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

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Apr 22, 2026

Guest

Jeff DeGraff

Jeff DeGraff, professor and creativity expert who co-created the C.R.E.A.T.E. framework, discusses creativity as a learnable skill. He and Staney cover clarifying the real problem, using constraints and small wins, techniques like SCAMPER and analogies, storyboarding to translate ideas, and structured evaluation to pick what works.

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INSIGHT

Creativity Is A Learnable Compounding Skill

Creativity is a learnable, compounding skill rather than a lightning-bolt talent.
Jeff DeGraff frames creativity as incremental small wins that accumulate, presented as a teachable curriculum (the C.R.E.A.T.E. framework).

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ADVICE

Find Your Personal Creative Rhythm

Notice when and how you are creative and prepare ways to capture ideas.
Jeff DeGraff carries notebooks, tracks what gives him energy, and recommends creating a personal

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ADVICE

Use Constraints To Trigger Creative Experimentation

Use constraints and safe spaces to boost creativity rather than removing limits.
Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff note fences, psychological safety, and “small wins” as mechanisms that encourage experimentation.

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Creativity Is a Learnable Skill

01:41 • 3min

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Find Your Creative Rhythm

05:04 • 2min

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Constraints, Small Wins, and Psychological Safety

06:46 • 6min

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Start Small to Go Big

12:31 • 8min

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Clarify: Find the Real Problem

20:57 • 4min

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Replicate: Reapply Ideas Across Domains

25:26 • 4min

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Elaborate: Wordplay and Idea Fluency

29:10 • 8min

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Associate: Analogies and Systems Thinking

36:58 • 4min

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Translate: Storyboarding and Scenarios

40:40 • 6min

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Evaluate: Choosing the Right Ideas

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Published in 1937, 'Think and Grow Rich' is a seminal work in the self-help genre. The book is the result of over twenty years of research by Napoleon Hill, who studied the habits and achievements of more than 500 successful individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Hill distills their wisdom into thirteen principles that, when practiced with persistence and faith, can transform dreams into reality. These principles include the power of desire, faith, specialized knowledge, organized planning, and the role of the subconscious mind. The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, and taking consistent action to achieve success. It also explores the concept of the 'Master Mind' alliance and the need to overcome fears and doubts to achieve one's objectives.

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Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.

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.

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