Anticipatory Innovation: Capitalizing on Change in Turbulent Times – Unleashing Your Creative Genius

The fourth and final virtual event of the Anticipatory Innovation- Capitalizing on Change in Turbulent Times featured a discussion around creativity and entrepreneurship. This event was moderated by Lisa Caulfield, Director of the Global Centre at Kylemore, and featured Sam Miller, Director of Undergraduate Studies – Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Associate Teaching Professor, Mendoza College of Business. Miller shared a presentation and answered questions from participants about how creativity is essential to entrepreneurship and innovation. Miller focused on three characteristics needed to unleash creative genius, curiosity, imagination, and restlessness. These traits are part of what Miller calls the Entrepreneurial Foresight Model.

Curiosity, imagination, and restlessness together lead to creative ideas. Each individual has these traits, but they are not always fully developed or acted on, and they can become dampened as we grow older. The first trait, curiosity, relates to someone’s strong desire to understand, learn or know something. Creative entrepreneurs often ask the questions that other people do not ask or are afraid to ask. Our brain likes to categorize information, which helps the brain work faster and optimize productivity. However, if this happens, one can miss out on other curiosities or missing information. Having what Miller calls an “inquisitive peripheral vision” can help lead to answering new questions that are otherwise overlooked, and discover new possibilities otherwise missed.

The second trait in the Entrepreneurial Foresight Model is imagination. Children often have an immense amount of imagination that often gets squandered out by the time adulthood is reached. Miller offers a few ways to help grow imagination. One way is through the idea of kaleidoscopic thinking, or combining ideas that others may not have thought to combine. This leads to new ways of thinking and new possibilities. Miller believes creative thinkers are not afraid to traverse new spaces or the unknown with a free imagination.

The final trait in the Entrepreneurial Foresight Model is restlessness.or the inability to remain still in thinking, creation, or some other action. According to Miller, restless people have a sense of urgency and a maker instinct that drives them to learn and discover new things. Miller asserts that these three traits are something that can be improved in an individual overtime with practice. Miller believes that creative freedom and innovation can create positive changes in society and should endure as a force for good.

This event concluded with a short breakout session for viewers to meet and further discuss what Miller offered in his presentation as well as their own personal thoughts on creativity and its relation to innovation.

Visit the event page for more.