The following quote often gives me hope when it seems as though others are negatively charged and attack the advancement of myself or my idea:
“In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” -Mark Twain

@Start Blogging – I wouldn’t doubt if it was Einstein. He had a belief in creation that enabled him to open new doors and possibilities well beyond that which was ever explored before, let alone accepted at the time. He’s inspirational when it comes to ideas and creation, that is for sure!

I enjoyed it. Stumbled…

@Bert – Well, I was initially thinking of the term more from the “extreme or thorough” definition but in reality, this fundamental approach is very important with creativity. It requires a significant step change from normal thinking or analysis to make a radical change and that is either done at a fundamentals look or by some extreme change or complete overhaul. As well, both of those are key in design to me with software architectures, and I love your quote. I absolutely follow that thinking of design is taking out all the excess to get just the right solution. Product development definitely needs that and often its counter to people’s first reactions. I’ve experienced the need for that radical change though many times.

Thanks for the added perspective on that, I like it!

As an essentialist, I like to get to the root of things. It is this returning to the roots that is the primary meaning of the word “radical:” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/radical

I find that when people talk about innovation and creativity, the focus is usually on adding or expanding. I refer often to Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s quote to remind me to take the radical approach:

“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

I love to watch as people get comfortable with incremental creative change, and then ramp it up to test out a slightly more radical approach. It’s funny (or perhaps sad) how the fertile imagination of childhood tends to get suppressed with age. This is one of my favorite topics and I love creative innovation on all it’s levels. Thanks for all three articles.

@G – Nice metafor with light. That is exactly how I see the stages of influence with creativity and our actions behind that.

@Positivity Present – Thanks for the comment. I was thinking one day I should capture my own list of favorite quotes I see people mention from the website here, I need to record this one now as well!

@Armen – Your exactly right, and at the same time, the reason I wrote this series. I hope to help people expand their creative ability because really, the levels that people fit into are only there because of limiting themselves from taking creativity to a higher level.

Those individuals who do push themselves are really pushing there drive on creative ideas, nothing more. Its the creative ideas and implementation of those that set the bar or levels visible in what they do.

Thanks for your comments, it is up to an individual to make that change and enable a higher level of creativity in life, yes!