Fostering Creativity Without Dedicated Focus Time

Creativity is one of the most underrated skills in Customer Success leadership. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this: "We don’t have budget for that tool… let’s move on to the next idea." But here’s the thing, if you’re waiting for perfect conditions and unlimited budget, you’ll be waiting forever. One of my favorite examples from the past few years: I wanted to create a guided, digital onboarding program to accelerate customer enablement. No LMS. No fancy collaborative workspace. No extra budget. So I built it myself. Using Google Sites, Docs, Sheets, Forms, Canva, Zoom, and YouTube, I created an entire onboarding portal: ✅ Guided customers through onboarding ✅ Focused on education & enablement ✅ Easy to use and navigate ✅ Cost $0 additional dollars (we already had the tools) I built it on nights and weekends, enabled my team, rolled it out, and the feedback was incredible. Customers loved it. Some even asked me to help them create something similar for their customers. Here’s the lesson: Big ideas don’t die because of budget constraints. They die because leaders let “perfect” get in the way of progress. So here are my tips to unlock creativity without big budgets: 1️⃣ Inventory the tools you already have access to 2️⃣ Break your vision into smaller, testable pieces 3️⃣ Involve your team early for input and buy-in 4️⃣ Focus on outcomes, not shiny tech 5️⃣ Build something now, iterate later So before you wrap up for the weekend, here’s my challenge: Pick one idea you’ve been sitting on because “we don’t have the tools” and figure out how to build the first version with what you have today. Your customers, and your career, will thank you for it.

Why Do Our Best Ideas Come in the Shower? 🚿💡   Ever wondered why so many 'aha' moments strike us while we're shampooing our hair? It's not magic; there's some solid science and psychology behind why this happens. In today's fast-paced world, we're perpetually engaged - in meetings, email, or ticking tasks off our to-do lists (don't even get me started on how much time we spend on social media in between each of those activities). This means that our brains, like high-performance machines, are always "on," diligently processing, solving, and multitasking. But the secret sauce of creativity is downtime. When we're in the shower, away from screens and external pressures, our minds activate the "default mode network" or DMN. The DMN is a network of brain regions that become active when an individual is not focused on the outside world and the brain is at wakeful rest. It's essentially the brain's "autopilot" mode. The DMN is fertile breeding ground for creativity because it promotes the connection of distant ideas, fosters personal reflection, and allows for subconscious problem-solving. Crazy stuff, right? Here’s how you can take advantage: Innovators intentionally engage their DMN by setting aside time for unfocused thought. They adopt practices like meditation, long walks, or other activities that allow their minds to wander, and hopefully lead to breakthroughs or big ideas. They recognize that to think differently, you sometimes need to step back and let your brain breathe. So, the next time you're seeking a breakthrough or a fresh perspective, remember that the answer might not be more grind, but more space. Your next innovative idea might be awaiting you in the most unexpected of places! P.S. (I got the idea for this post in the shower 😂) #Creativity #BrainScience #Mindfulness #ShowerThoughts #Innovation

Stop working. Seriously — just stop. Doing nothing might sound counterproductive, but staying laser-focused all the time actually backfires. It crushes creativity and keeps you stuck inside a box of overthinking. The truth is that often, your best ideas come when you’re not forcing them. Here’s how it works: 1. Stop Fixating ↳ Too much focus actually blocks creativity. 2. Tap Into the “Default Mode”
↳ When you’re not actively working, your brain’s “default mode network” kicks in. (This is the magic zone where ideas connect, solutions form, and those “aha!” moments happen) 3. Walk It Out
↳ Science backs this up: a Stanford study found walking outdoors boosts creativity (Opezzo, 2014). Just pick a path — around the block, through a park, whatever works — and make it your thinking space. No fancy apps. No productivity hacks. Just you and the open air. P.S. Have you ever had a great idea come to you while you were doing something totally unrelated? #creativity #innovation #peakperformance

This hack can boost your creativity and problem-solving abilities: It’s the purposeful activation of your brain’s Default Mode Network or DMN. This is the circuitry that helps us think of new 'ideas' - and it is most active when we’re resting, reflecting, or daydreaming. But even if we don’t have the luxury of rest and reflection during the day, we can still cultivate habits and routines that build a stronger DMN that is more active when we get to pause. 🧠 Get moving. Take a walk—the movement helps improve your DMN’s function, and a year of consistent walking has been shown to boost the way connections are made between the different parts of the DMN. 🧠 Daydream! Positive Construction Daydreaming (PCD) is when you imagine an exciting or positive future scenario in vivid detail. This can engage and train your DMN. 🧠 Snooze. A quick nap—or even a longer one—can boost your creativity by helping your DMN make new associations and connections. Activating your DMN helps you work smarter and turns your idle time into your most creatively charged moments. How often do you make the time to ‘unfocus’? #Habits #Brain #Neuroscience

Ever had a brilliant a-ha! moment in the shower? It’s no coincidence: It’s creative science. Psychologist Jonathan Smallwood found through several studies that our best ideas form when we’re not actively focusing. Instead, letting the mind wander through activities, memories, ideas, and emotions opens us to new insights. I call it a “Strategic Break.” Here’s my formula for liberating your next big idea, especially when you’re stuck in a rut: Problem + Strategic Break + Return to Problem = Fresh Perspectives It’s so simple in practice. For example: Can’t decide how to frame your website offering? Jot down all the notes and then… Walk in nature Visit a museum Go rollerblading Stretch on the ground Play with legos Freeform journal Cuddle your pet Move around furniture Go on the elliptical Call your mom Whatever it is that distracts you from the problem. Then, go back to your website. You'll certainly have fresh perspectives and energy to take the copy to the next level. It doesn't matter what you do, take your mind off the focused task at hand. While most of us know taking a “beat” to think is essential, we often don’t carve out time for it. 97% of senior business people agree that strategy time is essential, and yet 96% cite a lack of time to do it. Leaders must make strategic breaks part of their day, even just for 3 minutes. Otherwise, your packed schedule might cloud your own brilliance.