When we think of creativity, it’s easy to imagine it as following a clear line of cause and effect. We have a problem, and then we find a solution that leads to a result. But real creativity doesn’t always work that way. True creativity, the most groundbreaking ideas and innovations, are often the result of surprises, serendipitous insights, and even pure coincidences.
It’s not always a consequence of a need or a problem, but rather a discovery that sparks in unexpected ways.
Creativity is born from surprises
One of the most fascinating features of creativity is that it’s often not about solving a pre-existing problem. Instead, creativity is an opportunity that arises when thoughts, ideas, and experiences combine in a way that wasn’t anticipated. It’s not necessarily a reaction to a cause. It’s more about combining ideas in new ways and being open to the unexpected.
Examples of this can be found in science, technology, and the arts. There are many great innovations that came about long before there was a tangible need or problem to solve.
Ideas can come before need
A classic example of this is the invention of the Post-it note. 3M researcher Spencer Silver was trying to create a superglue, but instead he invented a weak, reusable adhesive solution that had no obvious purpose. Silver initially saw no practical application for his discovery. It was not until his colleague Art Fry began using it to stick his notes to his hymnal during church rehearsals that the Post-it note was born. This was a solution that came not from a problem, but from a chance discovery, and then evolved into one of the world’s most widely used office products.
Another example of an idea that was born not out of need, but out of combination and chance, is the microwave oven. Percy Spencer, an engineer, was working on radar equipment when he accidentally discovered that a piece of chocolate in his pocket melted when he was near a radar. Curious about the phenomenon, he tested it further and discovered that microwaves could be used to heat food. Here we see an innovation that arose from an unexpected observation, not from a direct need to solve a problem.
Creativity and Chance – A Key Component
Creativity is not just about connecting already known concepts in a new way. It is also about being open to the unexpected – accepting and even embracing chance. Ideas can come from randomly mixing thoughts, objects or technologies in ways we have not planned for.
Take Velcro, for example, the invention that was inspired by nature. George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer, was fascinated by the fact that small burrs (the spiny seeds of plants) stuck to his clothes and his dog’s fur during a walk. In a moment of curiosity, he combined this observation with his technical knowledge and created the now well-known fastener. Once again, it wasn’t a problem that needed to be solved, but a surprising discovery in nature that then inspired an innovation.
Combining ideas to create something new
Creativity is often born from combining completely different ideas or technologies in new ways. There are many examples of this. One such example is smartphone technology, where different innovations such as microwave technology, internet connectivity, touch screens and laptops were combined to create something completely new. None of these technologies had been developed to solve the same problem, but by combining them in a new way, a completely new entity was created.
It’s about not only solving an existing problem, but also identifying possible connections between different areas and creating completely new solutions. When we are forced to think in completely different ways and combine different skills, sometimes the most unexpected and revolutionary ideas arise.
Creativity’s freedom from cause and effect
The most important lesson here is that creativity is not always linear or based on a problem that needs to be solved. There is no guarantee that an idea will be born from a need or a problem, and true creativity often comes from being open to the unexpected, observing, and allowing chance to play a role. Ideas and innovations can come from a momentary whim, from looking at the world in a different way, or from combining things that were previously incompatible.
So to foster creativity, it is important to let go of the need for strict cause and effect. We cannot always predict where the next big idea will come from. Instead of just solving the problems we know or anticipating every need, we should be open to surprises. By combining, experimenting, and allowing ourselves to be curious about the unexpected, we can create ideas that not only solve problems—but also have the potential to change the world in a way we couldn’t have predicted.
So the next time you’re faced with a problem, maybe you shouldn’t focus on finding a solution so quickly. Maybe it’s time to let ideas come from chance, from observations, and from coincidences that don’t necessarily follow the traditional logic of cause and effect. Creativity isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about creating new worlds from the unexpected.
