By now, you get the gist of where we’re headed here: creativity is not just for performers, artists, or advertising agencies. You may be in a “dull” white-collar job, but thinking new thoughts and trying new actions is still possible.
But I’m not simply making the claim that your work can be creative. I’m saying that it necessarily has to be if it is to be successful. Here in the US, there has been a constant drumbeat of reports detailing the shifts in offshoring from blue-collar to white-collar industries. In almost every field – even medical care – highly specialized providers have emerged to compete with the established “best of breed” companies and individuals using major cost advantages.
The end result, whether you live in Boston, Berlin, Bangalore, or Bangkok, is that you face competition that can pretty much do what you do, but more cheaply. There is only so far that costs can be reduced; therefore, to resist this dynamic you need to create a difference between “what you do” and “what they do”.
In short, what you know won’t save you. But maybe how you think will.
