First, creativity is essential for solving complex problems—the kinds we often face in a fast-paced world. Second, we have very little success in training people to be more creative. And there’s a pretty simple explanation for this failure: we’re trying to train a skill, but what we should be training is a state of mind.

Even creative work needs scheduling. The greatest writers and artists didn’t wait for inspiration. They kept a strict daily schedule for creating their art. A routine triggers inspiration because your mind and body learn that ideas emerge at that time. The world’s greatest achievements were squeezed into existence by deadlines.