Is Creativity Born or Made? You Decide.

Nina Hollander, Broker thinking outside the box is a form of creativity!

Kathy Streib now how did I know you'd say that? :)

I have seen young (very young) children play piano as well. I consider them born with a gift.  I am now in my third year of piano lessons; I am finally now going to perform in a small recital at a nursing home. 

Looking back, I would say that I had zero (nada) creativity as a child. However, once I started teaching elementary age kids, my creativity began to develop. It continues to be progressing.  Thanks for your comment.

Joe Mojica I took piano lessons for years and was on stage in Houston with 20 pianos/2 at each piano. And yet, it is my brother who never had lessons who has his own band now. 

Joan- thanks for your comment. I think posting on the AR platform qualifies for creative. We have to create what we are going to write, right?  Have a blessed week.  Joe

Yes, your post created my creativity, thank you.  Yes, like anything else, creativity has to be nurtured. I believe Home Stagers are very creative people. I see a few home stagers on this platform who are also very with their writing.

It was nice to share the creativity post. You are correct, creativity has to be nurtured.  In addition to you being a creative agent, home stager, and photographer, I find your post interesting and creative. I always notice how well you put words together to give it deep meaning and sometimes provokes thoughts.

Hello Roy - I'm a little late on responding. Wishing you a restful Memorial Day. Continue to be creative.  Joe

Kathy- Thank you for featuring my post, I appreciate it.  You made my day!  Have a beautiful day on Memorial Day.

Kat- you are so correct - thinking that you can't isn't healthy if one wants to be creative; it is a creative killer.  There were times in the past that I had doubt when I told myself "I can't do that."  Thanks for your comment.  Joe

Dorie- I like the manner in which you expressed that " creativity has to be nurtured which is why it is critical that we encourage our children to explore things other than their devices."  It seems that devices are replacing the ability to creative for those who are not born with the "gift". I agree with  you that some are born with the gift to be creative, some take advantage of those gifts, and others allow them to remain dormant.  Loved your comment, thanks.   Joe

Ed - thanks for your perspective on creativity. It reminds me of Einstein's perspective, "It is intelligence having fun."  Have a nice Memorial Day.  Joe

Hello Carol - I love Einstein's quote as well. I believe that "creativity is intelligence having fun." Like you, I see constantly see creativity in the AR Community. I believe it one of the reasons I am drawn to it. As you pointed out, creativity isn't just for artists, it's alive and well in real estate as well.  Thanks for your comment.   Joe

John Henry - in Carol's comment, she mentioned that creativity is "part gift, part growth. I agree with her statement. The Mozarts and Einsteins are, I would say, the prodigy kids we seem playing a musical instrument at age 4, 5, 6, 7 for 2-30 minutes non-stop.  As you say, the rest of us have to work on every skill in life in order to master in something. We can be creative along the way though.

Patricia - I found your comment so interesting.  You made some very valid points, especially about the first few years of a child's life. I appreciate your perspective. My apologies for my late response. Have a great a creative week.  Joe

Joe Mojica -no apologies necessary! Today is June 29. Tomorrow the last day in June. I just discovered your post again and did not even realize I commented until I found out I was the last one to comment. Nor did I know you left me a comment either on June 2, 2025. 

As I read your post for a second time, not even remembering I commented previously, I was once again intriqued, especially about you taking piano lessons. Please keep going! Practice often. Don't give up. For these are the reasons I learned over time:

1) My family was close to another family. We often got together. Diane, same age as me, received a lot of support and encouragement from her father. She started piano lessons around 3rd grade. Her father was so impressed, each time my family visited their house, we had to sit and listen to Diane play. 

2) I guess my parents were motivated by Diane's parents and wanted me to be like Diane. I started piano lessons in 4th grade without a piano at home. I had to make piano keys with cardboard to practice and never knew what it would sound like had I practiced on a real piano. Which, I did on my scheduled days to play with my Piano Teacher. I don't recall if she ever knew I never had a piano to practice.

3) After I graduated elementary school, my parents bought a piano. Without a Piano Teacher, I kept practicing, over and over again.  But I was my worst crtitic and kept repeating the lessons I forced myself to learn.

4) One day, my dad asked me why I kept playing over and over and over again the same song and continued to make mistakes? I don't remember what I told him, but this is what my father told me. You have to listen to the music very carefully. Practice listening more than repeating the same mistakes. 

5) That was the day my father told me, he never had a music lesson in his life. He listened to his older brothers play and he just wanted to play music with them. But, they made him listen for long hours first. He learned by ear to play instruments right the first time, by listening.

 6) When I ased him, was it hard for him to learn the sheet music? He told me, he couldn'd read sheet music notes. He did what his brothers told him. 'Spend more time listening, than play when you get the melody right and most likely, you won't make mistakes.' 

7) My dad played by ear the harmonica, accordian, and guitar. On the day he told me I needed to spend more time listening, he demonstrated by sitting down at the piano and played the song I was practicing. When I asked him, if he played piano too? He said no. This was his first time. He learned the songs I was playing by listening. Each time I made a mistake, he said I kept repeating the same mistakes and I was driving him nuts. 

Joe, I still have my old (used) piano that I got in the 1970's but the piano was built in the 1940's. It's too flat and can't be tuned anymore. I wish I could play the piano. I know we will never meet in real life, but if you struggle to play, play your music for me and please play with confidence knowing you are really good at playing the piano. My personal belief is, you have to have confidence and belief in yourself. After all, it isn't the piano playing, but the piano player is.

Good luck!