Creative Velocity

When I started reading Creative Velocity, I had no idea it would transform my way of thinking so deeply. Leslie Grandy presents creativity not just as an art but as a skill anyone can learn and develop. It was an eye-opening experience, especially since I always believed creativity was reserved for artists, designers, or writers. But Creative Velocity shattered that myth, convincing me that creativity lies within everyone—it just needs nurturing. After reading it, I’ve begun approaching both my work and daily life with a fresh perspective.

I connected with the book’s introduction from the very first paragraph. Maya Angelou’s quote—“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”—inspired me. This idea of creativity’s potential set the tone for the author’s vision of a workplace where everyone—engineers, data analysts, sales teams, even accountants—embraces creativity. The notion that creativity is linked to happiness and productivity was new to me. I’ve heard colleagues in my office say, “I don’t have time to be creative,” or “That’s the design team’s job.” But Grandy beautifully explains that creativity isn’t just for designers; it’s a strength for anyone ready to tackle new challenges.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its creative velocity concept, defined as the ability to quickly generate new and useful ideas. I appreciated that the book goes beyond theory. The interviews at the end of each chapter—those with Scott Belsky, Jason Silva, and Scilla Andreen—illustrated how creativity applies in real life. Their stories showed me that creativity demands an open mind, the courage to embrace failure, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Jason Silva’s insight that “mood regulation and creativity are closely related” resonated deeply with me. I’ve often noticed that stress blocks my ability to generate new ideas.

Another key highlight is the book’s discussion of co-creation with generative AI. The author clearly explains that while AI excels at rapid data analysis and idea generation, it cannot grasp human emotions, ethics, or cultural nuances. I appreciated Grandy’s advice to view AI as a tool, not a replacement for creativity. The chapter-end exercises, which can be done with or without AI, proved very useful. I tried some myself, like the functional flexibility activities in Chapter 1. I was amazed at how small changes could transform my thinking.

Overall, Creative Velocity helped me recognize my creativity and taught me how to apply it in both work and life. It’s ideal for anyone who thinks they’re not creative or lacks time for new ideas. Leslie Grandy beautifully demonstrates that creativity isn’t a privilege—it’s a skill we can all develop. I highly recommend it to friends, especially those eager to innovate at work. Since reading it, I now approach every challenge with a fresh perspective, which has been my greatest transformation.