Innovation and Creativity Take Time

Steven Spielberg is among the most popular and prolific filmmakers in cinema history.

Not only recognized for the formidable box office revenue his films have earned, but he's also viewed as one of the pioneers of the New Hollywood era—an era characterized by young directors seeking to be recognized as filmmakers rather than hired hands brought in by the studio.

Spielberg landed on the Hollywood scene with his 1975 summer blockbuster, Jaws.  This film was followed up two years later with Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

It would also take another four years for him and George Lucas to get Raiders of the Lost Ark into theaters.  The rest is film history.

When asked why it takes so long to make a film, Spielberg replied:

All good ideas start out as bad ideas.  That’s why it takes so long.

Enter the Flow State

Bad ideas are often part of the process leading to innovation and creativity.  Your work doesn’t have to be perfect the first time.

Oftentimes, perfectionism comes at a cost.  Everything takes time and effort.

Stephen King writes 10 pages every single day and finishes the first draft in three months.  He also takes a break for six weeks, which gives him a refreshed mind when it comes to revisions.

As King says,

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.

Keep trying, keep writing, keep doing.

You don’t have to throw away your bad ideas.  Instead, embrace and grow from all of them.

An amazing occurrence happens with persistence.  You might sit at your computer for four hours trying to type out an opening to your manuscript.  Suddenly, something clicks.  Ten pages pour out in minutes, or hours—it doesn't matter, you've lost track of time. 

You've entered a Flow State. 

Flow States are accessible to anyone who puts the time and effort into focusing on one task at a time.  Fortunately, Flow States have been associated with both innovation and creativity.

So if you're feeling stuck, focus your mind on one task, regardless of how distracted you might feel or impatient you become.  A breakthrough isn't guaranteed, but it's much more likely when you train your mind in such a manner. 

Tips for Entering Flow

Of course, you’ll need to prepare yourself.  The following exercises help you get into Flow. 

• Breathing exercises, such as the 4-7-8 breathing technique by Dr. Andrew Weil
• Conscious exercise techniques, such as yoga and meditation
• Practicing mindfulness techniques
• Playing music, whether alone or with a group of friends