Innovation, Creativity, and Distractions

What impact do today’s distractions have on innovation and creativity? Today we live in a fast paced world, we are surrounded by every distraction. TV Shows, Sports, Social Media, Events, and so much more.

Would we have the same innovation and creativity of Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, or Thomas Edison if they had lived with all of these distractions? Would there have been less innovations? Even Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and other modern innovators didn’t have the level of distractions we do today in the prime of their careers.

 

And yet today, we have access to so much more information and research, which surely impacts our ability to achieve things more efficiently and learn things more quickly. So what is the right balance? I’m sure the pursuit of that balance is something one chases for their entire life.

In his book “The Four Hour Work Week” Tim Ferris explores the impact of an undisciplined schedule and how to create a more efficient work process. One of his principles is to take the interruptions and make them behave by scheduling as many as possible. So, for example, if you get a lot of email, set aside 2 times a day to review all your emails, voicemails, etc. and respond to them. And turn off your notifications so that you don’t have the distraction.

I know that organizing my time and life and being more focused on innovating and growing is a big goal of mine this year. Whether that means more brainstorming meetings, code sprints, designer collaborations, strategic planning meetings, personal times of reflection, etc.

Whatever it takes, I’m determined that this will be a wonderful year of great personal growth and corporate innovation.

How about you? What are your tips for avoiding distraction and achieving your goals? What are your biggest goals for this year?