26% of You Don’t Consider Yourselves Creative, but if Solving Problems Is a Creative Skill Then All of You Have It

question:

Do you or don’t you consider yourself creative?

Yes: 74%

• As Snoop Dogg says, “Every problem has an answer!” I am a talk it out person. And even better if I can also create a spreadsheet or have a white board. Creative problem solving is one of our core values! — Jenna Gilbertson, McCulley Optix Gallery, Fargo, ND
• I have been a graphic designer and illustrator for 40 years, couldn’t live without creativity! We can handle our branding and promotions in-house with staff members who have artistic talents and great ideas. — Deb Jaeger, Eye Center of the Dakotas, Bismarck, ND
• Every day is about creativity. The most obvious is frame design and creating color ways but as an optician it’s finding solutions for clients. As a business owner is problem solving and finding solutions to challenges facing the business and growth going forward. — Kevin Count, Corner Optical, Glenview, IL
• I think you are either born with it or not. Lucky for me, I came from a family of other creative people, and I continue it to this day. I do my displays and actually designed my own optical store. — Julie Uram, Optical Oasis, Jupiter, FL
• I am most creative in dealing with other people. — Lisa Smith, Precision Eye Care, Vancouver, WA
• I like to just start making notes on my thoughts and then start to see the creative project unfold. I typically bounce my ideas off my wife and our office manager. — Mitch Peterson, Seek Eye Care, Victoria, MN
• I love to organize and to be president of any organization I join. It’s driven by passion for what I believe in and a demonstrated need by the organization. I do most of my creative thoughts when I walk or work out in the gym. — Robert M. Easton Jr. OD, FAAO, Oakland Park, FL
• I’m crafty and clever. Try to keep the fun in sales and in fun ways to educate patients. — Patti Richard, Family Eye Care, North Andover, MA
• I am also an artist and write for a fan website! I doodle on Post-its and stick the doodles to my laptop for patients to keep. I think it makes some patients happy. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
• Business-wise: I love doing creative ads and commercials. Brainstorming works well for me. Just give me someone to bounce ideas off and watch me go. Recreation-wise: I participate in community theater, love creating my characters with costumes and using various accents. — Pam Housley, Texas State Optical of Nederland, Port Arthur, TX
• Making frames. I’ve never been one to sketch, paint, etc., but I always enjoyed sculpting and once I learned the basics of frame making it all came together. There’s a unique blend of form and function. If I’m in need of inspiration, AI generated images are always a good place to start. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision & LFVR Eyewear, Logan, UT
• I’m always trying to create better soft skills that can’t be taught in schools. Hard skills make the doctor feel good, soft skills make the patient feel good. Patients that leave your office feeling good will return. — Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
• I’m super creative visually. I must have a certain balance, colors, and light to everything around me. I do a little interior design fun in my spare time. And my husband is an artist, so we are always brainstorming ideas. — Nikki Griffin, EyeStyles Optical and Boutique, Oakdale, MN
• Visually. Displays, promo graphics, fun contests. — Shannon Crouse, Terry D. Moehnke, OD, Fort Dodge, IA
• My creativity best shows itself in the lens option. Mixing tint with flash mirrors and transitions and creating a fun pair that not only can be worn indoors but outdoors as well. — Sohini Patel, OD, See You Eyecare, Orlando, FL
• Canva for creative posts and or displays in the office. — Valorie Davis, Big Lake Eye Care, Okeechobee, FL
• Displays and ways to present products. — Rob Goedken, Fuerste Optical, Dubuque, IA
• I used to think creativity had to do with music and art, but someone told me that my creativity comes out when it comes to organizational structure, systems, processes, and problem solving. I also enjoy creative writing. — Ben Thayil, OD, Lifetime Vision and Eye Care, Miami, FL
• I like to write and figure out other ways to use things. — Marcia Emerson, Kenneth D. Boltz, OD, Dublin, OH
• Creativity has unlimited facets. I allow my creativity to flourish in presentation of the office, at the dispense, and when styling the patient. I turn to others expertise in areas that I know they will excel at more than myself. — Chris Clark, Oskaloosa Vision Center, Oskaloosa, IA
• I give a local artist ideas for the revolving art on the side of my building that has a steampunk feel to it. I also helped design my new vinyl covering for my front door with a steampunk theme. My staff always looks at me like I’m crazy, but my patients seem to appreciate it. My other avenue of creativity comes out with our Thanksgiving end of year note we started putting out two years ago. I get to thank patients and find subtle ways of telling them about how great we are. — Marc Ullman, OD, Academy Vision, Pine Beach, NJ
• I like to be creative with the displays at work setting up themes during the year just like I do at home with my curio cabinets. Recently giving it up to my number two in command since I’m getting closer to retirement. I’m OCD, so I still move things around when I don’t like what I see. — Jeff Grosekemper, Casa De Oro Eyecare, Spring Valley, CA
• I would like to consider myself creative. It shows itself in very strange and nostalgic ways. I am inspired by so many things. I get inspired driving in the backroads near my house, listening to music, watching TV, going to museums or while thrift shopping. — Nancy Revis, Uber Optics, Petaluma, CA
• Problem solving ability. — Jordan Flitter, Paris West Optical, Baltimore, MD
• My creativity best shows itself through social media content and fun giveaways for customers. Gifting is my love language, so I love creating small eye/optical themed gifts/freebies for customers occasionally! — Keontae Murray, Bella Lee, Royal Oak, MD
• I brainstorm at night while in and out of sleep. It eliminates the clutter of the day and allows creative thinking. I often wake up with some really unique ideas! — Dave Schultz, OD, Urban Optics, San Luis Obispo, CA
• As of the past six months, I’ve been adding time in my day for creativity. I’ve found that “letting it happen when I have time” just doesn’t work. So, both at work and at home, I try to do “creative” projects first thing in the morning, right after I leave the gym and my energy is high. — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
• My creativity comes out when it comes to marketing and design. I wish I was more creative in other areas though. — Morgan DiMaggio, Taylor Eye Care, Carmi, IL
• I was an art major in college, so creativity comes naturally to me. For example, I just designed a new logo that I’m going to transfer to tee shirts and hats. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
• I am somewhat creative. I can get inspired by an ad or an article in one of the optical magazines, or better yet my competitors. I gather the info and see how I can do it better with the help of my social media manager and graphic designer. — Abe Zami, Viewtopia NYC, Brooklyn, NY
• I am the “in-house” advertising agency at my office. I do all the signage, the sidewalk sign we place outside, I create spreadsheet products, you name it! — Pablo Mercado, Highland Eye Boutique, Atlanta, GA
• Creative by way of humor, when all else fails … make ‘em laugh! — Mark Perry, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL
• Regarding the optical, my creativity shows best in my efforts at merchandising. I collect optical antiques and use them throughout. I change things frequently and it really does keep people coming back! — Tamara Walker, Lakeway Optical/Lakeway Eye Physicians, Austin, TX
• I love fashion and style. I love to curate my outfits and, of course, match my glasses! I’m definitely a social media troll for inspiration but I stick to my own sense of self when it comes to being creative. — Amy Frost, Logos Vision, East Brunswick, NJ
• Creativity just comes naturally. I pride myself on coming up with the best displays and love the holiday seasons for just that reason … from patriotic to Christmas. — Chris Clark, Advanced Eye Care Optical Shoppe, Panama City, FL
• I like to think outside the box to create an option for visual needs or find something a client wants. I also enjoy creating window displays. I tend to find myself lost on Pinterest or Google images looking for inspiration or just go to Anthropologie to see what they are doing. — Jennifer Yerden, Sights and Shades, Canandaigua, NY
• I use my creativity in my branding and social media posts. I like to do crafts/read to take myself away from the everyday stuff. — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH

No: 26%

• I will outsource anything creative. I have limitations on my creative abilities. I am thankful to have people in my life that have talent. — Sonja Franklin, OD, Modern Eyes, Austin, TX
• I’ve never thought of myself as creative, but others say I am. I think I am observant, really, watching what works and doesn’t, with other businesses. Observing a good idea and adapting it to my business. Not plagiarizing totally, but also not re-creating the wheel. For instance, I saw another town do a “small business/shop local passport” where people collect stamps from local businesses. I had a local artist design an adorable passport, got other businesses involved, and it was quite a hit in our town! — Kyla Skinner, Specs by Kyla, Atascadero, CA
• I google and then my brain gets going on creativity. Pinterest! — Kim Hilgers, Akre & Clark Eyecare, New Ulm, MN
• I am not creative at all. Fortunately, our office has creative minds to help me out, plus there is always Pinterest! — Ann-Marie Weaver, Optimal Eye Care, Lewis Center, OH
• Pay someone else to be creative. — Caitlin Neal, San Juan Eye Center, Montrose, CO
• If I need to be creative, I usually delegate to someone more qualified. — Robert Lootens, Physicians Optical Service, Jefferson City, MO
• I have a great appreciation for people who are creative and admire that attribute. Being able to surround ourselves with creatives or people who have any skills we lack can make a great team. — Scott Mann, OD, INVISION, Christiansburg and Salem, VA