If we try to analyze our lives today, many things that we enjoy and part of our success came somewhat unexpected. Glancing through our original plans we may noticed that things are different from what have we laid upon the drawing table to what is really happening into our lives. We may call it blessing in disguise; others call it creative accident. But whatever term may fit to label it, it sure is worth the lessons.
Did it ever occur to you that whenever we try to do something and fail, we end up doing something else? You have the fool proof plan carefully set up day and night, well researched, dutifully consulted decisions, environmentally conducive set up, well funded project—then it went poof! After picking up the pieces you will noticed that on the way to “failure” you discover something else. That is what we call the first principle of creative accident.
Pessimists often pull their hair off in frustration of what had transpired; optimists do ask questions of why such things happen and what went wrong—this is reasonable and the most expected things to do. But seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty may lead us into something brilliant.
John Wesley Hyatt, a known mechanic and a printer, worked day and night trying to search an alternative to an ivory billiard ball which is in that time, in short supply. Instead, upon his quest, he accidentally invented celluloid—the first viable plastic that we often use everyday. It isn’t luck that he stumbled upon it, but rather it is an imminent creativity in the highest order.
A successful scientist advised people that whenever we are working on something else and hit upon something remarkable—drop everything else and study it; it may lead you into something else worthy of what you have at hand. This is what they say the first theory of scientific methodology.
Roy Plunkett is working his butt off to invent a new refrigerant; failing to do so, he accidentally discovered a gobbet of white waxy material that amazingly conducts heat and does not stick on surfaces. Struck by fascination, he immediately abandoned his original plan; researched and dabbled with this interesting material instead. Today no household unit can live without the comfort of having “Teflon” coated kitchen wares.
In principle the unforeseen event that pushes us to discover creative invention is somewhat similar to our daily living. Yes, not all of us are scientists or machinists that have tons of things on hand to dabble on. But think about this: On the way of my futile attempt to try to revive my career as an animation artist, as the animation industry here in the Philippines are slowly dying—I discovered onto something. My long lost passion for writing suddenly emerges as I try to write numerous cover letters along with my resume in trying to apply to different animation studios abroad.
Today, I enjoy writing and blogging articles at the comfort of my own home while attending to the needs of my children. It spared me from the horrible traffic of city life and cut my expenses by almost half. When looking for innovative solutions, a lot of people ignore the unforeseen things; and as a result, losing the chance to turn the opportunity into a creative break.
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