5. Get Out of Your Box

Actress Katharine Hepburn remarked, “If you obey all the rules... you will miss all the fun.” While I don’t think
it’s necessary to break all the rules (many are in place to protect us), I do think it’s unwise to allow self-imposed
limitations to hinder us. Creative thinkers know that they must repeatedly break out of the “box” of their own
history and personal limitations in order to experience creative breakthroughs.
The most effective way to help yourself get out of the box is to expose yourself to new paradigms. One way
you can do that is by traveling to new places. Explore other cultures, countries, and traditions. Find out how
people very different from you live and think. Another is to read on new subjects. I’m naturally curious and love to
learn, but I still have a tendency to read books only on my favorite subjects, such as leadership. I sometimes
have to force myself to read books that broaden my thinking, because I know it’s worth it. If you want to break
out of your own box, get into somebody’s else’s. Read broadly.

Many people mistakenly believe that if individuals aren’t born with creativity, they will never be creative. But

you can see from the many strategies and examples I’ve given that creativity can be cultivated in the right

supportive environment.

Thinking Question

Am I working to break out of my “box” of limitations so that I explore ideas and options to

experience creative breakthroughs?