The Struggle for Creativity

 Couple quick thoughts on creativity and what triggers it. I have watched so many YouTube videos over the past year from all different areas, including LEGO reviews, movies, languages, politics, sports, tech launches... you name it, I have at least seen a preview or quick video on it. Part of this is since YouTube is highly addicting as it learns preferences as you scroll, but it is more than that. There are so many factors at play that you do not even think about, but they are there. So many filters that get you content that is personalized for you and no other user in the world. Truly incredible AI technology that is way beyond my capabilities of understanding. 

The past few weeks has changed my mindset on how I look at the world, specifically creativity and invention. Everything you have is an invention, whether physical or mental. So why those over others? What made you choose that or allow idea that to convince you? 

I absolutely have fallen in love with mental imagery. We did this at Villanova for baseball, and I truly feel its underappreciated. Sports are finally starting to incorporate this into daily routines. There is a link between picturing success and then achieving it. Something about this triggers a sense of creativity and takes you back to being a kid day dreaming and pretending. And when you trigger your creativity, you can start rattling off ideas and thoughts making you feel like Steve Jobs or Leonardo da Vinci. It is a sense of empowerment and accomplishment, even if what you "create" never takes form.

So why and what does YouTube have to do with creativity? Well, that AI technology we mentioned earlier is actually limiting you. Those appliances you see at the store, the new smart car from Tesla, or new trendy app on your phone all require one thing: cutting off creativity. Think about it on a deeper level. Do you think those companies truly want innovation? Sure, but only from themselves, not competitors. Their goal is to create addictive products that discourage you from doing anything other than saying "wow" and opening your wallet. YouTube's AI is no different, it wants you browsing watching ads and videos to 1) gather data on YOUR habits for their own future innovative projects and 2) keep you on their app as long as possible for even more data and ad revenues. YouTube (like EVERY other product) wants you hooked but not actively engaged. Big difference.

And this battle is what is the constant struggle is for any inventor or entrepreneur (YES, content creators are entrepreneurs even though it pains me to say it): How can we use our creativity to make an addicting product come to life BUT limit the users from using that same creativity against us? How can we retain our ideas and our market share while adapting to new threats? 

I encourage every person to use their brain to use mental imagery. Give yourself 15 minutes a day to dream again, to be a kid thinking you can change the world. None of it may ever come true, but then again, nothing will also come from lining up first to buy the newest iPhone every 12 months either. Be creative.

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