Hey manager, here are some ideas to spark your creativity

No matter where you are in your career, sometimes you could use a spark to help you reach the next level or just to initiate some growth. Sometimes that spark takes the form of a new idea, a new person or some other shift in our routine. But the common factor in all creative sparks? You have to do something different than you are right now. Here are a few ideas to get that ball rolling.

Find the meaning in what you do.

Too many people spend all their time doing one thing while wishing they could be doing something else. This isn’t healthy or productive, but you have options. Either find a way to do something you love … or find something you love about what you are already doing.

Sometimes that spark isn’t in the actual actions involved in the work, it could be “why” you are doing it. The reason you have for doing what you’re doing can be all the spark you need to do it better — and with a better attitude — than you are right now.

Be intentional about becoming better.

Practice, research, learn all you can about what you do and become the best person you know at doing that job … then start the process again, because you should never stop learning.

Allow yourself to make mistakes as you learn.

Plan for them and protect yourself and your business, but if you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not learning anything new.

Get as much done as you can before lunch.

This might require a shift in your schedule, but there’s a lot that can be said about simple momentum. If you want a more productive and inspiring afternoon, knock some more things off your to-do list every morning.

Be more open to change.

Listen to new ideas and really listen to solutions from the people you made responsible for those areas of your business. Do not keep doing things less than well just because you’ve always done it that way. “Good enough” is rarely good enough … no matter how comfortable it feels.

Invest in your strengths and build around your weaknesses.

Stop wasting time trying to get better at things you hate or things you have no talent or affinity for. Instead, invest training and practice and focus on your strengths, and bring people in around you who are great at what you’re not so great at.

Elie Hirschfeld is a real estate developer in NYC.