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8 Bad Habits that Crush Your Creativity and Stifle Your Success

  • Writer: Arnold Shields
    Arnold Shields
  • Oct 13, 2010
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 18

Title: 8 Bad Habits That Crush Your Creativity and Stifle Your Success

Author: Dean Rieck

Originally Published on: Copyblogger.com

Main Idea: Creativity isn't exclusive to geniuses. In fact, many people unknowingly undermine their creative potential through common, avoidable habits. Rieck outlines eight specific mental traps and offers advice on how to overcome them to unlock your creative power.


Key Habits That Kill Creativity (In Brief)

  1. Creating and Evaluating at the Same Time

    • Separate idea generation from judgement to avoid stalling your creativity.

  2. The Expert Syndrome

    • Experts can guide you, but don’t let them box in your thinking. Success often comes from breaking “the rules.”

  3. Fear of Failure

    • Big success often rides on the back of big risks. Mistakes are part of the journey.

  4. Fear of Ambiguity

    • Embrace the mess. Creativity thrives in uncertainty.

  5. Lack of Confidence

    • Confidence grows with action and understanding. Treat failure as feedback.

  6. Discouragement from Others

    • Ignore the naysayers. Trust your vision until the results speak for themselves.

  7. Analysis Paralysis

    • Stop hoarding information. Take action even if the plan isn’t perfect.

  8. False Limits

    • Your experience shapes your lens. Step outside of it. Look elsewhere for fresh solutions.


Ideas for Internal Use at Dolman Bateman

  • Internal Training Workshop:

    “Breaking Creative Barriers in Accounting and Advisory” using this list to encourage lateral thinking in team problem-solving or business development.

  • Client-Facing Blog (SEO Optimised):

    “Is Your Thinking Holding Your Business Back? 8 Habits That Kill Innovation” Recast Rieck’s points through the lens of business strategy, accounting practices, and SME advisory.

  • Leadership Newsletter / Staff Email:

    Highlight one point each week as a “Creative Thinking Booster” with a call to action: “What’s one way we can break this habit this week?”

  • Social Media Caption Series:

    Turn each of the eight points into a short post with a Dolman Bateman perspective, e.g., “Overthinking your business structure? Time to fire before you aim.”



Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial, legal or tax advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this content at the time of publication, tax laws and regulations may change, and individual circumstances vary. Dolman Bateman accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred as a result of acting on or relying upon any of the information contained herein. You should seek professional advice tailored to your specific situation before making any financial or tax decision.


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