Creativity and Success: my personal QWERTY Method

As soon as I completed my Diploma Course in Life and Executive Coaching, I felt compelled to write down my personal reflection about this amazing learning experience. My primary intention was to take my feelings of gratitude and determination, lock them in, and render them immortal with powerful words. I wanted to sprinkle my emotions on a white page like sugar crystals on a pastry puff. Yet, how could words possibly caption all the precious bonding, the grateful self-discovery, the restless week-ends, and the sweet endeavors that accompanied me throughout the journey? How could words describe the enveloping scent of a Gardenia to an unaware audience? I had been staring at the white page for a while, silently begging the keyboard for inspiration. At last, it occurred! As I was hoping for an insight to manifest, the wisdom literally came out of the keyboard itself, from its layout in particular.

COACHING is the art of dancing in the present moment to generate powerful transformation. This practice allows a coachee to connect with their own VALUES and BELIEFS, and assess their RESOURCES in the present moment. The end goals is the achievement of a MEANINGFUL outcome, which will resonate with the coachee’s very personal definition of SUCCESS.

I will hereby address the impact of Creativity and Original Solutions on Personal (and professional) Success, directly referencing the famous QWERTY keyboard layout.

What if you asked me to list the 26 letters of the English-language alphabet, and subsequently display them on a sheet of paper to sketch out the ideal keyboard outline? Despite the easy instructions, there is still no universally accepted answer to this task. Identifying challenges and criteria around the mainstream adoption of the tool might lead to several outcomes. Even so, what is the best solution, and how can it be identified with very few guidelines? Christopher Sholes crafted QWERTY in similar circumstances, even though there is still open debate about its true origin. Be it to prevent the mechanical lock-ups in old typewriters, or to get Morse code translated by telegraph operators, QWERTY still remains a remarkable example of unconventional design in modern history, a truly original and lasting solution to a real challenge. 

The invention of QWERTY can teach us a valuable lesson about Success. 

Success can be achieved by repeatedly connecting the dots of reality with a meaningful goal in mind. It’s a bumpy ride of hits and misses. On the other hand, Creative Thinking can facilitate the generation of new, sometimes seemingly chaotic, combinations. When Creativity is put at the service of Success, new forms and shapes are produced until the most efficient outcome is met. QWERTY was neither the first nor the only keyboard outline to be designed, but it was undoubtedly original and revolutionary. 

Several variations have been developed to improve the typing environment, and some of them are still adopted to a certain extent. This argument can be extended to any human implementations. Despite the existence of widely recognized “best” solutions, Creativity will never stop generating new Successful alternatives - potentially better tailored for some type of users and/or tasks. For instance, factors such as individual variation, cultural representations, and practical/technological barriers will always challenge One Best Way solutions and foster Original propositions.  

Be it about writing a LinkedIn Article or designing smart keyboards, people come across challenging decision making on a daily basis. As obstacles and situations evolve throughout life, so responses must adapt and be constantly adjusted. Like Christopher Sholes, we can also experience the empowering feeling of Discovery every time we are pushed outside the comfort zone and receive encouragement to produce a new quality of Thinking. Every time we re-interpret reality and generate our own specific solutions, we are unknowingly creating lasting Positive Transformation, other than original paths towards our own Success. 

Here’s the point. There are no One Best Way, Off-the-shelf solutions in the path towards personalized Success! Each time we generate a new original strategy to address a relevant challenge, we are creating our OWN QWERTY outline. In other words, we have the power to engrave our names on the exquisite monolith of Invention every day. I find this piece of awareness truly inspiring! 

It all comes down to Repetition. Can you walk your talk? How can you support your own growth, and what can you do to remind yourself of the precious plethora of opportunities you are given every morning? More importantly, what would be the consequences of NOT supporting yourself? I can spend an absurd amount of time typing on a keyboard every day, so I decided to tailor my personal reminder accordingly. I crafted an acronym, a to-do list based on the keyboard outline, so that it will not be given the chance to fly under the radar during the day. 

Here is my personalized QWERTY reminder to achieve Greater Success on a daily basis:

• Q - QUESTION: When a new challenge shows up, I make sure to generate at least 3 Powerful Questions. If a meaningful goal lies ahead, and an obstacle is nourishing self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk, then that’s the time to run a quick reality check. How relevant is the goal to you? What resistances are blocking you from moving forward? Are you honoring your Values? How can you tap into your previous success and driving motivation, to make a step forward? What strategies could you put in place to hold yourself accountable? Stepping into a problem solving mode without a thorough analysis of the current situation can potentially hinder the generation of powerful solutions! 
• W - WIELD: When questions are asked, remind yourself to wield that pen! Life is like a diary you get to write on every day, and last thing you want is for somebody else to hold the pen and narrate the story in your behalf! With the “Edge of Chaos” we refer to the very moment when a critical scenario is met, and an act of creative thinking is necessary get through it. When the going gets tough, the idea to lean on a second person and give the power away can be very tempting. The responsibility surrounding decision making, the uncertainty around creativity, and the pressure of expectations can be especially devastating inside the Edge of Chaos! A true gesture of Courage lies in the adoption of a Growth Mindset, and the willingness to play as the lead actor in your own performance.   
• E - ENERGIZE: A Growth Mindset requires Resilience, and Resilience is a fundamental component of the learner’s toolbox! According to Sam Owen (2017), Three Pillars sustain a Resilient attitude: a Driving Motivation; a Problem-Solving Approach; a Positive Outlook. Positivism is a key element to build up resilience, sustain creativity, and achieve greater success! Looking after your balance, mental health, physical needs, and overall well-being is mandatory from a Growth Mindset standpoint. In general, addressing your own Energy Level should be a main priority before stepping into long-lasting positive transformation.  
• R - RESORT (TO): Let’s face it, 2019 is an exceptional time to seek resources and inspiration! Friends, colleagues, family, social groups, but also the internet, books, movies, social media, podcasts, videos, testimonies… Every day you can access so much useful data, and explore so many different means and channels to support your Action Planning and Goal Setting. Scouting for resources should not constitute a problem. Creativity and Support come from powerful and varied Interaction over time, and Curiosity is a gift to be nurtured. Overall, it’s the Bravery to step outside the comfort zone as often as possible that leads to a greater Growth.  
• T - TREASURE: Most lack of progress comes from the incapability to implement powerful actions and a sustainable routine. Starting off is never the main challenge, persistence is. Fear, despair, disappointment, discouragement: These are some of the many evolutionary echoes and built-in resistances that can oppose progress. The solution lies in banking on previous transferable success, and holding it tight. It’s an active exercise meant to increase the sense of self-efficacy, and switch the focus to evidence-based learning potential. Be grateful for whatever powerful support you will be receiving. Hold dear the valuable lessons along the way. But more than anything else, keep track and celebrate your victories, you will need them! 
• Y - YEARN (TO): Be willing to take prompt action. Do you want to reach your goal? What’s the best time to start? Right here, right NOW! Every day you can choose to procrastinate, or spend extra time reading more informative material before taking action; or MAYBE you could take any given chance to feed your burning passion and not let it dissipate like a timid flame. Every day is a good day to learn, experiment, challenge the edge of chaos, step out of the comfort zone! Wield that pen, set your pace, and take your baby steps today. You are accountable for your own success, and you are not alone in the process! In the end, it is for YOU to decide, as the beautiful, creative and resourceful person that YOU are!

This is my original, tailored, daily reminder.

Are you ready to create your own QWERTY today?

What will it look like? Feel free to reach out and share your recipe for Success!

Wishes for a wonderful day!!