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How To Hack Creativity | Peggy Choi | TEDxHKUST


thanks for the intro so our theme today

thanks for the intro so our theme today is elusive creativity and I’m gonna

is elusive creativity and I’m gonna

is elusive creativity and I’m gonna spend the next 15 minutes to explain to

spend the next 15 minutes to explain to

spend the next 15 minutes to explain to you why creativity need not be elusive

as we have heard for many of the great

as we have heard for many of the great speakers before me today creativity can

speakers before me today creativity can

speakers before me today creativity can be different to different people and

be different to different people and

be different to different people and there are infinite number of ways to

there are infinite number of ways to

there are infinite number of ways to express creativity that’s the beauty and

express creativity that’s the beauty and

express creativity that’s the beauty and joy of creativity but it can be really

joy of creativity but it can be really

joy of creativity but it can be really frustrating too so I’m sure all of us

frustrating too so I’m sure all of us

frustrating too so I’m sure all of us here have had moments where we’re stuck

here have had moments where we’re stuck

here have had moments where we’re stuck we can’t think of any ideas and real

we can’t think of any ideas and real

we can’t think of any ideas and real like and some of us probably have to be

like and some of us probably have to be

like and some of us probably have to be signed to fade at some point in our

signed to fade at some point in our

signed to fade at some point in our lives and said you know what I’m just

lives and said you know what I’m just

lives and said you know what I’m just not that creative

well I’m here to try to convince you

well I’m here to try to convince you that with work anyone can learn to be

that with work anyone can learn to be

that with work anyone can learn to be creative and there’s actually a way to

creative and there’s actually a way to

creative and there’s actually a way to hack this I’m going to tell you how it

hack this I’m going to tell you how it

hack this I’m going to tell you how it all starts with a change of mindset

all starts with a change of mindset

all starts with a change of mindset perhaps the biggest roadblock that most

perhaps the biggest roadblock that most

perhaps the biggest roadblock that most people have is the notion that

people have is the notion that

people have is the notion that creativity is connected to intelligence

creativity is connected to intelligence

creativity is connected to intelligence there’s another common thinking that

there’s another common thinking that

there’s another common thinking that creative people are just born that way

creative people are just born that way

creative people are just born that way creativity is a gift that’s just given

creativity is a gift that’s just given

creativity is a gift that’s just given and you have no control of it there’s

and you have no control of it there’s

and you have no control of it there’s another hurdle which is the common

another hurdle which is the common

another hurdle which is the common confusion between artistic ability and

confusion between artistic ability and

confusion between artistic ability and creativity being artistic means you can

creativity being artistic means you can

creativity being artistic means you can paint you can draw we can compose music

paint you can draw we can compose music

paint you can draw we can compose music and create works of art but being

and create works of art but being

and create works of art but being creative actually simply means using

creative actually simply means using

creative actually simply means using your imagination to create and solve

your imagination to create and solve

your imagination to create and solve being an artist being great artists is

being an artist being great artists is

being an artist being great artists is creative but you don’t actually have to

creative but you don’t actually have to

creative but you don’t actually have to be an artist to be creative we are

be an artist to be creative we are

be an artist to be creative we are creative all the time we just don’t

creative all the time we just don’t

creative all the time we just don’t realize it for example if you try to

realize it for example if you try to

realize it for example if you try to cook at home looking at a recipe you

cook at home looking at a recipe you

cook at home looking at a recipe you don’t have other ingredients but you

don’t have other ingredients but you

don’t have other ingredients but you somehow create a meal out of what we

somehow create a meal out of what we

somehow create a meal out of what we have anyways that’s creativity

have anyways that’s creativity

have anyways that’s creativity if you were pulled by Google Maps that

if you were pulled by Google Maps that

if you were pulled by Google Maps that is traffic ahead somehow you figured out

is traffic ahead somehow you figured out

is traffic ahead somehow you figured out an alternative route to get to a

an alternative route to get to a

an alternative route to get to a destination on time that’s also

destination on time that’s also

destination on time that’s also creativity so as Steve Jobs actually

creativity so as Steve Jobs actually

creativity so as Steve Jobs actually said in one of his interview back in

said in one of his interview back in

said in one of his interview back in 1995 on the Wired magazine

1995 on the Wired magazine

1995 on the Wired magazine he said that creativity is actually just

he said that creativity is actually just

he said that creativity is actually just about connecting things and he also

about connecting things and he also

about connecting things and he also explained that creative people you know

explained that creative people you know

explained that creative people you know sometimes actually they’re really guilty

sometimes actually they’re really guilty

sometimes actually they’re really guilty because they don’t really know how they

because they don’t really know how they

because they don’t really know how they did it they just saw something so the

did it they just saw something so the

did it they just saw something so the first part of his quote connecting

first part of his quote connecting

first part of his quote connecting things has really stuck with me but the

things has really stuck with me but the

things has really stuck with me but the second part seems to be a counter

second part seems to be a counter

second part seems to be a counter argument of what I’ve just told you but

argument of what I’ve just told you but

argument of what I’ve just told you but as he explained further in his interview

as he explained further in his interview

as he explained further in his interview in the magazine actually that these

in the magazine actually that these

in the magazine actually that these creative people the way they create this

creative people the way they create this

creative people the way they create this magic seemingly it’s actually just

magic seemingly it’s actually just

magic seemingly it’s actually just because they have had more experience in

because they have had more experience in

because they have had more experience in their life or they’ve thought more about

their life or they’ve thought more about

their life or they’ve thought more about their experiences than other people so

their experiences than other people so

their experiences than other people so the key to hacking creativity is

the key to hacking creativity is

the key to hacking creativity is realizing that these things that you use

realizing that these things that you use

realizing that these things that you use to connect in the creation process are

to connect in the creation process are

to connect in the creation process are actually not Astra that these things can

actually not Astra that these things can

actually not Astra that these things can be broken down into two core elements

be broken down into two core elements

be broken down into two core elements knowledge and create knowledge and

knowledge and create knowledge and

knowledge and create knowledge and experience you might have seen something

experience you might have seen something

experience you might have seen something similar before from buffer we can take a

similar before from buffer we can take a

similar before from buffer we can take a little bit deeper here what I mean by

little bit deeper here what I mean by

little bit deeper here what I mean by knowledge and experience so we have

knowledge and experience so we have

knowledge and experience so we have these dots these dots represent what you

these dots these dots represent what you

these dots these dots represent what you know the discrete pieces of information

know the discrete pieces of information

know the discrete pieces of information and data that you gain from talking to

and data that you gain from talking to

and data that you gain from talking to people from reading from watching and

people from reading from watching and

people from reading from watching and from listening and here you start to

from listening and here you start to

from listening and here you start to connect the dots your experience give

connect the dots your experience give

connect the dots your experience give you the context allow you to see

you the context allow you to see

you the context allow you to see patterns and to be able to draw lines

patterns and to be able to draw lines

patterns and to be able to draw lines and start connecting the dots but wait

and start connecting the dots but wait

and start connecting the dots but wait that’s actually one more way to connect

that’s actually one more way to connect

that’s actually one more way to connect dots here there’s probably more than one

dots here there’s probably more than one

dots here there’s probably more than one way because if you look at the number of

way because if you look at the number of

way because if you look at the number of dots and number of lines that you have

dots and number of lines that you have

dots and number of lines that you have effectively the more dots you have the

effectively the more dots you have the

effectively the more dots you have the more lines you have that’s exponentially

more lines you have that’s exponentially

more lines you have that’s exponentially more ways to make connections so

more ways to make connections so

more ways to make connections so basically

basically

basically we invest our time in expanding our

we invest our time in expanding our

we invest our time in expanding our knowledge and experience our creativity

knowledge and experience our creativity

knowledge and experience our creativity ability should be able to expand extra

ability should be able to expand extra

ability should be able to expand extra nationally as well and this is the crux

nationally as well and this is the crux

nationally as well and this is the crux of creativity you can train up your

of creativity you can train up your

of creativity you can train up your creative muscle to do that you’re not

creative muscle to do that you’re not

creative muscle to do that you’re not only to know as much as possible but you

only to know as much as possible but you

only to know as much as possible but you also need to experience as much as

also need to experience as much as

also need to experience as much as possible so let me take cooking again as

possible so let me take cooking again as

possible so let me take cooking again as an analogy it’s not that I like to cook

an analogy it’s not that I like to cook

an analogy it’s not that I like to cook but it’s an easy analogy it’s not just

but it’s an easy analogy it’s not just

but it’s an easy analogy it’s not just about the ingredients it’s actually

about the ingredients it’s actually

about the ingredients it’s actually about how you use the ingredients and

about how you use the ingredients and

about how you use the ingredients and that’s also usually more than one way to

that’s also usually more than one way to

that’s also usually more than one way to cook the same ingredients right and if

cook the same ingredients right and if

cook the same ingredients right and if you’re a big foodie like me I think one

you’re a big foodie like me I think one

you’re a big foodie like me I think one of you are and you probably have heard

of you are and you probably have heard

of you are and you probably have heard of Ferran Adria who is the head chef at

of Ferran Adria who is the head chef at

of Ferran Adria who is the head chef at El Bowie in Spain and he’s well known to

El Bowie in Spain and he’s well known to

El Bowie in Spain and he’s well known to be one of the world’s greatest chefs

be one of the world’s greatest chefs

be one of the world’s greatest chefs famous for his never-before-seen dishes

famous for his never-before-seen dishes

famous for his never-before-seen dishes where he combines flavors and texture

where he combines flavors and texture

where he combines flavors and texture and temperature

and temperature

and temperature he created ways of cooking that no one

he created ways of cooking that no one

he created ways of cooking that no one has ever seen before so for many years

has ever seen before so for many years

has ever seen before so for many years he famously only opened a restaurant for

he famously only opened a restaurant for

he famously only opened a restaurant for half a year because for the other half

half a year because for the other half

half a year because for the other half of the year he’s travelling experiencing

of the year he’s travelling experiencing

of the year he’s travelling experiencing new things getting inspirations and new

new things getting inspirations and new

new things getting inspirations and new ideas so look at the way we visualize

ideas so look at the way we visualize

ideas so look at the way we visualize creativity here fara Ferran adrià has

creativity here fara Ferran adrià has

creativity here fara Ferran adrià has abundant knowledge he knows how to cook

abundant knowledge he knows how to cook

abundant knowledge he knows how to cook and he knows how to use all these

and he knows how to use all these

and he knows how to use all these ingredients but it’s important to note

ingredients but it’s important to note

ingredients but it’s important to note that he appreciate the significance of

that he appreciate the significance of

that he appreciate the significance of gaining experience every year this

gaining experience every year this

gaining experience every year this allows him to create new ways of cooking

allows him to create new ways of cooking

allows him to create new ways of cooking fresh every time he comes back this is

fresh every time he comes back this is

fresh every time he comes back this is how you end up with bread rolls made of

how you end up with bread rolls made of

how you end up with bread rolls made of foam and also 3d printed sugar

foam and also 3d printed sugar

foam and also 3d printed sugar sculptures made in his kitchen

sculptures made in his kitchen

sculptures made in his kitchen and aside from cooking the same logic

and aside from cooking the same logic

and aside from cooking the same logic can be applied to business too like Reed

can be applied to business too like Reed

can be applied to business too like Reed Reed Hastings the CEO of Netflix

Reed Hastings the CEO of Netflix

Reed Hastings the CEO of Netflix he also famously takes six weeks off

he also famously takes six weeks off

he also famously takes six weeks off every year to travel and gain new

every year to travel and gain new

every year to travel and gain new perspective

perspective

perspective on his decision-making the same thing

on his decision-making the same thing

on his decision-making the same thing works for Richard Branson too and as you

works for Richard Branson too and as you

works for Richard Branson too and as you know probably he spent a lot of time in

know probably he spent a lot of time in

know probably he spent a lot of time in his private island unfortunately not

his private island unfortunately not

his private island unfortunately not every one of us here would have the

every one of us here would have the

every one of us here would have the luxury to help ourself be creative but

luxury to help ourself be creative but

luxury to help ourself be creative but the main point I want you to take away

the main point I want you to take away

the main point I want you to take away with is that creativity is enabled by

with is that creativity is enabled by

with is that creativity is enabled by knowledge and experience and these days

knowledge and experience and these days

knowledge and experience and these days with your phones and Kindles acquiring

with your phones and Kindles acquiring

with your phones and Kindles acquiring knowledge is actually really easy on the

knowledge is actually really easy on the

knowledge is actually really easy on the go and in real time however knowledge

go and in real time however knowledge

go and in real time however knowledge alone is not enough we need experience

alone is not enough we need experience

alone is not enough we need experience to connect the dots – and these are the

to connect the dots – and these are the

to connect the dots – and these are the actually this experience is actually the

actually this experience is actually the

actually this experience is actually the part that gives you the context your

part that gives you the context your

part that gives you the context your ability to see patterns

ability to see patterns

ability to see patterns Michael Ventura the American novelist

Michael Ventura the American novelist

Michael Ventura the American novelist actually summarized that really well he

actually summarized that really well he

actually summarized that really well he said that without context information is

said that without context information is

said that without context information is just a dot the unfortunate reality is

just a dot the unfortunate reality is

just a dot the unfortunate reality is that we have limited capacity we only

that we have limited capacity we only

that we have limited capacity we only have 24 hours in a day how can we work

have 24 hours in a day how can we work

have 24 hours in a day how can we work and study and have all these obligations

and study and have all these obligations

and study and have all these obligations and have new experiences at the same

and have new experiences at the same

and have new experiences at the same time right that’s the sad reality and

time right that’s the sad reality and

time right that’s the sad reality and there’s no way around it seemingly but

there’s no way around it seemingly but

there’s no way around it seemingly but actually just a way to hack it so the

actually just a way to hack it so the

actually just a way to hack it so the secret to hacking creativity is by

secret to hacking creativity is by

secret to hacking creativity is by having conversations conversations can

having conversations conversations can

having conversations conversations can expand and multiply your experience

expand and multiply your experience

expand and multiply your experience simply by engaging in meaningful

simply by engaging in meaningful

simply by engaging in meaningful conversations with people maybe your

conversations with people maybe your

conversations with people maybe your friends your teacher your colleague your

friends your teacher your colleague your

friends your teacher your colleague your mentors and experts in your field

mentors and experts in your field

mentors and experts in your field perhaps or in another field you can gain

perhaps or in another field you can gain

perhaps or in another field you can gain new context by talking to them about

new context by talking to them about

new context by talking to them about their experience their insights and the

their experience their insights and the

their experience their insights and the ideas and the neat part is these are the

ideas and the neat part is these are the

ideas and the neat part is these are the things that are not published you can’t

things that are not published you can’t

things that are not published you can’t find them on Google you can’t find them

find them on Google you can’t find them

find them on Google you can’t find them in books and cumulatively over time you

in books and cumulatively over time you

in books and cumulatively over time you should be able to expand your experience

should be able to expand your experience

should be able to expand your experience base with these conversations to allow

base with these conversations to allow

base with these conversations to allow you to see patterns better and in fact

you to see patterns better and in fact

you to see patterns better and in fact the concept of hacking creativity

the concept of hacking creativity

the concept of hacking creativity through conversations is already widely

through conversations is already widely

through conversations is already widely observed through businesses

observed through businesses

observed through businesses think about brainstorming sessions where

think about brainstorming sessions where

think about brainstorming sessions where teams sit together and bounce ideas off

teams sit together and bounce ideas off

teams sit together and bounce ideas off of each other focus groups is another

of each other focus groups is another

of each other focus groups is another example where external part is brought

example where external part is brought

example where external part is brought in and you talk to a target audience

in and you talk to a target audience

in and you talk to a target audience gain there get a sense of their

gain there get a sense of their

gain there get a sense of their experience and take that into account in

experience and take that into account in

experience and take that into account in the product development or idea

the product development or idea

the product development or idea generation cycle these conversations are

generation cycle these conversations are

generation cycle these conversations are hacks to the creative process businesses

hacks to the creative process businesses

hacks to the creative process businesses that are conducive to innovation

that are conducive to innovation

that are conducive to innovation actually have systems and processes in

actually have systems and processes in

actually have systems and processes in place to facilitate internal and

place to facilitate internal and

place to facilitate internal and external conversations and that’s why

external conversations and that’s why

external conversations and that’s why myself and my team at Lync is really

myself and my team at Lync is really

myself and my team at Lync is really excited and passion about what we do

excited and passion about what we do

excited and passion about what we do because we’re about connecting people to

because we’re about connecting people to

because we’re about connecting people to express for conversations and repeatedly

express for conversations and repeatedly

express for conversations and repeatedly we have seen examples where our clients

we have seen examples where our clients

we have seen examples where our clients actually gain this secondhand experience

actually gain this secondhand experience

actually gain this secondhand experience that really contributed to their bottom

that really contributed to their bottom

that really contributed to their bottom line in the future I foresee a greater

line in the future I foresee a greater

line in the future I foresee a greater integration seamlessly with this in

integration seamlessly with this in

integration seamlessly with this in external innovating in conversations in

external innovating in conversations in

external innovating in conversations in businesses and that facilitates our role

businesses and that facilitates our role

businesses and that facilitates our role to be creators and innovators within

to be creators and innovators within

to be creators and innovators within this businesses because as as AI develop

this businesses because as as AI develop

this businesses because as as AI develop more more processes that we have today

more more processes that we have today

more more processes that we have today is going to be automated if you could do

is going to be automated if you could do

is going to be automated if you could do a quick search on a on the Internet

a quick search on a on the Internet

a quick search on a on the Internet obviously you would see all these you

obviously you would see all these you

obviously you would see all these you know changes that are coming up the

know changes that are coming up the

know changes that are coming up the biggest fear is that you know machine

biggest fear is that you know machine

biggest fear is that you know machine will one day replace you in and we have

will one day replace you in and we have

will one day replace you in and we have reach actually a stage where being

reach actually a stage where being

reach actually a stage where being creative is not just important for

creative is not just important for

creative is not just important for artists and designers being creative is

artists and designers being creative is

artists and designers being creative is also important for everyone to stay

also important for everyone to stay

also important for everyone to stay relevant in the future workplace and as

relevant in the future workplace and as

relevant in the future workplace and as such I would like to take my own advice

such I would like to take my own advice

such I would like to take my own advice and provide three key elements that we

and provide three key elements that we

and provide three key elements that we have served as striving creativity one

have served as striving creativity one

have served as striving creativity one creativity needs confidence you need to

creativity needs confidence you need to

creativity needs confidence you need to be company in yourself trust your mind

be company in yourself trust your mind

be company in yourself trust your mind that believe that ideas will flow have

that believe that ideas will flow have

that believe that ideas will flow have the confidence to talk to some strangers

the confidence to talk to some strangers

the confidence to talk to some strangers have meaningful conversations to take

have meaningful conversations to take

have meaningful conversations to take risks and embrace failures

risks and embrace failures

risks and embrace failures their turn back there to expand your

their turn back there to expand your

their turn back there to expand your horizons most creative ventures started

horizons most creative ventures started

horizons most creative ventures started out as silly ideas among conversations

out as silly ideas among conversations

out as silly ideas among conversations among friends such as a B&B that started

among friends such as a B&B that started

among friends such as a B&B that started off as renting out mattresses and today

off as renting out mattresses and today

off as renting out mattresses and today you can actually rent out your own

you can actually rent out your own

you can actually rent out your own castle second creativity needs time we

castle second creativity needs time we

castle second creativity needs time we need to invest time in creating new

need to invest time in creating new

need to invest time in creating new knowledge and experience and we need to

knowledge and experience and we need to

knowledge and experience and we need to also invest time to think about what you

also invest time to think about what you

also invest time to think about what you know and what you experience once these

know and what you experience once these

know and what you experience once these two ingredients are in place with

two ingredients are in place with

two ingredients are in place with knowledge and experience the last part

knowledge and experience the last part

knowledge and experience the last part of the creation process is usually

of the creation process is usually

of the creation process is usually unconscious we often hear that best

unconscious we often hear that best

unconscious we often hear that best ideas comes from one taking when one’s

ideas comes from one taking when one’s

ideas comes from one taking when one’s taking a shower or when once we need to

taking a shower or when once we need to

taking a shower or when once we need to fall asleep at least that’s my case the

fall asleep at least that’s my case the

fall asleep at least that’s my case the best idea can also show up when you have

best idea can also show up when you have

best idea can also show up when you have conversation or when you’re doing when

conversation or when you’re doing when

conversation or when you’re doing when you’re doing things that are totally

you’re doing things that are totally

you’re doing things that are totally seemingly unrelated but the point here

seemingly unrelated but the point here

seemingly unrelated but the point here is that creativity needs time to brew

is that creativity needs time to brew

is that creativity needs time to brew you need to be patient and let your

you need to be patient and let your

you need to be patient and let your brain work through the information in

brain work through the information in

brain work through the information in context if you invest more time in

context if you invest more time in

context if you invest more time in actually expanding your crew your

actually expanding your crew your

actually expanding your crew your knowledge and experience training up

knowledge and experience training up

knowledge and experience training up your creativity muscle you’re gonna be

your creativity muscle you’re gonna be

your creativity muscle you’re gonna be better and better at connecting the dots

better and better at connecting the dots

better and better at connecting the dots and finally creativity needs work it

and finally creativity needs work it

and finally creativity needs work it comes from it comes down to your

comes from it comes down to your

comes from it comes down to your willingness to engage to think deeply

willingness to engage to think deeply

willingness to engage to think deeply and to engage remember to keep adding

and to engage remember to keep adding

and to engage remember to keep adding the dots and bringing a seeking of new

the dots and bringing a seeking of new

the dots and bringing a seeking of new ways to connect them to be intentional

ways to connect them to be intentional

ways to connect them to be intentional in seeking out meaningful conversations

in seeking out meaningful conversations

in seeking out meaningful conversations with others be curious about topics

with others be curious about topics

with others be curious about topics that’s even beyond your daily scope of

that’s even beyond your daily scope of

that’s even beyond your daily scope of work or studies and I believe that at

work or studies and I believe that at

work or studies and I believe that at some point in the future creativity will

some point in the future creativity will

some point in the future creativity will actually be a necessity experience and

actually be a necessity experience and

actually be a necessity experience and creativity cue experience and creativity

creativity cue experience and creativity

creativity cue experience and creativity are actually what differentiates us from

are actually what differentiates us from

are actually what differentiates us from AI we simply cannot afford to let

AI we simply cannot afford to let

AI we simply cannot afford to let creativity elude us

creativity elude us

creativity elude us we shouldn’t resign to the notion that

we shouldn’t resign to the notion that

we shouldn’t resign to the notion that creativity is elusive let not be let’s

creativity is elusive let not be let’s

creativity is elusive let not be let’s not be limited by time and less Hector a

not be limited by time and less Hector a

not be limited by time and less Hector a tivity with conversations so I would

tivity with conversations so I would

tivity with conversations so I would challenge you today on your way home put

challenge you today on your way home put

challenge you today on your way home put on your phone look up and try to strike

on your phone look up and try to strike

on your phone look up and try to strike up a conversation with a stranger you

up a conversation with a stranger you

up a conversation with a stranger you might actually experience a new horizon

might actually experience a new horizon

might actually experience a new horizon seek out the opportunity to have the

seek out the opportunity to have the

seek out the opportunity to have the meaningful conversation at that extra

meaningful conversation at that extra

meaningful conversation at that extra line and connect some more dots thank

line and connect some more dots thank

line and connect some more dots thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

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