The use of creativity can make any business thrive. Creativity in the workplace is the ability of individuals to develop new and imaginative ideas regarding processes, producers, or materials. Today, we’re discussing how the mix of art and business leads to success. Joining us on the latest episode of The Small Business Show is Erik Wahl, an internationally recognized artist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author.
San Diego native Erik Wahl is a motivational speaker, author, speed painter, graffiti artist, and entrepreneur. He is the proprietor of The Wahl Group, a consulting firm, and has delivered speeches at conferences hosted by Disney and Microsoft, among others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Wahl believes that artistry and creativity are like mental exercise. Since entrepreneurs face many social, economic, and constitutional upheavals, combining their creativity with reason and logic produces the “perfect storm.”
2. As things become more disruptive, entrepreneurs’ ability to tap into their intellectual intelligence is the number one meta-skill that can teach mental agility and adaptability.
3. “Art is a channel to expand our consciousness,” says Wahl. While painting might not result in a breakthrough, having the creative thinking abilities to adapt and stand out from the competition, humanize your brand or company, and provide distinctive customer experiences in the age of artificial intelligence will be revolutionary moving forward.
4. When discussing what businesses are integrating artistry into their business, Wahl is more so concerned with the skills it takes to expand the consciousness to a larger level of complex problem-solving. Organizations like Uber, Salesforce, and Apple owe their success to their foundation’s game-changing artistic elements.
5. Wahl asserts, “Creativity without discipline is like a river without banks. Balance is key, but new ideas will always face resistance because we haven’t experienced it yet. However, to get everyone on the same page, it takes creativity, artistry, and the proper skills and language.”
"I am a firm believer that creativity is one of those channels to expand consciousness to the larger levels of complex problem-solving." – Erik Wahl.