E89: Solving Problems Is the New Creativity || The New Rules Podcast

In a world where creativity is reserved for artists and leadership is reserved for extroverts, this episode challenges both assumptions.
Adrian and Bri pull back the curtain on a deeper, more integrated view of creativity, one rooted not in flair, but in function. From basketball courts to boardrooms, from faith to finance, they explore how real creativity emerges, sometimes out of desperation. It’s about solving problems, building what’s missing, and refusing to wait for permission.
Together, they tackle why most people underestimate their creative potential, how fear and anxiety suppress imagination, and why black-and-white thinking keeps us from designing real solutions. They also reflect on how leadership without creativity is obsolete and why the future belongs to those who can build what hasn’t existed yet.
Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or just trying to believe in yourself again, this conversation will ignite your sense of ownership and remind you: you're more creative than you think.

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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LinkedIn: Adrian Crawford
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LinkedIn:   / adriancrawford-nrc  
Instagram:   / writenewrules  
TikTok:   / writenewrules  

00:00 – Why Creativity Isn’t What You Think
01:10 – Leadership, Pressure & Problem Solving
03:45 – Everyday Genius: Moms, Coaches, Engineers
06:10 – Why Desperation Unlocks Creativity
09:05 – How Complaining Destroys Creative Capacity
11:30 – Belief in Self Fuels Impact
13:10 – Operations Can Be Creative Too
16:00 – Creativity in Youth and Gen Z Retention
18:00 – The Power of Mission Over Job Titles
20:00 – Integration Makes You Creative
22:15 – Why Anxious People Think in Black & White
24:00 – Thin Solutions to Thick Problems
25:30 – $50 Million Vision & The Pressure to Innovate
27:00 – Creative Leadership is Developmental
28:30 – Final Challenge: Solve a Problem This Week

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