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    Constraints Can Make You More Creative

    A man stands in a vivid purple hallway, illustrating how limited resources and constraints can encourage greater creativity.

    It seems intuitive that creativity needs unlimited freedom.

    I often find the opposite.

    A constraint gives the mind something to push against.

    No budget. Two weeks. Existing equipment only. No ability to hire. Must fit inside a shipping container. Must work without changing customer behaviour.

    Suddenly the problem becomes more interesting.

    Constraints eliminate entire categories of obvious answers. That forces combinations and trade-offs you might never consider if every option remained available.

    This shows up constantly in entrepreneurship because early-stage ventures are essentially constraint machines. Not enough money. Not enough people. Not enough time. Not enough information.

    The creative question becomes: given what is true, what can we do?

    I do not romanticize scarcity. More resources can absolutely help. But before assuming the answer is more resources, it is worth asking whether the constraint itself can produce a better design.

    That idea connects with my Business & Strategy work too. There I try to identify the constraint because removing it can unlock growth. Here the same constraint can become creative material.

    Chad McMillan, creative entrepreneur and strategic advisor
    Chad McMillan

    Chad McMillan is a creative entrepreneur and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience in and around the capital markets, focused on finding hidden potential in companies, ideas, markets and people, and advancing what they can become.

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