Creative Insights From Taylor Swift’s New Song

In the closing tracks of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift introduces an electro-pop song titled “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” Through this song, she candidly acknowledges that during the previous summer, while dazzling audiences on her historic Eras Tour, she was secretly grappling with inner turmoil despite outwardly portraying a picture-perfect image of living her best life.

Swift’s candid revelation serves as a testament to the transformative power of channeling life’s trials into sources of creativity, resilience, and imagination. It reminds us that within the depths of our own experiences, whether they are moments of triumph or adversity, exists the raw material to ignite our endeavors.

Given my frequent interactions with business audiences, a common inquiry resonates: “How can I enhance my creativity?” The response hinges on recognizing that creativity isn’t an exclusive attribute confined to a chosen few, such as Swift; rather, it’s a cognitive skill that can be developed with deliberate practice. Here are three straightforward yet potent ways to unlock your creative potential.

1. Own your experiences

Beyond familial upbringing, education, and inherent characteristics, it’s the trials and triumphs of life that mold your identity. Embracing and taking ownership of your experiences provides a springboard for personal growth and learning. Challenges become fertile soil for inspiration, offering unique and sometimes profound insights for creative expression. 

Especially for small-business owners, your own obstacles yield invaluable insights into the concerns of others, shedding light on how your business or brand can offer solutions to address these challenges.

2. Cultivate curiosity

You’ve likely encountered this advice before, akin to the way therapists universally encourage patients to do breathing exercises. Yet, cultivating curiosity remains one of the most transformative practices you can adopt. Embrace inquiry, venture into uncharted territories of thought and embrace subjects or experiences you might typically shy away from. 

Curiosity serves as the essential trait igniting innovation and fostering the birth of fresh ideas.

3. Challenge conventional thinking

Initially, I entertained the idea of naming one of my creativity books Kill the Pedestrian. As anticipated, the publisher opted for a different title. Nonetheless, the core concept persists: to defy conventional wisdom and mundane notions. In The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential (Penguin Random House, 2023), I advocate breaking away from traditional thought patterns, urging readers to question entrenched viewpoints. I champion embracing diverse perspectives, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation, reframing obstacles, and daring to venture into uncharted territories as pivotal strategies for unlocking innovative solutions.

Swift’s candid introspection in her latest album emphasizes the profound connection between life’s trials and creativity. Embracing our personal journeys, with all their ups and downs, becomes a wellspring of inspiration that fuels our business and creative endeavors. Furthermore, nurturing curiosity and daring to challenge the status quo are essential for fostering our creative essence.

For small-business leaders, owners and managers, creativity becomes a potent tool for overcoming obstacles, standing out in the market, and driving growth and success. By drawing on insights from personal experiences, fostering curiosity, and questioning entrenched beliefs, small businesses can approach challenges with fresh perspectives, uncovering imaginative solutions that may elude traditional methods.