem-Solving Here’s the thing—creativity isn’t just for artists. Science backs this up. Research shows that creative thinking involves two key processes: divergent thinking (coming up with multiple solutions) and convergent thinking (picking the best one) ( Kaufman & Beghetto, 2009 ). We all do this every day, whether we’re planning a project, deciding how to handle a tricky conversation, or organizing our time. My foreman friend, for example, is constantly weighing options and figuring out what’ll work best on-site. He’s engaging in the same mental processes that artists or entrepreneurs use. He just doesn’t call it “creativity” because it doesn’t fit into the typical box. Additionally, studies show that creativity is deeply connected to neuroplasticity—our brain's ability to adapt and form new connections as we learn and solve problems ( Csikszentmihalyi, 1996 ). This means that creativity is something we all can develop, and we likely use it far more often than we think. How to Recognize Your Own Invisible Creativity So how do we tap into and recognize this invisible creativity? It’s easier than you might think: Start seeing problem-solving as creative : Anytime you’re solving a problem, you’re using creativity. Look for it in your day-to-day : Reflect on moments when you had to think on your feet. It could be as simple as rearranging your schedule or making a last-minute change. Shift your mindset : Don’t limit creativity to traditional roles. See it in everything you do—at work, at home, in relationships. Celebrate the small wins : Creativity isn’t just about big ideas. It’s in the little solutions and adjustments we make every day. Let’s Start Recognizing Invisible Creativity Invisible Creativity is all around us. It’s not just something you find in an art gallery or on a stage. It’s in the way we adapt, solve, and create every day, often without even realizing it. And the more we acknowledge that, the more we can tap into our potential to think differently, innovate, and improve. So, next time you catch yourself figuring something out—whether it’s at work, in your personal life, or even in a random conversation—recognize it for what it is. That’s creativity. It’s just invisible. You are creative - and simply with that thought, you will be more creative. Cheers, Ronny Sources : Kaufman, J.C., & Beghetto, R.A. (2009). Beyond Big and Little: The Four C Model of Creativity. Review of General Psychology , 13(1), 1–12. Link Guilford, J.P. (1967). The Nature of Human Intelligence . McGraw-Hill. Link Robinson, K. (2011). Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative . Capstone Publishing. Link Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention . HarperCollins. Link
- A Creative Beginning.
Hi, I’m Ronny. I’m just a guy from Finland who loves creating new things. I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, I was well into my twenties before I even understood what it really meant. And, truth be told, it’s only now that I’ve fully embraced it. This blog? It’s the start of documenting that journey. The moment I stopped making excuses, stopped waiting for the “right time,” and simply decided to give it my best shot—to do what I’ve always known deep down: to create. For years, I’ve been searching for my place. I’ve traveled the world, worked with both small startups and big corporations, and spent time in academic and creative communities. I’ve been everywhere—except fully present in the here and now. It took 28 years of searching to realize that what I was looking for wasn’t something outside of me. It was me. I had always been here, waiting to be acknowledged. "The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself." – Thales of Miletus That quote always hits hard. We often think life’s challenges are external, but the hardest challenge is looking inward and understanding who we are. That’s what keeps us stuck—our own fears, doubts, and hesitation. But, in the moments of struggle, we often find the answers we need. The most complex problems have simple truths at their core. For me, that truth comes down to four concepts: creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and liberal learning. These pillars have followed me throughout my life. They excite me, they’re the things I read about late into the night, and they’re what give depth to life. They are, in many ways, our society's fundamental virtues, but we’ve become disconnected from them. That’s why my vision is simple: to help the world rediscover its creative and cultural roots. While me mission follows: To enable great creators to do better. And this blog? It’s my way of sharing that journey. It’s about discovering and shining a light on the creative futures that lie ahead. Through my thoughts, learnings, interviews, talks, and highlights, I want to give you a glimpse of what’s happening and what will happen in the world of creativity. I want this blog to inspire your creativity. I’ll share my personal experiences—successes, struggles, and everything in between—so that you can follow along as I build something meaningful within the creative world. But why is this so urgent? Right now, the world is changing at an unimaginable pace. Technology, automation, environmental crises, and social division are reshaping every part of our lives. And the traditional solutions we’ve relied on no longer work. The creative and cultural industries are at the heart of this shift—they’re the key to helping society adapt, innovate, and find new ways forward. Yet these industries are underfunded, misunderstood, and in some cases, entirely overlooked. If we don’t act now, we risk losing the very things that make us human: our ability to create, to connect, and to build a future that resonates deeply with who we are. This is why creativity and culture can’t be side projects—they are essential tools for survival in today’s world. And that urgency is what will be the focus of my next post, where I’ll dive deeper into why these forces are not only necessary but critical for building resilient, forward-thinking communities. I’ve been building an idea called New Nordic Way for five years. It’s lived in my head for a long time, and over the years, many people have come in and out of that dream. But fear held me back—fear that led me to overpromise and underdeliver. Instead of fully committing, I got sidetracked with other projects. Yet, no matter what else I did, I kept coming back to New Nordic Way. So I’ve made a decision: either I give it my all now or let it go forever. This is that attempt. This is my journey, and this is my start. Right now, I’m focused on building a cultural and creative studio that revolves around three main areas: The Creative Futures Festival – What’s Next? Festival A living lab and creative hub An agency that connects brands with creatives All of this is designed to address a big issue: the creative and cultural industries are lagging behind, and it’s having serious consequences for society, culture, and individuals. We’re innovating, iterating, and pushing forward with the first drafts of our visions. The What’s Next? Festival has begun its early stages, and the offers for the living lab and agency are taking shape. I’m committing to this journey, to writing this blog, and to building something that not only contributes to the creative world but also empowers others to step into their own creativity. This is the beginning, and I’m sticking to it. See you soon again! Ronny