Why You Were Wrong About Being "Not Creative"

What an 80-year-old Mongolian nomad, a group of girls from the slums of Mumbai, and a master sculptor in Hong Kong reveal about creativity.Most of us decide we're "not creative" early in life, and never question it again. This episode is here to change that.I sit down with Fredrik Haren, The Creativity Explorer, internationally bestselling author and global keynote speaker on business creativity. Over 25 years, Fredrik has traveled to more than 75 countries studying creativity, innovation, curiosity, and human potential. From Mongolia and Bhutan to India, Afghanistan, and beyond, he has interviewed entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, educators, business leaders, and everyday people in pursuit of a single question: what helps us unlock our creative potential?We explore why creativity is far more than artistic talent, why confidence and doubt have to coexist, and why curiosity may be the single most important trait shared by highly creative people. Fredrik shares stories from his travels, including lessons from nomadic cultures, the surprising mindset of children growing up in Mumbai's slums, and why some of the world's best ideas arrive when we stop searching for them.We also turn to AI, asking whether machines can be creative, how AI is reshaping the creative process, and why Fredrik believes we are witnessing the birth of an entirely new way of generating ideas rather than the end of human creativity.In this episode:Why creativity is a universal human traitThe surprising relationship between confidence and doubtWhat the word "opportunity" originally meantHow curiosity fuels creativityWhy AI may enhance rather than replace human creativityLessons from Mongolia, Bhutan, India, and beyondThe role of nature, solitude, travel, and dreams in generating ideasWhy inspiration without action can become an addictionHow to discover your own creative processFinding the unique contribution that only you can make to the worldAbout Fredrik HarenFredrik Haren is The Creativity Explorer, an internationally bestselling author and global keynote speaker on Business Creativity, Innovation, and Change. He has delivered over 2,000 presentations, lectures, and workshops in more than 75 countries across 6 continents, and has inspired over a million people from the stage to become more creative and to see the world in a new way. In 2025 he celebrated 25 years as a professional speaker.He is the author of ten books, including The Idea Book, an international bestseller featured in The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. His latest book, The World of Creativity, launched just before Christmas 2025 with Wiley Publishers. It's the summary of what learning from creative people in 75 countries over the past 25 years has taught Fredrik about how we can discover our full creative potential.Fredrik has been inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame on 2 continents. He is a CSP and a Global Speaking Fellow, and a recipient of the TIA, given by the Global Speakers Federation and considered the highest award in the international speaking community.Connect with Fredrik HarenWebsite: https://www.fredrikharen.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrikharenThe Creativity Explorer: https://www.thecreativityexplorer.comOrder The World of Creativity: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1907312897Connect with Brad HookWebsite: https://www.bradleyhook.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyhookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradhookIf you've ever thought "I'm not creative," this conversation may change the way you think about creativity, curiosity, and what it means to live a more inspired life.