Description:

Creativity isn't reserved for geniuses—it's a skill you can learn, practice, and compound over time.

In this episode of The Innovation Show, Aidan McCullen sits down with Jeff and Staney DeGraff to explore their practical framework for everyday creativity: the C.R.E.A.T.E. method. Based on decades of research and real-world application, they break down how innovation actually happens—not through lightning bolts, but through small, iterative wins.

From clarifying the real problem to evaluating ideas effectively, this conversation reframes creativity as a disciplined, learnable process.

Sponsored by Kyndryl, this episode also includes a giveaway for subscribers.

What You'll Learn:

Why creativity is a learnable skill (not a talent)
The power of small wins and iterative thinking
How to identify the real problem before solving it
Techniques like SCAMPER, analogies, and storyboarding
Why evaluation—not ideation—often determines success
How constraints and failure fuel innovation

The C.R.E.A.T.E. Framework:

Clarify – Define the real problem through iteration
Replicate – Reapply ideas across domains
Elaborate – Generate ideas using creative techniques
Associate – Connect ideas through analogy and systems thinking
Translate – Turn ideas into compelling stories
Evaluate – Select the best ideas using structured methods

Timestamps:

00:00 Sponsor and Giveaway
00:45 Creativity as Learnable Skill
04:59 Find Your Creative Rhythm
11:11 Constraints and Small Wins
20:57 Clarify the Real Problem
25:25 Replicate and Reapply Ideas
29:01 Elaborate With Wordplay
36:43 Associate Through Analogies
40:43 Translate Into Story
46:09 Evaluate Ideas Wisely

Featured Book: The Creative Mindset by Jeff & Staney DeGraff

Find the DeGraffs: https://jeffdegraff.com

Aidan McCullen is a Thinkers50 Innovation Award winner, keynote speaker Ireland, and host of The Innovation Show—the only podcast ever to receive a Thinkers50 award.

Creativity Is a Skill: Jeff & Staney DeGraff on the C.R.E.A.T.E. Method (Clarify to Evaluate)

The Innovation Show