How to Get Rid of (Business) Productivity Killers Once and For All

Creativity is a trait possessed by many, but the most creative people are those that can foster it whenever needed, no matter what the situation. Staring at that piece of paper or laptop screen isn’t doing anything to foster creativity. It’s the equivalent of trying to force yourself to sleep when you aren’t tired. Creativity in any form has to be harnessed, not forced.

Trying new things can often lead to a sudden influx of creativity. Speak to new people, eat at new restaurants, and visit a new museum or theme park. Leaving the relative safety of your comfort zone often lends itself to breaking mental barriers. Once the barrier is gone, there’s nothing standing in your way.

4. Visualizing a solution is essential.

Sometimes being able to visualize the outcome–whether figuratively or literally–is all it takes to break down the barrier causing your blockage. To harness your creativity, you have to ask yourself what’s keeping you back. Once you know why you can’t do it, you often find solutions begin to present themselves.

For example, if I know I can’t write because I’ve written about a certain topic so many times that I don’t have anything new to say, I force myself to write what I’d typically consider trash, and then start revising from there, and before you know it I have the article I need.

The same idea works in entrepreneurship. If I can’t come up with a solution to a problem I’ve faced for days or weeks, I ask myself what’s causing it and what the ideal result will be. This forces me to figure out what the perfect scenario looks like. Once I can visualize perfection, I can begin to plot the course it would take to achieve it. I may never get the perfect result, but if it’s a better solution than I had before, I’ve just accomplished my goal.

Ultimately, the easiest way to force yourself past a productivity roadblock is to not wait idlely for a clear answer to present itself. This rarely happens on its own. Instead, start with solutions that aren’t perfect and take measurable steps toward the answer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that the block was merely a mental obstacle all along.

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Photo: Habitual

Chris Warden is a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO. Starting his entrepreneurial career at age 19, he has performed in numerous capacities owning and managing both offline and online companies. Chris now serves as CEO of Spread Effect, a leading content marketing and publishing company. He is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) and often writes on topics of content marketing, SEO, and business development. He’s passionate about building and mentoring world-class teams and loves to chat with like-minded individuals. You can connect with Chris via LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google+.