Creativity changes the game

Creativity loves a problem, but it hates a lousy audience.

If everyone around you is sure the economy is tanking, that the end is near, that time is up and the company is headed for the tubes, it's almost impossible to find a creative solution.

Creativity changes the game, whatever game is being played. "We're going to run out of cash by the end of the year," is accurate unless you count creativity into the equation. Then the accurate statement is, "Under the current rules and assumptions, we're going to run out of cash..." Big difference.

Creativity demands exposure to market needs, and insulation from market fears. Give it some time to work, some support, some breathing room. That's when creativity has a chance to change the game.

These and more words of wisdom by Seth Godin can be found here. Some quotes on (almost) the same theme:

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." 
Steve Jobs, founder, chairman and CEO of Apple

"Making mistakes is the privilege of the active. It is always the mediocre people who are negative, who spend their time proving that they were not wrong."
Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA