Dear Creativity,
Last week I found you at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, tucked in the corner of a conference afterparty, right between a Prince exhibit and a surprisingly good cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
There was so much to take in. Rock and roll memorabilia. Interactive music stations. Curated video segments that made me emotional in a very controlled conference-attendee way. And of course, great conversation about what we’d all learned that week.
But what caught my eye wasn’t the flashy stage costumes or the wall of electric guitars; it was a little sticker-making station.
A kiosk. A virtual keyboard. A prompt.
Name your band.
That’s it. No other instructions. Just enough of a container to open a door.
The printer wasn’t working — naturally — but that didn’t matter. Because in that moment, I realized: you’ll take whatever chance I give you. And so, Black Unicorns was born. No album. No rehearsal. Just a name.
That was enough to feel the creative wheels spin and connect the idea that has been circling in my mind for a while now, since I officially launched The Innovation Doctor on August 17, 2023. On my launch poster, I wrote: I am a black unicorn that makes magic happen. I love how you are always connecting my new and old.
And now you have me wondering…
If I gave any person only one prompt and no working printer… what would they create anyway?
You’re sneaky like that. You don’t always need a full plan. Sometimes you only need a name, a mood, and a poorly functioning printer to put me in conversation with you.
So thanks for showing up, even at 7:59 p.m. in the corner of a music museum. Next time, I’ll bring the sparkle. You bring the tour bus.
Innovatively yours,
Dr. Abigail
