Grab Creative Confidence by the Cojones

If there is one thing we’ve all learned to love about the digital industry is that our craft persistently reminds us to develop – forcing us to “push harder”, “embrace change”, and always “challenge the status quo”.

At NJI, we’re always anticipating issues and finding new ways to execute our goals, but we need to remind ourselves to challenge that status quo. That’s why the motto is up on our wall.

Why go through the trouble? Why not get our work done and go home? Innovation.

As SAP beautifully explains, there is a method to this madness where innovation is driven not only by doing the work, but by infusing that work with creativity.  They also introduce the “creative confidence” concept, where one finds “the relevant problem worth solving.”

And although innovation rarely comes overnight, creative confidence can make a hell of a difference and force you to work in a new light:

-Problems become exciting challenges that need to be mastered

-There is a stronger sense of commitment to every task or project

-Hosting innovative, productive team meetings can actually help progress

-Setbacks and disappointments aren’t as devastating

I’ll put it this way; you are creative. The challenge is regaining confidence in your work and your ideas. Over time, people grow up and grow accustomed to fearing rejection, the opinion of those around them, and this mysterious unwavering need to be right or to find the “right” answer. Instead of recognizing the power of creative confidence, some have allowed a fear of creativity to hinder themselves, their teams and sadly, their projects.

It does not mean you will not fail – it means you’ve got the cojones to keep going when you do. Each time you rewrite that same code or redesign that same logo,  you now have the confidence to reimagine and refine your work despite the circumstance.

“That is the surprising, compelling mathematics of innovation: if you want more success, you have to be prepared to shrug off more failure”.
–David & Tom Kelley

Any task, no matter how simple, that kills our creative input can leave us feeling unfulfilled, detached, and insecure.  The line between those who succeed and those who miss the train altogether is thin.

How thin?  In this case, as thin as your confidence.