Creativity is not a title. It’s a mindset.

“The company where I work doesn’t value creativity. How can I still do creative work?”

Someone asked me this recently.

The scenario was familiar:
- “No time” to think creatively
- Management focus on short term, functional projects
- Demotivation, frustration, seeing the role as a stopgap

They felt altogether stuck.

Mindset that turns constraints into opportunity

The thing is, they were missing the boat -

Being ‘creative’ isn’t about a job title. It’s not a project either.

It’s a mindset. It’s the way you think. It’s how you consider the world, and solve its problems.

A mindset that turns constraints into opportunity.

Whatever the situation, a creative mindset takes you new places.

And that’s what brings change.

Here’s what I shared -

🥇 Reframe perspective. Boundaries spark opportunities. Andy Warhol honed his visual language while working as a commercial illustrator. That created an entire artistic movement. The current situation is always an opportunity to develop.

🥈 Translate value. Connect your work to the problems it solves. Airbnb’s founders framed creative ideas in terms of metrics - bookings, engagement, reviews. Understand the priorities of your team or stakeholders. Focus there.

🥉 Be a conductor. Energy is contagious. Model enthusiasm, curiosity, positivity. Wherever he worked, David Bowie set a culture of experimentation and exploration. The Berlin Trilogy shows how collaborative energies push boundaries.

And a bonus: Start small. Just start. Do your own micro-experiments. Small sparks of ideas can transform roles, teams and mindsets.

Creativity thrives _because_ of constraints, not despite them.

And small ripples make big waves.

What strategies have helped you stay creative in challenging spaces?

Christopher Wool, Untitled (You Make Me) (1997)