Once Upon a Child

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Imagination of children

Did you doodle at school as a kid? Did you play make-believe games with your friends that took you to other worlds real and imagined? Did you have an invisible friend?

Our minds are so free as kids. We imagine anything and everything. Our creativity knows no limits and our imagination is boundless.

When do we lose that? When does our creativity go into hiding, and we settle for the ordinary and the mundane?

Some people never lose it. Some people keep the imaginative strength of children into their adult lives. You see it around you every day.

Who would have thought you could run a car on electricity? Or hear music on the go? Or watch 3-D landscapes in a 2-D setting?

Your creativity is still inside you. You never lose it. If you look closely enough, you’ll see it there underneath the surface, just waiting for you to renew your acquaintance.

Go find it. Rediscover the creative part you haven’t used since childhood. It can be used anywhere. Your personal life. That board meeting. That business plan. That marketing idea. That blog post. That kitchen recipe. Anywhere.

Your imagination and creativity are powerful tools. They can separate you from the crowd. The possibilities they offer, in life and in business, are endless – the only barrier is you.

When was the last time you used yours? Really used it?

image: Garry – Vision and Imagination

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About Danny

Danny Brown is Chief Technologist at ArCompany and an award-winning marketer and blogger. His blog is recognized as the #1 marketing blog in the world by HubSpot. Danny is also co-author of Influence Marketing: How to Create, Manage and Measure Brand Influencers in Social Media Marketing.

60 comments
DannyBrown
DannyBrown

@reillyjenn Well thank you kindly, Jenn! :)

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

@reillyjenn Well thank you kindly, Jenn! :)

Pa Ul
Pa Ul

interesting post :)

Pa Ul
Pa Ul

interesting post :)

seventhman
seventhman like.author.displayName 1 Like

Danny, now I'm having a trip down memory lane with your questions and yes, don't we ever wish that we never grow up?  The world seems to be ours for the taking and nothing seems to be impossible back then.  Now, do you think that there are just some people who are born creative.. with that extra 'creativity gene' in them, making them masters of their craft?  Or, perhaps.. some of us have lost in touch with our inner child. But thanks for calling us back to that special place. Cheers!

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator

 @seventhman Hey there Shaleen,

 

Great to have you here, sir (first time commenting?), thank you. :)

 

I definitely think some people are born with an extra strong creative gene - just look at Steve Jobs, I don't think you could have ever taught that kind of creativity into someone.

 

However, I also believe that - with the right teachers and an open mindset - some people can be encouraged to appreciate creativity and be more daring.

 

Of course, finding these teachers willing to do that is another thing altogether... ;-)

seventhman
seventhman

Danny, now I'm having a trip down memory lane with your questions and yes, don't we ever wish that we never grow up?  The world seems to be ours for the taking and nothing seems to be impossible back then.  Now, do you think that there are just some people who are born creative.. with that extra 'creativity gene' in them, making them masters of their craft?  Or, perhaps.. some of us have lost in touch with our inner child. But thanks for calling us back to that special place. Cheers!

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @seventhman Hey there Shaleen,   Great to have you here, sir (first time commenting?), thank you. :)   I definitely think some people are born with an extra strong creative gene - just look at Steve Jobs, I don't think you could have ever taught that kind of creativity into someone.   However, I also believe that - with the right teachers and an open mindset - some people can be encouraged to appreciate creativity and be more daring.   Of course, finding these teachers willing to do that is another thing altogether... ;-)

penneyfox
penneyfox like.author.displayName 1 Like

I love it when you go off into another world like this! When I first read this, all I kept thinking about was you were spending time with your kids and that time being in kid-world prompted this post :)

 

Funny thing is, I use my son and his struggles in school as inspiration to my work. I had an epiphany and realized that he's so much like me. I had to ask myself how do I parent a child like me to ensure that he doesn't lose his imagination/creativity while still learning to follow the rules so he doesn't get into trouble.

 

Makes me wonder if our parents were thinking this way, would we be different and more creative as adults and business owners?

 

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator

 @penneyfox Hey there miss,

 

That's a great question. Perhaps it is a generational thing and, as we move to a wider global community with more acceptance that being "different" is okay, we'll see more creative output than we would have when you and I were kids, because our own parents frowned upon creative release?

 

Hmm, mind ticking now - cheers!

penneyfox
penneyfox

I love it when you go off into another world like this! When I first read this, all I kept thinking about was you were spending time with your kids and that time being in kid-world prompted this post :)   Funny thing is, I use my son and his struggles in school as inspiration to my work. I had an epiphany and realized that he's so much like me. I had to ask myself how do I parent a child like me to ensure that he doesn't lose his imagination/creativity while still learning to follow the rules so he doesn't get into trouble.   Makes me wonder if our parents were thinking this way, would we be different and more creative as adults and business owners?  

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @penneyfox Hey there miss,   That's a great question. Perhaps it is a generational thing and, as we move to a wider global community with more acceptance that being "different" is okay, we'll see more creative output than we would have when you and I were kids, because our own parents frowned upon creative release?   Hmm, mind ticking now - cheers!

kasser
kasser

Nice and great post.

 

Thanks & regards.

kasser
kasser

Nice and great post.   Thanks & regards.

rdopping
rdopping like.author.displayName 1 Like

Good question man!

I spend so much time skirting around this question daily. Really using the "ole bean" and coming up with good ideas is tough, tough, tough. I understand that as we get older the world creeps in to take over and we don't allow ourselves, in some cases, to dream big as much as we should.

 

We just need to re-learn not to be afraid of ideas or that's what I always try to tell people. It's only an idea and so what if it's not perfect? Ideas can't hurt people. So, Danny, do you think fear is what stops us adults from being creative? Fear of failure or criticism? I think it has a lot to do with that.

 

"Did you doodle at school as a kid?" I LOVE that because i used to draw non-stop. I was a real introvert and i was FULL of big ideas. Thanks for sparking that need to scribble in me again.

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator

 @rdopping That's a great question about the fear factor, mate - I think the fear of failure is a huge barrier to creativity. Often we can brush off criticism, but trying to recover from failure is a bigger ask. 

 

Perhaps night school or adult college is one of the answers? Where we're not allowed to expand on our creativity in school, perhaps we have more confidence to do so as adults? Mind you, I guess that all comes back to your fear question.

 

Great thoughts, sir, cheers! 

rdopping
rdopping

Good question man! I spend so much time skirting around this question daily. Really using the "ole bean" and coming up with good ideas is tough, tough, tough. I understand that as we get older the world creeps in to take over and we don't allow ourselves, in some cases, to dream big as much as we should.   We just need to re-learn not to be afraid of ideas or that's what I always try to tell people. It's only an idea and so what if it's not perfect? Ideas can't hurt people. So, Danny, do you think fear is what stops us adults from being creative? Fear of failure or criticism? I think it has a lot to do with that.   "Did you doodle at school as a kid?" I LOVE that because i used to draw non-stop. I was a real introvert and i was FULL of big ideas. Thanks for sparking that need to scribble in me again.

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @rdopping That's a great question about the fear factor, mate - I think the fear of failure is a huge barrier to creativity. Often we can brush off criticism, but trying to recover from failure is a bigger ask.    Perhaps night school or adult college is one of the answers? Where we're not allowed to expand on our creativity in school, perhaps we have more confidence to do so as adults? Mind you, I guess that all comes back to your fear question.   Great thoughts, sir, cheers! 

TheJackB
TheJackB like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

I am a writer- creativity is my lifeblood. Every day I use it...repeatedly. Some times I am more effective at doing so than others- but it never stops. If you work at it you can find ways to unleash it more effectively and efficiently.

 

Practice, practice, practice.

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator

 @TheJackB Amen to that, sir - when I help folks get their blogs up and running, I always suggest that they write every day. They don't need to necessarily publish, but at least get into the flow of writing, and that can only help you in the long run.

TheJackB
TheJackB

I am a writer- creativity is my lifeblood. Every day I use it...repeatedly. Some times I am more effective at doing so than others- but it never stops. If you work at it you can find ways to unleash it more effectively and efficiently.   Practice, practice, practice.

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @TheJackB Amen to that, sir - when I help folks get their blogs up and running, I always suggest that they write every day. They don't need to necessarily publish, but at least get into the flow of writing, and that can only help you in the long run.

Andrea T.H.W.
Andrea T.H.W. like.author.displayName 1 Like

I can't remember who said that we forge the bars of our prison and it's one of the greatest truth of the world. A bit it depends from us and the rest from the outside world which takes away "freedom" and substitutes it with fear. Mainly because those around us try to change us as they are. The same applies to creativity which is an expression of freedom. There are corporations who wants us to buy what they sell, governments who want us to obey and pay taxes with very little in exchange, Google who wants to tell us how the net is and so on. But, at the very end, we are the one who let them do it. So we help them to forge our own prison.

 

Which is great, as I usually say at my own little place, because if you are the one who forged the bars you are the one who can break them. As you said Danny if the only barrier is me then I can jump over it and be free again, if I really want it and I'm ready to feel a bit uncomfortable for a while. Probably it's the same things that happens to birds when leaving the nest, but later they can fly.

 

Most of us lose creativity and free thinking mind with time and growing up but we can get them back again, if we want to. The power is in our hands, always.

 

The real reason why the world is full of unhappiness is that when we lose our Happy Thoughts we are unable to fly. Peter Pan docet. :)

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator

 @Andrea Hypno Hey there Andrea,

 

You always come here with such great words of wisdom. I love your point about the prisoner mindset (I'm going to have to Google that!), because it's so true and so powerful.

 

People often complain that they don't have the resources or time, whatever, to do something - but if you truly want it you can find that time.

 

If it's out of our hands, fair enough - but when we have the opportunity to effect change ourselves, then we should try and at least see where they could take us.

 

Cheers, sir!

Andrea T.H.W.
Andrea T.H.W.

I can't remember who said that we forge the bars of our prison and it's one of the greatest truth of the world. A bit it depends from us and the rest from the outside world which takes away "freedom" and substitutes it with fear. Mainly because those around us try to change us as they are. The same applies to creativity which is an expression of freedom. There are corporations who wants us to buy what they sell, governments who want us to obey and pay taxes with very little in exchange, Google who wants to tell us how the net is and so on. But, at the very end, we are the one who let them do it. So we help them to forge our own prison.   Which is great, as I usually say at my own little place, because if you are the one who forged the bars you are the one who can break them. As you said Danny if the only barrier is me then I can jump over it and be free again, if I really want it and I'm ready to feel a bit uncomfortable for a while. Probably it's the same things that happens to birds when leaving the nest, but later they can fly.   Most of us lose creativity and free thinking mind with time and growing up but we can get them back again, if we want to. The power is in our hands, always.   The real reason why the world is full of unhappiness is that when we lose our Happy Thoughts we are unable to fly. Peter Pan docet. :)

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @Andrea Hypno Hey there Andrea,   You always come here with such great words of wisdom. I love your point about the prisoner mindset (I'm going to have to Google that!), because it's so true and so powerful.   People often complain that they don't have the resources or time, whatever, to do something - but if you truly want it you can find that time.   If it's out of our hands, fair enough - but when we have the opportunity to effect change ourselves, then we should try and at least see where they could take us.   Cheers, sir!

Craig McBreen
Craig McBreen like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Hi Danny,

 

I was that kid who was always staring out the window. I honestly had trouble paying attention and hated, hated the structure of the school day. Felt like the clink to me.

 

In my opinion, schools do not foster this enough in children. Creativity is so important, but is often shoved aside in favor of other subjects and there is often a one-size-fits-all approach. And kids: Well, there's such a wide range of shapes and sizes.

 

So many often ask. Do we grow out of it or does the system drain it out of us?

 

Regardless, it's important to work at IT every day. Simple practices can bring out that creativity.

penneyfox
penneyfox like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Craig McBreen The school system is so out of whack now that they spend more time 'teaching to the test' (gotta love that No Child Left Behind program!) then letting kids learn the way we did as kids. My son struggles all the time with school - he's highly intelligent (had his IQ tested at 6 - found out he has an IQ of 134) and he just gets bored. Fortunately, I was able to get him into the enrichment program so that helps feeds his creativity and love for learning.

 

Sometimes it does seem like we're living in a business world that forces us into the same structure as the school system. And we have to figure out our ways to navigate around the system and make it work to feed our creativity.

Craig McBreen
Craig McBreen

 @penneyfox 

Hi Penney,

 

"we have to figure out our ways to navigate around the system and make it work to feed our creativity"

 

--Exactly :)

 

Danny Brown
Danny Brown moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Craig McBreen I hate the school system, mate. Not the teachers - I think (for the most part) they do a great job at a very difficult task.

 

But I hate a system that bends you to their will; stifles imagination; forces you into a regimen; and punishes you for thinking ahead of your time. That's not an avenue for growth - not one bit.

 

Cheers, sir.

Craig McBreen
Craig McBreen

Hi Danny,   I was that kid who was always staring out the window. I honestly had trouble paying attention and hated, hated the structure of the school day. Felt like the clink to me.   In my opinion, schools do not foster this enough in children. Creativity is so important, but is often shoved aside in favor of other subjects and there is often a one-size-fits-all approach. And kids: Well, there's such a wide range of shapes and sizes.   So many often ask. Do we grow out of it or does the system drain it out of us?   Regardless, it's important to work at IT every day. Simple practices can bring out that creativity.

penneyfox
penneyfox

 @Craig McBreen The school system is so out of whack now that they spend more time 'teaching to the test' (gotta love that No Child Left Behind program!) then letting kids learn the way we did as kids. My son struggles all the time with school - he's highly intelligent (had his IQ tested at 6 - found out he has an IQ of 134) and he just gets bored. Fortunately, I was able to get him into the enrichment program so that helps feeds his creativity and love for learning.   Sometimes it does seem like we're living in a business world that forces us into the same structure as the school system. And we have to figure out our ways to navigate around the system and make it work to feed our creativity.

Craig McBreen
Craig McBreen

 @penneyfox  Hi Penney,   "we have to figure out our ways to navigate around the system and make it work to feed our creativity"   --Exactly :)  

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @Craig McBreen I hate the school system, mate. Not the teachers - I think (for the most part) they do a great job at a very difficult task.   But I hate a system that bends you to their will; stifles imagination; forces you into a regimen; and punishes you for thinking ahead of your time. That's not an avenue for growth - not one bit.   Cheers, sir.

Aliosha Kasin
Aliosha Kasin like.author.displayName 1 Like

I always got in trouble for daydreaming in school, my mind would always wonder. I believe having such a mind as a kind gave me my creative side as an adult. I see things different from other people can can always spot something that others would never notice.

Anders Michael
Anders Michael like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Aliosha Kasin I was the same way and still am. I daydreamed in school, but it lead me to fun and creative ventures. I think it's great! Some say that marketers are the ones that never seemed to grow up. Perhaps this is why I've found myself with a passion for marketing!

Aliosha Kasin
Aliosha Kasin

I always got in trouble for daydreaming in school, my mind would always wonder. I believe having such a mind as a kind gave me my creative side as an adult. I see things different from other people can can always spot something that others would never notice.

Anders Michael
Anders Michael

 @Aliosha Kasin I was the same way and still am. I daydreamed in school, but it lead me to fun and creative ventures. I think it's great! Some say that marketers are the ones that never seemed to grow up. Perhaps this is why I've found myself with a passion for marketing!

DannyBrown
DannyBrown

 @Anders Michael  @Aliosha Kasin Isn't it sad to think that the majority of our most imaginative years are our early ones, and many adults try so hard to make us "see sense" and grow up?   Here's to more daydreaming, and those that encourage it.

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez I may have ridden my suitcase down the ramps at the airport yesterday. It was awesome.

GiseleNMendez
GiseleNMendez

@rhysorwin Hahahaha, that's the inner boyRhys taking over

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez The only difference between 5 year old me and 22 year old me is that my toy cars have engines...

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez You're right, I really would have. We have some amazing car shows in the UK that I like to go to. Always classics never new.

GiseleNMendez
GiseleNMendez

@rhysorwin (we saw a couple of "vintage" cars today that you would have loved)

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez I may have ridden my suitcase down the ramps at the airport yesterday. It was awesome.

GiseleNMendez
GiseleNMendez

@rhysorwin Hahahaha, that's the inner boyRhys taking over

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez The only difference between 5 year old me and 22 year old me is that my toy cars have engines...

Rhysorwin
Rhysorwin

@GiseleNMendez You're right, I really would have. We have some amazing car shows in the UK that I like to go to. Always classics never new.

GiseleNMendez
GiseleNMendez

@rhysorwin (we saw a couple of "vintage" cars today that you would have loved)


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